But you did have the power, that is the issue. God was handcuffed in heaven until you FORCED Him to act. He had to respond to your prayer, He had no free will in this .
If God acted with out the first step being taken by man ... you have Calvinism
The salvation plan taught in the free will churches has a God without a vote in it at all . Mans will is what forces the action , not Gods grace.
Calvinists believe in free will too John, we just do not believe that man has the ability to choose to repent and believe without Gods grace first giving man the will to believe , the ability to have faith .
Yes, you may choose what you want, and you may plan what you will do. But your will is not free to accomplish anything contrary to the purposes of God. Neither have you any power to reach your goals but that which God allows you. The next time you are so enamored with your own will, remember Jesus' parable about the rich man. The wealthy man said, "I will do this; I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods... But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you" (Luke 12:18-21). He was free to plan but not free to accomplish; so it is with you
Walter Chantry
My Pastor explains our free will this way .
He draws a large circle that he labels Gods will , within it he draws a much smaller circle that he labels free will or human liberty .
He then explains that most things are Gods and Gods alone. But within that He allows us to exercise our free will. That would be things like choosing schools , occupations , spouses , where we will live etc. But then he notes that our free will choices are completely within the larger circle that is Gods will.
So all of our choices , even those freely made , are within Gods will and plan for us
My Pastor explains our free will this way . He draws a large circle that he labels Gods will , within it he draws a much smaller circle that he labels free will or human liberty . He then explains that most things are Gods and Gods alone. But within that He allows us to exercise our free will. That would be things like choosing schools , occupations , spouses , where we will live etc. But then he notes that our free will choices are completely within the larger circle that is Gods will.
So all of our choices , even those freely made , are within Gods will and plan for us.
I do not disagree with such a presentation.
Our free will is encompassed and limited by ... the plan and will of God.
Such free will as we have is granted by God to accomplish His purposes.