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Questioning is the sign of a healthy mind I've heard, just try not to dig too deep.

Okay, let's see here....well, I know that you're not only supposed to pray for things you want, but just to talk to god, since he likes to know what's up, despite he already does, you're his child, he wants to hear from YOU.

Secondly, remember, there's a verse somewhere (forgive me for not giving the exact quote at all, but this is the jist): It says pretty much that being persistent can change minds. It gives the example of going to a friends door in the middle of the night and asking for bread. His mind is set on telling you: "I'm asleep, go away!" But persistence changes his mind. God IS perfect, but if he see's that you want something enough (like heaven through not sinning), or other people want it enough for you, he'll help. UNLESS it interferes too deeply with his plan. But remember, despite that Gods will is his own, he cares about what you want as well. Free will shows us this. Remember, it wasn't gods plan for Adam and Eve to eat the apple.)

Well, I think when it somes to god knowing all, he probably knows to the extent of several paths, or most likely paths. Like god knows that at some point in you life you'll let's say...get hit by a bus, so he makes sure there's a friend around to push you out of the way, but if you get in an argument with the friend because you've been decieved by satan or whatever, your friend may not be around either way.... sweatdrop Hmmm.....also, God hearing from us, it's like telling people you love them, like your mom or dad. They know you love them, but it doesn't hurt to say it once in a while, same goes for prayer I believe. Even if god already knows, he loves you so much, he's just happy to hear it from YOU.

Just because God knows what we're going to do doesn't mean we don't have free will. It's not like he's planning it for us. I don't look at it as God saying "And then he will do THIS and she will do THIS! I have set it in STONE!"...I think it's more of an "Ok, he's going to do this, she's going to do this. That's their decision." It's our choice...God just knows what that choice is going to be. I don't think he "planned" our lives as in "manipulated" them.


And I pray for most of the reasons Abdiel said, and because I really like talking with God and learning from Him. Sure, God knows when I'm hurting, but I don't know what He thinks about that. When I'm hurting and I pray, I'm looking for guidance...the reason why I'm hurting, how to fix it, why God's letting me be hurt. When God asks "Why are you hurting?" He's trying to get ME to realize something about ME. He wants me to find the answer, which I usually do when talking to Him. I need to examine my life and find the source of the hurt. He already knows where it is. He could easily tell me and how I should handle it. But like any mother can tell you, a child learns a lesson better when he figures it out himself. There's where some free will ties in. wink

...Whew, I think that's my two cents. Hope it makes some sense. sweatdrop

...But you're doing the action, not Him. He just knows you're going to do it. It's your decision. So there is free will.

Oh look, I'm contributing to exactly what I wanted to avoid with this guild. sweatdrop

If He knows the decision how is it free will? Sorry if this is going against what you want here sweatdrop Just lost in the life that is mine. lol.
And I really wish I knew what I was supposed to figure out. Cuz I think already did figure it out. Just don't see how that's gonna fix anything cuz what I'm praying for, all the power goes to the one I'm praying about, not me. So no matter what I do it's his (and His) decision not mine.

So, in that case, why wouldn't he offer us something that will have the same effect but is more likely to get us to say yes?

Ok...could you answer my question though Istoriel? Cuz it wasn't about prayer or talking.