What’s a Sign from God (and What Isn’t) (2024)

Introduction

Signs are often tricky and fuzzy. They’re not always such a good tool for helping you make a decision.

Let’s be honest: we want shortcuts. We want God to do the hard work and make big decisions for us. Doing God’s will is the purpose of life, but that does not mean he is going to just reveal exactly what you ought to do. That would violate our freedom.

God speaks in clarity, not fuzziness. If he is telling you to do something, there will be no doubt that he is telling you. This kind of sign, however, is rare because in order to be a disciple of Christ—at some point—we have to make the tough decision to follow him on our own. There are steps that can help in this process:

1) Gather the data.
2) Seek counsel.
3) Weigh all the options and risks.
4) Take the responsibility for the decision you need to make.

If you follow those steps, the decision will be clear. God wants us to use our intellects to make decisions. He wants us to be stewards of our own lives. We can base our decisions on the facts rather than mere feelings and fuzzy signs.

If you would like more help making any kind of decision in your life, try the book, Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry (tinyurl.com/yy6hk27j) by Bobby and Jackie Angel with Fr. Mike Schmitz.

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Content

Here is what too many christians fall into the trap of doing.

Instead of making the decision, we want to be told what to do hi.

My name is father mike schmitz and this is ascension presents.

So recently someone had contacted me and they asked a question.

Sometimes this happens right.

What people ask and what they had said was um.

They were gonna, go on a trip.

They were invited to on a trip with some friends uh, maybe some family, and yet they um in the time of coronavirus.

They were like.

I don't know if I should do this because it's you know it's potentially dangerous uh.

Maybe I shouldn't maybe, but I really want to which is all fine.

That's like a normal thing that people can have well that we all have to figure out right now, but one of the things they were saying is they kept getting um these signs.

The signs were like go on the trip like they would read something it would be like take a trip you know, or they would they'd turn on the tv and be commercial for, like you know, go on vacation um.

They kept getting what they considered to be signs like that was they go on the trip and then they thought you know.

I kind of do feel a lot of peace when it comes to the idea of like going on this trip- and I have this sense of peace, but then what happened was they said.

I just started second guessing myself and thought: maybe I shouldn't do this um, and so then it was this back and forth kind of a battle of like, but there's these signs that go on the trip and there's this feeling of peace.

But I don't feel this peace anymore, and what do I do and they even had a great amount of self-awareness where they said.

I am kind of your classic overthinker and I'm like, ah really, but it was a great question.

I thought this is so good, because here is what too many christians fall into the trap of doing.

We fall into the trap.

Instead of making the decision, we want to be told what to do and again.

I've said this before I'm gonna say it again.

Doing god's will is everything it's everything? It's it's it's.

The point of life is doing the father's.

Will that is it um and so every it should be the preoccupation of every christian to do the father's will like every one of us should say: that's yeah, that's the goal of my life is to do the father's will.

Yes, at the same time, I think the anxiety, a lot of us experience over making decisions about the future has more to do with getting out of the responsibility of having to make a decision and maybe less to do about doing the father's will be that resume when it comes to signs.

What do we do? Well, we know that god has spoken and continues to speak through signs.

Just like we had a video on dreams.

God has spoken through dreams.

He can continue to speak through dreams, yeah a ton totally something to keep in mind.

He doesn't often speak through signs.

He doesn't often speak their dreams um for the most part.

God speaks with clarity.

Well, we always speaks with clarity and he has already spoken many ways so he's what he's given us revelation, which is sacred scripture and secret tradition, he's given us the magisterium of the church, so there's this source of where god has already spoken, that he doesn't need to give us any more signs about his will for our lives, because if anything we want to do- or maybe I should do.

This thing contradicts sacred scripture, sacred tradition or the magisterium, the teaching of the church.

Then we know.

Oh, that's, not that's not him.

That's not the voice of god.

That's not a sign from god that I should be doing this kind of thing.

We know that god always speaks in clarity.

So here's a person who says okay, there's kind of fuzzy messages.

I turn on the tv and there's a commercial like go on a trip or there's you know the.

I read the line in the book and said: go on a trip.

Okay, that's that's fuzzy! That's a fuzzy sign because it's not saying hey joe! You should go on this sign, like I'm an angel sent from god to tell you this, like that's a fuzzy sign, and we know this that god always speaks in clarity.

