Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Debra Martin on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    My nephew recently died from COVID in spite of literally thousands of prayers for God to spare his life. If death is predestined then why do we pray at all? He already knows the desires of our hearts so why bother? This is the question of his grieving mother.
  • Adam - In Reply on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    I am sorry for your family hardship.

    Is death predestined? This is hard to prove with Bible verses, but my personal belief is sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. This is a fallen world and we are all immortal and are cursed to die, thanks to Adam and Eve disobeying God and committing the original sin. Satan may also have power to afflict us physically. Job 2:7.

    So, we will all die, but we don't know the timing. We tend to get really upset and blame God for His timing being different than our arbitrary expectations. A beautiful child can even be in paradise, but we will sometimes be furious against God for having him there instead of in an environment on earth full of temptation and evil.

    God's priorities are not our priorities on earth. He never promised we'd have a long life and be healthy and wealthy. We might hear man say that on TV, but that doesn't mean it's true. We also get frustrated we don't know why and keep asking why, why, why repeatedly through life in every hardship we have. Even Jesus as a human cried out 'why' to His Father: Matt 27:46. Even Jesus as a temporary man on earth wasn't allowed all the answers, and He went through extreme hardship. And He took it like a man. Didn't complain, but asked why. He kept His love, turned the other cheek, and had great compassion on others. If Jesus Himself wasn't given the answers, why should we expect to? It even suggests this in the Bible that we won't be given all knowledge here. 1 Corinthians 2:7, Job 11:7, Colossians 2:1-3

    I believe life here on earth is a test. God is testing our character and who we will follow. Often we fail badly. We have a sinful nature we must fight against. Some of the most rock solid Christians have admitted their constant struggles with it too, like Paul in the Bible. 2 Corinthians 12:9, James 1:2

    So, why bother praying? God/Jesus is the only hope we have. We aren't puppets playing a script, but have freewill. God sometimes answers prayer and can change His mind.
  • Michelle key - In Reply on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    I just wanted to say I am so sorry for your loss. We went through the same thing last year but not due to Covid. My daughter passed away at the age of 31. Leaving behind three children. My husband and I have taken and two daughters prior to her passing away we had them two years prior. I would like to ask everybody who is willing to pray for them to please do so. Fairy very hard life prior to coming with us. I've been with us almost 3 full years now. And we go through challenges every day girls with the girls. Only do they need your prayers I also need your prayers. I raise three daughters and I have never been face what I'm being faced with now. There are days that I just want to give up. I have become so much closer with God in the last year. I know how this mother feels do you still want to God and ask him why couldn't she be saved, so myself and her children didn't have to go through this. But I won't question him because I know everything happens for a reason. And God has a plan for everyone of us. I'm just feeling so weak from a hard time with the kids give me in the week if they treat me from the heart and the kids keep me in the way that they treat me. So my brothers and sisters in Christ please pray for me! Thank you all so very much, I pray you for Gods will for each of you.
  • Keep Coming By Here So We Can Pray With You - In Reply on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    First, I will commit to add you to my prayers.

    Second, I don't know if your husband is still alive, but what are his feelings about this? Stress is bad for everyone.

    You've stepped in here to cushion the shock and aftershocks; which is commendable. Instinct makes us want to insulate everybody like a human bomb shelter.

    Now, the hard part. You have 2 other daughters. You need to think about a long-range plan. Like my doc told me: stress kills. I took care of 2 elderly parents with long term illness till they died; while babysitting an infant. I watched 2 drug addict brothers die young. It is hard what you are doing.

    It's so easy to suggestbut no matter the outcomes you need to involve your other daughters. They may be able to take one child into their families.

    Now kids are going to try to run the show. That's what kids do. All of the adults need to be United in purpose to make this work. Husbands too.

    I don't know what everybody's household situation is. I don't know if this is a solution.You need to try. If stress wins, you won't be there. Prayer is your greatest asset. Pour out your heart to God and receive His help and Wisdom.

    I will be praying for this possibility to become a reality for your sake. I can't count all the cousins and friends children my parents took in temporarily, when I was growing up. We had fun.

    We went to Church. Played baseball almost ever day!

    Your grandchildren may need grief counseling and some churches have licensed counselors for that. Call around and see what's available. You might could use one too. Be honest. Kids act out their anger or they stop talking.

    My gut says to take the cell phones away for a while. Limit hours of tv. Kids and adults use media to deaden the senses. INSIST on family dinners.

