so i was asking about prayer the other day and kind of wondering why we'd pray specific things when in our heart we know God kn0ws th answer already and whether we pray it or not He already chose the answer before we pray it.
so now i do even mroe thinking. i don't know why i have all these questions all of a sudden.
but...
is our life planned so so much? or is it our destiny He focuses on pretty much. like we are thrown different curve balls and really it doesn't matter which one we choose as we'll end up in the right place at the end so long as the path we choose is chosen with the right motives and with faith and trust? but even then if we just intentionally choose the wrong way and say screw all this i'm doign it my way and God does lead us back to the right path eventually. a bit like a GPS i guess lol when you go off course the GPS suddenly recalculates everythng to get you still to the right destination

I am reminded of a few texts (bear with me on the Bible-quoting, I hope it is helpful).

There is psalm 20:

The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and give you support from Zion.
May he remember all your offerings,
and regard with favour your burnt sacrifices.

May he grant you your heart’s desire,
and fulfil all your plans.
May we shout for joy over your victory,
and in the name of our God set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfil all your petitions.

There's a real sense here of relationship; it's not all about God's plans, but ours are important to God too.

Or proverbs 16:3. "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." Again a sense of reciprocity.

Or a favourite of mine, Jeremiah 29:11 "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." Perhaps that's a key thought here; God's plans have a direction for good, but that doesn't mean all of the details are locked in from eternity.

I'm also reminded of the Lord as our shepherd - he does lead us in right paths (note the plural!). I do suspect a willingness to be led helps!

Since you are questioning at this stage of your life, I would suggest you do some reading from a variety of authors. When I do this I take on board some ideas from each author, without accepting everything in the book.

For you I would recommend Prof Charles Birch's book "On Purpose" which suggests that God is active in the ongoing creation of this world and from memory I think he discusses the role of prayer.

It's an interesting read. Birch is a scientist (biology) and his ideas are not those of the typical theologian. You need to read some of them as well.

The most important aspect in our prayer life with God and this relationship we have is that it shows our thankfulness to Him. God requires us to be thankful to Him for all we have and this is the way we show it. When we prayer we know that God knows already but in the Bible He commands us to prayer so we do. It also serves to reinforce our daily dependence on Him. I like to use the example of our children when they ask for a drink. They don't ask wondering if they will be allowed to have a drink. They know they will recieve a drink, so why do they ask? They know that is where their drink is supplied from. They can depend on their Mum, they learn and have learnt to trust in their care giver. It strengthens a relationship. God was very wise with this command.

The Bible teaches both, that God is soveriegn; in control of all things, it also treaches that man is responsible for his own actions. These two do not meet, they cannot be reconcilled. Yet the Bible teaches both and so I believe both in faith.

I think what you are asking is, What is God's will for us? How do we know what is God's will and what isn't? Interesting question. It does matter what we choose but we need to understand what God's will is first. God's will for His children is to love, honour and obey Him. So when we need to make decisions this is what we use as our measuring stick. If I cannot and are unable to love, honour and obey Him by what I intend to do then I know that this is not God's will for me. There are times when we are able to do His will yet it all goes pear shape do not conclude that this was not God's will. God does not promise an easy life but what He does promise is to sustain you through this life if you trust Him.

Ange Vert is correct we have a relationship with God. We are not robot's. Although I do not see a true comfort or peace if I cannot trust God completely. If I am not able to give Him the full power, strength and declare He is Almighty then doubts will set in. Whereas if I am able to confess He is sovereign and in control of all things then I know without a doubt that my life in His hands are absolutely safe no matter what happens. That is the most beautiful part of our relationshiip with God.....complete and utter trust.

As an agnostic, I think our lives are mapped out, ie. destiny and fate. I belive things happen for a reason, even if the reason doesn't make sense at the time. If something really bad happens to you, maybe you are someone else's 'gift' to learn from. I also think that there are certain people we are meant to be with. DH and I quite often have what we call ESP moments. I'm thinking of him and suddenly he calls me or I'll be humming a song and he will come home from work humming the same one. As for the whole god thing, my great aunt always said never discuss sex, religion or politics, its bound to start arguments

Every night in bed I talk to God and thank him for everything I am grateful for, and there is a lot. I am truly blessed: wonderful partner/beautiful house/family & friends/about to have a bubba. In the morning when I am in the shower I talk to God again about any concerns I may have about my life and the path I am on: hate my job/feel like I have achieved nothing in my life. I ask for his guidance and support and have complete faith that he will provide both. God's answer may not come when I want it to but it does come when the time is right. I do believe in freedom of choice and know that if I make the wrong choice and my life goes haywire God will help me through any trials I experience.

I sometimes struggle with this concept a bit as well. But I think I believe that God has a plan for our lives. His will, if you like, how He would like our lives to be. But I think sometimes we make decisions that take us of that path, either with good intentions or sometimes with a lack of care for what God thinks.
I do believe the Bible when it says ALL things work together for good to them that love God. Even our stuff ups God works for our good.



We recently discussed wisdom and making wise choices in Bible study and the point was made that their arent always right and wrong choices in life (sometimes there definitely are) and it is more to do with our motivations for making the choices we make so I agree with the above quote