Hurting God

[Nikicarol]

Today I was thinking about some things I had learned during a recent difficult time I have been having. To cut a long story short, someone had been ignoring me and only speaking to me when absolutely necessary - from my point of view I had done nothing wrong and couldn't understand why this was happening. Now that has been sorted out, and some things that I have learned are patience, forgiveness, trusting in God and learning to do the right thing even if there may be hurtful consequences.

Anyway, as I was thinking it suddenly struck me that during my christian life, there have been long periods when I have ignored God and not acknowledged Him at all, and times when I've only prayed to Him because of something important - it struck me how much it hurt me to be ignored by someone I loved - and how much it must hurt God to be ignored in the same way. I really had to ask for forgiveness.

Nicky

 

[fieldmouse3]

Good post...I've done the same thing as you in the past!

 

[CrystalA_grl]

I have done same. Somehow He still loves us though. I didn't only ignore God. I purposely turned my back on Him for awhile because I thought He hurt me. I had to realize people hurt me and it wasn't God doing it.

 

[seangoh]

Amen on your revelation Nikicarol. A friend had a similiar experience. Friend A called Friend B to ask a question. Friend B upon picking up the phone and realise it was Friend A (his best friend), started to blabber away non-stop and finally Friend B said he had to go and hung up the phone. Friend A was left speechless because he hadn't had opportunity to ask his question.
The challenge is to remind ourselves not to be Friend B in our talk with God.

 

[CrystalA_grl]

Seangoh, I have been in Friend "A's" shoes. Friend "B" has usually been a minister. Sometimes I have asked a question and the person I ask blabbers on, quoting Scripture verses, and goes around in a big circle trying to explain something that has nothing to do with my question!

 

[Live4God]

Well gee I think I'm in the same boat as you all! l4G!
PRAISE GOD he LOVES US So MUCH! L4G!

 

[Samuel0310]

Well Niki, I think most of us can identify with you here. And we have to do that continually, i.e. talking to Him, guarding our hearts and staying close to God always; and not to look for him only when we need Him, let alone complaining when He is seemingly absent amidst predicaments.

Q: Out of 24hrs everyday, how much time do you spend talking to God?

Personally, I think talking to God doesn't necessarily mean we need to allot specific time-slots to do it (not that I'm saying there's no need to set aside time for prayer - that's very important alright), but actually in everything that we do, in every moment, we can talk to God, treating God as being present right there right then, yes, right beside you! Whether we're working, studying, relaxing, playing, talking or whatever it is, if we behave as if God is just beside us (in fact, He is ), life would be very different, after all, how do you forget someone who's accompaning you all the time (even to the loo)? After all, we're all "married" to God, so He's just like our "spouse" isn't He? just more special and intimate.

Of course, it is easier said than done, this comes with practice and more importantly, from a heart which longs to love Him more and more and have a closer relationship with Him.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength - Mark 12:30

 

[Nikicarol]

Q: Out of 24hrs everyday, how much time do you spend talking to God?

I agree with you that as well as setting aside time from prayer, without distraction, I now talk to God very often during my day, if I see a person in need, or just if it's a beautiful day and I want to praise Him for it. I often ponder about life and stuff and include God in my ponderings lol. I believe this is what having a relationship with God is all about, He is there with me always.

It wasn't always like this, even though God was always there, I hadn't grasped the fact that I could have an on going, whenever, whereever relationship with Him. Like I've said before I used to ignore God alot, I praise Him for being patient with me.

Nicky

 

[Big C]

Amen.

 

[lampwicke]

