I feel like at times I am being tested by God. But does he test us? There is something I want out of life but I havent gotten it. I have stopped drinking as much as I used to. I should just explain what I am after. Its a girl. My head is been swimming for a few days now. I have prayed for something to happen. Like I saidmy drinking has went down, and other things that werent good for me dont do any more. I want this girl I feel if I do well God will reward me with her. It may sound crazy.
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I rather have a bad day in the woods then a good day at work
Sure God tests us, don't confuse this with temptation. God tests us to in order that we may walk a more victorious life. Just like the parent that brags on the child that got straight A's in school. The child had many test in school and finished with flying colors. God wants to brag on you too, but you need to pass the test. Read Job, most of us would think that Job was cursed, but in actuality God was bragging Job.
Let say you make a chair in shop class. Before you let others sit in that chair you want to test it and make sure it can stand up to the pressure of fat uncle Jim, Right? You put it through your test. You first sit on it, then you lean back on it, you might even bang it on the floor to see if it can take the pressure.... Are you getting the idea, now? See why God test us, the better you do in your test, the more God can use you. God is always looking for vessels to use. Just like the Marines,' He's looking for a few good men".
JOHN 6:5-6 NKJ
5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"
6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
2 CORINTHIANS 2:9 NKJ
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
JAMES 1:2-3 NKJ
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
JAMES 1:12-13,16-17 NKJ
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Proverbs 17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Fred..God loves us and yes he does answer prayer. I had a long post on here but I felt prompted by God and his Word to edit and delete. I feel led of the Lord to let you know that YES!! God answers prayer. It takes faith to even pray and i don't want to discourage your faith. I would like to encourage you to read your Bible more .
St.John 15: 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Like others have said God does test us, but not past what we can handle although he might really stretch us.
Rom. 5:3-4: Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope
You need to be a little careful in your thinking with the girl. God is not some genie that if you rub him right (try to do good) he will give you what you want. He loves to bless and give good gifts to his children, but it is not really because of our outward actions, it has more to do with the state of our heart and motives for asking for things.
2 Timothy 2:15-22-15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
You need to be a little careful in your thinking with the girl. God is not some genie that if you rub him right (try to do good) he will give you what you want. He loves to bless and give good gifts to his children, but it is not really because of our outward actions, it has more to do with the state of our heart and motives for asking for things. Rudy
LOL I wrote the same answer this morning and then went back and deleted it. Fred has been struggling here for sometime and I wanted to encourage him to continue to pray and read his Bible. You are right though..some think God as a good luck charm but I'm hoping the best for Fred. I'm hoping Fred gets very close to God. God must be drawing Fred for no one comes to Christ except the Father draws him. Fred has coming around here off and on for about a year now.
PS Fred..no it's not normal my brother to go to nude clubs. I don't even watch TV. The Word says as a man thinketh so is he. This is why I would encourage you to daily read a big dose of God's Word. I would join you if you wanted me to and we could read the same portion daily. Our minds need to be renewed so our thinking is pleasing to God,
Your friend,
Chuck7
I do not believe that God is the source of any trials or tribulations so in that sense I do not believe God tests us. Certainly many tough issues or tests, if you will, come our way either as a result of our own doing or just in the natural course of life. I believe Godis a source of comfort and guidence during those times if weseek Him. Good luck!
Here are some old Testament scriptures, above I listed some New Testament Scriptures..
Good to see you again Sylvan. Where have you been?
Old Testament Scriptures
GENESIS 22:1-2 NKJ
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham . . . .
2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering . . . ."
EXODUS 16:4 NKJ
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.
DEUTERONOMY 8:2-3 NKJ
2 "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
3 "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.
DEUTERONOMY 8:16 NKJ
16 "who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end --
DEUTERONOMY 13:3 NKJ
3 "you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
JUDGES 3:1,4 NKJ
1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them . . .
4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey . . . .
2 CHRONICLES 32:31 NKJ
31 . . . God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.
PSALM 11:4-5 NKJ
4 The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The Lord tests the righteous . . . .
PROVERBS 17:3 NKJ
3 . . . the Lord tests the hearts.
ECCLESIASTES 3:18 NKJ
18 . . . the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like beasts."
ISAIAH 48:10 NKJ
10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
JEREMIAH 17:10 NKJ
10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
does God test us
