How can you know if God told you not to do something?

Answer 1

Opinion

For billions of Christians worldwide, prayer is a daily communication with God. Prayer is not simply talking with God but listening for his word. For some there have been claims that God talks to them directly. But for most Christians, God speaks to them in lots of subtle ways. "Come close to God and he will come close to you" James, jesus' brother tells us in his letter in the New Testament. Some may call it a 'voice of conscience' whilst others may glean something by the way someone else speaks or does something, or by sopmething they read. it seems that the easiest way of discerning whether or not God tells you to do something is whether or not what he tells you is contrary to scripture. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are the qualities of character God grows inside of those who have turned to him and have agreed, as James says, to 'come close' to him. It's more than mere spiritual or personal growth; it's God at work within a person. The Spirit is there to cause things to happen in peoples' lives that bring them more in tune with God's purposes on earth (and beyond). When the Spirit starts changing someone, it shows as a growth in character, a change in their way of life that is good for the people they live among. Those who hacve turned from God, or even deny his existence, cannot hope to understand just how these fruits make such a difference in a person's life. The fruits are (as described by Paul):

• love (agape);
• joy (chara);
• peace (eirene);
• patience (makrothumia);
• kindness (chrestotes);
• goodness (agathosune);
• faithfulness (pistis);
• gentleness (prautes);
• self-control (egkrateia).

So, if you want to know if God tells you to do something, if it falls outside of these qualities (such as being told to 'harm' someone) then you know that it ISN'T from God.

Answer 2

You would be very lucky indeed if you were able to communicate with God. For centuries, the most pious of Christians have sought to communicate with God. While legends have sometimes grown up around the ability of saints to receive messages from God, none of them ever referred to himself as having done so, in his own writings.

What you should look for is the voice of your own conscience. If that tells you that something is wrong, then you know not to do it. And if you wish to regard that as the voice of God, then so be it.

Answer 3

The Bible is the 'guidebook' for the ethics of all mankind. When you truly read it you will gain much needed knowledge helping you to form morals - principles of right and wrong. If you humbly pray for more understanding, even more knowledge will be discovered.