Free will

God Will Always Be There…💞

Relationships may fail. Family may disappoint. But God will always be there. He is the one thing that is constant in our lives. No matter what you go through, he will be by your side. We may not even realize it, but he waits, patiently. He does not force his ways. God gives us free will to make decisions. Although he sees every outcome. He knows the route we will take. So he always sees the result. He is there to pick us up when we fall. He will hold us together when we are hurt. He will console us in times of trouble. God’s love will enfold you. Amid the pain, you will know, that God’s love will bring you through.

Recently I was having a little anxiety about all the tasks set before me. I kept thinking about my future and how it will be. I lost my dad a few years ago and my responsibilities have grown. I helped care for him before, and now I am still helping mom. I felt a lot of pressure. Life can be difficult and caring for others can make it harder. God whispered in my heart, “Keep on going. I will get you through. Work through these feelings.” I got up. Went about my day. Completed the difficult stuff and thanked him.

I also learned that being in God’s perfect will does not mean that life should be “perfect,” either, it may be difficult, but in the end, you won’t regret staying on his path. God can heal us, give us strength, and help us overcome. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent. God is Love.

You may wish for something, for example, and sometimes our wishes come true when we least expect it. I wrote an article before describing how prayers get answered. One way or the other, God will answer you. No prayer is unheard. Whether you are praying for deliverance from something, good health, or more finances, God hears you. His voice often comes to me directly after I make a request. I get especially strong feelings after just reading the Bible.

Having a relationship with God is like exercising a muscle, the more you practice having it, the stronger it gets. You can hear him clearer. You get instant feedback. There’s a reason your wish has not been met. Whether or not you understand is not what makes the difference. What makes the difference is whether you trust him enough and ask for his counsel. In due time, good things will happen to you. All things are possible God.

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Cut Yourself from the Illusion of Self

How are we brought to consciousness? Why is it we are aware, more aware than animals are, for example? As humans, we are capable of more than other creatures. We can write symphonies, win the Nobel Prize, make a difference, start a non profit, have a family, and fulfill our lives to the best of our abilities.

But who is really in control? Did you ever think that there may be a higher power setting the precedent for our lives? Did you ever think of God as being the greatest computer designer that has ever lived? Yesterday I began watching this 3 hour podcast interview done by Lex Fridman. Here he is interviewing the great, Sam Harris. Sam is a world renowned neuroscientist and philosopher.

He believes that there is no such thing as free will, or that there is an illusion of free will. We feel like we are the captain of our own ships and like our decisions affect our outomes. Sometimes they do, but not all the time. At times things happen to us that we don’t choose. Things appear. We are not always happy with what we see, hear, or experience.

This is when we should take it with a grain of salt. Meaning, don’t get caught up in emotions or stuck in frustration or anger. There is an “author of our existence.” It is God. Ultimately, he is in control. You don’t know what you’re going to think next, what you are going to attend to or your next action. Everything arises and comes to you through an electrical impulse (neurons, axons, and messages from the outside environment).

“The script could already be written,” Sam Harris says. The sense of self is not an illusion. But free will he thinks is an illusion. Your existence could be compatible with an absense of free will. Sam says that “Some evil genious in the next room could be typing in code into your existence.” Lol It may feel that way when we fall short. We get upset, throw a fit, and get caught up in our feelings.

But what Sam is teaching here is very encouraging. Sam says to not get stuck in patterns of thought that are a hindrance to your well being. We are all agents, by products of the Big Bang, or Big Event, that happened 13.8 billion years ago. It’s incredibly freeing to recognize that the mind is not entirely ruled by you. Everything is under a Cosmic Order. We are under the Laws of Physics.

We have a king, Jesus, and Holy Father, God. They are the creators of our existence. We have to remember all they’ve done for us and always come back to love. Jesus died for our sins so that we may be free and live (forever) with him. “…for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body [and mind]” (1 Cor. 6:20).