God always speaks in clarity, so I don't have to wait for a sign I don't have to kind of.

If I, even if I my head and like squint, really hard, then I can kind of see that this is a sign.

No, that's a fuzzy sign.

God speaks in clarity.

The second part was not just fuzzy signs was my feeling of peace.

I really felt peace in moving forward.

Then I don't feel peace anymore.

That's relying on our feelings a bit too much feelings, as I mentioned before, in in a previous video as well uh, one of my friends, dean dean had said uh.

This line, I thought, was so powerful that our feelings don't reveal the truth about reality.

Our feelings don't reveal the truth about god.

They merely reveal the truth about our hearts or they may really reveal the condition of our hearts.

So if I feel at peace, then yeah okay, my heart is at peace.

For whatever reason, if I feel anxious, then my heart is anxious it.

It doesn't necessarily again reveal the truth about this decision doesn't necessarily reveal the truth about reality.

It does reveal how I'm doing with that which pay attention to it.

It's a factor, but it's not.

It can't be the factor and that sense of peace.

That I mean there are a lot of people who are sinning in really significant ways who feel very, very peaceful about the fact that they're sinning in various ways there's a lot of people who are actually like no they're pursuing the lord.

But just maybe their temperament is a little more anxious, a little more worried, a little more high strung and it doesn't reveal anything about the nature of reality or the nature of god or what he's calling them? It does reveal the condition of their heart, okay, so here's the person I have these signs, but they're fuzzy and they're based off feelings, and that's when we cut through this and realize this.

I want to look to the signs.

The signs or the feelings to make the decision for me now not always again, this person is have has a good heart and wants to do what god wants, but it's missing with one critical factor, and that is this last piece, which is you have to make the decision that you just have to make the decision a disciple is a decision maker.

A disciple is a decision maker.

A disciple of christ is someone who chooses.

I mean think about this.

Every one of the apostles here's matthew come follow me.

He has to decide.

Here's simon and andrew jesus come follow me yeah.

They have to decide.

Here's the rich young man sell everything, give it to the poor.

Think I'm following me.

He has to decide one way or another if nicodemus, who visits jesus at night at some point nicodemus, if you're going to become a disciple of jesus you're, going to have to be a decision maker, not based off of a fuzzy feeling or a squinty sign, but based off of what the facts and that's what we do again when it comes to decision making.

We have to gather the data, seek counsel, weigh all the options and the consequences and then decide because this person was making the decision what about going on vacation traveling during the time of chronovirus, that's risky, I mean it's just it's risky, so the recognition is.

What do I do? I look at the data gather all that data.

I have to think about this.

I come and I say: well I think I'm gonna flip a coin, no gather the data, seek counsel, talk to people about this people who know and then um also weigh the risks.

The reality is we live in a world that is dangerous and to make any of those decisions, it's going to come with a price.

I know that none of not all of us are really good at decision making.

Sometimes we put it off and put it off and put it off.

Sometimes you might be the kind of person who makes the decision at the drop of the hat.

You like look at the options and say boom.

That's what I'm going to choose, and some of us are the opposite of that.

But to make the decisions is to take responsibility.

God gave us an intellect.

He gave us a will.

He wants us to use that intellect and then put it into work by choosing by making a decision, knowing that that merely looks like us taking responsibility for what he's given us to be stewards of he's.

Given us this chance to be stewards of our lives, the people around us we're taking responsibility for those decisions.

Of course, at the end of the day, if um you realize you've made a decision, you started down a course, and it's like it's you, it's really clear.

You need to change course.

Then change course not based off of a feeling, but based off of facts, god's.

Given us freedom he's given us a responsibility and we have to choose, we have to use that responsibility.

We have to use that freedom to choose and we know that every decision risks something every decision costs something, but so does not deciding that also risks.

Something and not deciding also costs something.

So, as he said many times here, what has god spoken if he hasn't spoken about this thing, all right gather the data, seek counsel, weigh the options, examine the risks, all the consequences and then choose.

If you want more about this, we have this book with bobby and jackie angel called pray to side, and don't worry, it might be helpful for you and for um anyone else.

Anyone else who's in that situation, anyways from this assistant presents.

My name is father mike god bless.

