Annie12 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 So, I was wondering if I were to ask God for a sign and I revived that sign, would it be possible that God didn't give me the sign but the guy downstairs was trying to throw me off? I know this sounds very paranoid, but I am just curious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicsAreKewl Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 (edited) meh, I'd be careful about these sorts of things. It's human nature to look into situations closely and connect dots that aren't there. Successful psychics and mediums base their entire careers on exploiting this. I'm not going to discount the idea that one can experience something miraculous. I just think that a God would probably fix other things before answering this type of prayer. Edited July 10, 2013 by CatholicsAreKewl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
To Jesus Through Mary Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 St John of the Cross says it's a no-no to ask for signs for that reason (that the sign doesn't necessarily come from God). The only examples of signs being given in Scripture before the Incarnation and the Church. That the Lord have given us many means at leading us now outside of signs and sensible feelings. Accent to Mt Carmel is a pretty good read on the subject if you are curious. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 (edited) okay, I didn't know about this! Woah. Can you tell me more? Edit: In first post I wrote "revived" I meant received. sorry! Edited July 10, 2013 by Annie12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmilyAnn Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 As my old parish priest used to say, a sign is a sign when you think it's a sign. I'm not discounting that God can send us signs, but almost anything can be a sign if you take it that way - and if you're looking for one, chances are you'll find one pointing to what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oremoose Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 The novena to the little flower does the same for me... but meh this post does not forward the convo I am merely interested in the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 I feel like its tempting to ask for signs instead of trusting God. But, still, I don't want to trust a sign that goes against what I think God would be saying to me. Therefore, I err on the side of caution when it comes to signs. Signs just seems so vague... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 So, I was wondering if I were to ask God for a sign and I revived that sign, would it be possible that God didn't give me the sign but the guy downstairs was trying to throw me off? I know this sounds very paranoid, but I am just curious! CPR on a sign, this I gotta see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 lol! I corrected my self in a later reply which you can see above... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Bombay Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah. --Matt 16:4 So I guess if some guy shows up after spending three days in the belly of a large fish and tells you God is going to destroy you, you may safely take that as a sign. Otherwise, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
To Jesus Through Mary Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 So I guess if some guy shows up after spending three days in the belly of a large fish and tells you God is going to destroy you, you may safely take that as a sign. Otherwise, no. Props. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Echoing what others have said, sometimes a sign is just what we make of it or not. Part of why I've always been wary of asking for them personally, that and the verse Dr. Bombay quoted always makes me feel guilty. Personal experience wise though...back when I was a Baptist, I had never gone forward for baptism, despite believing. I told God I needed just one sign to be sure; I was going to summer camp and had never seen the stars without a city's lights before, and if at some point I could just see those stars, I'd go forward for baptism. I didn't get my sign. Two years went by and during that time, I often struggled with my faith and my fellow Baptists treatment of me. Summer camp came for a third time and as I was walking back to my cabin in the hot July evening around 1am, the lights around the camp just failed. Every single light turned off and I stared up at the sky and began to cry. I went forward for baptism the next week, because two years after asking for it, I got the sign I had wanted. But the question becomes...did God send me that sign, or did I wishful think it was a sign? Obviously, I thought and still think that it's the former, but people have every right to question if it was the latter. So I guess pray and use your own judgment is what my rambling is getting at! Sorry for taking the long way there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 So, I was wondering if I were to ask God for a sign and I revived that sign, would it be possible that God didn't give me the sign but the guy downstairs was trying to throw me off? I know this sounds very paranoid, but I am just curious! Signs are way overblown. Jason Evert has a great story concerning "signs": In college, I did a novena to St. Raphael the Archangel for discernment on a relationship. At the time, I was in school in Austria and my girlfriend was back in school in Ohio. I really wanted to marry her, and on the ninth day of the novena, as I said the word "Amen," the phone rang and it was her, just saying hi. I went through the roof, seeing this as divine providence . . . and she's now happily married to a friend of mine. So, while novenas can be a great spiritual gift, we can often misinterpret them to see what we're hoping for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximillion Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Signs, no. God will show you His Will for you if you listen attentively. I would say spend some time in silence, paying attention to the Holy Spirit, then see what arises 'naturally' in your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 St John of the Cross says it's a no-no to ask for signs for that reason (that the sign doesn't necessarily come from God). The only examples of signs being given in Scripture before the Incarnation and the Church. That the Lord have given us many means at leading us now outside of signs and sensible feelings. Accent to Mt Carmel is a pretty good read on the subject if you are curious. :) St. John of the Cross says everything is a no-no because it might be from the devil. But on this one, I'd have to agree with him. Now, if you have a proliferation of "signs" that you didn't ask for, of a great variety of types, well then, I'd start to think, maybe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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