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Originally Posted by Trapped
This is a hard one to answer because the only way I have to express it is using LC terminology and phrases that people have used my whole life to describe their own experience. All I can say is that I haven't experienced what they describe. Of course, in saying that, I am taking it on faith that what THEY are describing is truly the Lord and not something else that isn't the Lord. It's possible that in itself is part of the problem because maybe it lends itself to me expecting something about the Lord that is poorly described, but here goes. I'm going to start off by free typing out as many phrases as I can that come to mind that describe an experience of the Lord:
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The Lord spoke to me / the Lord said.....
I was so convicted that.....
The Lord showed me / shined on me....
I felt like the Lord was leading me to.....
He really comforted me in my situation.....
I felt the inward anointing.....
I had the life and peace to......
The Lord applied the soothing oil to my wounds......
All my mental turmoil vanished and peace reigned.....
The Lord helped me to forgive.....
The Lord came in.....
Jesus appeared to me and I've never been the same.
I touched the Lord this morning.
I spent time in His presence.
I approached the Holy of Holies.
I saw Him in His glory.
I received a controlling vision.
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What on earth do any of those mean? I haven't experienced them. It's not for not trying. It's not for not opening. It's not for not giving Him plenty of chances. But everyone around me seems to be pretty confident in what they are saying. Am I crazy? Or are they crazy?
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I've come to distrust those that make claims you listed. To me it sounds narcissistic ; like, 'Look at me, or listen to me, I'm the center of what God is doing.' Lee was a master at that.
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Originally Posted by Trapped
I have also asked about people saying they have a conversation with the Lord.
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While in the LC I developed a habit of an internal dialogue with God. The habit continued after leaving, even after letting go of all the rest.
Years later it dawned on me that my habit wasn't a dialogue. It was a monologue, as I did all the talking. Then I thought, if I had a friend, that I talked to every day, and he didn't talk back, or even acknowledge that he even heard me, I'd conclude that my friend was deaf, dumb, and mute.
So for a year or so I went around telling others that I thought God was deaf, dumb, and mute.
That didn't kill the habit. I can't live without my invisible friend. And oddly, when I look back over the years I feel led by God, but didn't know it at the time ... tho sometimes it felt like it ... leading in opposite ways from what I expected ... often pulling the rug out from under where I placed faith in other than God Himself ... like the dead letter Bible.