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Who am I · 05-06-2008, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IHeartLarrytheCucumber

God sees the bigger picture/the future. I know this and am trying to understand it more. But what about when God talks to us and we don't listen? Didn't He already know that we wouldn't listen? Let me put this in an example: Our church meets in 2 different places during the week for Bible study. I'll call them studyA and study B. For a year I've been going to studyA, but then I got the strong urge to visit studyB. But I never did. I don't know why, and I am ashamed that I didn't listen to God. (If that was God telling me to go to studyB? I'm still learning how to hear His voice.) But now I don't have that urge any more to go to studyB. Did God know that I would continue at studyA and not go to studyB? If so, why did he even bother telling me to go to studyB aside from teaching me a lesson? I'm guessing that if I go to studyB now, it's outside of God's timing. Plus I don't even get a reminder that I should go anymore.

In short, I messed up. But what I want to know is why God tells us to do something when He knows we'll mess up and not do it?

Yes, God tells us to do things. Some things seem important, some not so important. The important thing is to learn to obey and just do it whether it seems important or not.
Did you mess up? Maybe… maybe not.
Did you learn something from this? I think you did and you will know more the next time. None of us are perfect. We all mess up sometimes. With learning and practice, our messing up will become less over time. It’s possible God was telling you to go to study B just to see if you could recognize His voice and do it. God isn’t going to send us on a major mission if we aren’t ready. You could call it training if you like. Our spiritual battle is not unlike military battle. You don’t get promoted until your superior knows you can handle the new responsibilities. I would say don’t focus so much on what you didn’t do, but focus on what you will do the next time.

And on the subject of God knowing everything… I believe that puts a limit on God. I believe He has the ability to know everything, if He chooses. Personally, I think God has the ability to purposely not know some of the decisions we make. If He chooses to not know a decision we will make, and we make the right decision, I think He is just tickled pink. (so to speak) I believe it would be a very pleasant surprise for Him. He is God. He can do anything He wants. If He wants to be surprised at the decision we will make on a certain thing, He can make that happen. I think God likes an occasional surprise sometimes. Why wouldn’t He?

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Don’t beat yourself up. If you made a mistake… it won’t be your last.