Every Step?

Q:   Does God predetermine every step in our lives?

A:   This is a very prominent question in today’s world of preaching and teaching. I am going to assume you choose the word direct intentionally. I do not believe that God has “caused” every choice or every step that we make. I do think we can be lead and guided, but not forced.

I believe there is free will of the individual to not only respond to God’s offer of salvation but to also be able to reject God’s offer. Some will teach that God has chosen a select group and the rest are lost because they have not been chosen. I disagree with that teaching. There are several scriptures, most prominently 2 Peter 3:9 which says,

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to but for all to come to repentance.”

The logically those who are not chosen can repent but what good is it, they are lost by the lottery, if you will.

So based on this core belief that mankind can choose how or if he/she honors God and a belief in free will to make our own choices and then to be held responsible for them, I think God does guide and direct us, but never forces us.

I can pray for direction and He responds to my faith in who He is and what His will is. I can also reject His presence and grieve His Holy Spirit. That doesn’t seem logical that I could do that if God is controlling my every move and makes me do all He desires of me.

So there are choices we seek God’s leading on and He responds. I also think that there are things God does around us, in us and through us to accomplish His purposes. He challenged Pharoah with His authority and Pharoah became prideful and God used that to free His people. So God is not restricted in His power, but He limits His power in some areas to allow us to enter into a relationship with Him by our choice and through love for Him.

 Answered by Mark Christian