God does whatever HE likes.

[Classik]

I overheard a preacher saying: God does something for you...not because you asked for it - but because HE wants to do it. Scary? So my prayer can't change HIS mind, huh? :dunno


And how about people whose destinies have been thwarted by their own carelessness? And how about people who do it their own way - and succeed?

 

[Claudya]

God likes to see us in peace with ourselves and Him. So He will take care of our needs. It's just that God may have a different idea about what we really need than we have.

But we must get over the idea that we are somehow entitled of His gifts. Some people treat God like a vending machine: Throw prayers and good works into the coin slot and receive blessings in return. God isn't there to meet our needs. We are there to meet His needs. We are His property.
Yeah He does what He likes. We gotta learn to like what He likes.

 

[Classik]

This reminds me of the OT account. The people of Israel asked for a King and got a king.

 

[jasoncran]

I overheard a preacher saying: God does something for you...not because you asked for it - but because HE wants to do it. Scary? So my prayer can't change HIS mind, huh? :dunno


And how about people whose destinies have been thwarted by their own carelessness? And how about people who do it their own way - and succeed?

welcome to the mystery of Calvinism. What did you think that God doesn't know your need ere you ask? or that he didn't place that prayer on your heart?

 

[Classik]

welcome to the mystery of Calvinism. What did you think that God doesn't know your need ere you ask? or that he didn't place that prayer on your heart?

Danke!
However this makes me think self-will is impossible. Or...we can't ask for anything outside God's program for us...and whatever we ask has been destined by God...and placed on our hearts. God didn't cause the devil to sin.;)

 

[Deborah13]

This reminds me of the OT account. The people of Israel asked for a King and got a king.

So did God want them to have a king? What does scripture say?

 

[Deborah13]

I overheard a preacher saying: God does something for you...not because you asked for it - but because HE wants to do it. Scary? So my prayer can't change HIS mind, huh? :dunno


And how about people whose destinies have been thwarted by their own carelessness? And how about people who do it their own way - and succeed?

I don't know about your prayer or mine changing God's mind, but doesn't Scripture say that Moses appealed to God for the children of Israel and God repented?

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

I overheard a preacher saying: God does something for you...not because you asked for it - but because HE wants to do it. Scary? So my prayer can't change HIS mind, huh? :dunno


And how about people whose destinies have been thwarted by their own carelessness? And how about people who do it their own way - and succeed?

It is never as simple as we try to make it. Yes, God will grant answers to prayer we have either prayed once, or a myriad of times. Yes, God will answer prayer even when we haven't prayed! (An example: I was expecting a $400 refund on my educational grant this semester. Instead, Tuesday, I got $1100. Thursday, filling up my car, I noticed a split in my sidewall and the inner liner bulging out through it. I knew I needed tires, but had been planning on getting them next month. Now I couldn't wait, and thanks to God, who answered a prayer I hadn't even prayed, I was able to replace all four tires -- and on sale, too, which they would not be next month.)

We can thwart our blessings by acting worldly before God, taking the attitude that we do not have to be obedient, or rationalizing that "it isn't really sin." We may also find ourselves in a trial that we do not understand, thinking that, as we have been faithful and just and charitable, we don't deserve it. What is God doing in that case? For whatever reason, He is helping us grow in trust in Him. We don't understand it, until much later when, in a different situation, we see how His providence in giving us that trial now enables us to walk through this new one without anxiety or panic.

No, it is never as simple as we try to make it.

 

[Sparkey]

Verses Matthew 4:7 picture the character or conduct of love in marvelous rhapsody.

From Robertson's Word Pictures, additional references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (in blue):

• Suffereth long (makroqumei). Cf. James 5:7. suffereth: Proverbs 10:12 ; 2 Corinthians 6:6 ; Galatians 5:22 ; Ephesians 4:2 ; Colossians 1:11 ; Colossians 3:12; 2Timothy 2:25 ; 2Timothy 3:10; 2Timothy 4:2 ; James 3:17 ; 1 Peter 4:8
• Is kind (crhsteuetai). Gentle in behavior. is kind: Nehemiah 9:17 ; Proverbs 19:22 ; Proverbs 31:20 Proverbs 31:26 Luke 6:35 Luke 6:36 ; Ephesians 4:32 ; Colossians 3:12 ; 1 Peter 3:8
  2Peter 1:7 ; 1John 3:16-18 ; 1John 4:11
• Envieth not (ou zhloi). Bad sense of zhlo from zew, to boil, good sense in James 12:31. envieth: Genesis 30:1 ; Genesis 37:11 Matthew 27:18 ; Romans 1:29 ; Romans 13:13 2Corinthians 12:20 ; Galatians 5:21 Galatians 5:26 Philippians 1:15; 1Timothy 6:4 ; Titus 3:3 ; James 3:14-16 ; James 4:5 1Peter 2:1
• Love is neither jealous nor envious (both ideas).
• Vaunteth not itself (ou perpereuetai). From perpero, vainglorious, braggart (Polybius, Epictetus) like Latin perperus. It means play the braggart. Marcus Anton. V. 5 uses it with areskeuomai, to play the toady. vaunteth not itself, or, is not rash: 1Samuel 25:21 1Samuel 25:22 1Samuel 25:33 1Samuel 25:34 ; 1Kings 20:10 1Kings 20:11 ; Psalms 10:5 ; Proverbs 13:10 ; Proverbs 17:14 Proverbs 25:8-10 Ecclesiastes 7:8 Ecclesiastes 7:9 ; Ecclesiastes 10:4 Daniel 3:19-22
• Is not puffed up (ou pusioutai). To puff oneself out like a pair of bellows.
• Is not arrogant. See on James 4:6 .