dear Nikki,
Our God is aware of our needs even before we ask them.It begins with telling ourselves,that something is out of tune in my spirit, Lord show me? He responds with His word always,for in it are the answers to all our questions.As the child we are, (and always in a state of learning from Him,)we many times don't, or won't see His ways; for His ways are not our ways,His thoughts not our thoughts.Simple selfishness clouds our vision many times in our walk with Him.We have come out of a world filled with it, been taught it even subtly,and it is His command that we remove that "old man in us"? That old man is our own selfishness(sin) within us,a lifetimes pursuit of erasure of sin,and worldly ways.He has given us perfect instruction in His ways,which we are to change from the worlds ways,by the renewing of our minds through His word.We always have help from His Holy Spirit,to teach us,and Jesus within us to walk with us.
I know of what you speak, for the distance from Him, He does allow to come about, for the fulfilling of His word:Matthew 5:23,which focuses on "remembering if anyone has anyhing against you",remembering to me means if you even think someone has anything against you, even if unfounded, is it worth their feelings of unforgiveness within them to allow it to continue?You may have done nothing,yet you hurt,or they hurt,if it can be remedied within you by going to that person,and asking for forgiveness no matter the cause ,founded or unfounded,this is the act of a righteous person.Jesus,in us,shows His love in just this manner.Loving another,is too precious to not cover all bases.It is enough for another to feel slighted ,to warrant going to them and asking for forgiveness? I commend you for using your thinking processes for many of us christians have spiritual amnesia when it comes to seeing our own pride within?
In His love, lampwicke xxx

 

[CrystalA_grl]

Sometimes we get so busy with our lives we ignore God in the process. Sometimes this happens over months at a time before we figure out whats really happening to us. At least that is what I've done before. I know God is always waiting for us to "come home" like the father in the prodigal son story.

 

[desi]

You can disappoint God but as far as hurting him you are out of luck; God is a juggernaught, impervious to our feelbe faults.

 

[Nikicarol]

You can disappoint God but as far as hurting him you are out of luck; God is a juggernaught, impervious to our feelbe faults.

I have to disagree, because we are God's children in a personal relationship with Him. If God were impervious to our faults then it wouldn't matter what we did! and He would be a distant God. He cares more than that, or else He wouldn't have sent Jesus to die for us.

Nicky

 

[lampwicke]

dear Nikki,
It would be ideal if your ways were Gods ways,and your thoughts His thoughts. but unfortunately,there is no way you can define how He feels ,based upon your feelings?
How you feel,how God feels,is impossible. The fact, that we; as His children only see our side of how we think and feel,is not how our God does it also? God allows many to suffer deep physical and spiritual pain, allows their actions to place themselves in prision or in hospital? Yet! we look at this,and with our natural eyes say? why God wouldn't do that? He wants only good for us? Yet,for some of us ,we will not surrender that selfishness within us unless the fires be stoked under us.Until we get to that point of that surrender? We see only how we feel ? that God wouldn't do that? yet we don't know our Gods total purpose? Did not our Christ suffer in the giving of His gift of salvation? do we all suffer in our walk with our God? yet, is that suffering of no value? we learn through our suffering and our pain,especially in this way does our God teach us.We are a stubborn and sinful creation, God knew this,when He created us. Have you ever been told to not touch that "hot something",having the warning,then did so, ? we learned anyways didn't we? if not by the warning ,then by the burning of our fingers? God knows best how to teach us, for He is the creator who made us, who knows us best?
When God is doing the teaching, emotions,logic,have no place in our understanding, for our God tells us to not "lean to our understanding",We simply cannot conceive of the spiritual realm or the mind of God,and why He may do the things He does,but it is always for our good,and out of His love for us that He does it.
In His love, lampwicke xxx

 

[HoT-MetaL]

Ive meditated over this a lot since originally reading the post. I didnt feel lead to post, until I had heard Gods voice.

So here goes.

I think its somewhat ambitious to suggest that WE can HURT GOD.
BUT
God does HURT when his LOVED ONES fall into sin.

John 3:16 says "For God so LOVED..."

To me this scripture indicated God had a COMPASSION for us. He could have PUNISHED US, but he chose to punish his SON, for US. It HURT God that we had strayed from him.

But I dont believe we can hurt God in the sense that, "HAHA GOD YOU ANNOYED ME NOW IM GOING TO SIN TO HURT YOU!" Im not saying the OP says that at all, so please dont take it that way!. What I am saying is that if you intentionally try to hurt God you wont fall under his grace, but his wrath.

God Bless, metal.

 

[seangoh]

today i was having a group study during sabbath school and this is our conclusion. It is necessary to have a right picture of God so that we'll be able to live a satisfying and secure life. A common misunderstanding of God is that He is unable to forgive such drastic sins which one makes and the person would continue on without the assurance that his sins are forgiven or can be forgiven - solely because he has a wrong picture of God.