What’s a Sign from God (and What Isn’t) (2024)

FAQs

What is considered as a sign from God? ›

There are many events, supernatural or otherwise, that happen in the Bible, which can loosely be termed “signs from God.” Some appear in dreams, like the image of Jacob's ladder (Genesis 28:11-22). Others happen during waking hours, as when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-15).

What does God say about signs? ›

In the Hebrew Bible

The Hebrew word for sign is 'ot. When we track this word through the Old Testament, we learn that signs are given to warn people, execute divine judgement, and deliver people from oppression (e.g., Israel's exodus from Egypt). Signs are also given to guide and mark sacred time.

Should you ask for signs from God? ›

It's not necessarily wrong to ask God for a sign, but it might be going down a tricky path with your faith. God has provided you with what you need to make decisions, because he has given you the Bible. Study God's word. Get to know God and who He is.

What is the holy sign? ›

The sign of the cross is made by touching the hand sequentially to the forehead, lower chest or stomach, and both shoulders, accompanied by the Trinitarian formula: at the forehead In the name of the Father (or In nomine Patris in Latin); at the stomach or heart and of the Son (et Filii); across the shoulders and of ...

What are God's signs and wonders? ›

Signs and wonders refers to experiences that are perceived to be miraculous as being normative in the modern Christian experience, and is a phrase associated with groups that are a part of modern charismatic movements and Pentecostalism.

How do you know if God is beside you? ›

God speaks to us through His Word. And one of the best ways to sense His presence is to get into His Word and ask His Holy Spirit to guide you into a better understanding of it. When you get into God's Word, and even speak it audibly, you will sense its power and His presence.

What are signs from a passed loved one? ›

Common Signs
  • Dream Visitations. One of the most commonly described signs from the other side is a visitation from a departed loved one in the form of a dream. ...
  • Familiar Sensations or Smells. ...
  • Animal Messengers. ...
  • Pennies and Dimes. ...
  • Lost and Found Objects. ...
  • Electrical Disturbances.

Does God speak in silence? ›

I Kings 19:11-13). God speaks in silence, but we must know how to listen. This is why monasteries are oases in which God speaks to humanity; and in them we find the cloister, a symbolic place because it is an enclosed space yet open to Heaven.

Can people hear God speak? ›

Some encounter signs or experience influence on emotion, a poll shows. Hearing God's voice, it seems, is no longer just for prophets. A poll recently released by an evangelical Christian research group shows that about three-quarters of Americans say Jesus speaks directly to them.

When God speaks what does it sound like? ›

At times, the voice of God has been described as that of a parent (which could seem benign, benevolent, or terrifying, depending on what kind of relationship you've had with your parents). We are also told that God speaks in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).

Does God warn us? ›

God sends us the warning signs but we trivialize them; we convince ourselves that we can handle whatever is coming, that if we survived the last time, we can do it again. Through His Word, God reminds us to take caution and be alert.

How does God send messages? ›

He speaks through scriptures, impressions, dreams and angels. On matters universally relevant, He speaks through His living prophet. Occasionally Christ physically appears on earth and speaks. We hear God's words according to our faithfulness, to help with our personal needs.

What does God say about tattoos? ›

Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.”

Does God know what we want before we ask? ›

God does know what we need. God tells us in Matthew 6:8, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” But in the next verses he tells us to pray for our needs.

How do I know if God says yes? ›

However, when God does tell you “yes,” this will be confirmed by a genuine peace in your heart. You won't have to force it and you won't have to pretend to yourself that this is truly what God wants. You will know God is saying “yes” in your heart in such a way that you won't be able to explain it to others.

Can you pray for signs? ›

When it comes to the type of sign where you are looking for biblical evidence and knowledge to know what you should do in life, it's okay to ask God for these. But really, it's better to ask God to give you insight and wisdom to interpret the signs he is sending.

What is Jesus first sign? ›

1. Turning Water Into Wine (John 2:1-12) The first sign John references complements the theme of newness found throughout the book's opening chapters. Jesus turning water into wine reveals him as the source of life and inspires his newly called disciples to put their faith in him as the Messiah.

What are the Holy Spirit 7 signs? ›

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. While some Christans accept these as a definitive list of specific attributes, others understand them merely as examples of the Holy Spirit's work through the faithful.

