Why do you say God exists?

I would like to share why I say God exists and would love to hear why you say God exists.

I know I am not alone when I say I have experienced events and seen things with my eyes and heard things with my ears that have given me a concrete confirmation that God exists.

I'm not talking hope and faith, I'm talking about actual events that you have experienced that made you come to the conclusion that God is real.

I will try to not be wordy and simply list all of my experiences. If any of you want me to expound on a certain experience just ask.

These are not going to be in chronological order.

1. I had viral meningitis and guillian barre. It appeared as though it was the end for me so my doctors drew up the forms for me to be put on life support and the forms for who and when would terminate the life support.
My mother and father debated and agreed to forego life support, both feeling if it was my time to go then so be it.
The very next day my body did a u-turn and day after day for about two weeks I started to recover. Once I regained consciousness and was aware I was told I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Then I was told I would need a cane.
My dad picked me up the day I was released from the hospital. He told my primary doctor he understood my illnesses but wanted to know how and why I got better. The doctor looked towards my room door, walked over and closed it, then turned around and took a deep breath, and after staring silently at his clipboard for about fifteen seconds said,
"In the medical community...there are words and phrases we are not supposed to use. In regards to your son...the only word that comes to mind is 'miracle'."
Dad looked at the floor, nodded, and said, "OK". I eventually dumped the cane, about a month later.

2. After leaving one job and heading to another I almost pulled out in front of a transfer truck when a woman's voice told me to look left. If not for her, I may not be here.

3. While lying on a beach one night completely distraught I yelled " Where are you, God!!!" and a few seconds later in the cloudless night sky, clouds formed a face. I told no one.
A week later after church my mom's cousin walked up to me and said she'd been praying for me and she told God to do whatever it took to wake me up, even if it meant showing me His face.

4. Another night, stressing again, I put a knife to my wrist but couldn't do it.
Next day, same cousin is at my brother's place, I walk in with an uncle and few minutes later while she's talking she stops and starts crying. She said she knew one of us had thought about suicide and asked who it was.

5. I was down and out and was surviving by dumpster diving for food and anything I could sell for a few bucks.
Anything I wanted or needed would be in the dumpster within a day or three, such as soap, laundry soap, batteries, certain foods, dog food. I would be specific, for example a commercial came on for Chef Boyardee, I said out loud "man I could eat the big can of ravioli right now" because I had nothing to eat but woven wheat crackers. Next day there was a slightly dented big can of ravioli. Literally for over a year, all my needs were met, and some wants. And every time I walked away from that dumpster I thanked God for providing for me.

6. I lived in a trailer park that had 70 trailers. One night a hurricane was going to be coming my way. I slept on my couch always and that evening while laid back watching TV my uncle came by and told me to get a few things and spend the night with him and my grandparents.
I said no but he was persistent so I went with him. The next day he took me back and a tree had fallen on my trailer and on my couch.

7. I was joy riding one afternoon on a country road and a car pulled out in front of me and something took over the steering wheel and my car drove around the other car, but there was no shoulder, just ditch, yet my car stayed level as it went around the other car, as if the passenger side levitated over the ditch.

8. All the times complete strangers said something to me that was personal or uplifting that they should not have known to say to me. Too many to list individually and I can't remember them all. But I believe it was God speaking through them.

9. All the doors that opened for me when others were abruptly closed on me. Such as jobs, cars, places to live, friends, any time something bad happened unexpectedly but then something good and better happened.

I cannot think of anything else. For me, at times I have felt like Job. Call it tests or trials and tribulations. I've somehow managed to overcome many obstacles in my life. Whenever I wanted to give up somehow some way God manages to remind me He is still with me.

But the biggest confirmation I get that God exists is from those who say there is no God. Their reasoning makes no sense to me.

They say the Bible was written by men, not God. Well the Bible clearly states and names the men who wrote the books of the Bible. It's no secret it was written by men so hello Mr. and Mrs. Obvious.

They say the Bible rips off other religions. The Bible makes it clear there are other gods, but none greater than Him. These other gods and their followers obviously will manipulate and twist Truth to make God and His word fraudulent.

