lightbulbs

so ever since Lifeteams, the concept of listening to God has been floating around in my head. i don't mean actually hearing God's voice through my ears, because if i could do that then this concept wouldn't be a problem (probably because i would find myself in a mental institution). the concept that came up in Lifeteams and continues to plague me to this day is that of hearing God's voice through my thoughts. you know, like asking God questions and actually getting a response from God through what I'm thinking (something I'm told can be done). i was talking about this with a friend of mine yesterday, and through our conversation (or chat...or typing...whatever you call an msn convo), i had what i call a lightbulb experience...one of those moments when realization dawns and that little light in your head goes 'ding'. this is that realization (and i quote directly): "i don't doubt God...maybe it's just that I don't trust myself". that's it...can you hear the 'ding'? see this whole concept of listening to God revolves around knowing what is God's voice and knowing what is my own thought...deciphering the two can be tricky. i have spoken to others and have myself experienced times when we thought we were hearing God in our head, only to find out in the end that it was our own desires dictating what we heard. like i told my friend...i don't want that confusion. if i'm going to hear God...i want to be 100% sure that it is Him, and not me hoping that what I'm thinking is God and then finding out it was my own wants. okay, so what? is it absolutely vital for my faith that i know when God is speaking to me in my head? I guess whether i hear Him that way or not, it doesn't negatively affect my faith in Him, so i can honestly say that it is not vital. Like my friend said, "remember, faith pleases [God].. so he likes it better this way even if we don't." no, i hear God and see God working in so many other ways that speaks enough for me. but, i wonder...?