If all time is predetermined, then why pray?
452572
Show me the verse where it says that your life down to the minute is predetermined. The Bible says that the hairs on your head are numbered, and this is in reference to how much God pays attention to you, not to how he planned how much hair you would have. There are several verses and passages in the Bible that hint at something - God is not omniscient (all knowing) in the way humans have made Him out to be. For example - He will forget our sins, He told Abraham that NOW He knew that Abraham truly feared God, He will tell some on judgement day "I never knew you." Is he all-powerful - yes, in that He can do anything that is good (he cannot, for example, lie). If He is all powerful, then can He not, as the examples I listed suggest, choose to know or NOT know whatever He pleases? He certainly does know quite a lot, but for His reasons, there are things He chooses not to know. In the interest of preserving our free will, I think He chooses not to know all the choices we will make. Were we created with a plan for our lives, a purpose, a mission? Yes, but we still have the option to refuse to accept it.
1098989
If a person really had faith, he wouldn't bother praying. Praying indicates a person believes his God is really stupid.
246835
because god exists... and yes there will be a judgement day.
317785
There is a much simpler answer.  Actaully it's more of a question: Does God know the future?  I'd have to say no.\n\nGod knowing the future takes away free will.  If God knows what I will do tomorrow, can I do something different?  Do I have a choice? Am I anything more than a robot.\n\nThere are numerous examples in the Bible that God does not know the future.  Two that stand out are:\n\n"'Do not lay a hand on the boy,' he said. 'Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.'" -Gen 22:12\n\nIf God knew the future, he would have known that Abraham would not hold Issac back.  \n\nGenesis 18:16-33.  Abraham pleading with the Lord for Sodom.  Eventally God says he will not destroy Sodom if he finds 10 righteous people there.  He has actually been talked down from 50.  Would he not have just said something like, "There are only 3 righteous people in Sodom," and ended the discussion?  why did he waste time if he already knew the number he would find?
1155373
whenever god plans for it to happen
914022
The issue you are really trying to get at is this- Are events predetermined or not. And that means ALL events including human thought. You should research the topics "determinism" and "quantum mechanics" and then decide on an answer for yourself. One is definitely the deciding factor, but either way free will is excluded.
644327
And herein you hit upon one of the biggest problems with religion. The idea that god is all knowing, all powerful etc, but also it matters what humans do. Why does anyone need to pray if a god knows they will do it - surely the god can decide to perform whatever action the prayer would have solicited without the need to actually hear the prayer - as you say, the god knows it's coming.\n\nThe idea that "god exists out of time" is an answer so devoid of meaning that it beggars belief.\n\nAlthough an Atheist myself, I'm not sure if your subtitle to this message (about "stupid Christian") really helps, even if it is meant ironically - it's unlikely to tease out the most interesting responses.
1013524
God is full of surprises to us.  In our 3 dimensional world, we can't begin to fathom the wonders and surprises of God.  Maybe billions of years in the future, after we have travelled the universe, we will have enough knowledge of God to predict  God's intentions.   I doubt if we'll ever know enough to predict God's actions.
1125023
I don't have an average.  We are instructed to pray without ceasing.  So whenever I need help, peace, or anything I will offer up a quick prayer wherever I'm at.  I pray before and after reading the Bible, when I wake up, before I go to sleep, before eating.  It is our way of communicating with God, why shouldn't we pray always.
