Gods plan or yours?

[jbal7]

Do you think God has a set, defined plan for us? Or do you think that he let's us choose, and He uses whatever we choose to his glory? So long as we let Him of course. 

I'm thinking of this in terms of careers.

For awhile I thought I was going into the nursing feild, well, didn't really work out. That's ok though. But I'm contemplating where to go now. I know where I want to go (at least I think so) and what I'm good at but I don't know what Gods plans are. I've prayed but just dont seem to hear an answer.

 

Thanks 

[Lauralea]

I once took a fascinating course at an Adventist ministry on God's will for your life. My understanding is to read the Bible study the Spirit of Prophecy be seeking to follow His will in all areas of your life pray and watch for opening and closing doors. When He does not specifically guide us I think doing the most reasonable thing, using sanctified reasoning, (Not doing something immoral or illegal because we can make more money) is what we are supposed to do.

[pnattmbtc]

Do you think God has a set, defined plan for us? Or do you think that he let's us choose, and He uses whatever we choose to his glory? So long as we let Him of course. 

I'm thinking of this in terms of careers.

For awhile I thought I was going into the nursing feild, well, didn't really work out. That's ok though. But I'm contemplating where to go now. I know where I want to go (at least I think so) and what I'm good at but I don't know what Gods plans are. I've prayed but just dont seem to hear an answer.

 

Thanks 

This is an interesting question.  I think the answer is "it depends."  In general, I think God wants us to make our own choices, within the core set of values that we share with Him as followers of Christ.  But sometimes there are exceptions where God has specific things in mind.

If you think about a good parent, you don't usually think of the parent insisting on what the career of the child should be, but there are certain careers that a Christian parents would not want to see their children enter into, but outside of that, children should be able to decide their careers for themselves.  I think it is similar with God, but that can be extenuating circumstances or emergencies which require special handling, and, in these circumstances we need to trust that God will make His will known to us.

[jbal7]

Thanks, I agree. I think that God let's us choose our path, within reason of course, then if we allow, He can work through us to accomplish His will. And like you said there is the special cases where He has a specific will in mind. 

[Aliensanctuary]

Yeah, jb7, I wouldn't recommend nursing as a career unless one doesn't mind giving meds that may harm or kill the doctor's poor victims. If you're good at something and like to do it, it's probably time to go for it. If it doesn't work out, at least you tried.

Whatever job we have, even if it's a low-paying fast-food job, we should realize that we are working for God, and should respect our employer and put in an honest day's work as if God were actually our employer. The real reward comes in the next life where the formerly lowly will be exalted and the formerly exalted will be supervised by the formerly lowly.

[jbal7]

Hehe no I don't want to kill anyone. I initially started nursing only because I got into the program but I soon realized there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that job. I'm good at computers so I'm thinking of going into computer science, but I just didn't see how I could do good for God in that path..I suppose doors will open up though. 

[Aliensanctuary]

Hospitals can be dangerous places. Overloaded nurses can and do make fatal med errors, but so do the doctors.

I, too, have been considering programming as my next career. I recently bought an HTML textbook thinking I might learn it on my own. Kind of a back burner thing, right now. I have a son-in-law who never attended college, but learned programming on his own. He now has a several corporate clients who pay him well to keep their systems running. He does most of his diagnostic and repair work from home.

I've also thought about becoming a preacher, but I'm afraid I might be the only one attending the services, sometimes, due to my occasional foot-in-mouth social ignorance. Churches and other organizations do need computer technicians to keep them up with the times, and well-done online videos have an important place in sharing the message. I'm sure that you could find a good job where Sabbath work would not be an issue, especially if you can work from home.

[jbal7]

I agree, thanks for all the input. My current thinking is that I'll head down the road with door open to Jesus to Let Him directly me as needed. Also, html5 is fun to learn. I took a class in it, about all i know right now as far as programming goes. 

Edited September 14, 2015 by jballew7

[JoeMo]

I'm 65 years old; and I still don't know what I want to be when/if I grow up.  I pretty much followed my nose and took the path of least resistance through school (right - a double major in electrical engineering and math); and I've taken advantages of opportunites and leveraged setbacks all of my life.  I have had times of need and times of plenty.  It seemed like I was just "doing whatever happened" at the time; but looking back on my life, I can see God's leading all the way through it.  I just fail to see it when it's happening real-time.

The concept of having control over one's life is an illusion.  True, we may have a certain amount of infuence, but we don't have control.  Circumstance can steal that "control" we think we have at any given moment.

Edited September 14, 2015 by JoeMo