How To Interpret Signs from God (Part 1)

How do you know if God is giving you a "sign" to do something, or to not do something?  If everything is going "your way," is that a "sign" that God is with you and blessing you?  And if nothing seems to be going your way, is that a sign that God is cursing you? 

At first I was going to go through every scripture that dealt with signs from God.  But then the Spirit showed me something that doesn't directly relate to signs from God, but gives a principle for interpreting signs.  Here it is:

For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.  But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
1Peter 2:19-20  (underlines mine)

Read the two verses above again.

Now imagine the two concepts I asked about earlier with two different kinds of men:

1. A good police officer.
2. A career criminal.

On one particular day in their lives:

• for the career criminal, everything is going "his way."
• and for the good police officer, nothing is going "his way."

The criminal is having a very good day committing crime.
The officer is having a very bad day stopping him, and other criminals.

Can the criminal say that God is giving him a "sign" that he is on God's side?
Can the officer say that God is giving him a "sign" to no longer be a police officer?

Imagine this.
When the criminal tries to get a good night sleep, he simply can't.  His conscience won't let him.  He has all of these dreams about dying in a gunfight with police, and he wakes up knowing he should give up his life of crime.


When the officer sleeps, he also has "nightmares," but his are discouraging and disheartening; demons taunt him and torment him with fear of dying in a gunfight. 

What's the difference between their "bad dreams" or insomnia?

Imagine once again.
After praying for a confirmation of his call to be an officer, the good officer receives a call to go to a house where there is a domestic dispute.  He goes to the house, solves the dispute, and the husband says these words, "It's clear you were meant to be a police officer.  You just saved our marriage." 

After praying to "whatever gods of thieves their may be," the career criminal sees the perfect opportunity for the perfect car theft:  A stupid woman leaves her car running and goes into the bathroom.  It's the easiest car theft ever!"

What distinguishes one "sign" from another in the life of the career criminal or the good officer?

Click HERE to find out.