The more I mature as a Believer, the more time and energy I focus on seeking God in the Scriptures instead of searching for external signs.

I'm a minister of over 30 years and a total of 52 years a Christian. I've experienced and witnessed different events in my life that I can only attribute to the direct action of God. No I do not look for signs as my walk is by faith but I cannot deny those times of the miraculous. God knows where I am and what I need.

When I was a baby Christian I would seek God's advice on every decision I needed to make. Over the years and as I've studied the Bible I've come to realize that not everything needs His guidance, especially when you know his nature.

From my experience when God gives you a sign it will be VERY clear. He is not the author of confusion. I have also noticed He will usually give me the same word or sign two or three times in a day, and it almost always involves scripture. After coming out of new age I am super careful regarding “signs”! The demonic realm is happy to give you signs too and completely mess with your life. Discernment is key!

Maybe I'm projecting, but I think that many times we seek some sort of "sign" from God, so that when we don't get the results we WANT, we can blame God rather than human frailty and, perhaps, a series of unwise choices.

"Christians controlled by self ambition will usually pray about God's will after they have decided a matter and are looking for His confirmation" From the book Spiritual Warfare by Karl Payne

Loved this video; we're often seeking afirmation rather than confirmation. Loved when you said "when we are constantly looking for outside signs we are not relying on the word of God".

When I was 19, I "put out a fleece" about entering into a relationship with someone with the intent of marriage. I spent time in the Word, and prayed for several hours, and wrote out my prayer in my journal. I asked Jesus that if He was for this relationship to begin and end up in marriage, that exactly one month from that date, this guy in CA would ask to visit me in CT. I also asked that if God was against our relationship, that one month from that date, I would receive a hand written letter in the mail, saying he just wanted to be my friend. That whole month, I prayed the same prayer every day, and lived in the Word and didn't tell A single person about my "fleece". At one point, my older sister, who had never met this guy, told me she had had a dream about my future husband, and exactly described him, to a tee. I didn't get my hopes up, didn't tell her anything about him, but tucked that info in my mental pocket and continued to pray. A month to the day from that exact date I prayed the prayer, he asked permission to visit and begin a relationship. We'll have been married ten years this coming July. (Also, later, my sister eventually saw a picture of him - gasped - asked who it was - and said that was who she saw in her dream. I'm not sure I really trust that she hadn't seen him online before and forgot, which is why I never banked on it as a "sign", but if it really happened as she said, it's cool to think about) I have since matured and grown in my walk with Jesus and in my understanding of theology and the Word, so I don't use fleeces like this anymore. But I still know that I know that God lead us together and that He was gracious to me in my young, childlike understanding of Him.

Whenever I'm praying for something big or really upset or crying out for a sign, I'll hear a bible verse in my head like Matthew 5:9. Just the book, chapter and verse that I often can't even remember. Every single time the verse ends up being amazingly accurate. Other things I constantly test against the word.

I'm guilty of neglecting God's word. Please pray for me to get into God's Word daily.

After I was born again, it felt like everything was "speaking to me," everything was jumping out at me. It was so intense I felt like I was going crazy. It was actual kinda scary. Four years later, and things have definitely settled down. I'm still learning.

I need a home mine flooded. We have been living with my in-laws and they are not Christian at all. In fact my father in law says Gods name everyother word. We've tries sharing Jesus and they just say don't preach at us. So we try to live out Christ and be an example. We don't have the financial means to buy right now but God! He can make a way where there is no way. I don't walk around looking for signs. I just pray and try to be content where he has me now. Please pray for my family and more than that my in-laws. That God would open their eyes to truth! Just looking to signs will lead you down a destructive path! Pray wait and have faith and hope! Your videos are so good you explain things so well! I can't rely on anyone but God!

