A few months ago I got one of those drunken phone calls from a friend, who asked me "Does God ever speak to you?"
I asked him what he meant? He said "You know, like God speaks to you?"
I told him that I probably wouldn't recognize if it was God's voice or my own, so I don't remember God ever really saying anything to me.
He proceeded to tell me how God spoke to him, and said that he could hear God talking to him through God's voice in his head.
I asked him if God was speaking to him, why not ask God for the lotto numbers, or something useful! And, we laughed. But, he still insisted that God spoke to him and he could hear God's voice in his head.
Maybe God does speak to people. I wouldn't know because I've never heard His voice. I've heard my voice speaking to me in my head, and I really did believe that it was "God telling me something"... but I've learned that when I hear that voice... it's usually just my own voice, justifying something that I've been thinking or wanting. It has caused me lots of problems.
I often hear people say "God told me to do this... or God told me to do that." I wish I had that kind of direct line with God and I think it's great that other's seem to have it. I'm not one of them.
I also hear from AA members sometimes, who want my opinion about something regarding AA. My first question to them, is "Do you have a sponsor?" My next is "Have you asked your sponsor that question?"
Often, what's going on, is the person didn't like the first answer they got, and now they are seeking a second and third opinion... hoping they'll find someone who's answer is what they want to hear. And, I'm sure if we ask enough people, we will eventually hear what we want to hear... whether it's the right or wrong answer. I know. I did that myself when I was new to AA.
For some things in life, I'm very much pro "get as much information as you can get from all the qualified sources that you can get it, to reach what you hope will be an educated conclusion."
When it comes to AA, I'm just the opposite. And, in AA I do not consider myself as any sort of teacher, leader, or anything special in any way... I'm just another AA Member. That's our traditions.
When I have a question... I ask my sponsor. And, I don't go looking for second and third and fourth opinions. The answer that I get from my sponsor is the answer that God want's me to hear. That doesn't make my sponsor God. It just makes him the vessel that God uses to give me the answer to my question, and I trust that 1000 percent. It has never been wrong even once.
And, I'm a little extreme about that. If my sponsor said that my hair is green... even if I don't believe my hair is green... I would act as if my hair was green until I see it for myself. What would probably happen? A week or two later I might be painting something and have a can of green paint up on a ladder... I'd bump the ladder and the green paint would be in my hair. And, then, I'd remember, "Dang it, he's always right. I should have been watching more closely".
It's a long answer why I believe this way. So, I'll just keep it short and say that's how it works for me.
By the way... when I hear little voices or big voices in my head... I call my sponsor ASAP! Those voices can be very dangerous for me... and I know that I should NOT be listening to them. God, as I understand God, does not speak to ME through little voices in my head. If He did speak through little voices in my head... I wouldn't know when to tell if the voice is mine or Gods. And, I've got in lots of trouble before thinking it was God's voice instead of mine! If my sponsor couldn't help me get rid of the voices... he might have me go see a doctor about it.
I'm not saying that God doesn't speak to someone else that way. Usually, when a person that tells me that God speaks to them through the little voices... I prefer to change the subject.
Thanks for letting me share.
Dallas