Does God ever stop you from making mistakes?

[seebs]

So, on a number of occasions, I have been about to do something really inappropriate, and right after I realized that I had already lost control - mostly of my temper - something external to me would step in and calm me down and *stop* me.

I have always assumed this was God, fulfilling His promise to deliver me from evil.

However, I have been informed that God doesn't do anything like this, and that God never "represses" Christians. I'm not even sure what "repress" is supposed to mean there.

So... Anyone else ever have an experience like that, where something stopped you right before you did something you felt was wrong? Any thoughts?

 

[Ratioann]

It may not be God himself, but it could be the conscience He gave you?
Yes, I have felt similar. Sometimes I stopped, other times I didn't and then wish I had.

 

[seebs]

Well, the context is, someone was telling me that God doesn't "repress" Christians like that, and it must have been something else, and it seemed pretty clear to me he thought it was an unholy influence, but that seems weird to me - the things I've been "stopped" from doing have been things I would have regretted horribly, which would have hurt God.

I guess the interesting part is the very brief period where I actually can't do the thing I was trying to do; it's as though I'm being held back in some way. Lasts under a second, but long enough to be utterly clear.

 

[Reformationist]

Hey seebs!  I don't know that I'd say God "stops" us in the sense that He forcibly restrains us.  I would say that anything good, like refraining from responding in ungodliness, is a result of God's grace so in a sense He does enable us to stop, or refrain, from doing something sinful.  It is, IMO, important to understand that when God does not give us the grace to refrain from sinfulness that He has a design in that as well.  For example, let's say that God wants to enlighten me and give me an opportunity to practice dealing with a difficult situation in a godly way.  He might very well withhold His grace from my wife and I would naturally respond according to my flesh.  These are all important aspects to the divine sovereign control of God because, truth be told, responding in godliness is not difficult until the situation requires godliness in the face of tribulation.  How can we ever learn to love each other as we love ourselves if all we ever deal with is loving people?  So, to sum up, restraint is the result of God's grace.  God freely gives His children that grace as it suits His divine Will.

God bless

 

[Blade]

Hi Seebs, for me always if I let him. He is my God yet my friend and the holy spirit is always there to lead me the right way. Now for me its always a choice, yet there have been times when he has let me know what was going to happen and told me to do something. If he made you a promise then YES he will do it. When I was young I use to think I was lucky because just before it got real bad something always happen to get me out.

 

[Reformationist]

Today at 01:01 PM Blade said this in Post #5

Hi Seebs, for me always if I let him.

If you "let" God?

Pray tell what would happen if it was God's sovereign, divine, omnipotent Will for you to respond to something in a godly way?  Would you only respond in godliness if you "let" God bring this to pass?

 

[Lotar]

I think what he means by "for me always if I let him. " is that God will step in and stop him if he allows it. For example, if you are about to lose your temper, and God steps in and calms you down. He will do this if you let him, you can always refuse to calm down. God could force us, but he won't. It's a question of free will.

I know there have been times when God has offered a way out of some sin, but I continued on anyways. In fact we all have, since God always offers a way out, we just don't always like it.

 

[Jesus Is Real]

Reformationist,

I'm new here, but not to Christian Forums. So, hello.

And, Amen to your last post!
And hi to you all! 

Bowing to (JESUS CHRIST) to the Glory of God The Father!

 

[Reformationist]

Yesterday at 05:44 PM jsisrl said this in Post #8

Reformationist,

I'm new here, but not to Christian Forums. So, hello.

And, Amen to your last post!
And hi to you all! 

  Bowing to (JESUS CHRIST) to the Glory of God The Father!

Welcome to the boards jsisrl!  Here are some blessings for you!  They're a nice way for you to let others know that you appreciate their presence.  Be sure to share them around!