What sign was Jesus? ›

With the story of the birth of Christ coinciding with this date, many Christian symbols for Christ use the astrological symbol for Pisces, the fishes. The figure Christ himself bears many of the temperaments and personality traits of a Pisces, and is thus considered an archetype of the Piscean.

What is there is hidden from God? ›

Yes, God is big; in fact, He's so big and so great that He knows all about us! The Bible says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

What are 4 features of God? ›

Terms
  • Omnipotence.
  • Omnipresence.
  • Omnibenevolence.
  • Omniscience.

Who knows the secret of God? ›

Those who possess the Holy Spirit can hear and understand these secrets of God." Paul calls them the "depths" or the "deep things" of God.

Can we feel God's presence? ›

Some people may see visions or hear God's voice. Others may not see or hear anything — but experience feelings of peace and joy that are beyond words. You may experience the presence of God through a song or Scripture the Spirit brings to mind. It may be through a providential encounter with a friend or stranger.

What does God's presence feel like? ›

It always feels like someone else is there. The Bible says: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18.20). The Bible also says “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5, Joshua 1.5).

How do you connect with someone who has passed away? ›

5 ways to stay connected after a loved one has died.
  1. Communicating with, or about, a loved one who has died. ...
  2. Practising values your loved one embodied. ...
  3. Wearing something that makes you feel connected to them. ...
  4. Doing charitable deeds in their honour. ...
  5. Acknowledging birthdays and death anniversaries.
Mar 18, 2021

What is after death communication with loved ones? ›

After Death Communications is a broad term that covers a variety of different encounters that someone can experience with a passed loved one. It is decided by the deceased person when, where, and how they will connect with us; it is often defined as a direct and spontaneous event (Bill Guggenheim).

How are loved ones notified of death? ›

Contact a medical examiner or law enforcement department in the survivor's home area to deliver the notification in person. Never take death information over the police radio. Get the information over the telephone, or it might leak out to family through the media or private parties listening to police radio.

How does God announce someone? ›

He uses various avenues to announce His anointed: our callings, grace, gifts, supernatural signs, wonders, miracles and even angelic proclamations!

How do you hear when God is speaking to you? ›

6 Tips on How to Hear from God
  1. Position yourself close to God. Samuel set his bed up in the temple, “where the ark of God was” (v. ...
  2. Find a place of regular service to God. In v. ...
  3. Listen for God's voice. ...
  4. When God calls, respond eagerly. ...
  5. When God speaks, obey Him. ...
  6. Read and study the Word of God.
Feb 15, 2016

Why did God allow me to lose everything? ›

To gain Christ we must accept the necessary losses. Paul said, “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Nothing is more valuable than Christ, therefore no amount of suffering that draws us closer to Christ is too great a sacrifice to make.

What is the voice of God called? ›

In rabbinic Judaism, such a voice was known as a bat kol (Hebrew: בַּת⁠ קוֹל baṯ qōl, literally "daughter of voice"), and was a "heavenly or divine voice which proclaims God's will or judgment." It differed from prophecy in that God had a close relationship with the prophet, while the bat kol could be heard by any ...

How does God hear you? ›

Through the scriptures, we are taught that God will always hear our prayers and will answer them if we address Him with faith and real intent. In our hearts we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a feeling of peace and calm. We can also feel that everything will be fine when we follow the Father's will.

What language did Jesus speak? ›

Aramaic is best known as the language Jesus spoke. It is a Semitic language originating in the middle Euphrates. In 800-600 BC it spread from there to Syria and Mesopotamia. The oldest preserved inscriptions are from this period and written in Old Aramaic.

What does God actually look like according to the Bible? ›

Genesis 18:1-3 explained that God appeared to Abraham as a man, and in Ezekiel 1:26-28, it's a similar scenario: “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above ...

How does God give warnings? ›

Warnings are a gift from God. Sometimes He warns us through other people, sometimes He warns us through His Word, and sometimes He warns us through a Bible sermon. All these are means by which God may give us a warning.

Does God cry for us? ›

Even before God became man, it's clear throughout the Old Testament that God feels sorrow, even weeps for the crushing blows of His people. Psalm 34:18 promises us that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” How can you be close to someone who is brokenhearted and not feel their pain?

When God shows up what happens? ›

ONE of the powerful revelations of God in the scripture is that JEHOVAH GOD ALWAYS SHOWS UP on behalf of His people. Whenever God shows up, things always get better. Things can never go bad or worse, when God shows up.

