Bible Reading

[Parobek82]

Hi All,

I read the Bible, though not regularly. I read somewhere during the summer, a verse similar to God giveth and God taketh away. It read something like God was blessing his people and then took it away and turned it into a curse (I don’t know if it was Ezekiel?).

Also, what do I know God's Will for me is? I am confused on this. I thought that God plans out everything. So how do I know if my plans/intentions are a part of God's Will and how they can become a part of God's Will for me? I read in the Bible that whatever you ask God for and you will recieve it, but this seems to contradict God's plans (unless if He wants us to pray for it and plants those seeds within our minds?)

Thank You,
Paul

 

[COPLAND_3]

To know God’s will is the first major step to know what God’s plan is for you individually. And the best way to know God’s will is to learn our Catholic faith. Reading the Bible alone won’t give you the certain path because the Bible does not interpret itself, and everything you read in it is not always specifically meant for us. I recommend a consistant reading of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

As for knowing God’s plan for your life, that is something to pray for God to answer. Sometimes He speaks loud and clear, but often He works things out gradually. I have found that sometimes He leads me down temporary paths in order to prepare me for more permanant ones, by pulling my heart in a direction or a mission only to end it, even appear to fail, so that I take those experiences into a greater calling.

But our life is a mission field. We are meant to shine God’s light by using the gifts He has given us. Which means we take our passions, our talents, our skills, our personality, and use them to bring glory to God. If you are a good speaker, then use that. If you are good at building friendships and trust with others, then use it. If you are good at working with your hands, then use it. If you are compassionate for the needy, then use it. If you are like me and love to study Scripture, then use that drive to bring glory to God. If you are a good organizer, then use that. God has given use something that we can use to bring Him glory, all He expects from us is to be the best version of ourselves, and He promises us to help us do it!

 

[Sirach2]

[bibledrb]Isaiah 55:10-11[/bibledrb]

This verse from Isaiah is a good way to recognize God’s will. It is sent to the soul in prayer with His good inspiration - the desired result of sending it to you is fruitfulness.

Another good teaching is from St. Ignatious who was called by God to help us understand His leading by way of consolations. You can read it here.

We take for granted that one earnestly desires to follow God, and has applied himself to knowing His revealed will through reading the scriptures. Anything that He inspires us to do will not contradict His holy word.

 

[Razanir]

To know God’s will is the first major step to know what God’s plan is for you individually. And the best way to know God’s will is to learn our Catholic faith. Reading the Bible alone won’t give you the certain path because the Bible does not interpret itself, and everything you read in it is not always specifically meant for us. I recommend a consistant reading of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

As for knowing God’s plan for your life, that is something to pray for God to answer. Sometimes He speaks loud and clear, but often He works things out gradually. I have found that sometimes He leads me down temporary paths in order to prepare me for more permanant ones, by pulling my heart in a direction or a mission only to end it, even appear to fail, so that I take those experiences into a greater calling.

But our life is a mission field. We are meant to shine God’s light by using the gifts He has given us. Which means we take our passions, our talents, our skills, our personality, and use them to bring glory to God. If you are a good speaker, then use that. If you are good at building friendships and trust with others, then use it. If you are good at working with your hands, then use it. If you are compassionate for the needy, then use it. If you are like me and love to study Scripture, then use that drive to bring glory to God. If you are a good organizer, then use that. God has given use something that we can use to bring Him glory, all He expects from us is to be the best version of ourselves, and He promises us to help us do it!

For me, I find my life is echoing that of my karate sensei from when I was younger. He didn’t want to evangelize, but he wound up teaching Confirmation classes and helping run retreats. Similarly, I always hated singing, but now I think part of God’s plan for me is singing in the choir at Church. Here’s another example of God working in strange ways. I think it was good for me in the end to have so many atheist friends in high school. Because of all our debates junior year, I know answers to a lot of the tougher questions of our faith and am shaping up to be one of the most religious people I know at college

 

[COPLAND_3]

Razanir,

I have a personality that likes to stay out of the spotlight and under the radar. I avoid crowds and don’t feel comfortable around them. For some reason God has put me around lots of people for most of my time in the workforce, and even led me to prepare for the ministry when I was a Baptist. I listened to God and did preach and work as a chaplin in a hospital. I felt way out of my league and like a fish out of water. When I began evolving in ministry I suffered depression and my commitments started to erode, but in the process of healing I found the Catholic Church and converted. I believe that God brought me to faith into Protestantism in order to light a fire of zeal for Him, and then He guided me through the “wilderness” to find my way home to the Catholic Church!