stello -
Last night i was praying with my wife and i thanked God for the way the world is. All of the pain, sickness, war, famine etc. Afterwards she was a little upset that i thanked God for all of those things. I tried to explain that everything we are going through is God's will and we have to go through it all. She asked the question if i'm thankful that there are children starving all over the world. While i feel sorry for them and everyone suffering i think i was right in thanking God for all of it, because we understand we all have to have a knowledge and experience of evil. Or am i wrong here? The scriptures do say to give thanks in/for all things.
stello
I do not think this is an easy question to answer.
You want to pray according to His Will; and your wife is concerned about those that do not have enough to eat, and a lot of these (especially young children) die because of the lack of food.
We are all of God, and He can do what He wants with His Creation. However, His Word reveals a lot about His Will for His Creation, especially mankind - and He is Love.
Jesus taught us many, many things in the New Testament about the Love of His and our Father.
God is Good. God is not evil.
The way I look at it is this:
1. We had a wicked heart and our minds must be changed into The Mind of Christ.
2. He gave His Elect a New (caring) heart, and is renewing their minds into The Mind of Christ.
3. The Elects' hearts and minds should be to pray as He wants them to, as Jesus did (but only as they are led by His Holy Spirit, and according to His Revealed Word).
So perhaps, we should pray in this manner:
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us Life and for your Grace, Goodness and Love.
Help us to live our lives as you want us to, in The Faith of Jesus Christ.
Help us to pray correctly, as your Spirit guides us, for those that you desire us to pray for.
Your Will be done, not mine.
Ray stated that he was constantly in prayer - and prayed all day long for the things and people that burdened him.
Jesus asks us to put our burdens to Him.
I hope this helps a little.
Kind Regards.
George