Calling all christians: God and Miracles.

[mimififi]

I beleive that a situation that occured in my life recently was bought about by the power of God. I was wondering how many other people have actually witnessed the power of God in our time, or a road to Damasca's experience?

[Clanad]

Count me among those!  You'll get a lot of flack, but that's OK.  II Corinthians 5:17 and Psalm 91sums it up well...

[Mistopheles]

Yes, although no one will believe it was the intervention of God. I was unhappy in a relationship and prayed for God to tell me whether I should leave or not. Within 2 hours, I had a definite answer, and since then, I've experienced lots of odd things that I'd swear is God guiding me. I've learnt to just trust that He will only do what's right for me.

[tubeway]

Why calling all christians - can this answer not be as applicable to Jews, Muslims and many of the other religions that believe in some sort of higher power

[jno]

indeed, why would it only happen to religious people? Why would God not be at least as keen to reveal himself to those who don't already believe? Is there anything in the various holy books that suggests God will simply ignore unbelievers? Serious question.

[qapmoc]

Hi JNO,  thats an interesting idea, that GOD should only reveal himself to the unbelievers because the believer can't believe more even if they see him.  

[shehin]

Non believers wouldn't be aware that God had helped them, they'd just think that luck was on their side.

[woofgang]

well Paul on the road to damascus was a non believer

[ursula62]

Saul believed in God while on the road to Damascus before it all happened - he was a very strict Jew.

It was only after the Damascus experience that he became a Christian (and changed his name to Paul) - but he never relinquished his Jewishness.

[jno]

So believers would think God had done it, non-believers would think it was luck. How can you tell the difference? mimi, for instance, is there some way you can distinguish between how God helped you in this instance, and how other events in your life might have been ordinary happenstance? (I write as a non-believer, but I'm not having a go at anyone, I'm interested in how these things feel to people.)

[Cetti]

Yes mimi, I know that power very well and it's mind boggling!

Almost every day something happens that could only be the work of Jesus. Sometimes tiny things and sometimes what I now call 'wow things'. It's taken me a hell of a long time to recognise the diference between my thoughts and God's thoughts - and even now I get things badly wrong.

jno and tubeway - you're quite right, God does help everyone that asks, it's just that not everyone realises that fact. By the way leave the word 'Religion' out of it as it's a dirty word as far as I'm concerned - causes far too much trouble.

[georgit79]

No. Because there isn't a God. Not in my life, anyway.

[mimififi]

Umm, interesting.  I was calling all christians, because I was interested in the results from a christian point of view.  If muslims or Hindus or any others want to write with actual examples of how their God/Gods have helped them, of course they are welcome.

I believe the things that have happened to me in this particular circumstance could only have been the power of God because things have happened to the 'T' following very specific and fevent prayer.  It is akin to asking for the lottery numbers and then a ticket fluttering down in front of your eyes (Not that I would recommend this prayer, Im justusing this as a well understood example).  The turn of events were such that for them to be conincidence would take an even larger leap of faith.

I find it interesting how such a question attracts the response of people who don't even believe in God, just to say "No, I don't believe in God." Funny.

But wonderful that so many others have experienced a practical God who is alive and kicking and reading your posts on AB today...

[bruce5755]

I have had many experiences of minor miracles in my life, and when I consider that these things only happened after I had "prayed" to my Higher Power, then yes I believe!  But I would never take HIM for granted!  It's just too precious.

[silly moo]

Yes - many times.
He always answers prayers, just not always when and how we expect.

[jno]

how do you distinguish between your own thoughts and God's?

[Cetti]

God is a bit brighter than us jno - that's how we tell the difference ;-)

The main way is a particular thought will keep on coming into your mind and will only go when you act upon it. I hope that makes some kind of sense.

[JoAnnMul]

The age old Question is it fate or is it God ???

[jno]

I think I see what you mean Cetti, but I have to say the same thing happens to irreligious me. And sometimes when I act on it it works out well and sometimes it doesn't (though I'm usually glad I tried). None of it feels like a real Damascus moment, though.

[El D]

Same thing happens to me but in actual fact its a bright green fluffy fairy making the changes. She told me so.

So let me get this straight once and for all - god interacts with the physical world to fulfill our needs if he deems them worthy?

[mimififi]

I have been in situations tho, when the asnwer I believe is coming from God is also confirmed by other people who are not or could not have been privy to my private prayer.
Sometimes I just feel convicted of something.
There is an age old phrase that goes something like this: "Push the doors and see which ones open." I do truly believe that when we push the doors in conjunction with prayer, then He does direct our path (Acknowldege God in all things and he will direct thy path.)

Somtimes I have been convicted of things that really are not my first choice and I have gone along with it and been blessed in ways I could scarcely imagine. I don't think that as an NON believer, you would even try and go along with thoughts that you don't really like or want to do.

I pray about everything, such is my desire to fullfill God's will for my life. If you want to succeed with something, it is always advisable to follow the makers instructions. In our case, you have to go seek the maker's plans, they are not delivered without asking.