In my “God Speaks” post on May 25. I said that I believe one way God speaks is through circumstances. https://onetahayes.com/2016/05/26/god-speaks/ I relate an example:
Questions, questions, whirling in my head. Do I really want to go further with this “God’s Speaks” line of posts? If I tell about some things that are special to me will they be mocked? Can I prove everything I believe by scripture?
I set the questions aside from my thoughts, and begin to read some posts and comments from my blogging friends. Within a few minutes, I read one that said something like this, “I am anxiously awaiting your stories regarding God speaking to you.” Light goes on in my head! I believe that I have found the answer to my questions because of that comment from a blogger.
I see nothing about this issue that cannot be supported by scripture. Did God not speak through circumstances when Joseph’s brothers were about to kill him? After Reuben had interceded for Joseph’s life and he was placed in a cistern where he would have surely died, a caravan of Midianite merchants dropped by providing just the right motive for Judah to negotiate a deal that saved Joseph’s life.
While I do sometimes make decisions based on this kind of circumstances, I consider it one of the least reliable tests of God’s will for our actions. So I also place a great trust in a feeling of peace I obtain when I make the choice. If I am still conflicted, I know I’m not on the right track. That does not mean I always want the choice I feel is right, but I feel peace about the choice being right.
Now what NOT to do. Another circumstance. I was reading the scripture about Samuel hearing the voice of God speaking to him. The doorbell rang. I answered and there were a couple people who wanted to convince me that the Bible is true. No problem there, but I knew I was going to be told a lot of things I have already found to be in conflict with my interpretation of the Bible. Did I use that circumstance to guide me in my reading about Samuel being spoken to by God? No, I did not. One must judge the circumstances in light of the Bible’s teaching.
Sweet aroma 
I love the gentle way in which you guide us, your reader, into a clearer ‘knowing’ of what it means to hear the voice of God…and to trust what we have heard. Hugs!
Amen to that!
And an amen to your amen, dawnliz.
I want so much to help people understand that God’s desire is to have us know Him, receive Him, trust Him. He uses imagery of us being carved in his hand. How close is that! Thanks, dear for your encouragement.
A loud “Amen” to the last sentence. J.
Thanks, Salvageable, for reading and commenting. If I’m overlooking scriptures I need to take into consideration in any of these areas, don’t be bashful about adding to what I say, or making correction in what I say.
Thank you for sharing Oneta. This is helpful and wise information you’re sharing.
Thank you, Mandibelle. It helps keep me focused when I know someone is listening.
I think lots of people see, we just don’t always know on here who does all the time if they don’t like our post. Happy to read your blog, you’re an inspiration 💕
Please consider that your generosity in sharing such personal encounters helps us in understand this personal God in a more personal way. (Am I being redundant?? Well, you know what I mean….)
Personal. That’s my message in a nutshell. He knows my coming in and going out, my sitting down and standing up. Am I to believe he cannot communicate with me? A forever “one-sided” conversation would be mighty boring. God is not that!
Please keep sharing what is your personal TRUTH Oneta. This is the only purpose in my blog. It is the space where in my own limited way I am sharing the TRUTH of God in my life. I know He speaks. He has spoken is speaking and will speak in the future. Its all about a PERSONAL God not an abstract shut up in a book. He Lives! Please in the beautiful way that only you can share ……tell it.
Faye, thank you, dear lady. I am blessed by your comments and encouraged by your expounding on what I say. He has spoken, is speaking, and will speak – Amen.