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How Does God Work In Your Life? - Page 2

post #16 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dar FTW View Post
He's helped me to think critically about the supernatural and free myself from that delusion

Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.
post #17 of 23
As JW said, I don't believe in an interventionist God either, or not much at least. Part of that is my belief that prayer changes us, not God. I think more of God as ultimate goodness, truth, beauty, love, etc. So imo, God is present and operating in everything good, true, beautiful, loving, etc. That said, I'll name three particular sources that occur to me atm: 1) the beauty of nature 2) the loving support of friends/family 3) a kind of deep, inner consolation that Ignatius of Loyola says we can discover through a "discernment of spirits." The thought is that God speaks to us through our hearts' deepest desires, through our feelings of lasting consolation. So when we shut out the external "voices" in our heads (peers, parents, marketers, teachers, coaches, etc.), we open ourselves to discerning these feelings of consolation, which lead to our heart's deepest desires, which is also what God wants for us and what will ultimately make us happy. Edit, OK, three more that occurred while brushing my teeth: 4) the grace mediated through the Catholic church/community, its scripture and ongoing tradition 5) the wisdom of other religious and philosophical traditions. This is often graced as well imo/e 6) those rare experiences of a transcendent presence, typically preceded by some suffering that eventually allows me to let go of some kind of self-idolatry.
post #18 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota rube View Post
I don't know if God, specifically, is at work in my life, but I can say without a shred of doubt that I have benefited from more strokes of luck or serendipitous happenings than any one man deserves. Several times I have been at the absolute end of my rope "” emotionally, financially, etc "” with no obvious solution at hand, only to have a "miracle" occur,

You sound like my grandmother. Lived to 104, thru some of the worst periods in US history to live in the rural south, especially as a member of a minority, saw all sorts of tragedy, and absolutely convinced God was watching over her. If the guy was watching out for you, you wouldn't have been at the end of your rope so often, I'd think.

To quote Rorschach from The Watchmen, "It's not God that kidnaps the children, Fate that chops them up, or Destiny that feeds them to the dogs... it's just us."
post #19 of 23
He's always there. If I don't recognize him, it's my fault, and he's usually singing "you can't always get what you want, but you get what you need".
post #20 of 23
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post #21 of 23
wow @ the replies... ... not much of a religious man myself, but (no snark) I appreciate the beauty of life and nature specially when I see my kids. growing up I wasn't taught to pray for divine intervention (Jesus, please help me pass the exam tomorrow coz I didn't study at all) but more for thanksgiving, and at the least it helps me notice and enumerate the victories in my life- both big and small ones.
post #22 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota rube View Post
I don't know if God, specifically, is at work in my life, but I can say without a shred of doubt that I have benefited from more strokes of luck or serendipitous happenings than any one man deserves. Several times I have been at the absolute end of my rope "” emotionally, financially, etc "” with no obvious solution at hand, only to have a "miracle" occur.

Confirmation bias.
post #23 of 23
Which god(s)?
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