One archaeologist says this, another says that.
One scientist says this, another says that.
One historian says this, one says that.

It's up to the individual to decide what to believe. And I agree with Jesus, all you have to do is look around and you'll see the workings of God, an intelligent designer, that has created a universal symphony that does have rhyme and reason.

I do believe in the days ahead more and more people will gain sight beyond sight, they'll see through the fog and haze and realize God is real. And the only way to understand the who, what, when, where, how and why concerning God is to read the Bible and talk to God as if He is in the room. It's even better if there's two or more people around who all communicate with God.

Yet the more people come to know God, the louder and angrier those who despise God will become. Do not engage them. Do not debate with them. They'll offer you "proof" that God is not real and the Bible is just a book.

Would you water a dying tree?
Would you feed a dead animal?
Would you put gas in a car with no motor?

Why would you waste time with those who have made up their mind there is no God?

You can be civil without being rude. You don't believe in God, OK, your choice. One of the benefits of the freewill God gave us.

You think the Bible is a collection of fairy tales? Well that's because you've not actually read the Bible, and more than likely are parroting what you've heard from others who despise God.

The Bible is not just a book of do's and don't's. It's history, it's explanations, it's a record of world changing events, it's wisdom, it's letters written to churches, it's a glimpse into the future. There IS a divine power in the Bible. But a person cannot understand this with a closed mind and hardened heart.

I'll stop here. I look forward to reading your posts. There's enough division going around, let's take a pause and come together and share what's happened in our lives to turn to God when it seems at times most have turned away.

a reply to: EdisonintheFM

Thanks for sharing. I truly wish I had your passion. I close my eyes and feel genuine love for the world, for others, for all the creations of the earth. I feel warmth; whole. When I open my eyes to the reality of every formalized religion, which includes a proclivity to status, dogma, judgement, fear based motivation and aggression; I struggle to see the linkage.

Could it be that God is simply within us? And your God and mine may be the same, but with different names? That we've shared a reverence for a creator that goes back to mankind's origin? Is it a coincidence that all religions stem from similar, historical sources? And what if it was true? That your God and mine were one in the same, both teaching messages of love, patience, empathy and compassion. Would that be something that you'd accept?

Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts. Take care

a reply to: EdisonintheFM

When you feel that love, then you know.

And, yes, doubt your senses!

Never doubt feelings (if that is the case)!

God, She does exist… and has a wicked sense of humor!!

If you are worthy, she loves you.

Otherwise, it is a mudslide that you are holding back with your hands.

She loves us. Maybe in our own way, but, she always cares about us!!

a reply to: EdisonintheFM
Thank you for all that.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened the thread, because it could have been a challenging question from a sceptic.
In those circumstances, I sometimes quote the Biblical answer as "Because he says so, and I believe him" (the point being that the Biblical God shows himself by communicating).

a reply to: EdisonintheFM

God IS.
Things seen and unseen, creation, including stuff like what you presented, but in my life, as well as the lives of others, testify to Him.
Also, logically, without God, there is no absolute truth; no absolute morality; no real purpose. I can’t believe that. “I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist,” i think is a quote I’ve heard (that now applies to me, too).
I believe the Bible, even if I don’t understand it all.

a reply to: FreeOrigin

Well, if you consider how Jesus interacted with the synagogues in His day, which were churches in a sense, it's eye opening to say the least.

Jesus did not fight with law enforcement or government, He fought with Pharisees and Sadducees. He spent time among what we would consider sinners, and He did not point fingers and make proclamations that they were going to burn for eternity. He gave love, pure and simple.

For you, and me and anyone else, it is easy, too easy, to focus on the wrong thing and sometimes feel like we're wasting time by trying to know God and understand His existence as well as ours.

Some ask if there's a God and if He truly loves us, then why is the world the way it is, with all its evil, with innocent lives suffering.

The answer is Freewill. He will not intervene because if He did that cancels the most precious gift He gave us. Freewill is what separates us from all other lifeforms, WE decide our fate, our future, and even though it sounds like God is calloused, He isn't. The emotions we feel are HIS. We were made in His likeness, not just our body but our essence. We all have a pieces of God in us.

