In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
Free will can be a tricky thing. It is God given and a constitutional right. See how they work together?
Do you ever feel let down, frustrated? As if your prayers aren’t being answered, your efforts gone ignored?
The bible tells us to bring all things before our God, in prayer an petition. By our own will, we choose to follow and serve the one and only, true and living God. What if we are fervently praying, seeking God, living within His will and our prayers aren’t being answered? What if we are covering our relationships, marriages, children, jobs and so on in prayer, but things aren’t changing? Then what? Does God not hear us?
The answer of course, is yes, He hears us.
Here’s the tricky part. As we have chosen to follow Him, by our own free will, in that same token, others choose not to. As we would not expect God to take away our freedom to choose He also will not do it to another, despite our prayers and requests.
We may be doing all God asks of us and still not seeing an answered prayer. The reason why is simple. God does not cast spells or work magic. He will not make someone love you, respect you, appreciate you. Love, respect, kindness, gentleness, honesty, are all choices.
By their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:20
God transforms. He heals. He restores. He gives us new life, eternal life. He guides. He teaches. He comforts. IF by our own free will, we choose Him.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
The freedom we are gifted by God is a freedom to all. I can choose to believe and you can choose not to. I can speak freely about my faith, and you can proclaim to disagree. That’s the double edged sword of free will. Not everyone will choose as you do. That’s God’s gift. That’s our constitutional right.
In short remember when your heart hurts or your struggling, God hears you and while He wants to answer your prayer, He needs two willing parties.
Remember when debating politics and world issues, EVERYONE has a right to their feelings and opinions.
Pray for soft hearts, teachable hearts, convicted hearts, seeking hearts. When we choose God, we choose life. Pray others choose truth and life. Pray everyone chooses Jesus.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