Melissa: “You guys are all human, i hope” My dog watching: 👁👄👁

The Gideon story is exactly what comes to mind with this stuff. The main difference is God and Gideon worked out the signs together and confirmed them. When I was looking for signs from God (back in High School) I was picking a sign on my own, confirmed it on my own, and then make my decision based on the sign that only I had ever approved. Of course God doesn't honor that! It was a deal between me and me, and I probably could have found a better way to reason out the choices than flipping a coin type stuff.

I was hesitant to watch your videos Melissa because I was afraid you were going to be someone who tries to teach but doesn't read or study their Bible much. I'm glad to say you have been such a blessing. Nothing makes me happier than seeing brothers and sisters being submissive to God's word and teaching truth! Thank you

I received a text from a friend this morning that contained the same scripture I was studying last night. I take this as a sign God is telling me there's something important in this scripture for me.

People don't realize that looking for signs is a form of Paganism. I use to do this as well in my early walk with the Lord. I'm glad you did a video about this because people don't know what they don't know.

There is a saying that goes - You find whatever it is you're looking for'

I am learning to wait on the Lord. I live on disability and I can't just go out and buy furniture. I moved back to my hometown 5 years ago and was blessed enough to buy a house with a huge down payment (cashed out my meager 401K), and have a ten year mortgage, Unfortunately I had no furniture for the den. I had to wait on God for timing, opportunity and funding. I communicated with friends and family about my prayer life. When I least expected it, some friends of mine sent me a text with a picture of some furniture I needed (it was used, but in great shape). It was available at a Habitat center for a fraction of the cost of new furniture. I am still waiting for other furniture I need and I am confident God will send it my way.

So true, it's crazy how after being a Christian my whole life and seriously studying the Bible and prioritizing my relationship with the Lord, I still wait on unrealistic 'signs' from Him and have not truly been making decisions waiting on Him. Was exactly what I needed to hear at this season in my life.

I pray long prayers every night. I pray often for others I care about to find Jesus or yo become more than lukewarm. Asking God to soften their hearts and let the Holy Spirit. Although it can take days, months or years. When they ask me questions about Christ, I am overjoyed. I used to always seek external signs or immediate results whenever I prayed for something and I would be a little bummed out if I didn’t get any. But He knows better than I. Patience is important regardless of what you’re praying for. Thank you for the wonderful video God bless 💕

I’m less than 4 min in and I’m so grateful already for this video. My husband and I have some big (potential) changes ahead. We want to be sure our will is aligned to God’s. We’ve seen countless times how maybe our hopes/actions were on the right track, but our methods or timing were out of whack. God has always blessed the process, through the difficulties, failures and successes. So we are taking our time in making these huge decisions. Last night he prayed for just guidance in God’s will. He was stressing about a particular decision and weighing how much the “stress” was caused by the actual circumstances, or by his overthinking. This morning, his supervisor out of nowhere pulled him in to encourage him in a related situation. We’re taking it simply as an answer to prayer in that it helped my husband sort out his frustrations and emotions with these work-related decisions. We aren’t taking it as an “end-all-be-all stamp of approval” from God, but as an answered prayer for this particular detail. We have learned the hard way not to jump down a road based on one positive instance or answer to prayer. It’s one step at a time, trusting God’s will and timing. AND the command to love God, love our neighbor and spread the Gospel does not change in the meantime. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

Patiently wait on Him. It wasn't till I stopped trying to fix everything myself after asking God and just left it in His hands that I saw His perfect and pleasing will unfold. My favourite thing to ask for is encouragement during the waiting. He is so faithful and creative in ways you don't see coming and often it comes in the form of a scripture from an unexpected source.

I was seeking God’s will for my life in a big decision. I realized I wasn’t even being faithful to follow the scripture. As I read, I began to see all over “Do X, for this is the will of God” and it changed everything for me. I pray more to be obedient to do His will over knowing His plan for me.

For me as I go through this Christ walk, I’ve noticed Biblical wisdom will come into my heart and be a litmus test to whatever I’m praying about. It’s crazy how in that, God reveals if something I’m seeking is in His will or not. It motivates me to read His word even more.

