Is belief a choice?

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Israel had a choice

Deuteronomy 30:19This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
 
As for belief being a choice, once faith comes, we can be compelled to believe, and that is wonderful, but it does come down to a choice. I think it is a sad thing that many people have perceived the truth of the gospel as brought to them by the Holy Spirit, but they have rejected it.

God always offers us a choice. "Choose this day who you will serve," He says.

Joshua 24:15
[SUP] [/SUP]But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”


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I guess it can be argued Saul/Paul had a choice...

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
(Act 9:3-6)

I guess some 'choices' are "more readily available" shall we say :)
 
What a blessing of our Holy father. I am so glad to see all the scriptures oh the seeds of the Lord I am new here & so excited...The more opportunity to mature as His word accomplishes all he sends it out to and it never returns void...thank you all for the desires to build up our family like this praise be our King.
 
The scripture that comes into my spirit here is that faith is a gift lest any man would boast. God claims us as his own. we are given to the Lord our God for he ransomed our lives by his blood. God new us before the world was even created and is the author and sustainer of our Faith. Why do I believe and others do not? I was introduced to God as a small child. I was so thankful that we were cared for by a real hero. I wanted to be ever closer to my King . I ran away from him when I was 12 or so but could never get far enough away that I dint believe in Him. Is my belief a choice? For me no it is not a choice . for me the choice is do I want what he wants? or what I want?what awesome conversation. Our God created us created time & space He created us in His image to become His holy priests to mature us correct us and to be with Him eternally. questions like " is my belief a choice?" are ear marked by God. I believe He is here with us. As we ask these questions. and now several of His beautiful children have perked there spirits to ponder His ways To share his words. ahhhh one of you shared the scripture about how many turn away from the truth that all creation knows within themselves because they do not want to stop there ways they do not feel willing to be saved from there other nature there sin nature but they know. God understands this far more then we could and His love His timing His plan All will bow all will know. When I visit my Grandpa who is 94 and against the Lord I want to try to remember people get a lot more info from body language so I am going to try submitting to the Lords leading to let Gods spirit of truth communicate with Him and Ill just sit quietly by my grandpas side believing. honestly I have struggled a bit with this...loved ones who are not willing to believe but as I have spent the last hour or so here I have felt the lord guiding me to apply this conversation on belief.I feel strongly that when we affirm Gods sovereign presence with those who claim to be unbelievers in a spirit of love and humble submission not being easily offended I feel then in Love they may try to listen to Jesus without an immediate hardened heart& Gods Love can take the opportunity we need just be willing...I believe Gods words will not return void holy blessings I will give a testimony God willing on Tuesday to let you know what happens. and I am so thankful for this christian chat<><
 
Sometimes the choice to believe that God exists and sent His only begotten is determined when we define what it means to believe in our current situation and circumstances. Sometimes to believe is to first be convinced, and yet temporarily without knowledge and the ability to recognize God. Sometimes to believe is to... hope that what is known regarding God, good, perfect, and all things related to life and godliness can certainly be practiced and experienced through relying on promised (such as...if my people called and humble will pray...etc.

Sometimes to believe is to anchor the soul with hope that God knows what He will do in order to provide the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to receive the...how to perform that which is good in very difficult circumstances (which often we find not...even though we know a measure of good from God already...and have believed that approving of such is great reward.)

For instance... I believe I know how to perform a measure of good and perfect without contradicting a word God has spoken, and in such a way that I believe personally would be extremely rewarding according to the spiritual and real life, and which would also encourage more to a place of continual healing through expanded/more unity with God in practicing the commonwealth of the high priesthood.

I hope and believe that some on this site might listen to this idea, receive it, and trust God for the outcome (there are far too many variables in that game to really know how it will mature).
2 Timothy 1:8-13Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
 
Grace777x70 said:
I'm with you in this....it seems we all "know" within us that Jesus is there and He is real. We can get our minds so carnally active that it suppresses the spirit within man but it will always come back to the surface. The Lord deals with us through our heart.
Click to expand...
True for the Christian...but the unsaved?
 
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