Knowing It In Your Heart...vs...A Gut Feeling

[Edward]

I never thought about it before. Is having a gut feeling different than knowing something in your heart?
As in, I can feel it in my Heart...or...my gut says...blah blah blah. I have used both expressions at times in my life, but always sort of thought that it was the same thing sorta, just a different way to say it.

Weirdness and out of the blue, it occurred to me to consider that it is a different thing to have a gut feeling and to know something within your heart. I can think back to different times and see where I felt or knew different things that were outside of my mind.

Sometimes when someone says something, and it just has the ring of truth to it...you can feel it in your heart that it is true.
The Lord has spoken to my heart before. This is a different thing than when He has spoken to me and even conversed with me at times. Where I can hear Him in my mind.

And then there's having a gut feeling. I think we have all had those at times...I had a gut feeling that I shouldn't go to a particular place...I didn't. And later I found out that something bad happened there and if I had gone...I would have been hurt...

See what I mean? They are different. Right? Do you agree or disagree and why?

Everybody prolly already knows these things, I just seem to be a slow learner sometimes, lol.

 

[Michael74]

I had a gut feeling that I shouldn't go to a particular place...I didn't. And later I found out that something bad happened there and if I had gone...I would have been hurt...

It takes discernment to differentiate between things heard from the spiritual realm, and things dreamed up in our human minds. We should definitely pay attention when the Lord is speaking. Through words to our spirit, impressions, visions, etc...

 

[Christ_empowered]

discernment is a tricksy thing...I think it requires a touch from God and also personal discipline, to cultivate and sharpen it.

 

[sunflower]

I appreciate what others have shared here in that this is the gift of discerning of spirits. It comes from the Holy Spirit and is definitely biblical. Praying is very important as well as a sense of peace. All feelings are not necessarily from the Holy Spirit..they can come from our own feelings or from the unholy spirit. We can be assured that it not according to the Word of God..not from God. The scriptures are our guideline and guide posts.

 

[Who Me]

Is having a gut feeling different than knowing something in your heart?

I don't work by 'feelings' so don't understand all that you are saying.
What I would strongly urge upon you is to so know the bible and the principals in it that you can trust your 'feelings' as they will be filtered by a brain that is biased towards the bible.

 

[Christ_empowered]

ok...i do think God still communicates with His people. Scripture, properly interpreted, is the best criteria by which a Christian can judge...anything, really...possible promptings from The Holy Spirit included.

 

[Edward]

I don't work by 'feelings' so don't understand all that you are saying.
What I would strongly urge upon you is to so know the bible and the principals in it that you can trust your 'feelings' as they will be filtered by a brain that is biased towards the bible.

So are you saying that you reject intuition? Intuition is more than just feelings and has nothing to do with the reasoning and logic of the brain. In fact, scripture instructs us to not lean upon our own understanding because the carnal mind can not understand or receive the spiritual things of God.

 

[dianegcook]

My OPINION

Gut feelings can be wrong, sometimes they can be right.
Like most detectives have a gut feeling.
But when it comes to spiritual things,
It should line up with God's Word.
I was raised in a certain denomination from childhood,
I strayed as a teenager, as most do.
Later on started reading and studying for myself, listened to other folks view.
I had to put away what I was taught during my childhood.
I would disagree with some views, but, I tried to prove them wrong, but couldn't.
Then when I considered their view, it was like a light came on, Everything started making sense.
It was like reading the Bible in a different light.
It felt right in my heart.
It was like I was trying to cram a piece of puzzle in the wrong place, it wouldn't fit.
Kinda like, I was blind but now I see.

 

[Christ_empowered]

my opinion...

i think discernment is in part, God-given. I cannot recall the address, but Scripture teaches as much. I do not think God tells us to ignore our feelings, thoughts, etc., but...

we are to hold all thoughts captive to Christ...

and that ranges from the 'stuff' out there--philosophies, dogma, belief systems--to what we think+feel, keeping in mind: "the heart is deceitfully wicked above all else. who can know it?" not that one is to condemn all things coming from self, but...

caution is most strongly advised, obviously. oh, and...i didn't provide Scripture addresses, and my paraphrases arent always good, so...there's that.

 

[Who Me]

So are you saying that you reject intuition? Intuition is more than just feelings and has nothing to do with the reasoning and logic of the brain. In fact, scripture instructs us to not lean upon our own understanding because the carnal mind can not understand or receive the spiritual things of God.

intuition/gut feeling in a person ignorant of Gods word is as likely to be because that person realy wants to do that thing as to be guidance from God.

Yes proverbs tell us not to lean on our own understanding in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.

Well part of trusting in the Lord is in knowing his word( the bible) so well that it is the bible and not the media, horoscopes, friends or any other influences on how one makes dessisions.

 

[dianegcook]

my opinion...

i think discernment is in part, God-given. I cannot recall the address, but Scripture teaches as much. I do not think God tells us to ignore our feelings, thoughts, etc., but...

we are to hold all thoughts captive to Christ...

and that ranges from the 'stuff' out there--philosophies, dogma, belief systems--to what we think+feel, keeping in mind: "the heart is deceitfully wicked above all else. who can know it?" not that one is to condemn all things coming from self, but...

caution is most strongly advised, obviously. oh, and...i didn't provide Scripture addresses, and my paraphrases arent always good, so...there's that.