    Families that eat and pray together have a greater chance of surviving tragedy. Teach life skills: laundry, cooking, cleaning. I did that with my son.

    Ask for help. Don't be silent and proud, ok?
  • Michele key - In Reply on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    Thank you so much for your kind and supportive words. The girls are in counseling. And they do have church every Sunday. We do do family dinners and we Dupre at dinner time every night. I asked the girls to pray before they go to sleep at night as well in any other time that they feel they need to talk to God to do so. I have been reading through the Bible right now plus they have a daily devotional for kids their age. The Bible that the reading right now is for children her age so they can understand it. But it is a king James version. My other two older daughters a very involved. You've always been a very close family. Some days are harder than others, because the girls were never taught right from wrong, I respect your elders and how to respect themselves. They've been with us since we were 7&8 in February for the 11 and 12. they don't appreciate anything because everything I think ever had has been stolen or taken away wait when they have lost a home, because their mother didn't pay the rent she use the money for other things. They grew up seeing their mother take what she wanted from others and to do what she wanted no matter what the consequences were. I think that it's OK to do. I pray for these girls every night every day that God will help him to see that they need to change their ways so that they can be happy little girls without any cares in the world. Been almost 3 years and they still take food and hide it, they still yell at me and tell me what they're gonna do and if they don't have to do anything that I tell him. They know that I won't spank him only thing I do is take things from them, one time I was going to spank Hazel because she was being very very bad and she hurt me so bad she ended up hitting me and hurting me. Now she tells me you can't make me do anything that I don't want to.
  • English Sacha - In Reply on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    Oh Debra I am so sorry for your families loss . When we pray to God we are doing good to ourselves , our hearts are communicating with our Heavenly Father , prayer isn't just about the words , it's about connecting on a spiritual level with our God . The Creator and Sustainer of all life . If you could pick up the phone and talk to Him you would wouldn't you ? That's what prayer is , when you open your heart in prayer you get the most awesome comfort and strength to bear the trials of this life . He hears and He helps , maybe not in the way you hoped for or wanted but I promise you if your heart is really open to Him you will know for sure that He is our strength , He sustains us , He will help .
  • Chris - In Reply on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    Hello Debra. Your questions are the very ones that have troubled folk over the ages. There can be no easy or comforting answers to give, but that all things, even our lives, are in the Hands of the One Who made us. Yes, we can go through our lives on Earth never bothering to talk to our Heavenly Father or feeling resigned, thinking, "why bother, He never listens or won't do what we ask, He just does His Own Will". But that would be a misunderstanding about the Mind & Ways of God & our relationship to Him.

    Even as a child comes to his earthly Father for requests, his Father has it in is his power to give or refuse, for his own reasons. The child may even know that the thing requested is not in his Father's desire to give him, but he might still ask, hoping. The Lord Jesus, in His Humanity & in the moments leading up to His crucifixion, prayed to the Father, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" ( Matthew 26:39). Didn't Jesus know His Father's Will & Plan for Him & for the salvation of those who would believe? Jesus certainly did, yet He prayed, 'if it were at all possible, spare Me this agony'. Could Jesus really have expected His Father to say, "Yes, My Son, I will try another course of action?" Jesus knew His Father's Will & his suffering & death were inescapable, yet we see the Human side of Jesus' cry.

    And that is how we pray to our Heavenly Father - as a yearning, maybe desperate child of God, seeking help, healing or restoration. Sometimes the answer comes in our favour - sometimes not. Is it then worth praying? Yes, we must, because we come to our Father. And we must be prepared to accept His Will, even not knowing the reasons. Many Christians have lost their lives from Covid, including a very godly Uncle of mine. Yes, death is inevitable, but our hearts must continue to look to & wait upon our Heavenly Father, without reserve or anger.

    May you both know the comfort of God's Holy Spirit.
  • GRACE_ambassador {ChrisE} - In Reply on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    Precious friend, sorry to hear. I will pray for the grieving mother. Possible help and Comfort From God, IF you are able to get This to her:

    Link

    Be Blessed!
  • Earl Bowman - In Reply on Psalms 27 - 2 years ago
    Sister Debra, prayer is also predestinated, but more often than not, the prayer was mean to benefit the one doing the praying.

    Philippians 2:13 For it is (SPIRIT) God that WORKETH IN YOU both TO Will (including prayer) and TO DO his good pleasure.



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