Picture this. You bring a child into the world, you love that child with all your being. You raise your child in a manner that you think will benefit them, you teach your child what to do and what not to do. Sometimes your child does not understand the don't's and will question and question and get mad and even though you've thoroughly explained, in your mind, why this or that is a no-no, sometimes the child learns the hard way.

Take running with scissors. A child will try to rationalize why he CAN run with scissors. They run with toys, they run with many things in their hands so why not scissors. Some children will run with scissors, and some find out why it was a bad thing. Some get hurt, some may die. But does that mean that parent is at fault? I'm not talking an infant, I mean a ten year old, who's been around a decade and learned a lot but with much more to learn. If a child is hurt, do they ask why you let it happen? No, they just experienced a life lesson and hopefully learned from it.

Maybe a bad example but what I'm saying is as a parent you slowly let go of your child and let them start making decisions of their own, while keeping an eye on them but you stand back.

God does that to us. The way we raise and teach our children is how God works with us, that's why He refers to us as HIS children. You reward your child, you punish your child. God does the same to us only when He punishes us He does it by stepping away and taking His protection with Him. He does it to individuals, He does it to nations.

From what I gather, most people shy away from God because of OTHER people or inefficient critical thinking, such as I said about the evil on earth and why He won't intervene.

We have the ability to pray to God. What is that? It's talking to God, acknowledging God, thanking God, and asking God for help and assistance. God hears our voices. And sometimes it feels like He is not listening, or does not care. But there's more to it than that.

God expects a certain respect. Would you give your child something they ask for if your child came to you and asked you in a manner that's disrespectful? Would you give them a cookie or toy if the child screamed "I want a cookie now!" You cannot approach God in anger, you cannot approach God disrespectfully, and expect God to act. And one way of being disrespectful is asking Him for something when you're doing something that you know is wrong in His eyes.

And sometimes God delays on purpose to test your patience. God wants to see your actions, because with words you can say anything.

As far as the other religions go, God says himself there ARE other gods, but none are above or equal to Him. After the Fall of Satan and the third of angels, Satan eventually gained control of the governments of the world. If you look closely, when Satan tempted Jesus by offering Him the kingdoms of the earth if He'd only bow down to him, Jesus did not rebuke Satan and say "You cannot offer that which you do not possess" because Satan does indeed control the kingdoms, he did then and he does now. There IS no Godly nation on this planet. That is why we have the evil we have. I'm sure you're aware of the sick and twisted things that happen daily, the TV sheds light on some, some things are considered conspiracy theories, until proven facts.

My thoughts are this, if you truly want to know God then focus on Him and leave Buddha to the Buddhist, and Greco roman gods to the Greeks and Romans etc etc etc.

People all around the globe have come to God. Unfortunately some are being misled by those who truly do not represent God.

All you need is you, a Bible, and however many friends, family, or neighbors you can find that want to know and understand God. In your home or backyard or in a field or forest, wherever you can where there's no distraction, no interruption, just you and whoever and God. And don't let the clock control you. And don't think you can only reach God on Sunday. He's not a part-time God.

I hope my mumbo jumbo was helpful.

At one point in my life I told God to go fxxx Himself. But never have I thought there is no God. Every human on earth has a deep down feeling that tells them there's a God. Some fight that feeling and choose to ignore it. Instinct. DNA. Call it whatever. We ALL know there is a God, but like a child we rebel and we hate being told what NOT to do.

Most powerful word in the world is no. N....O.... And that's why people despise God. From day One, eat from every tree you see, but do not eat from this one. And with words, Satan convinced them both to eat, by saying they'd be as gods, knowledgeable in everything, no secrets, no misunderstanding, no question left to ask.

Not once have I said you or anyone else will go to hell.

God decides that. Not me. Not any other human. And I'm a firm believer that those condemning others to hell will reap what they sow.

It's not about hell or Satan. It's about you, God, and what you want to do in the next phase of life.

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

ALWAYS cares about us.

No matter the mistakes we made or make.

God's love is unconditional.

a reply to: DISRAELI

And He DOES communicate!

And in so many ways, from a friend or a stranger, from a bird or a song, from a scent or a sound or a flash in the sky.

