I – Intuitively Hearing from God {26 Surprising Ways to Encounter God, A-Z}
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
– Albert Einstein
I—Intuition
Have you ever just known something in your gut without anyone telling you?
There are some things you know because someone explicitly taught you.
But there are other things you know because God slipped them inside you when you weren’t even aware.
If they’re truly from God, they won’t contradict what you already know about his overwhelming love and kindness.
Try This
Look for God today in your intuitive knowing, in those gut feelings that often guide your decisions unaware.
Ask for his Spirit to guide you from the inside out . . .
- in who you talk to,
- which words you use,
- which questions you bring up in a conversation.
Let your actions be driven by love, as you listen and obey God’s word underneath the words.
Learn More
- 3 Spiritual Practices for Listening Closer to God
- 6 Ways to Hear from God
Lessons from J. I. Packer’s Knowing God - What Your Gut Feeling Is Actually Telling You
Researchers are beginning to understand intuition is more reliable and less mystical than previously thought.
* * *
Is there something you just know you’re supposed to do this week? How has God worked through your intuition in the past to connect you with him or someone else? Please share in the comments.
Coming up tomorrow:
- J – Jobs
How do you encounter God through meaningful work?
If you’d like to receive 26 Surprising Ways by email, sign up here.
- H – Hearts Are Reminders {26 Surprising Ways to Encounter God, A-Z}
- J – Jobs with God {26 Surprising Ways to Encounter God, A-Z}
I do have a tendency to vacillate about intuition. Second guessing myself, insisting on lots of confirmation, I have actually missed what I realized in hindsight were opportunities to speak truth into someone’s life because of my faintheartedness. Thanks for these words about intuition — you have a gift for choosing topics that I don’t see elsewhere!
I think many of us are often leery of our intuition–I am, too, Michele. We don’t want to just follow our own hearts and be led astray. But I agree with you that we often are led into opportunities that way, that the Spirit can speak through our intuition, and I want to listen up. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you, Lisa. I have a problem with trusting my intuition. I’m still a work in progress. 🙂 Just this morning, I was feeling so tossed about by what others think I should do, because certainly they know more about it than I do. Then I felt as if God said, “But what do YOU feel you should do?” Blessings and hugs to you!
Ooh, I love that you had an encounter with God through your intuition this very morning, Trudy. It’s often hard to trust ourselves when we think others know better, but God does speak to us directly too. It’s a discernment process, yes? We’ll continue to grow into it.
Those Holy Spirit whispers – that’s what this reminded me of. Those thoughts that slip in and make us wonder, or stop, or just ponder something or someone out of the blue. God does this a lot with me when I need to connect with someone. He’ll write their name across my heart and mind. I try to be very intentional about stopping and shooting a quick text or a message to say I’m thinking and praying for them. More often than not, they’ll respond that they needed that reminder. Loving this series, Lisa – good stuff!
It sounds like you are very in tune with those Holy Spirit whispers, Tiffany! What a blessing that is, not only for your own spiritual growth, but also for those whose lives you touch. The more we follow Spirit’s leading, the more we can love others as God wants them to be loved. Thanks for sharing this!
I get those intuitions a lot in the bed. If I wake up with someone on my mind, I lay there and pray for them, and I may message them or call them later in the day. I don’t know how many times that has happened that someone tells me they really needed to hear from me that day, and even cards I’ve sent have mean so much because I heeded what I felt God was telling me to do.
This makes me happy, Debbie. I know our world is a better place because of people like you who are in tune to what the Spirit is prompting them to do. Blessings to you!
I guess it’s a fine line between intuition and cynicism… I’m probably guilty of getting the two mixed up, but wonderful reminder. It starts with Him.
Starting with God is definitely the key, Floyd. Thanks for that reminder! Without the Spirit as our base, we can confuse our own understanding with God’s will and end up in a disastrous place.
Lisa, these words, “But there are other things you know because God slipped them inside you when you weren’t even aware” are such a sweet way to express the Holy Spirit’s movement in our hearts! I am often surprised at the things He has planted within me, and yet I find myself second-guessing those thoughts. Usually I do end up obeying, but I want to learn to be SWIFT to follow His leadings! –Blessings to you!
I relate to what you’re saying, Bettie. I’m not always as swift to follow those Spirit whispers either because I want to be “sure.” But hopefully I’m getting a little quicker as I age, knowing that God will give me grace even if I do flub up occasionally. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa,
Yes 🙂 I find the more time I spend with God, the more I’m learning to value my intuition and to follow those nudges from God…not perfectly but definitely much more these days…blessings to you 🙂
Thanks, Dolly. I think your book speaks well to this whole series that I’m writing about! Looking forward to when it releases so we can share more about it with others.
I thought not writing for #write31days would give me the opportunity to keep up with you lovely writers who are participating, but here I am way back on “I” – lol! Oh, well, steady on!
My husband has the gift of discernment and it really is astounding sometimes. I’m always blessed when God reveals something to me and pray I use the imparted wisdom to His glory and purpose. Such an interesting topic, Lisa! The book Knowing God is one I’ve had on my list for quite some time. Our Pastor quotes from it often. I think I need to place an order 😉
Hmm…so maybe my thought to not participate in 31 days next year won’t assure that I’ll keep up either. 🙂 Too much content out here!
That’s beautiful that you’re married to someone with the gift of discernment. That’s a blessing. I love how God puts us together in such unique combinations so that together we can see him even clearer. Knowing God is a book I’d highly recommend. Even though it’s older and may feel dated in some spots (and I even disagree in a place or two), it’s a timeless subject and a worthy read when you have time for it!