Perfect timing with this video on 22.2.22 when people are looking for a mystic meaning behind this date! Thank you!

You hit the nail on the head at the 11:36 - 12:09 marks of the video. Thanks for speaking on this topic, Melissa!

I really appreciate this teaching because I’ve been a believer for almost 20 years and I’ve never received a “sign from God”. As a new believer, that made me feel invisible to my Lord, and even question my faith. Whenever I would seek a sign from God, any answer I got didn’t feel any different than my own desires and or intuition…which can definitely be a problem, if I’m trusting my own heart as Gods wisdom and will. Fact is, all the “signs” we need have been given to us in the Scriptures. Broken down, the seeking of signs reminds me a lot of the law of attraction teaching…if I’m looking for something to affirm a decision, it’s highly likely that I’ll find something to affirm my heart desires! That’s just not God, and even denies His sovereignty. If we know His Word, we learn His will for us. That’s enough for me today!

Signs and wonders are really for the unbeliever, and should follow the believer. We are to test everything, as not everything is from God. Great video, Melissa.

From my own walk with God and growing I have found immaturity in God the biggest enemy to really understanding God's Word as our guide and answer to the questions of what His will is for us. Either specifically in certain decisions but more importantly how we walk daily, weekly, monthly and overall period. A way of life in God that is more and more according to His Word just simply transforms us in the way we even first view decisions and then go about deciding. God does not always specifically tell us what we are to do in our decisions/choices but instead His Word helps renew our minds so that our choices are more in line with how He wants us to conduct our lives in the first place.

Yes so good! It so important to grow in hearing the voice of the Lord & thats through intimacy. Sometimes we can filter his voice through our desires/flesh, thats why community and mentors is SO valuable in your life. 9 Years ago, I was diagnosed with severe PTSD, anxiety, depression and was at the lowest point of my life and I was able to heal through the power of Jesus, and holistic practical methods

I can relate to this SO much, I used to always be this way....very well said sister 🙏💜

✝I have dealt with this my whole life growing up in the Word of Faith church. Living for any tiny sign via still small voice, dream, word of knowledge, etc. Funny how God's will seems to only line up with "their" desires. Stay blessed sister!

Wow… all I can say is, I’m nearly speechless - I really needed this video today, as I’ve been doing exactly what you mentioned here, seeking signs from physical aspects in my life regarding major decisions. I prayed & prayed & prayed that God would show me that way, but it seems to have not brought me any real peace. I continued to struggle very deeply until I watched this, Melissa Dougherty. I know now, this is going to change my perspective on what I’m doing, and I’ll actually dive head first into my Bible today, to listen to what HE has to say in his word, rather than just looking at the outside world in front of me for signs and wonders. God bless you, thank you, Amen… 🙏

Good video. I've been a believer for approx. 40 years having come to the Lord as a young man. As we seek God and test our walk with Him in getting to know Him and how He does things, I found myself asking for signs to help with decisions. After a time I realized this wasn't the way the Lord prefers to communicate with us. After all the enemy can very easily show us the signs that we are looking for, how do we know it is the Lord? Walking with the Lord for 2/3rds of my life I realized that 99% of the decisions we need to make and the direction we seek is in the scriptures. More often than not I don't need to ask God for direction as He has already given His direction through scripture or has revealed His nature through scripture and therefore I can anticipate His Will. Like in a marriage where you know your spouse so well you don't really need to ask their opinion on something, you know what they would say. Occasionally I will 'hear' His voice in my heart but even then it usually points me to scripture for the answers.

Well I do think God is talking to me by making this video pop up on my screen exactly when i need it😂😂😂thank you Melissa, thank you Jesus

I use to constantly do that. Thank you for sharing this video. Today I’m really just sticking to the Word of God for direction and no more signs!

I never thought about relying on signs as not relying on God, but you're SO right!!! Thanks for making this video!!!