Call them God winks or nods. And there are times I don't recognize them right away but then it'll hit me and I'll feel stupid for not being quick minded.

There's so much more to us and life that we could experience and enjoy if we were in tune with God.

The feeling you feel when you stop and inconvenience yourself to help someone else is priceless, and that feeling is God flowing through our veins.

I get why Jesus said go above AND beyond what a person asks of you. The reward is in the act itself.

a reply to: EdisonintheFM

Well said Edison, well said.

a reply to: japhrimu

Don't fret. You'll never understand it all, until you do.

It'll come eventually. The Bible is powerful you can read the same Scripture day after day for ten years and that Scripture will mean one thing to you, then one day you read it and suddenly it reveals more.

In my case an example would be the third temptation of Christ by Satan. For years I read it for what it is, Satan tells Jesus he will give Him control of all governments on Earth if He would simply bow knee in submission.

One day, not too long ago, I read it, and what stood out the most was what Jesus did NOT say. Jesus did not correct Satan and tell Him God was in control of the governments. That's when I realized Satan is behind the curtains, he is the reason for all the wars and despicable deeds government does.

Keep reading, and try what I do, I ask God to help me understand His word, to open my eyes and mind to any knowledge He feels I'm ready to handle.

Because honestly, if I had understood the third temptation ten years ago, I may would have snapped, had a feeling of hopelessness come over me, and one day a person may have said or done something to make me lose control and I may have done the unthinkable.

While the human mind is the most spectacular thing to exist, it is also the most fragile.

A mind can create and that same mind can destroy. There's a reason we don't use our whole brain. There's a reason that fruit was forbidden. We are not ready to reach our full potential. But God will soon remove the restraints, when He sees we're responsible enough. Think of Jesus and what He did, and what His apostles did.

One last thing.

Just talk to God. And patiently wait for Him to respond. Had a good day? Tell Him about it. Had a bad day? Let Him know and tell Him you are STILL thankful you lived another day.

He's not just God, He's a friend. He likes jokes, He loves laughter, He's compassionate and understanding and most importantly He is forgiving. All you have to do is ask and be thankful. Too many "Christians" only communicate with God on Sunday. The other six days God hurts. He did all of this for US and look how most people show appreciation. Instead of enjoying what HE made, we spend most our time with things MAN made.

Think about that.
Stay strong.

I heard about a guy who was a college professor. He was a devout Christian but his testimony was a bit squelched by the policies of his workplace. He had a model of the solar system hanging from the ceiling of his office (not to scale, obviously, but very nicely done with all the sun and the planets all represented). People would often comment on it and ask him about its provenance; he'd reply that it just happened all on its own, just appeared there one day.

Of course, people would tell him he was crazy, that there was no way that those 10 beautifully colored balls just showed up on their own. Somebody had to have made them. Things like that just don't happen.

This is the fundamental reason I believe in God. If ten simple little balls hanging from the ceiling of a man's office can't just spontaneously make themselves, appear involuntarily out of the void of nothingness, then this cosmos certainly cannot.

a reply to: incoserv

Thank you for that!

And let me respond with this.

Man's Big Bang Theory. You (not you, incoserv) seriously expect me to believe there was nothing, then an explosion happened that created what I see, beautiful round planets dancing in rhythm on set paths? The timing of the universe? It all moves like innards of a grandfather clock. That's not happenstance. That's design. And any person who would believe such foolishness as the Big Bang Theory is too afraid to admit the truth, that there IS a Creator that designed it ALL, from Pluto to your pinky toe, and it all has a purpose.

But once again, man wants to take the place of God. Man wants to discover how this works, how that works, and when he does he thinks he can rule out God.

You know how a rainbow is made? Great, you figured out how God did it. I use to make rainbows while watering my grandma's roses - does not mean there is no God.

a reply to: Trueman

Thank you, Trueman.

a reply to: EdisonintheFM

It would take me a long time to tell you all that I have been blessed to have experienced. Few would believe anyway. They would scratch their heads, and focus on coming up with a thousand scientific reasons for why the unexplainable happened. Yet would reject the one true answer. I am understanding of this, because I have been there.