God bless,

Don

 

[FaithtoFaith]

I've always thought that is was the Holy Spirit who led us in the way of God. For instance, there have been times when something was said and I felt in my spirit that someone was offended. Even though that was not the intent. God usually puts me back in contact with that individual to make sure they understand what was said and why it was said the way it was.

The same holds true for when I am driving to work. Many times I am speeding, in a hurry and not paying attention. The Lord always sends me a warning to slow down. I usually always obey and there and behold will be a lovely officer checking the speeds. Praise God for His Mercy!

 

[Ruhama]

Yes, he has stopped me often with a word - "Don't say/do it."

As to other small mistakes in life, often he lets me find my own way, but will usually give me advice when asked. As to big mistakes? Yeah, he usually makes it blatantly clear by all signs and feelings that I really ought not to go there.

 

[Jesus Is Real]

Thanks for the blessings. Very much.

I gave you my first 2, heh.


--
In His Grace Alone.

 

[Evee]

Sometimes God stops me, and then other times he gives me enough rope to hang myself.

 LOL just a figure of speech.

 

[Singleman]

Thankfully, God has kept me from several major mistakes, including one really big one (which is why I'm not married yet.)

 

[Evee]

I can honestly say God has helped me many times.

 He has to intervene with us at times because we can be so bent on doing the wrong thing.

 I am so grateful that he does or who knows what would happen or what a mess we would make.

 I am just like a stubborn horse at times and God has to put a bridle on me.

 I am so grateful he does intervene.

May hurt in the beggining but I always realize he helped me once again.

 

[PNJai]

Boy does He ever.....

 

[Jesus Is Real]

Welcome to the boards jsisrl!  Here are some blessings for you!  They're a nice way for you to let others know that you appreciate their presence.  Be sure to share them around!

God bless,

Don

Thanks so much Don - again!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

It may not be God himself, but it could be the conscience He gave you?
Yes, I have felt similar. Sometimes I stopped, other times I didn't and then wish I had.

conscience..........used only one time in the Gospels......W-H Ms leaves it out of John 8:9..........

John 8:9 The yet hearing and by the conscience/sun-eidhsewV <4893> being convicted they came out one according one, beginning from the elders until the last; and was left alone the Jesus, and the woman in midst standing.

http://www.olivetree.com/cgi-bin/EnglishBible.htm

NKJV) John 8:9 Then those who heard [it,] being convicted by [their] conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest [even] to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. [T-R]

NASB) John 8:9 When they heard it,***************************** they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. [W-H]

4893. sun-eidesis from a prolonged form of 4894; co-perception, i.e. moral consciousness:--conscience.

4862. sun soon a primary preposition denoting union; with or together

1492. eido i'-do a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

Can't begin to tell you how many times He's stopped me from doing something stupid, or something good at the wrong time, etc; etc; etc; How do I know? Well, it wouldn't be from track record that's for sure . . . unless it would be to say, if you think I make a lot of mistakes now, you should see what kinds of messes I'd get into without Christ. I could have been a cubs fan . . . whew, shuddering from a cold chill.

Go Cards!

 

[Evergreen48]

So, on a number of occasions, I have been about to do something really inappropriate, and right after I realized that I had already lost control - mostly of my temper - something external to me would step in and calm me down and *stop* me.

I have always assumed this was God, fulfilling His promise to deliver me from evil.

However, I have been informed that God doesn't do anything like this, and that God never "represses" Christians. I'm not even sure what "repress" is supposed to mean there.

So... Anyone else ever have an experience like that, where something stopped you right before you did something you felt was wrong? Any thoughts?

Oh, yes. I know God, at least once in my lifetime, prevented me from making a very serious mistake which would have adversely affected the rest of my life. And it wasn't my conscience speaking to me either as I had already overruled what my conscience was telling me. He very simply removed the temptation from in front of me so that I couldn't do what I had planned to do at all. I'm more thankful each time I remember the situation, and in my heart, I keep saying, "Oh, thank you Lord for looking out for me!"