Scriptures provided for ease of 'mouse-hover' reading.

It is good that God does whatever He likes. It is also good that we can trust Him in all things including our most intimate parts, those formed even from the womb and known by Him. What is this mystery? How can we be who we are as well as become who He wants us to be without compromising our very selves? Great is the mystery and power of our Lord who is beyond understanding in his mercy and loving kindness. Can He create us uniquely? Might I aspire to the shaping and fitting of the Holy Spirit and learn to trust Him utterly? Simply put, "yes".

 

[vocalyocal]

Yes it does. If ones heart is in the right place, and the right words are chosen to speak, God has been swayed by the words of man. (remember Lot?)

God does do what he wants, and...it's only scary if one is uninformed or lacking in faith I think. Remembering Gods love and grace for us is encouraging and brings joy to my heart. We are indeed his property, but he loved us so much that he gave His own son so that we may live. Brother, that's a LOT of love!

Yes the scriptures overwhelmingly suggest you can change the mind of God through prayer, and repentance 2 Kings 20:1-6 through prayer and through repentance Jeremiah 18:7-10

 

[Classik]

So did God want them to have a king? What does scripture say?

HE didn't! They didn't want God to rule over them.

 

[Classik]

I don't know about your prayer or mine changing God's mind, but doesn't Scripture say that Moses appealed to God for the children of Israel and God repented?

Seems it was a conditional statement. If, then, or etc...

 

[Deborah13]

HE didn't! They didn't want God to rule over them.

Yeah, the Godly judges and prophet weren't good enough, want to fit in with the world and have kings like the pagans did, I guess

 

[Deborah13]

Seems it was a conditional statement. If, then, or etc...

Yup, I think so but.......we can't not presume to know the mind of God, He will bless as He sees fit to His own end. However, He does make some promises in the NT just as in the OT. They're based on attitude and heart rather than laws.

sheesh sometimes I think I was a better speller in the third grade than now!

 

[Sparkey]

Yup, I think so but.......we can't not presume to know the mind of God, He will bless as He sees fit to His own end. However, He does make some promises in the NT just as in the OT. They're based on attitude and heart rather than laws.

Here's a link to another thread (in Christianity and Science) recently posted by one of my favorite authors (me). Buttercups and the Frozen Woolly Mammoth. The title seems off-subject but it does tie in with what you've said.

As far as side-tracks go, I do love the word-study for "Ek" in the Greek. Such a simple preposition, isn't it? "Out Of" (seen in the bottom right quadrant of the picture below)

Looking at "EK" and the word that translates "IF" together forms an illustration that unites the entire message. Do please check out the Mammoth thread for thoughts about "knowing the Mind of God."

Cordially,
Sparrow

 

[Deborah13]

Here's a link to another thread (in Christianity and Science) recently posted by one of my favorite authors (me). Buttercups and the Frozen Woolly Mammoth. The title seems off-subject but it does tie in with what you've said.

As far as side-tracks go, I do love the word-study for "Ek" in the Greek. Such a simple preposition, isn't it? "Out Of" (seen in the bottom right quadrant of the picture below)

Looking at "EK" and the word that translates "IF" together forms an illustration that unites the entire message. Do please check out the Mammoth thread for thoughts about "knowing the Mind of God."

Cordially,
Sparrow

Thank you for pointing towards your post of today. It's a very edifing post that all should read. Thought provoking and blessed.
I had read the Buttercup post.

 

[JCitoL]

I overheard a preacher saying: God does something for you...not because you asked for it - but because HE wants to do it. Scary? So my prayer can't change HIS mind, huh? :dunno


And how about people whose destinies have been thwarted by their own carelessness? And how about people who do it their own way - and succeed?

here is a matter of right orientation, because on the one hand there were till now people who need salvation/provision, whereas only the true God knows how and is able to implement/accomplish it best, but the prayer for this is a work of the spiritual servants/workers - the earnest believers

Blessings

 

[Sparkey]

Thank you for pointing towards your post of today. It's a very edifing post that all should read. Thought provoking and blessed.
I had read the Buttercup post.

Thank you, friend of the One we Love! That John 15:15 is the one I want to shout. "And as for YOU..." is the way John speaks in 2:27. It almost sounds like something Mom would say when I was in trouble. No.

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.