Regarding the car thing, it reminds me of when the disciples cast lots to see which disciple was going to replace Judas. They were like “Which of these two do you want, Lord?” When in reality God had Paul, someone completely unknown to them at the time.

There's one particular reoccurring "sign" that I see ALL THE TIME, and I've been seeing it ever since I got saved. I know it's from the Lord, but it doesn't tell me what to do or how to live my life. Instead, the sign is more of a reminder that He's near, He's mindful of me, and He loves me. I think that's different than taking a fleeting emotion or random coincidence as a sign to take action in a particular way.

I love how you gesticulate with your hands! Hahaha

God has given me several signs in my dreams. I asked for guidance, and He always surprises me. I let God’s signs come to me.

How freaky is it that I've been struggling with this very thing lately and then you make a video about it. God is definitely using you.

Thank you I needed this today!

Thank you, Melissa. I so appreciate your thoughts on these types of things. Thank you for pointing us to objective truth and the real God.

Very excited to see you post! Thank you very much for this!

Thank you for this!!!

Thank you Mrs. Dougherty, I needed this video for the situation I'm in. I'm currently a sophomore college student who has been considering transferring schools for some time now. However, I found myself recently looking for 'signs' from God as opposed to trusting in His Word and His timing. This video helped set me straight. Have a great day!

Another great message, Melissa! Thanks!

Great insight, Thank you Melissa!

YAY!!! Always excited to watch your videos!!! God talks to us in many ways. Not just vocally.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom. God Bless you! 🙏🏼

I have learned that when you don't stay in scripture, the prince of darkness will put all kinds of "signs" in your life to push you to the wrong thing. he's good at that. Keep God, scripture, practice patience and keep praying before making a decision, especially a big one. Patience should only reinforce things if it's God's will. If ever you're afraid of losing someone or something by being patient, then it's not God's will. It's just not.

The rule of wait....ha...I love that!! You already said it though Melissa, it's being in the word and learning it and knowing what God's saying through it. Thank you for all your hard work!! I've shared your videos with people at our church, my preacher as well.

Thank you for this. I think God might have spoken to me through you just now. You said something about us thinking God doesn’t love us because he’s not blessing us with an experience and that was something I said the other day. So thanks!

Always want to look at Scripture for decisions AND prayer... and waiting! Thanks for the insight about Scripture and "signs".... AND not relying on signs alone that line up with what we want!

Another great video Melissa! Excellent topic.

Melissa, thank you for your videos. I feel that they are very applicable and I appreciate it💕

Spot-on as usual, Melissa.

Fantastic video!! An excellent and easy way to explain it. Thank you 🙂

So refreshing to listen to you! How thoroughly examined and articulated!

You do a great job teaching GOD words I really learn a lot from you.

Most excellent video. I appreciate the Bible reading encouragement! I've been and will continue to pray for you and your family. Many blessings always!

This is good stuff. I talk about these issues on my channel too, and I'm glad to see a sister out there having this conversation!

Yes I agree with you thank you so much for this Video l love it 👏🏾❤️

Signs, signs, everywhere there is SIGNS!! I seek the Lord through his word! He guides me with his Holy Spirit that flows through me. I used to look above for signs, do you hear me Lord? Waiting for a shooting star to fall! Or an Eagle flying in the air was a sign from God that I need to be strong. I look at all things now as God the creator, instead of the creation. Have a relationship with him and you will see his word come alive in you. Be blessed! Thanks Melissa❤️🙏🏼✝️

This is such an amazing and timely discussion to have!!!!!!!!!

These videos are so helpful Melissa

I think the perspective video with the 6 and the 9 and this video have been two of my favorites! Solid stuff! It's just the type of stuff I am always thinking about. Great videos to share if trying to help someone get grounded. Great job 👍

The words vain imaginings comes to mind.

This video has been such a blessing to me. Compulsively searching for signs is an issue that I’ve really struggled with and that has caused me a lot of pain. Thanks so much!