Amen
Your gut feelings sometimes lead to the heart.


1Cor.12:10
To another discerning of spirits....

 

[for_his_glory]

As a child of God I think what we call our gut feeling is that of the Holy Spirit either convicting us or giving us directional guidance to make a right choice.

One also has to factor in the discerning of spirits for some instances. The best thing would be to pray and ask for guidance as feelings can be deceiving at times.

 

[JLB]

my opinion...

i think discernment is in part, God-given. I cannot recall the address, but Scripture teaches as much. I do not think God tells us to ignore our feelings, thoughts, etc., but...

we are to hold all thoughts captive to Christ...

and that ranges from the 'stuff' out there--philosophies, dogma, belief systems--to what we think+feel, keeping in mind: "the heart is deceitfully wicked above all else. who can know it?" not that one is to condemn all things coming from self, but...

caution is most strongly advised, obviously. oh, and...i didn't provide Scripture addresses, and my paraphrases arent always good, so...there's that.

Yes, well said.



Also consider that discernment is developed or cultivated with maturity.



For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14


Key Verse:

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.




JLB

 

[Nathan12]

Is having a gut feeling different than knowing something in your heart?

They are not exactly the same, but there may be times when they are. A "gut feeling" is what is intuition or instinct or a sixth sense. It is very real and should not be ignored, especially in times of danger.

But knowing something in your heart (if you are a Christian) is different. It is conviction born of faith in God, Christ, and His Word.

 

[Who Me]

Your gut feelings sometimes lead to the heart.

Or be ones wanting to do something sinful and be how one deludes oneself into doing what is evil.

We are told to test the spirits by scripture.

That includes our own spirit and desires.

We measure everything by the bible and not by our sinful cravings.

 

[Nathan12]

We measure everything by the bible and not by our sinful cravings.

"Gut feelings" (intuition, the sixth sense) may not necessarily be about sinful cravings. They could be about the perception of evil or danger approaching a person.

 

[Chopper]

I never thought about it before. Is having a gut feeling different than knowing something in your heart?
As in, I can feel it in my Heart...or...my gut says...blah blah blah. I have used both expressions at times in my life, but always sort of thought that it was the same thing sorta, just a different way to say it.

Weirdness and out of the blue, it occurred to me to consider that it is a different thing to have a gut feeling and to know something within your heart. I can think back to different times and see where I felt or knew different things that were outside of my mind.

Sometimes when someone says something, and it just has the ring of truth to it...you can feel it in your heart that it is true.
The Lord has spoken to my heart before. This is a different thing than when He has spoken to me and even conversed with me at times. Where I can hear Him in my mind.

And then there's having a gut feeling. I think we have all had those at times...I had a gut feeling that I shouldn't go to a particular place...I didn't. And later I found out that something bad happened there and if I had gone...I would have been hurt...

See what I mean? They are different. Right? Do you agree or disagree and why?

Everybody prolly already knows these things, I just seem to be a slow learner sometimes, lol.

I believe that you are right on! I have read different articles on "rely on your kidneys". I see that those articles are what you're writing about. Go for it!

 

[Edward]

They are not exactly the same, but there may be times when they are. A "gut feeling" is what is intuition or instinct or a sixth sense. It is very real and should not be ignored, especially in times of danger.

But knowing something in your heart (if you are a Christian) is different. It is conviction born of faith in God, Christ, and His Word.

Now that is what I think. I know they are different because I have been paying attention.
I'm not able to put a finger on it specifically about, just what is this gut feeling? Mere intuition, a sixth sense, or instinct? Could it be our spirit communicating with us? Is it a spiritual sense for us?

Now you said, they are not the same, but there may be times that they are...that is interesting, and gives me pause, I (*think*) that maybe at times, they do become one, or maybe it is them coming into agreement about something?! I'll have to chew on that one...

There is no doubt that we have spiritual senses, scripture speaks of them. I am pretty sure that the Lord speaks directly to our heart at times. Other times He has spoken to my mind and put thoughts or scriptures into my head. Once, He spoke audibly to me. So He speaks to us in different ways at different times...We do know that the Holy Spirit bears witness (speaks) to our spirit. We can't hear this.

But would it make sense that our spirit has to be able to speak or otherwise communicate with us? I think it does. So could our gut feelings be our spirit talking to us?

 

[Edward]

I believe that you are right on! I have read different articles on "rely on your kidneys". I see that those articles are what you're writing about. Go for it!

Thanks Brother!

I wonder if these things can be a part of what is described in scripture as...becoming as a little child to receive? Our carnal mind can not receive or understand the things of God...so we have to receive them in a different way. Not with logic or reason, so...how? An unseen way. Intuition, imagination...the (not natural) ways of receiving info are somewhat poo-pooed to us as if they are not real...

But of course they would teach us this to lead us off the track. And we are instructed to look to the unseen and to exercise our senses. Little kids do that naturally I think, lol.

The Father speaks to Jesus...Jesus speaks to the Holy Spirit...the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirits...so then our spirit speaks to us somehow?

 

[Edward]

One thing I think is a little weird...

I have talked on here before about the Lord Pings my spirit sometimes when I am watching a video, to let me know that what I am watching is true...
But that is not the same as knowing it in my heart as I have described in this thread. SO there's a distinction there too.

It's very hard for me to describe how it feels when the Lord has pinged my spirit.