Here is the amazing podcast interview. Please watch it. It is life changing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dC_nRYIDZU

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

What We are Is Eternal (consciousness)🌟

Have you ever thought about what brings about ‘consciousness?’ I mean, what is the difference between you and a baseball bat? After all, you are both just a collection of particles. Of course the bat cannot think or behave like you! The bat could never be as conscious or aware as you are. Brian Greene, world famous physicist says, ‘we are an exquisite collection of particles.’ We have a high level of information integration going on ‘in our heads,’ Brian continues. He also does not believe in the idea of free will. He says we are governed by physical law and laws of the universe; however, as humans we have a variety of ways that we can ’respond’ to the world and outside environment. So then could we say that we are ’responsible’ for anything? Yes. If you played an integral part in a course of events, than you are also an integral part of the consequences that happen.’ It’s algorithmic. So, then, should we still be responsible for our actions and punished for our transgressions, so to speak? Brian says, yes. If our punishment would benefit society as a whole and stop us from doing it again. I’m going to add the link to this video, but first I will tell you how I see it: our God is a personal one. He was punished for our transgressions when he died on the cross. He was raised again by the Laws of Physics (our Holy Father created all of it!). I believe what Brian says, that so much is ruled by the Laws of the Universe, and of course, God made us to be more exquisite than a baseball bat. He loves us unconditionally—even when we mess up. And he is always waiting for us with open arms. We are here ‘from moment to moment,’ but what we are experiencing is eternal. There is no end.✨☦️⚛️

Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8uCNjyEDDM

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

God Is One of Order✨⚛️🙏

It’s true. He is the reason for my existence and the reason why I move. ‘Without God I am nothing’ does not mean I don’t recognize my individuality it just means that I acknowledge the fact that he has made me! The greatest philosophers debate about where consciousness comes from and verify that our thoughts come from ‘somewhere!’ Although it seems like we choose our thoughts and actions that is not necessarily the case. What I mean is, we have a cortex (the outer surface of the brain) that is constantly trying to appease our body (limbic system). It sends messages to our body through neurons all day. It takes outside information from the environment and processes it. Our behaviors, actions, and thoughts seem to be our own, but if you think about it experiences ‘just appear,’ according to Sam Harris, an American philosopher and neuroscientist. You see everything is in cosmic✨ order. The greatest physicists in the world, such as Brian Greene, have even debated about whether or not we really have free will. Brian says there is an order of things. We are ‘actors’ in this universe🪐 in alignment with that divine order. However, to say we don’t have choices would not be fair. Science has also discovered that an electron or ‘particle’ can appear in different parts of a wave🌊 while doing the ‘double split experiment.’ This has taught us that the fact that the electron can come up in different parts of the wave means we also have ‘different routes’ we can take! in physics, we are technically a ’particle.’ God has a plan for everything though. Even for when we mess up. Whether we are moving here through complete divine order or a combination of our choices and intuition, God is in the drivers seat no matter what. Frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way! 🔮⚛️✝️💖✨🪐🙏

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. Recently she was featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written hundreds of articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog and Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She has recently launched food services and is a major foodie! She loves to help others. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Linked In, or Twitter.

If it’s meant to be, it will happen💕

This is true. The greatest physicists have debated whether or not free will exists. I believe it does to some extent. But maybe not as much as we think it does. Everything is in cosmic order. I believe we are moving here through our imagination, but God ordains certain things to happen and certain people to be sent. Through our choices, we bring our destiny to fruition. That is why I do believe we have free will because there are choices we can make and different routes we can take. However, we can’t control everything. We can’t control when there is a hurricane, for example. We can’t control the way certain things turn out. However, we can be coworkers with God to make the best out of life and to make the right decisions. He gives us that ability, even if our choices are predetermined, it feels like they aren’t. We just have to trust that God is always in the driver’s seat and even when we fail or suffer loss, he has a plan. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Cor. 4:17).✨💫🙏

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. Recently she was featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast. Zina’s written hundreds of articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog and Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. Her goal is to help others. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Linked In, or Twitter.

