The discussion on 'obediential potency' triggered another important point in class: the aspect/role of prayer. Kamalesh asked me, "If God is not going to do anything, why do we pray?" I replied, "What do you pray for?" Most often it is a list of things or needs. But that what we pray for is just the help to know what He wants us to do. Or perhaps the wisdom to understand what is going on all around and within us.
Like in the movie Evans' Almighty, where God asks Evans' wife, "When you pray to God for courage, does God give you courage or opportunities to be courageous?"
God is not somewhere there sitting up and doling out, in neat packages, ready made gifts. All he does is provide us with the needed ingredients to get what we ask for. As for the recipe, he has already granted us the skill! But we would rather wait for the prepared meal (if possible, even the digested food!).
"When you pray to God for courage, does God give you courage or opportunities to be courageous?"
ReplyDeleteTell your boys to be VERY CAREFUL of what they pray for. Their prayers will eventually be answered and not exactly in the neat packages they were hoping for. God knows who is listening to them either ;)!