Is God obliged to answer each and every prayer in the affirmative?

Question

If God refuses your prayer, how do you react? Some use answering of prayers as the existense for God? Does not answering prayers negate God?

Answer 1

If God had to answer every prayer, they wouldn't be prayers anymore, they'd be called orders. And of course, you can't order God around. Remember 'Our father that art in Heaven' contains: THY will be done.
If not, shallow materialistic people could just kneel and ask for Ferraris. God isn't a Genie.

Answer 2

God answers all prayer. Sometimes he says yes, sometimes no, and sometimes not yet. But He does answer all prayers.

God knows what is best for us and sometimes we ask the wrong thing. He doesn't give us everything we ask for, because everything we ask for is not what we need.

Our spirit is of great concern to God, because that is the "real" us... that part that is eternal. So if allowing us to struggle through a hardship will cause a maturing of our spirit, he may allow it. We may not like it, but in the end we are refined.

Another person may need to see a miracle and lift them out of hardship to increase their faith.

God is infinite. He sees the beginning and the end, so He knows what is best for the outcome we need in eternity.

We do have our own will and can make some choices in rebellion. I did that once. God was telling me "no" in my heart and I did not listen. This resulted in a lifetime off difficulty and heartache. Some things cannot be taken back. You see, God was not trying to be mean to me. He knew what would happen if I married that man. I did anyway. God knew the future and the heartache I was to have. I should have trusted Him.

The only thing I know now is that God is Loving, Merciful, and full of Grace. He always acts with your best eternal interests at heart and holds you in the palm of his hand. He loves you dearly as his own child.

You asked if God is "obliged to answer ... in the affirmative." He is not obligated to answer at all, except by his own word. He promised because He CHOSE to promise. I do not believe anything other than his own love compels Him to answer.

Sue

Answer 3

God is not obligated to do anything, He is not doing us a favor. We are obliged to worship and appreciate Him.

God does not answer every prayer and I believe He does this to keep us humble in His service.

I remember back in 1990, a 25-year daughter of two members at the church went missing. People fasted and prayed that she would be found alive. Well. . .she was found naked and stabbed to death.

Conversely, other people's children go missing and are found alive. It is definitely hard to comprehend from the human perspective. Prayers being unanswered does not negate God, but it does make one wonder.

Also, when God does not answer my prayer, sometimes something unexpected and better happens to me. Keep the faith.

What do you think?

Answer 4

My my, look at all these people claiming what god cannot and cannot do without any kind of proof or reason.

Speaking of no proof or reason, here's a bible quote:

[Matthew 7:7] Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Unless Jesus was lying when he said this, then not answering prayers negates God.

Answer 5

Sometimes God does not answer our prayers for our own good. We may be asking for something that in the long run may cause harm to ourselves or others. Also, he will not even listen to our prayers is we have unconfessed sin outstanding. Outstanding sin breaks our fellowship with God, but not our relationship with him. Once adopted into his family, he will never throw us out.

Answer 6

There are conditions for anwsered prayer, In
proverbs 28:9 it says IF you turn your ear away from the law He will not hear your prayers, in Isa 59 it says the following:
59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear. Hay learn more, free bible lessons www.itiswritten.com God bless, bible questions www.bibleinfo.com EMAIL not messanger me also [e-mail]

Answer 7

How do I react when God ignores or tells me no to one of my prayer requests?

I yell at him. I scream at him. I've been known to curse at him like a 2 year old with Tourettes syndrome. I've thrown my bible across the room, breaking its spine. I've cried, I've whined.

Then,,,,the Holy Spirit tells me to SHUT UP and look at 1st Thesslonians 5:18.

Its a simple verse, one line,,,but its the most difficult verse in the bible because of what it implies. And its not a single "one time" verse either- its written across several more places also.

The verse: "In ALL things give thanks, for this is the will of the Lord God"

This verse is like eating sand,,,its dry, its horrible to swallow,,,it grates on my teeth,,,it makes me angry when I see God bless everyone else but ignores my prayers,,,,

Answer 8

God is not obliged to do ANYTHING. He is not a puppet on a string. He answers as He wishes and His answers vary ie Yes! (When your Mom offers you a gift, you say Yes!) No! ( I give this answer when someone asks me to do something and I know it is wrong) and another answer Wait! (I definitely give this answer when a chap asks me to sleep with him - he must wait till we are married and if he runs away, he was going to do it anyway in the future) Hope this helps you LOL!!!

Answer 9

He is not obliged, He gladly and lovingly wants to. After all, He is our Father and He wants us to come to Him with petitions, problems and with our gratitude. Start a Bible study, you'll learn so much more about God and His qualities. Open your door to one of those people that come to your door and want to help you study the Bible, I know you are aware of who they are because they are the only ones that take the time and are interested in you attaining accurate knowledge.You'll be amazed at what you will learn.

Answer 10

He certainly has answered my in the no way category, but that does not mean He does not exist.. My Dad said no a lot he existed. It's just that if He answers yes in a tough situation we want to give Him credit and I have gotten some pretty cool yeses.