bible questions, searching for answers.?

Question

Recently dedicated self to christ, leanring more each day, but do have some confusing contradicting feelings. things i've read, heard, different preachings on tv on sunday mornings regarding prayer.. one question is this. i've heard it said, to pray for yourself, a petition prayer, you are not suppose to ask for something you want, and then say, "if it's your will" may i have this, which i felt was a proper way to ask god. because i always that only what we get is by his will anyway. but this particular preacher says you won't get things if you DOUBT, and by asking "IF" it's your will, you are implying to god you are not sure , and supposedly whatever you ask you shall receive. so that "if" sheds doubt that was you are asking you will receive. so here all this time i've asked that way, thinking i was doing the right thing, and believed i received some of my prayers, to only find out it was all in my head that i thought i received these because I looked for something to make it fit?

Answer 1

When you pray for yourself, make sure that you are asking God to give to you what He wants for you, according to His will and not your will. you will be pleasntly surprised that because you acknowledge that what He wants for you is more important than what you want for yourself, what God gives you. You are acknowledging to God that you trust in His choices for you, over your own.

Remeber that doubt belongs to satan, and faith belongs to God. When you are saying "if it your will" you are telling God that you will accept what ever answer He gives you. You are giving all the control to God, just as you should. What is happening is satan is messing with your thoughts. Your preacher is telling you correctly. Don't let satan use his favorite tool of doubt to mess with your heart, mind and your faith.

You will be fine. Try not to grasp too much at one time in your studying. You may have to read somthing as many as ten times before God shows you what it is He wants you to know. He loves you so very much. God bless you

Carol
[e-mail] Feel free to write me any time.

Answer 2

It does say to ask fo rthings for yourself. AS a Christian, it would make sense that if you are striving to be Christ like, you wouldn't be asking for things that are of a greedy or selfish nature. When I do pray for something for my self and use the term "if it is yoour will", it is usually something like my current situation. i am house hunting, we have found a couple great houses and I have prayed to get the house if it is the Lords will. Why, because he knows where he wants me to go. I understand that if I do not receive that particular house, he has a different plan for other than just finding a house to buy. he wants me somewhere specific, I accept that, and am still looking for a house and praying about it. Mind you, I have 14 days to be out of my present house that is sold, but I know the Lord will lead me to the right destination, so I am not freak'n out.

Now I also have prayed for guidance on my marital status. I had to literally ask the Lord to do something specific to show me what to do. God did answer my prayer with the specific sign that I requested, which I had no control over making happen or not.

When I pray for the safety of my children, I don't pray, if it is your will, as I know that God wants my children to be safe, so I just know that that prayer is answered by faith. When I am tight on money and trying to meet bills, I don't pray, if it is your will, again, on faith I recieve that god will provide and he does. When my child, who is disabled, had medical issues going on without insurance, I prayed, God please work this out so that my child can receive the care he needs. In faith, I received Gods protection of my child, and my Child was fine, nothing overbearing, until I could get the insurance and address his problems. Prayers do get answered, but that doesn't mean you don't have to apply yourself as well or go through a little turbulance getting to that answered prayer. That is a test of faith and learning process of building character and humbling yourself for cleansing to be as pure on earth as possible. I look at it as training for heaven, working out all the bugs if you will.

Accept your answered prayers as the grace of God falling upon you, not that you made it up to fit. When you believe and have faith, and associate everyday life with the miracles of God, his presence will become stronger to you and more notable, but first you must have faith.

Answer 3

Prayer is something very personal and there's no wrong way to do it if it comes from your heart. When praying for something, really listen for the Holy Ghost to tell your heart what God wants you to know. And you'll know by a warm feeling in your heart and a still small voice. I think it's fine to ask for something you want. The worst that can happen is that Heavenly Father says No.

Answer 4

God knows the difference between your "needs" and your "wants", but you must petition Him through prayer so that he can guide you and help you understand WHY you don't always get what you need or want. God has a purpose and a plan and when the conditions are met, He moves! Don't give up because He doesn't answer immediately. He'll work in His due time and bless you richly!

Answer 5

Allow we to answer this from islam point of view:
you were right when you asked God and then said if it' your will. and your reasoning is correct.
this doesn't imply that you doubt that god will answer your prayer. Sometimes people ask for things thinking it's good for them and later on turns out to be bad for them. Since God knows what good for you more than you do. when you say if it's your will ( Inshallah in islam) it means you trust God will answer your prayer if it's outcome is good for you and at the same time will not have bad effect on someone else .

Answer 6

I don't think it matters how you pray as long as you pray.( that's only my opinion) But I do know He will answer you prayers even if it is not what He wants you to have, but what ever it was you prayed so much for and He eventually gave you will not work out in the end. So don't pray for things you know He would not want you to have. I know from experience.

Answer 7

I would disagree with that totally. It isn't a sign of doubt- it's a sign of humility. When you ask for something "in accordance to His will," it means that you are acknowledging that as a human, you are faulted, and that only our perfect Father knows what is really good for us, and that He will gives us what we need in due time.

Remember what they say: don't believe everything you hear. And TV evangelists wouldn't be too high on my own personal list of trustworthy people. The path to true and deep faith lies within your heart and your mind. Take everything you are given, scrutinize it, digest it, meditate and pray over it, and inevitably you will arrive at the conclusion that the Holy Spirit guides you to in your heart. Take that and only that as the truth.

Answer 8

It would be confusing to listen to different preachers from different denominations. Pick one that feels right for you and lines up with what the bible says, and just listen to it. Go to church and Sunday school, so you can ask questions. Bless you.

Answer 9

Why make things so complicated? I think that God will know your true intentions and feelings. I think that God probably can see beyond subtle differences in word choice. I think people make their relationship with God more complicated than need be. Everyone that believes in God has their own unique connection and relationship with him.

Answer 10

Jesus taught us to pray in a certain format, but not to pray by rote. Pray what is in your heart. In time you will you will be able to mature in your relationship with God. An infant first has milk, then soft food and last meat.