How much control over our own lives do we have?

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Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,504
2,711
113
#41
"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, not the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."
Ecclesiastes 9:11,
if I may I want to know what control means to you. When you ask how much control we have over our lives you have to consider all the factors that come with it especially the idea of free will abd if our lives were ever really ours to begin with
 

Godsgirl1983

Well-known member
Feb 2, 2023
1,805
1,105
113
#42
It appears GOD controls events in your life to fulfill his purpose.
No, He doesn't control events in a person's life to fulfill His purpose.
That statement says that God is the one who causes murder, rape, etc.
Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
God works all things out for good (but He doesn't cause it/control it)
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#43
No, He doesn't control events in a person's life to fulfill His purpose.
Actually God does control events in a person's life to fulfill His purposes. There are numerous examples in the Bible. Take the history of how Saul met Samuel and was then anointed king of Israel as an example. And even when He allows Satan to attack believers, it is by His allowance. Take the example of Job.
 

JohnB

Well-known member
Jul 31, 2022
2,078
456
83
Calif
#44
No, He doesn't control events in a person's life to fulfill His purpose.
That statement says that God is the one who causes murder, rape, etc.
Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
God works all things out for good (but He doesn't cause it/control it)
GOD allows these things to happen.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#45
I think we have self-control, though this is a gift of the holy spirit. Another name for it is temperance.

I.e controlling our temper? Not getting too angry or upset and lashing out?

we dont choose where we are born or what we are born with or our family circumstances around us but we can choose how we react/respond.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#46
If you have been given a gift you could use it...or lose it. The gift is not given just for yourself though..it is for sharing with others.

am not sure whats bugging the OP but pray he doesnt do the whole 'lets just blame God for everything.'
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#47
Its seems a contradiction, its more a conundrum, a riddle we can't solve; only because we have limited ability to understand. You have all the liberty you can possibly imagine, yet you can't escape the divine providence of God.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,896
1,084
113
Oregon
#48
.
1Cor 14:29-32 . .Two, or three, prophets should speak, and everyone else
should weigh carefully what is said. If a revelation comes to someone who is
sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn
so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of the
prophets are subject to the prophets.

Though God endows certain Spirit-selected people in church with the gift of
prophecy (1Cor 12:4-11) it is not He who endows them with the compulsion to
talk all at once and/or talk out of turn. Chaos prevention is their responsibility;
not His, no matter how inspired they might be, nor how important they think
their information is.
_
 

NilsForChrist

Active member
Jan 31, 2023
183
86
28
#49
Do we really have control of our lives? Shouldn't God have control of our lives? If not, the devil has.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,896
1,084
113
Oregon
#50
.
There are numbers of folks out there for whom the dark side is a serious problem; and
they are not easily rescued by quarrelsome Christians for whom every disagreement is
an act of war to be won at any cost; no matter how trivial.

2Tim 2:24-26 . . And the servant of The Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all
men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that
they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil, who are taken captive by
him at his will.
_
 

BonnieClaire

Well-known member
Jul 1, 2021
385
403
63
#51
He also has control of people's actions and thoughts.

Yes, and the Lord even decides from what nation we come, our time to live on earth, where we will live, and so much more . . .


Acts 17:26
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ~NIV



Praise the Lord our God, for only he is good!