581475
When you're praying, you are talking to God. "Let Your will be done as on earth as in the heaven" mean that for everything you pray for, His plan be manifest in it. For example, if you pray to win the next football game, perhaps God give you strength to win the game, and then you boast about His power. His will be done. OR............... He don't let you win this game. Perhaps God want you need to spend precious time with children which you neglect during training. His will be done.\n\nAnother one. You pray for someone who are sick and near to the edge of the death. Let His will be done. More people may draw near to Him, feel His love and know Him better because of the healing OR the passing away of this person. Who know? Maybe, it's time for that person to go home.............heavenward. God know what is the best for you. That's why, "Let You will be done as on earth and in the heaven".\n\nP/S: It's not a magic word!!! It's a statement of faith.\n\n Many are the plans in a man's heart, \n but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.\n                                    Proverbs 19:21 \n\nFor I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.\n                                    Jeremiah 29:11\n\n "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, \n       neither are your ways my ways," \n       declares the LORD. \n\n      "As the heavens are higher than the earth, \n       so are my ways higher than your ways \n       and my thoughts than your thoughts. \n\n                                  Isaiah 55:8-9\n\n\nGod bless!!
797136
I like the spirit of your philosophy, but as to the exact wording, it seems backwards to me. Try this: We don't know how, but faith allows us to know that everything is going to work out, somehow. Faith is a way of knowing, we can not know everything, but we can understand almost everything if we know the subject matter. More and more facts are coming to light for us everyday that we live if we live in faith, with one small exception. Death always catches us flatfooted. Unless, we are very old and or very wise and courious, and ready to find out.
1041552
If you're seriously looking for an answer on this; I guess they're "measuring" it in terms of how much Prophecy is being fulfilled.\n\n(1) Nobody knows the exact time...\n\nHeaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24: 35, 36\n\n(2) There are some 'indicators' though that prophecy is being fulfilled...\n\nIn the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2: 17\n\nBut mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 2 Tim. 3: 1-3\n\n(****'Lovers of money' is a fair reference for Debt & Trade, if you think about it.)\n\nFirst of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 2 Peter 3:3\n\n(the other little thing people fail to see is we've been in "Last Days" since Jesus was here:\n\nin these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:2 \n\n(3) God's definition of "time" and ours isn't the same...so, we shouldn't waste our time trying to measure God's appointed time for things to happen...we just need to recognize they are happening...\n\nHe has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
941913
Yes dear, when your prayers are answered, it's proof of God. When they are not, well it just wasn't god's will.\nAs I will it..\n\nYou know the rest! ; )
811367
Hi funny,\n\nLet's not define God except as a creator.  No religion.  \n\nLet's assume God does not affect cause and effect in the world. otherwise knowledge and science will be unknowable.\n\nIf you pray to win the lottery, then you might win, but God did not cause it, for He does not interfere.  So you might say it, but, it was truly a coincidence.  \n\nThe only place prayer works is if you pray for spiritual guidance, let's say for how to raise your children wisely, or how to respond to a situation at work, or to save a relationship, or how to be a NFL player, or how to gain internal peace....  That is it.  If you listen to this guidance, and then do what you are spiritually led to do, you can say, your prayer was answered.    \n\nThat is what the power of prayer is.  Many religions say something else, but, that is their right.
701717
Some people think everything is preordained, and therefore nothing\ncan change it. I dont' agree!\nProphesy is made according to the path one is on at the point in time the\nprophesy is made. Say we are heading down a highway. The bridge is out\nup ahead, and we are going to crash because we won't see it due to fog.\nBut if we take a turn-off, then we will not wreck!\nWith prayer and positve action, one can turn the course of events.\nDestiny is something we "make" for ourselves.\nFate is what happens if we don't!
199128
The problem is that Humans, think of GOD, from their humble point of view.\nMy dear, the problem in ur question is the word "Before", coz simply, time was created for us, so, we can manage our selves, and u just feel it, coz of the daily rotation of earth around itself, and the annual one around sun. But if u imagined urself, in a room, lighted continouesly, and u don't need food, or else, and u stayed there for long, will u ever be able to tell, wether outside is dark or light, will u ever be able to tell what time is it?!\nThere is no time, there is the Existance. So, no meaning for the word "before".\nGOD is just there.
859430
Our lives are predestined, but as you live your life you have choices to make. When all is said and done it will all be predestined. In other words God will know all the choices you make before you make them.