Is God talking to you, or are you just listening to your own thoughts?

Every time I hear someone say that God spoke to them, to me, it translates to, "I thought of an idea that I wouldn't typically come up with. I had a realization. I thought for long enough to come to this conclusion.

"I talked to God about it and he told me to break up with my significant other because they aren't right for me."

"I talked to God about it and he told me that I'm better off at another workplace."

"I talked to God about it and he told me that everything will be okay eventually."

These are all conclusions that a person can come to on their own. Did God tell you to break up with them, or did you just realize on your own that maybe this person isn't right for you? Did God tell you to get a new job, or did you just realize that you weren't getting paid enough so it's time for you to search for a new opportunity for employment?

Most of the time, when God "speaks to someone," the statements that "he" speaks are either:

a.) What the believer wants to hear
b.) A conclusion that the believer has come to after thinking about the subject for a long time
c.) Something that the believer already knows subconciously, or consciously, but doesn't want to accept the fact that they know it.

I still think about a girl my age who told me that when she was still living with her abusive father, she prayed to God about it, and apparently God gave her a new father figure. She has been adopted by her kind, loving stepfather ever since. Good for her, but how many other young children endure her previous situation every day without having God gift them the same privilege she was gifted?

When something positive happens to a believer, it's the work of God. When something bad happens to a believer, it's the devil trying to test them. Belief in God seems like an easy way to avoid accountability for their own actions, or discredit the achievements of others or themselves. The doctor didn't save the dying patient, God did. You didn't put yourself out there and meet someone who you now call your significant other, God gifted them to you. You didn't realize that maybe this career path isn't for you so you chose another one, God chose it for you. God thinks you're special. God chooses to help you because he loves you, and a very select few people.

God seems to only answer to either the rich, popular, and fortunate, or those who work extremely hard to give themselves a good life despite their previous circumstances. God didn't do anything to improve your life: you did. Is the pattern clear? What is thought to be the work of God is usually just the work of one's own, or someone else's.

I think people should take accountability for their own actions and also give themselves or others credit when credit is due. No divine being is going to hand me, or anyone, anything.

Webmaster out.