Will of God
Christ Referred to the World of the Prophets as the "Word", ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Calls it the "Will"[edit]
"There is, therefore, only one way to God and that is through the realization of his Manifestation or Prophet in that age. Christ called the world of the prophets 'the word' in the verse of 'the word became flesh' while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá calls it the Will. Anyhow it is only through these that we can know God. These manifest the divine attributes and therefore by knowing them we can know God. The mystic path that the traveller should follow is therefore to the Prophet. By coming in contact with Him will he obtain peace."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, November 29, 1929; in Lights of Guidance, no. 1725)
Everything which happens is due to some wisdom and reason[edit]
"...we must realize that everything which happens is due to some wisdom and that nothing happens without a reason."
Knowing the Will of God[edit]
May presume God is assisting if the way opens when we have sought guidance[edit]
"We cannot clearly distinguish between personal desire and guidance, but if the way opens, when we have sought guidance, then we may presume God is helping us."
If trying hard and find plan doesn't work, assume it is not right one, at least for the moment[edit]
"The Master said guidance was when the doors opened after we tried. We can pray, ask to do God's will only, try hard, and then if we find our plan is not working out, assume it is not the right one, at least for the moment."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, letter dated 29 October 1952 to an individual, quoted in Moffett, Du’á, p. 27n.; at https://bahai-library.com/moffet_dynamics_prayer#s2 )
Some tests are accidental and some are brought on by our own folly or selfishness; if loved one dies, is not cured of a disease, or a problem is not solved, it is not correct to say God did not answer prayer or that we did not pray suitably; might not be Will of God or was the result of an irrevocable accident[edit]
"Regarding your question about prayer and the fact that some of our problems are not solved through prayer, we must always realize that life brings to us many situations, some of which are tests sent from God to train our characters, some of which are accidental because we live in the world of nature and are subject to the accidents of death, disease, etc., and some of which we bring on ourselves by folly, selfishness or some other weak human trait.
"It is not correct to say that because a loved one dies, or is not cured of a disease, or a problem is not solved, that God did not answer our prayer, or that we did not pray to Him in a way to receive a favourable answer. Maybe what we prayed for was not the Will of God or was the result of an accident and it produced an irrevocable conclusion like death or disease or bankruptcy etc.
"As you say, sometimes the Bahá’ís believe that they are carrying out the Will of God and yet we see that the results are very bad; we must therefore assume that they were deluding themselves into believing that their decision and course of action was according to His Will. What it all amounts to is this, that we should supplicate God, but always with the reservation that we prefer His Will to ours. We should also live up to the Laws of His Teachings, for the more we do this, the more we are exemplary believers, the more sure we will be of receiving a greater degree of His guidance."
- (From a letter dated 18 March 1951 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; in Prayer and Devotional Life, no. 104)
Prayers for[edit]
- Additional Prayers Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/additional-prayers-revealed-bahaullah/418930760/1#884624320
- Prayer#Possible_steps_of_prayer (see https://bahai-library.com/moffet_dynamics_prayer )
