Hey everyone,
The subtitle of this thread could also be: Are There Arguments In Heaven?
I have a real-life "thorn in my side" that I have been wrestling with and praying over for many years. Today while I was praying at work, I truly believe God clearly said, "No," and of course, I wasn't happy about that at all.
My first instinct is usually to rebel: I told God, "Please tell me what I can and can't pray from now on, because I don't want to waste the time, energy, and tears like this ever again." But I believe God was saying that He wanted to use this to work on my character, and allow Him to work in a way I didn't expect. Sigh. Ok, God, your will be done. But I have always wondered, WHY does God work so hard on our character in the first place?
My conservative childhood church always told us that once we got to heaven, God made it so that we couldn't sin anymore. Great!!! But let me ask you this--what happens when people disagree in heaven?
Let's say there's a town hall in heaven that's being built, and the question comes up of what color it should be. "Paint it pink!" one group says cheerily. But no. Group #2 wants to paint it blue. Group #3 can't decide and wants to use several colors. And so on... Do you think there will be an argument? I would bet yes!
Here on earth, all other sorts of issues would come into play, such as, Which Group Is Donating More Money? Spiritual or not, all Christian organizations need money to function, and if the people who rely on them to feed their families want a job, donations are a huge consideration for most. But in heaven, money issues won't matter.
So what happens now when several people disagree? As a kid, I figured everyone would just cheerily yell out, "Pink it is! YAY pink!!! We love you, Lord!!!" because after all, it's HEAVEN. Perfect harmony, right? But somehow I don't think heaven is going to be One Long Eternal Episode of the Stepford Wives. God gave us personalities and free will for a reason, so I think people are still going to have very strong opinions, if not stronger, in the next life. I just think that now we will be able to solve our disagreements without sinning (after all, the Bible says you can be angry without sinning): no backbiting, no fist fights, no name-calling, no power trips.
Otherwise, why would God constantly be putting us "through the fire" in order to purify our character? If we are automatically transformed into a perfect, always-agreeable person the minute we step through heaven's gates, why would He even bother?
I would appreciate thoughts, passages, and experiences, please. And the reason I am posting this in Singles is: 1. I'm afraid of the Bible Forum (one of my character flaws that needs more work, obviously, is fear) and 2. As singles, we are going through a very unique character-shaping process just by being single.
Why do YOU feel that God works so hard on YOUR character?
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You are trying to make life way too complicated and confusing. This advise will come almost exclusively from the Word of GOD, and God is not the author confusion. Let's start with your confusion over Prayer. From the way you talked about it, you seem to have fallen for a common confusion. PRAYER is NOT a way to make GOD do what we want. PRAYER is in reality a way for us to actively participate in doing GOD's Will. He gave us what we call the Lords Prayer, as a MODEL for all prayer.
Matthew 6:9-15 (NIV)
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9 [/SUP]
"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
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your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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Give us today our daily bread.
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Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
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For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
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But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
In prayer we are to Glorify the Father and His name.
We are to pray for the advancement of His kingdom.
We are to pray for HIS WILL TO BE DONE, not our will.
We are permitted to pray for our genuine NEEDS, not Wants.
We are to pray for forgiveness every time sin sneeks in.
We are to pray for the ability to forgive others.
We are to pray for spiritual strength to say NO to sin's temptation.
We are to pray for the ability to resist the Devil.
PLUS
We are to pray for the spiritual and physical needs of OTHERS.
You can word your prayers however you are comfortable talking to GOD.
Whether it sounds Formal or
intimately personalis not the important part.
IT MUST BE SINCERELY FROM THE HEART OUT OF LOVE FOR HIM.
Over the many years that I have been a Christian, I have learned that GOD
rarely answers prayers that are motivated by selfishness. I have also learned
that when I a genuinely focused on praying for the spiritual and physical needs
of others, GOD takes care of my needs, so that I can focus on praying even
harder for others.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (NASB)
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23 [/SUP] All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but
not all things edify.
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24 [/SUP]
Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
James 5:16 (HCSB)
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16 [/SUP] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and
pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
1 John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
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16 [/SUP] By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And
we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
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17 [/SUP] But
whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
You also seem unsure of why GOD wants us to learn to Walk His WAY. I think you will find your answer it these verses. Remember there is NO glory going to GOD if He just turns us into biological robots.
Leviticus 10:3 (NKJV)
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3 [/SUP] And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying:
'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And
before all the poeple, I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace.
1 Peter 4:11 (ISV)
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11 [/SUP] Whoever speaks must speak God's words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength that God supplies,
so that in every way God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
Glory and power belong to him forever and ever! Amen.
If we CHOOSE to LOVE HIM, we Glorify HIM.
If we CHOOSE to Obey HIM, we Glorify HIM.
If we CHOOSE to Revere HIM, we Glorify HIM.
If we CHOOSE to Praise HIM, we Glorify HIM.
If we CHOOSE to Reflect HIS Nature in how we WALK, we Glorify HIM.
If we CHOOSE to surrender to Christ as LORD, meaning Master, we Glorify HIM.
If we CHOOSE to witness to Others, we Glorify HIM.
If we CHOOSE to meet the needs of OTHERS in HIS NAME, we Glorify HIM.
Etc.
GOD must be GLORIFIED!