There are various parts of the bible especially in the OT (Isaiah) where the phrase states that God was angry and that His wrath was kindled. We agreed finally that the term "anger" cannot be synonymous to the modern dictionary definition of anger. Let me explain. There are probably at least 2 instances where God's anger is shown. One context is judgement day. Think about Noah's time where "God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Gen 6:13. Another incident was when "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. " Gen 13:10
Some might conclude that God was not fair passing judgement "so fast" and that He had not given them enough chances. But God is fair and we just don't know the ma ny opportunities the people had to repent. For example, in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, The limit of God’s patience and long-suffering had now been reached. Though the ways of the people of the plain had long been evil, God gave them a period of grace during which He had not left Himself without witnesses. Lot’s righteous life provided them with an example of how they should live, but this had no influence upon them (see 2 Peter 2:7, 8). Their previous dealings with Abraham had placed them in contact with the true God (see Gen. 14:22). But all was to no avail. This kind of "anger" would be manifested again in the 2nd coming.

The other context of anger would be when Isaiah prophesied about the northern and the southern kingdoms being taken over by the assyrians. God said, "O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets." Isa 10:5-6. God let the people of Judah and Israel experience some results of their folly, so they could understand what they were doing and have a chance to make a better choice. An analalgy was given of a parent telling the child not to touch the hot stove repeatedly. The parent could sense that the child had the desire to do it and finally the parent relents, not out of anger or hatred, but so the child could experience the results of folly by touching the hot stove. So this is another kind of "anger" that is demonstrated by withdrawing protection. Another slightly similar case is Job where God allows Satan to do what he wants to Job, even physically giving him sores.

A final example of a misunderstanding of God was when "he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them" Exo 7:13. Here, God did not have a direct influence of hardening Pharaoh's heart. It was more indirect in that the Holy Spirit was constantly at work in trying to turn Pharaoh away from his evil ways. Also, the Pharaoh had sufficient witness to God's power through the miracles of the plagues and of course other means. The only problem was with Pharaoh who had willed to disobey what he felt was right. So in a sense, the more the holy spirit convicted him on what was right, the more he rejected it. Probably a slightly similar analogy is when a guy keeps pestering a girl to try to win her heart, the further she would go away.(works in some cases).hehe

 

[cupbearer]

Have you ever heard of practicing the presence of God?

Cupbearer

 

[Singz4Him]

Ive meditated over this a lot since originally reading the post. I didnt feel lead to post, until I had heard Gods voice.

So here goes.

I think its somewhat ambitious to suggest that WE can HURT GOD.
BUT
God does HURT when his LOVED ONES fall into sin.

John 3:16 says "For God so LOVED..."

To me this scripture indicated God had a COMPASSION for us. He could have PUNISHED US, but he chose to punish his SON, for US. It HURT God that we had strayed from him.

But I dont believe we can hurt God in the sense that, "HAHA GOD YOU ANNOYED ME NOW IM GOING TO SIN TO HURT YOU!" Im not saying the OP says that at all, so please dont take it that way!. What I am saying is that if you intentionally try to hurt God you wont fall under his grace, but his wrath.

God Bless, metal.

Dude, you are amazing! Or should I say, God is working in you! Wow! What you said in this post really bears witness with the Spirit in me. God Bless you!

 

[Nikicarol]

I guess when we talk of love or hate or hurting others and so on, our understanding of those things is different than from God's perspective. God is so awesome that we can't get our head's around it, even though we try so hard. It's so wonderful that with God, there is always something new to learn, and we will never know it all.

Even if God doesn't 'hurt' in the same way, I know that he does 'hurt' in HIS way, and I agree with you Hotmetal that there is no way we could go out and sin just to hurt God, all we would do would be to hurt ourselves if we did that.

I often think about the Father/Child relationship that we have with God, and as a parent I know that kids can hurt their parents when they do things wrong, or they are disrespectful, or just by ignoring their parents - often the kids don't even know their parents are hurt by their actions! they can be very selfish, just like we are towards God sometimes.

 

[IKTCA]

I often think about the Father/Child relationship that we have with God, and as a parent I know that kids can hurt their parents when they do things wrong, or they are disrespectful, or just by ignoring their parents - often the kids don't even know their parents are hurt by their actions! they can be very selfish, just like we are towards God sometimes.

NikiCarol,

Like all believers, I want to become a joy to the Father. But more than that, like you, I want not to make Jesus sad. If God would grant me just one request, it would be not to betray Jesus' love.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.