Great! Thanks for sharing this wisdom that is biblically solid.

Great video!! I used to be a "sign seeker" and it led me down a bad and innacurate path.

Very good Melissa..

I'm really enjoying your videos! I just recently discovered you. Thanks for your outreach and standing publicly for truth. I am very inspired!

this video really helps thank you

This is a great edifying informative discussion or podcast what ever people call these things these days I totally agree with this as being some thing that if we’re not careful… and that only way is to keep your face in the word thank you for sharing!

Thank you so much

Good teaching Melissa

Praying that second friend of yours comes back to full trust and faith in God. Good video; thanks!

Melissa give us wisdom as usual. Keep up the great work. Your video is very important because so many people misunderstand basic common sense concepts that when things don’t go their way they blame God. You are warning them to use wisdom and I hope they hear you.

This reminded me of the song Symbols and Signs by Beautiful Eulogy! Great video!

Thank you, you're awesome. I also in maturity just all around, rest more. He is in control. The more I rest in that, the more I stop looking, striving, trying. And the more peace and trust I gain and the more I see Him in my life.

This video is so good!!! I definitely used to look for signs and listen for God in the wrong places.

Great video and important to think about when consulting with the Lord. I definitely want to reflect on scripture and consider God's character before prayer. God bless Melissa!

Awesome as usual

Thank you SO much for this video. The last two years I have slowly transitioned out of the prosperity gospel and I am re learning the real truth of the gospel. Your channel has helped me learn so much. I am so thankful for your wisdom and for speaking the truth. I have been asking God recently and praying on how I know something is from Him and this video has really helped. Thank you!

this was good teaching, Melissa. Thanks. /Bklyn👑

Love how you think.

Thank you sister, I was struggling with this, this video was confirmation. I am aware of that sometimes God may use creation to give signs but I've been struggling with overdoing it where everything was not from God but I would consider it as a sign from God regardless and it was breaking me, I agree that it does not happen as often as most people make it to be. God bless you

Another great video, Ms Melissa! I wish you would do a video on the top ten things you should ask a Catholic (from the popular book) from a Protestant viewpoint. Take care, be safe, & God bless!

I know this video is mostly meant as a caution for people to not see signs where there are none, but as someone who tends more toward the opposite extreme, it actually helped confirm something God really did recently tell me. :) Thanks for your content.

I like you a lot. Yes I luv that conversation between Jesus and Thomas " Because you have seen you have believed "

Another much needed message in prompt time. Thank you! ❤ paraphrases: when the "signs" contradict God's word in the scripture, we should disregard them. when we follow "signs", we are relying on ourselves not on the authority or wisdom of God, that's a lot of pressure and it's really serious. true sayings!

Early on my dad taught me that the Bible was the LIVING Word of God, which means those words we have on paper, that were once Greek parchments or some other language going further back, are so filled with HIM that when anyone who believes in Jesus reads them, they make sense out of their lives then and there, no matter what they are going through. Also, I learned that to wait upon the Lord has the same connotation as that of a waiter or waitress waiting on an important person at their table. Our important person is Jesus, and we are to wait on Him, "Did you get a menu?" "May I get you something to drink while you look over the menu?" Our waiting is making sure HIS needs are met, then being still until He acts. Then we will be willing to do whatever He asks.

Good Video Melissa, For me I pray whatever the need is and knowing Jesus's love just wait for His answer while my faith holds on to the promise of His Words. No signs needed. Just His love.

Thank you

I don't know anything about how, but your videos color look amazing and on top of that you give good Christian knowledge thank you

Thank you for the video. This is an important topic, especially as we see mystic practices continue to invade the church. One of the best books I’ve read, and highly recommend, related to this topic is “God Doesn’t Whisper” by Jim Osman.

I was a history major in college. In my research class, we were taught to be thorough, because the easiest thing to find is what you're searching for. If we found something that seemed to support our thesis, we should keep looking for things that might undermine it so that we don't make mistakes.