It is common for people to say that God told them something, showed them something, or laid it on their heart. Using that language can be confusing to the hearer if you have no intention to describe personal revelation. The intention is often giving God the credit for any enlightenment or improving result. Rather than receiving the glory and recognition for a fruitful result, the person is merely attempting to give God the glory. However, if that is the intent, you might consider rephrasing your words for something like, “I felt a burden to pray for you… or to complete some activity.” You might say, “You were on my mind or heart.” What this communicates is that you don’t know for certain why you had the thought or felt compelled to act. God may or may not have been responsible for the thought and action. If I say, “The Lord taught me” or the Lord revealed to me….”, it may suggest that you were given new personal revelation outside a study of the Scriptures. This is different from saying, “That passage made me realize…”
Jim Osman offers some suggestions that I pass on to you and the thoughts contained in this blog are taken from the last chapter of his book “God Doesn’t Whisper”, p. 275-76).
- I felt convicted to ….
- I learned that …
- I was burdened in my heart ….
It is noble to credit God for good things that happen in our lives, but if we cannot support what’s in our mind by what is in the Word, then crediting that thought to God when it is not His would be a careless and dishonorable thing to do. Just because you claim to be a Christian and you get a strong urge or thought to do something doesn’t mean that God gave it to you.