Do we have choices in this life?

[chocolateismybestfriend]

Do we really have a choice in our own life?

God is all knowing, all seeing, all hearing - He created everything, He has a plan from start to finish.

So He knows how each and everyone will step, when we will fall, how we'll get up.

So are our actions by "choice" or are they predestined and planned from the beginning?

Or do we have options, different paths to go down? But God would already know which one we shall take, so in the end - there is really no choice because it may as well be history already.

Do we really have any control as to how our lives end up being?

We have no control over whether we are of Him or of the devil - But that doesnt mean those who are of Him cannot lose rewards in the Kingdom of Heaven, but does not God already know how and when we will sin anyway? So we would already have our rewards allotted before our time on earth has ended.

This just mind boggles me... i really dont understand.

And then Eve comes to mind - God knew she would be impregnanted with the seed of the Devil - it had to be that way, and that was the down fall of man yet it had to be that way - Yet its a sin but that was how her life was meant to be, how can ose rewards in Heaven when we really dont have a choice in how our life pans out?

Am i missing something here?!?!?

[HotShot53]

I agree, it boggles the mind... but I think you put it pretty much as I would have. We have choices to make, but they are predestinated cause God already knows what choices they are going to be. But they are our choices.

[BroTrevor]

Yes you have a choice!! It's by foreknowledge. Because God knew what you would do.

You're trying to mix the finite and the infinite and it doesn't really work. Predistination happens because God is infinite and knows the end from the beginning. Time isn't with God like it is here. He is the I AM. (always was, is, and always will be) So he has to know all about every choice.

He wants us to choose our actions tho. He wanted to not only express His love by saving us from our sins, but he wants to recieve our love as well. When a guy chooses you for marriage, over all the other girls, wont that make you feel wonderful? When we choose Christ as our husband, over all the world, how do you think it makes him feel?

Now if someone created a robot and programmed it to fall in love with you and it did, and you married this robot, how do you think you'll feel? I doubt all that well loved...for it didn't choose anything. It did what it was created to do. We are not God's robots.

The ONLY reason he could predestinate is because He is a timeless being that can see throughout all of our time and foreknow.

DO we have a choice in how we'll end up being?

Let's see... choose God and be filled with the Holy Ghost and I gurantee you'll go to heaven. Don't choose God, live any old way, and then see where you end up.

How is it NOT our choice? If you DON'T CHOOSE God, you have chosen the lack of Him. That will be the deciding factor in your eternal destination. God does NOT go against your own will.

LOVE_ SASKATOON.SASK SUNDAY_ 57-0519E
E-66 Now, Christ is here. And I declare to you He's raised from the dead. He loves you. He wants your soul. He wants to heal you. He wants to make you happy. He wants to bring you up in the glory. He can only do it as you permit Him to do it. He can't do it against your will.

P.S. I recommend listening to the tape Christ is the mystery 1963 for more on Eve and God's plan throughout time etc...

[FreeAtLast]

We do have choices. We are a free moral agency.
We can choose if we want to serve God or not. For Jesus died for all.

1 John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

But because He knows everything (the end from the beginning) - He also knows who will accept His sacrifice and who won´t.

But not only when it comes to Salvation, also all the other choices we make in life are up to us too. We will reap what we sow. If we (as christians) seek and choose the perfect will of God we will be better off. But if we don´t, God still allows us to walk in the permitted will. Things will be harder then - yet it was our choice.


I hope I make sense. (sometimes a lil hard to explain stuff like that in a foreign language).

[JoeC]

This is an interesting topic. I always wondered about the decision power of Sister Hatti Wright's boys...

[blessed]

That give me an interesting thougth Joe...God knew before the foundation of the earth that those boys will be saved..but then it was still based upon the choice that their mother will make.Dp you think its because they were not strong enough to make the right choice on thier own and the being children of God he allowed their mother to make that choice for them

hmm.......i think that yes we were predestinated before the foundation of the earth to be part of the Bride, but the choices we make will determine whether its going to be a road filled with sorrows or with joy.

[BroTrevor]

Hatti Wrights boys...

Ultimately it was their decision, I believe. The Holy Spirit influenced them in such a way as they WOULD make that choice, He did not force upon them the choice.

There is such power in prayer as well. Do you think for a moment if you were to pray a prevailing prayer of faith for some loved one that was lost that they Holy Spirit would not intercede and work on the conscience in such a way as they would NOT make that choice? After all, He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

It's the same principle. When we go to meetings or camps correctly, we go in prayer and the preparation of prayer that God would bless the meetings, that the meetings would influence you directly to become closer to Him and provide more revelation, and that God would save those such as are lost that are at the meeting. You are not praying that God will flip some switch in their life and force them to repentance because of your prayer, but that God would influence them by the grace of the Holy Spirit to come to repentance.

So you could equate effective prayer to Bro Branham speaking and giving Sis Hatti the salvation of her two boys.

