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 Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:42 am
So I'm not a believer, but I've noticed something all the same.
Going the extra mile to make things work seems to make the difference.
This came to mind when I peeked into this thread, and almost thought... I have nothing to contribute. But then I realized, I did.
If you pray, or hope for anything, anything at all... go the extra mile to make it so. Anything you yourself can do to make that prayer come true... do it.
I went to a church once where people prayed for a woman's bad times to get better. I thought it was a waste just to pray about it, so I went to her house and helped her fix her problems. Later I boasted, "why wait for God, I just went over and did it myself!" One of the church-goers just smiled and told me God did answer their prayers, apparently, by sending me. I wasn't offended at all, it was food for thought I guess.
And there are so many times I've struggled to fix a problem, and made it happen. And so many times I was almost defeated by a problem, but then something happens to close the gap. Like when I've exhausted myself and reached the limit of my ability, something else always happens to pull me through. Now in my mind, I see circumstance, but I'm not objectional to what other people suggest. Some say God sees me struggling with 100% and gives the extra where it counts. Some people tell me, if I didn't try so hard, God wouldn't help me.
But that's where I'm left curious? Why would God help an unbeliever? Maybe because it makes me think sometimes that God is there. Maybe that's all the reason that's needed.
Just never cut yourself or your prayers short through failure of action. I know it's said we are saved through faith, and not by works. But isn't it our works that define our faith?
Just a thought.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:32 am
God loves us unconditionally. He never said "IF THOU DO NOT BELIEVETH IN ME, I SHALL NOT LOVE YOU!" You don't have to be a believer for Him to smile on you and give you that little extra something to get you through. God helps us because He loves us, and that includes you. ^_^
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thrashmetaljunkie Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 8:43 pm
Rosa the White Wizard Just never cut yourself or your prayers short through failure of action. I know it's said we are saved through faith, and not by works. But isn't it our works that define our faith? Depends on your viewpoint. Catholics I think believe you have to have both, because faith without works is empty, or something. There was a discussion in M&R about it.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 11:03 pm
Sanguina Cruenta Rosa the White Wizard Just never cut yourself or your prayers short through failure of action. I know it's said we are saved through faith, and not by works. But isn't it our works that define our faith? Depends on your viewpoint. Catholics I think believe you have to have both, because faith without works is empty, or something. There was a discussion in M&R about it. This is where you start getting into all kinds of differences between the denominations. For most protestants, they believe that your faith drives you to works.
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thrashmetaljunkie Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 12:13 pm
Rosa the White Wizard So I'm not a believer, but I've noticed something all the same. Going the extra mile to make things work seems to make the difference. This came to mind when I peeked into this thread, and almost thought... I have nothing to contribute. But then I realized, I did. If you pray, or hope for anything, anything at all... go the extra mile to make it so. Anything you yourself can do to make that prayer come true... do it. I went to a church once where people prayed for a woman's bad times to get better. I thought it was a waste just to pray about it, so I went to her house and helped her fix her problems. Later I boasted, "why wait for God, I just went over and did it myself!" One of the church-goers just smiled and told me God did answer their prayers, apparently, by sending me. I wasn't offended at all, it was food for thought I guess. And there are so many times I've struggled to fix a problem, and made it happen. And so many times I was almost defeated by a problem, but then something happens to close the gap. Like when I've exhausted myself and reached the limit of my ability, something else always happens to pull me through. Now in my mind, I see circumstance, but I'm not objectional to what other people suggest. Some say God sees me struggling with 100% and gives the extra where it counts. Some people tell me, if I didn't try so hard, God wouldn't help me. But that's where I'm left curious? Why would God help an unbeliever? Maybe because it makes me think sometimes that God is there. Maybe that's all the reason that's needed. Just never cut yourself or your prayers short through failure of action. I know it's said we are saved through faith, and not by works. But isn't it our works that define our faith? Just a thought. God is my strength... "Psalms 28:7"
God helps you because he loves you. He knows you can't make it on your own and so He provides. Even if you don't believe in Him, he still GREATLY loves you. He still died on the cross for you, your disbelief won't change that. There is on coincidence to the things that happen in your life. All the while it is God who makes those things happen, it is the God who loves you that is showing you, that he is there for you, pursuing your heart so that you will not perish.
...God is my joy "Psalms 96:11-13"
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