How do you know if something is from God? ›

The Bible gives us some principles to help us discern if an "open door" or opportunity is really from God:
  1. The Door that God Opens Will Never Contradict His Word. ...
  2. The Door that God Opens Will be Accompanied by Confirmation. ...
  3. The Door God Opens Will Require You to Depend on Him.

How do you know what God wants you to do? ›

Steps to Understand “How Do I know what God wants me to do?”
  1. Recognize and Name the Doors Before You. ...
  2. Filter through the biblical smell check. ...
  3. Recognize and Name Your Desires and Feelings About the Open Doors. ...
  4. Bring Your Desires and Feelings Before God and then Listen. ...
  5. Seek Counsel of Godly people.
Nov 14, 2020

Is it a sin to drink alcohol? ›

Drinking Alcohol is Not a Sin

Contrary to what many Christians have grown up hearing, it is not a sin to drink alcohol. Scripture nowhere condemns or prohibits consuming moderate levels of alcohol. Case in point—Jesus drank wine.

What are the unforgivable sins in the Bible? ›

In Mark 3:29 Jesus says that “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” Matthew's account adds that even blasphemy against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31–32).

What does the Bible say about cremation? ›

What does the Bible say about cremation? According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars.

What are religious signs and symbols? ›

Religious symbols are used to convey concepts concerned with humanity's relationship to the sacred or holy (e.g., the cross in Christianity) and also to the social and material world (e.g., the dharmachakra, or wheel of the law, of Buddhism).

What are the different signs and symbols used in the worship of God? ›

What important religious symbols are there in Christianity and what do they mean?
  • Cross. The Cross is the most important symbol of Christianity. ...
  • Fish. Sometimes you can see a fish attached to cars as a Christian symbol. ...
  • PX monogram of Christ. ...
  • Alpha and Omega. ...
  • Rainbow. ...
  • Vine and wine. ...
  • Lamb of God. ...
  • Candle.

What does God sound like when he speaks to you? ›

At times, the voice of God has been described as that of a parent (which could seem benign, benevolent, or terrifying, depending on what kind of relationship you've had with your parents). We are also told that God speaks in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).

What verse talks about asking God for signs? ›

Isaiah 7:11 In-Context

10 God spoke again to Ahaz. This time he said, 11 "Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything.

What are the 3 main symbols of Christianity? ›

They have also been used to conceal the identity of believers. Three important symbols are the cross, fish, and the Greek letters alpha and omega.

What are spiritual symbols? ›

Spiritual symbols: What is their true meaning? Which one suits you best?
  • The Tree of Life, a universal good luck charm. ...
  • The 7 Chakras, the harmony of the body. ...
  • The Christian Cross, between hatred and forgiveness. ...
  • The Lotus Flower, the flower of hope. ...
  • The Flower of Life, geometric perfection. ...
  • The Moon, the star of emotions.
Mar 16, 2023

What are the 3 religious symbols? ›

What are some examples of religious symbols?
  • Islam - Star and crescent.
  • Sikhism - Khanda.
  • Christianity - Christian cross.
  • Judaism - Star of David.
  • Hinduism - Om (or Swastika)
  • Buddhism - Wheel of Dharma.

What is the first symbol of God? ›

Alpha & Omega: These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, a symbol that God is first and last, the beginning and the end.

What is the symbol of God's power? ›

For example, Zeus, the king of the gods, was often depicted with a lightning bolt, which symbolized his power and authority.

What is God's name symbol? ›

The Tetragrammaton (/ˌtɛtrəˈɡræmətɒn/; from Ancient Greek τετραγράμματον (tetragrámmaton) '[consisting of] four letters'), or the Tetragram, is the four-letter Hebrew theonym יהוה‎ (transliterated as YHWH or YHVH), the name of God in the Hebrew Bible.

What is voice of God called? ›

In rabbinic Judaism, such a voice was known as a bat kol (Hebrew: בַּת⁠ קוֹל baṯ qōl, literally "daughter of voice"), and was a "heavenly or divine voice which proclaims God's will or judgment." It differed from prophecy in that God had a close relationship with the prophet, while the bat kol could be heard by any ...

What God calls clean? ›

Acts 10:13-15 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)

And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

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