Comments for Wrestles with God

Comment on Forcing things and handing over power by Andy

Andy — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:05:53 +0000

I think maybe they are. I’ve been going through an experience in which I felt had to give up control to God, and I think I have done that a fair bit. Meanwhile I’ve been using a bible study booklet and reading the bible every morning, which has made me feel a little “closer” to God, even though I don’t feel I’ve had much experience of him, or gained any significant insights from it.

How about you?

Comment on Forcing things and handing over power by Midge

Midge — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:32:51 +0000

How are things since you wrote this article? Any different?

Comment on Prayer for Congo by ok

ok — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:59:37 +0000

God is simple.

He only has 1 will: our all Good.

All of evil is done by humans, being difficult (crying “no” to doing good things).

God is the only one being able to transform Evil in Good. This is *His* *very* *job*.

Is a simple “thank You” asking for too much?

Comment on Forcing things and handing over power by Andy

Andy — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 07:47:36 +0000

I totally agree about not knowing what God wants. In this context I was preventing even the possibility of following him by my general attitude of taking the power over my life for myself. Once I give up the power to him I then have the problem of what he actually wants. To some extent if we intend to do what he wants but make a mistake I think we can trust he will turn us around?

Comment on Forcing things and handing over power by Midge

Midge — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:47:14 +0000

What I struggle with, in the idea of giving power over my life back to God, is knowing whether I am following God’s will or my own. I certainly don’t want to reserve parts of my life for myself, but it can be a struggle to discern what is and what isn’t obedience to God, for someone like me who doesn’t have strong intuitions of “God’s guidance” and “calling”.

For example, if some people say you would be most useful for the kingdom if you worked overseas in a gospel-centred job, is it wrong to decide you’d rather settle down and start a family here? What do we make of the verses about investing our talents (which in the parable didn’t mean what we call talents today, but as an amount of money, represented stewardship over something), and “from those to whom much is given, much will be demanded”? Does that mean most of us are falling ridiculously short in our commitment to the gospel?

Do we always have to choose the most difficult thing, or the thing we don’t like? If not, how can we ever be sure we’re not just persuading ourselves that what we prefer is really want God wants?

As Wave says on a later article, “love God and do as you will”. And I suppose there’s the verse “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?” (Romans 14:4), i.e. it’s between you and God. And we need to be aware of our own tendencies – some people tend to be too harsh on themselves, and others don’t challenge themselves enough. It’s all part of learning to know God better.

Comment on Blessed (and Cursed) by God by Midge

Midge — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:13:57 +0000

“try living in the world and viewing it for awhile under the assumption that God DOESN’T exist.”

That’s a very interesting point. Some people seem convinced that God is at work. Then there are others, such as someone who posted on here years ago, who said that it made no difference when he stopped thinking about God existing and acting in the world.

Then there’s people like me who struggle to believe God is there but find the world without Him is a miserable place.

Comment on Blessed (and Cursed) by God by Wave

Wave — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:28:42 +0000

Really interesting thoughts to take you thinking about the curse and blessing of knowledge. Kinda reminded me of the garden of Eden. Interesting that if I put myself in Adam’s shoes I think he may of said something similar but from a more physical view point!

I really love guilty expressions and although I dip in and out it never ceases to challenge my understanding of God through His relationships with others. Thanks for posting.
~

Comment on Prayer for Congo by Wave

Wave — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:20:52 +0000

I don’t have much to add to this conversation but I did want to say thank you for posting your views. This is a fascinating area. You have both opened my eyes a little.

I must confess if asked – my motto is “love God and do as you will”. This conveniently bypasses the slave or servant (theological) issue and goes straingnt to action.

I guess for me the question is not slave or servant but He exists and is in a relationship with me so what am I going to do now?

Again thanks for this thread.
~

Comment on Forcing things and handing over power by Wave

Wave — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:25:43 +0000

Powerful stuff. Thank you for your boldness in sharing such personal information.
This is clearly an area where Christianity becomes personal. Do we crumple, give up, fade out or do we stand up again and get ready for the next blow!
For me I have no way of denying God because He has been too real to me in so many ways. I am only left with the stand up option. However, I find the blows have got much harder in some ways and softer in others as my relationship with God moves on (forward I hope).

Really good article – thanks
~

Comment on Prayer for Congo by Andy

Andy — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 08:40:40 +0000

I don’t think there is much difference actually. Whether using the word slave or servant, the meaning is total obedience:

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:16

Complete submission to God. I like the phrase willing slaves because it communicates how complete the submission that he requires is. My attempt to embrace that obedience was what I was trying to express in the prayer.