Do you test God?

Question

Some people feel that testing God is a mistake. I don't understand this. I heard a speaker once say that she tested God when her life was in danger. A little voice told her to test God, and she said ' if you don't let these people find me, I will know you exist'. I related this to my cousin, and I knew by the look on her face she did not approve. She is not the only person that has expressed a dislike in testing God. Why is that?

Answer 1

People don't like it if you test God because if God gets it wrong, it proves he is either a bastard or not there, and that is not what the Christians want. By the way, my cat was sick and my computer was buggered, and I said to God, if you can only make one better, save the cat please. The cat is fine and my computer is still buggered. happy story... thanks God ... or coincidence?

Answer 2

Here is something I found on that topic:

Topic: Testing God

When we activate our personal faith we must never put God to the test. We want to see God act for us, do for us, intervene for us and we do not allow God to do His will. God's will may not be to act upon your prayers, needs, and wants the way you want Him to act. We must never put God to the test because putting God to the test is like saying to God, "We don’t really trust you or believe in you, so prove yourself to us." What God wants from us is not a test as to whether He will answer or not answer our prayers. What God wants from us is loving devotion that never wavers regardless of how prayers get answered. Unfortunately, the person to be tested is us, not God. Our faith is tested every day. When we pass each day's test there are rewards. The problem is that most of us will have to die in order to collect. Although this idea of dying to collect is not a joke (because it is the truth), it is funny. Many people cannot stand the idea of waiting till they die to collect. Many people want the faith rewards in the here and now, not in the great hereafter.

These words were posted at one of Shepherd's Care Ministries Sites called Wisdom Moment.

Answer 3

God isn't a genie in a bottle meant to make all your wishes come true. As a Christian, I live by faith and know that God has a plan for my life. We don't always get what we ask for when we want it. Sometimes the things we want aren't really what we need at the time. He knows our needs and fulfills them when the time is right.

Answer 4

Well, for one, I don;t believe in god...but as sad as it is, if someone gets in enough trouble, they will find themselves praying, that is another good question, ill save that for another time. Anywho, yes...I do, and guess what? He fails everytime. I'm failry certain i could be on my knees testing him with a gun to my head saying, "If you don't make me feel better, you don't exist." Nothing ever happens, people don't keep in mind that theres a word, "Coincidence" although that's not quite a coincidence, it's even smaller than that.

Answer 5

A lot of people think that "Testing God" is what the bible refers to as "tempting God," which the bible shows as being an offense to God. The difference between the two is drastic.

Testing God happens when someone (like this woman you heard) is in a situation where they are scared or need faith and says to either themself or to God "If you let such-and-such happen, I will know you are with me." It's more of a plee to God, in which the person needs God to prove His promises true to them to ignite their faith and reassure them. (Gideon did this with the fleece.. numerous times... and the bible never says that he was tempting God.)

Tempting God is when you are acting in a way that is offensive to God and is basically asking for Him to mess you up. Case and point, the Israelites in the desert who kept complaining because they had nothing to drink. They were completely ungrateful for the fact that God had just delivered them from the slavery of Egypt and were basically accusing God of leading them into the desert to kill them, simply because they hadn't found water YET.

"Testing" God comes from a grateful heart in need of faith and reassurance... "Tempting" God comes from an ungrateful heart that accuses God with His own promises. For example, the lady you heard speak would have been tempting God if she had said "God, you led me out here for these people to find me and kill me. If you REALLY existed, you would change this." The difference lies in the motive of your heart.

One of the main reasons for this confusion is because a lot of people read the NIV bible now, which replaces the words "tempting God" to say "testing God," which confuses the context a lot. Since this difference isn't really taught, many people don't know it and think that if they ever ask God to prove His promise to them (even though they believe in Him completely) that they are doing something wrong.

Hope this makes sense and helps clear this up!

Answer 6

H.ell no, I don't test God!! First of all, I don't want to be smited! And second of all, there ain't no test for which we know the answer and He doesn't. He made all the tests that can ever be. You are fooling yourself if you think you have ANY power over God, or much else in the world except your own behavior. And that "little voice?" Who do you think that was??

Answer 7

Religion is based on blind faith. If you are "testing god" then it means you want proof of his existance. Some people may see it as you questioning if he exists. I am personally an athiest so I dont believe in any of of this god thing.

Answer 8

Although I have in the past, I'm old enough now to realize that the circumstances in which I find myself are because of my own choices. I put myself in this spot and God has given me the intelligence to get myself out so it's up to me. God gives us so much -- I am grateful for what I have.

Answer 9

God knew that he could bypass the attempt, yet Abraham did no longer, till the unquestionably experience.. And it wasn't actual a attempt from God, it grow to be a fulfillment of His plan, even Abraham's obedience.. All mankind will see and comprehend the fulfillment of Gods plan, whilst the journey happens. yet no guy will comprehend His plan devoid of first the journey. guy ought to journey the understanding of Gods consequence, for the consequence is Gods plan.

Answer 10

No. I simply ask God to look into my heart and see what's there and to help me do the right things. I've learned over time that you can ask God over and over and over for something, but God will do what's right for you in the great scheme if you open your heart and listen.