Like you said, it is unproductive to put gas in a car with no engine.

I pray that those that have the eyes to see, and the ears to hear, will.

My first two personal, up close, in your face, encounters with God, happened when I was separated, in my mind, from God. I spent years trying to explain events away. I knew no one else would believe, outside of those that were witnesses, and there were quite a few. I could not expect anyone to believe, when I was filled with so much doubt.

In fact, I had completely separated myself from religion. It took me years to accept that God is beyond the limitations of our basic understanding, and that I was looking in all the wrong places for answers that I could not understand, until I got out of my own way.

It became so clear, once I stopped looking for answers, and just accepted what was right in front of my face.

I too have experienced instantaneous answers to my prayers, that even others have labeled as spooky. They believe in the supernatural, yet doubt God. That I find puzzling.

Thank you for sharing.

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

And thank YOU for sharing.

What I find funny is people saying aliens created us, aliens watch us, aliens have been here all along, aliens are going to come back to earth...but if you replace "aliens" with God, Satan and fallen angels, and Jesus....you're fruitier than a nutcake.

And if by chance you ever want to share your experiences in detail, please do.

Your experience may open someone's heart to God.

a reply to: EdisonintheFM
It's good that your faith in a deity has kept you from harming yourself and has given you hope to live another day. It seems you have had your share of hardships in this life. If faith in a "God" improves your will to live and you keep trying to better yourself, then so be it.

a reply to: Klassified

Thank you for that.

It has kept me alive and given me a reason to try to be the best person I can be.

a reply to: EdisonintheFM

I know two people that have told the story of how they had fallen, both either never hit the ground, or hit the ground remakably unscathed. Both felt divine intervention.

That happened to me a couple of years ago.

I have bad knees. I was walking out in the woods. I tripped. I was falling face first onto the ground.

I knew when I hit the ground I was going to be in trouble, trying to get up, or making it back to the house.

I didn't have time to do anything, and I didn't have my phone on me. I just gave in. I didn't have time to shout. I just thought, "Lord have mercy. "

I felt a light pressure on my elbow, and I was upright. I looked around. I saw no one. I never hit the ground. In a blink of eye, I went from about to face plant into the ground, to standing firmly on my feet.

I share this one of so many more, because when I heard others tell of a similar experience, I always believed them.

I always thought, "How amazing!" I thought, "They must be special in God's eyes". I now realize, we all are special in God's eyes.

I know better than anyone, who I am, and what I have done. I know that I am far from being an angel. I have made a ton of mistakes. I am not what you would call a religious person. To be honest, I have little faith in religion. My faith is in God. Even when things go topsy turvy.

Funny that you spoke of Job. I am presently studying the book of Job, and I realize that we miss so much of what the book has to offer, when we focus only on Job's pain and misfortune, and his continued faith.

It tells a much bigger story, much of which we overlook or miss. I don't know why some people don't believe, or have never experienced God. I do know you don't have to be religious, because I wasn't. I know you don't have to believe, because I didn't, at the time. Yet I have seen, heard, and felt, when he had communicated with me. I was stiff necked. I was haughty. I was of the world, and I was ignorant.

I was living in sin, not the sexual kind, and he reached out and touched me numerous times. I was so young and dumb at the time, that I gloated, about how "lucky", I was. It took years before the scales fell from my eyes. I was "such" a fool.

But he did not give up and me, even when I gave up on him.

a reply to: EdisonintheFM

Look...if you...anyone....can walk outside, grab dirt n twigs, mold it into a living breathing bird, make it fly away....and we cant....thats proof.

The answer is love. Its always love. God is love.

God bless you all!

Thnx

originally posted by: NightSkyeB4Dawn
Funny that you spoke of Job. I am presently studying the book of Job, and I realize that we miss so much of what the book has to offer, when we focus only on Job's pain and misfortune, and his continued faith.

It tells a much bigger story, much of which we overlook or miss.

Indeed. Can I draw your attention to this thread series, which might be helpful;
The Job debate; Who judges the judge?

(Yes, it's one of mine. That's how I know it's good. I'm particularly proud of the Elihu chapter)