It's a hard concept to grasp I guess, but its always by foreknowledge.

ROMANS 8:29
29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

I love that..."firstborn amony many brethren."

<sings>
I'm one of them.....
</sings>

[marichino_freedom]

may i ask...who is hatti wright?

[blessed]

You give me something to think about Trevor

[AgapZoe]

may i ask...who is hatti wright?


hey Marichino_freedom,
I don't now how I can answer you on this one but I believe sister Hatti was a certain sister in brother Branham's congregation..Brother Branham was praying for people..the lame....name it...there's a story here..maybe someone can help...(bro. T?)..she had this two boys...they were not saved..i guess they were really rebellious teenagers..then brother Branham asked sister Hatti to wish for whatever she wanted God to do and it would be done,then...and she wished for her two boys' salvation and they came at the alter, repenting and receiving the holy sprirt..i have a vague idea on this one..maybe if i go read then i'll be back with the whole infor on this one.....
God bless.
Halima.

[BroTrevor]

MY.NEW.MINISTRY_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 59-1115
E-62 I said, "That same Jehovah-jireh, trying to get His promise over to me, in my thickness and dullness of mind. He could speak my need into existence the same as He could speak Abraham's need into existence."
I'd no more than said that until Sister Hattie (setting there crying now)... hadn't said a word. And she said, "That's nothing but the truth."
She said the right thing. She said just like Banks said down there. I heard her voice as it swept from my ears, and like up into the woods. Mrs. Wright setting back there with her little girl was trying to interpret what Edith said, as I couldn't hear Mrs. Wright.
And that super-anointing swept over me, said, "Tell Hattie that she's found grace in the sight of God." Who would've thought...? Said, "Tell her to ask whatever she will, then you speak it by this gift into existence. Whatever she asketh, speak it into existence."
I looked at Sister Hattie. The first time it was ever performed on a human being. I said, "Sister Hattie, ask what you will. God's going to give it to you."

MY.NEW.MINISTRY_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 59-1115
E-63 What do you think of that? Does it get in to you? Seven times He had confirmed it by an animal. Seven is God's complete number. Here's the first time on a human being. And He... What did He choose? Some great aristocrat? A great noted minister? A poor little widow woman that could hardly write her name. God knows what He's doing. Said, "Ask what you will."
Hattie said to me, "Brother Branham, what do you mean?"
I said, "Ask anything your heart desires, and it shall be produced right here, that you'll know that the Lord God of heaven answers, and His Scriptures are true." My first time with the new gift, my first anointing... I could hardly hear.
And she looked around. We'd been talking about her little crippled sister. I said, "Oh, don't doubt," in my heart, "within a few minutes, little Edith will be jumping to the glory of God."
Hattie looked around, all around. And she said, "Brother Bill, my greatest desire is for the salvation of my two boys."

MY.NEW.MINISTRY_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 59-1115
E-64 What a... Why, there couldn't have been a greater thing. She could've asked for ten thousand dollars; she'd have got it. What if it'd been some millionaire, would have asked for another million. God knowed what she was going to ask for.
Sister Hattie, at least seven or eight witnesses standing there... All you people that was present that--when that happened, raise up your hand, everybody in the building was present that happened. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven of them, eight of them, eight of them was present when that happened.
I said, "Ask anything you want to, 'cause God's give it to me to give to you whatever you want."
She said her boys was beginning to go off on the teen-age tantrum. And she said, "The salvation of my two boys..."
I said, "By the will of God, by the power of God, I give you, in the Name of Jesus Christ your desire." And her two boys shook under the power of God, and that whole building trembled. Banks fell into his plate. Shelby grabbed... And Hattie screamed till you could hear her for two blocks. And them two boys with tears rolling down their cheeks received exactly what they asked for right then.
Oh, the first time it was ever used on a human being. "Ask what you will, and it shall be given unto you." Her boys setting there with her this morning.

[AgapZoe]

I hope this will answer Marichino_freedom's question.
Thanks again.God bless.
halima.

[Angelo]

choices we make.. sometimes we listen to other's advise. even though it came from another, it's still our choice no matter what the consequence it brings to us. can't blame it on others.

[NeedGod]

we do have choices dear. but think about this, you are God's child, and you are therefore from Him and inside, where you belong, you are like Him. therefore, your choices are bound to be like His.
also, i agree with the post on how He doesnt force us to go, He just makes us willing. oh my, now i feel like dancing:yay: :yay: :yay: :yay:

[marichino_freedom]

thanks for clearing that up....thats awesome

[Angelo]

My dear sister. Just to add enlightenment on your question. I suggest you try to listen one of Bro Donnie's preaching regarding the matter. Choices We Make (http://www.happyvalleychurch.com/catalog.php?search=1998&in=Sermons). I'm sure you'll be blessed for I know I am and others also.

[NeedGod]

oh, i love hoe He does things. our Jesus is really great. praise His name.