/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

>God has a plan for us - and if our prayers aren't part of his plan

Will he answer prayers for things he didn't intend on us receiving?

Everything's a part of his plan. There is no unintentionality. He is sovereign over all.

Also daily reminder to cheq the catalog >>657300

>>662335 pardon me, that should be formatted

>>God has a plan for us - and if our prayers aren't part of his plan

>Will he answer prayers for things he didn't intend on us receiving?

Everything's a part of his plan. There is no unintentionality. He is sovereign over all.

Also daily reminder to cheq the catalog >>657300

>>662329

So, here's my metaphysics on how God and prayer work. It's sorta similar to some Catholic ideas, but it's in my words.

God made the universe (1) for the highest potential of good. (2) God seeks to minimize suffering so long as it doesn't impinge on (1)

Highest potential good does not necessarily mean the most good. I.e. God could have made a universe that would definitely be a little good by eliminating free will, instead, He made a universe with the potential for infinite good but the possibility of even less than if He forced it.

Now, suffering breeds goodness in many (not all). Thus, free will and suffering are necessary to achieve the highest potential good. However, if your allotment of suffering is greater than you think you can subjectively bear, you can ask God to shift it. Anyone asking God to take up a cross or to do His will can bear that suffering for you on a cosmic level.

That's why prayer's work. It's shifting suffering among, mostly, Christians and, sometimes, God shifting suffering to people He wants to reach that are complacent.

Why doesn't God know the absolute amount of suffering we can handle? He does, but because we have subjective free will we might sometimes be mistaken about what we can handle and psyche ourselves out. God, in His mercy, saves us from ourselves by moving suffering around when we're on the verge of losing our hope due to our own inadequacy.

At least, that's how I perceive it. Hope this helps.

>>662329

Considering there are biblical examples of prayers of changing God's plan (not His nature, just to be clear) I have to say we can make a difference.

Or you could argue that God place you in a situation in which you'll pray for something God already had arrangements for, but still want to hear you ask for it. Though I don't really want to debate the schematics.

>>662329

God's plan, from what I understand, refers to the big stuff, like how we are all in His plan for salvation. That other stuff? He's just playing it by ear.

>>662415

Is this calvinism?

>>662329

There's two ways he'll answer your prayers:

1. He will give you what you want.

2. He will give you something better.

>>662421

No, you're misspelling it, it's spelled "C-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n-i-t-y"

>>662329

>if our prayers aren't part of his plan

Good thing we know they are as God instructs people to pray and on how they should pray loads of times.

>>662450

No, it's Calvinism the heresy of Christianity, i.e. Christianity without free will, and hence also without sense as consequences for sins would be unreasonable.

>>662329

Matthew 6:8

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Jesus taught us how to pray. Why would you pray for anything beyond that? God already knows what we need and it's presumptuous to think otherwise.

>>662526

Most Calvinist are compatiblists tho