Good morning, David!
Ack, I agree with Aposphet - please please please take any and all forums with a very wary grain of salt. The internet does something to peeps' brains and social skills. I still haven't figured it out, yet. . .seems like people become cartoons and can come back from any damage on the internet as far as most seem to believe.
The Orthodox Church DOES hold that God can and does speak to one back. BUT they have very important guidelines on how to MAKE SURE this is God and not our own imagination or something much more sinister. It is not like the protestant church - that believes that all communication we are aware of in that still small voice is God. This was a hard pill for me to swallow - but it's a good pill, full of good antibiotic. Discernment is taken as not just a gift of the Holy Spirit, but also our responsibility. There is the Holy Spirit's stop and gift of awareness of something evil and then there is the wisdom we learn by becoming humble. That humility protects us.
I was afraid that if I didn't listen and prophesy when I received something that I'd be the one found guilty and condemned. What I'm learning is that God will not hold me in the negative if I tell Him that I'm not worthy (and mean it). And if I push the 'still small voice' away and ignore it for the sake of not being able to tell if it's my imagination (because I so NEED to hear from Him - as we all do) or His true voice - (and I need this because that still small voice has gotten me into trouble - because it was my own wishful thinking) then if it is truly HIM . . .He will show me with out a shadow of a doubt that His word is true in my heart and make it so that I CANNOT ignore it.
THIS is what the Orthodox Church, in her wisdom, wants to see. . .that the assumption that it is our own wishful thinking . . .but the openess to God that if it IS Him, and He makes it so apparent it cannot be ignored, THEN action taken on it. . .for the safety of the flock, ourselves, and those we love.
This also guards against pride - such a deadly thing. "Who made ME PROPHET??!" Yes, as St. Paul exonerates, I seek prophecy above all gifts. . .but I'm finding that the Holy Spirit is incredibly humble. He often encourages, upholds, does His stuff in a way that doesn't bring attention. . .it fits so solidly and smoothly into the normal events of life that no one really knows. What a gift to learn this! Because I fell horribly due to pride because of my 'walk'. God doesn't give you more than you can handle. . .and if it's attention getting. . .trust me. . .I know I can't handle it. . .I know few truly can. . . Moses, maybe. We're just not that strong this early in a true Christian walk. The elders who have been humbled over and over and over again are usually strong enough . . . and even then, they handle His true voice with fear and trembling.
So. . .please understand. . . that still small voice is definitely believed in. . .but a way of honest discernment is offered. . . and it is truly helpful. It was a jolt for me, at first, but I'm learning that His still small voice is actually stiller and smaller than what my understanding was. . .and it is truly different and so so beautiful from what I originally believed. . .and in that I can truly see that it was MY wishful thinking to hear that other voice in answer to my prayers. . .that other voice is so dangerous to our walks.
I hope this helps!