God’s Love is what matters the most

So there is a bit of a debate about cosmic order and whether or not everything has been predetermined. Determinism states that there is no such thing as free will. Your future is already predicted, as was your past, etc. However, there is this other theory called Open Theism. What that means is that God is the greatest chess player that has ever lived. He knows all the steps we can take and every which way we can go. Not only that, but he has a plan for every step. Even for when we fail. Isn’t it amazing that we have a God who loves us so much that he has a plan for when we fail also? Whether it is determinism, open theism or a little bit of both that exists, it doesn’t matter too much. What matters to me is that I have a God who loves me so much that no matter what, he will be there. He will be the one listening when I need a friendly ear. He will be the one with me when I have to visit a sick relative in the hospital. He will be with me when I go on a new opportunity or if I have any heartbreak. He will be there with me every day. Every time. God’s love never fails. Friendship may fail. God’s won’t. Relationships may fade, God will always be there. He isn’t a fair-weather friend. He isn’t only here for a ‘season.’ He is here for life. For eternity. I’m so glad he is because I wouldn’t have it any another way. He’s the one who brings me through every time.

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the best-selling book “Not Without God: A Story of Survival.” Her stories have been featured in various guest articles, medical journals, magazines, newsletters, and over 250 of her own blog articles. As an educator for more than twenty years, she’s had the privilege of working with thousands of students from different backgrounds and parts of the world. Her upcoming book, “Not Without God: Hope In the Storm” will be out later this year. Her writing endeavors earned her an invitation to speak at the Harvard Faculty Club’s “Business Expert Forum.” Zina’s goal is to help others overcome adversity, and she strives to do what she longs to–help other people. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Southern Writers magazine, and Suite T blog, among other places. Socializing with friends, taking business trips, listening to music, and meeting new people are among her hobbies. She was recently featured on Color Speak (a Grace and Truth Radio World! podcast). You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, or Twitter.

Free Will and Destiny🔮✨

Since we have free will, some may think they can choose their destiny. But I believe fate and free will have to work in harmony. Determinism is a theory that says God determines everything and it’s pre-written. According to physics, though, we are ‘particles’ with endless possibilities. Although the Laws of the Universe wholly govern us, in an eternal universe, anything is possible.

What’s meant to be is a part of our destiny. Some people don’t believe in fate because we have choices. Our choices can determine our future, but our choices do not always determine the result. Meaning we don’t always get what we choose. God is in control, ultimately. He wants to see our dreams happen.

But he is our designer and the maker of everything! Life is complicated. There are twists and turns, and the path is not straight. We can decide, but things may not go the way we had planned or our way.

My advice to my friends when caught in predicaments is to pray. Stay in Faith. When you pray through anything, you’ll have knowledge, wisdom, and strength. When I say pray, I don’t necessarily mean bringing your desperate pleas to the Lord. He already knows what’s in our hearts. The Holy Spirit searches our hearts and conveys our messages to God.

Prayer means spending time with him, conversing, meditating on his word, and sharing your thoughts. Of course, you can make requests. But trust in God. He will give you your answers. You don’t have to spend hours praying, either. Prayer can be straightforward and just sharing requests and thoughts.

God will help you through anything if you put him first. He has to be the one you go to, the one you depend upon most. Ask him to help you discern and lead you to the right decisions.

The people in the Bible didn’t question whether or not they heard from the Lord. They knew when he was speaking. It wasn’t a question of whether or not they can hear from him. They followed his wise instruction. Sometimes angels even appeared and performed miracles, like when Paul, the Apostle, was freed from prison in the Book of Acts. It was an angel who appeared and opened the gates.

Because Paul had great faith, without faith, that miracle could’ve never happened. He will lead you to the right people, situations, and assistance if you ask. God has told me to wait on change and that the hardship I’m enduring has not gone in vain. He will tell you what to do if you listen and be patient.

Talk with him. It is how you can best hear. I mean by sharing your thoughts. You don’t have to talk out loud. You can speak to him in your heart. Give him your concerns, ask questions, and don’t forget to thank him. He’s always there. Your questions will get answered. Sooner or later.

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored “Not Without God: A Story of Survival.” Her stories have been featured in various guest articles, medical journals, magazines, newsletters, and over 200 of her blog posts. As an educator for more than twenty years, she’s had the privilege of working with thousands of students from different backgrounds and parts of the world. Her writing endeavors earned her an invitation to speak at the Harvard Faculty Club’s “Business Expert Forum.” Zina’s goal is to help others overcome adversity, and she strives to do what she longs to–help other people. Socializing with friends, taking business trips, listening to music, and meeting people are among her hobbies. You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, or Twitter.