If I prayed and God answered me, how would He do it?

Question

If you do not believe in a God, I understand.

Yea, how would I know that He had answered me?

I agree, I don't think that He gets involved with us.

Forgive me, I should have been more specific. I would never pray for material things. Guidance or happiness, something like that.

Thanks a_delphic. I agree, God takes many forms and names.

Answer 1

First it depends on your world view.

If your world view is that all is cause and effect, that only the natural world exists, then not only does prayer not make sense, but you have no free will, so it does not matter, the outcome is already defined. Of course, you then have to accept that the universe is uncaused, or nothing creates something, which means you begin without cause and effect, and then you accept cause and effect. There is an inherent contradiction. However, it is a world view. To solve it there are theories, but, the theories are designed to align with the world view. The true answer is unknown.

If your world view is that a creator exists, then a creator creates for a reason, and your life, your independent spirit can exist under this world view. Thus, it makes sense to pray and become aligned in some way with God the creator. I think one of the strongest reasons to have this world view is our day to day experience that we have free will, that we can shape our future. If free will is an illusion and I am deluded, then so be it. It is my choice, based on my experience that I do have free will. In this case, especially if it is true, prayer makes great sense to align your spirit with God, and get guidance.

How does God do it? No one knows for sure. All you can find is experiential evidence, or read spiritual books and learn. People can tell you what they have experienced and you have to accept or not. It is like being open to love. You can have great joy, and you may have great pain, more than if you not not love at all. Jesus prayed so hard the night he was betrayed that it is said He cried tears of blood. Was his prayer heard?...yes Was it answered?...yes. The answer was no. But, He prayed correctly, not my will but yours. He was spiritually led to his fate. Kind of scary where prayer can take you.

My experience is that when I pray, if I am led to do a hard thing that I do not want to do, I mean I just want to refuse to do it, then I know I am not listening to God. That is one aspect. Other aspects you will learn about from others and experience yourself.

Answer 2

I'm not sure I understand your question. If you prayed - would depend on what you were asking for.
For example, once I realized I need a pair of pants, and had no money. I prayed about it when I went to bed, and in themorning a totally unexpected cheque came in the mail, enough to cover a pair of pants. Loads of examples like that.
Sometimes, though, I have asked for something and the answer has seemed to be "no", or "not now".
Other times I have cried out to God in anguish, and I have just felt Him confort me by His presence. I can't explain how that is.
So your question could have a lot of meaning.
I could pray for wisdom concerning a decision. I don't expect to hear a voice in the air tell me what decision to make. Several things can happen:
1) Perhaps someone who really knows a lot about the matter will come along and give me some good advice.
2) Perhaps some circumstance will happen, and it will become obvious what I should do.
3) Perhaps nothing like that will happen, I'll use my common sense as I see fit, and it turns out to be the right decision, because God guided me in my decision.
One thing - He won't let me down.

Answer 3

The 'prayer' would be answered by an obvious event that could not be mistaken for anything other than a reply to what you had mentioned in the prayer. Now I use prayer loosely here, for lack of a better word. This answer does not necessarily have to come from a personified 'God' but can be an answer from the Divine current that runs through the Universe.

I hope my answer was strange enough for you!

Answer 4

You have to be willing to accept what God does.. His infinite wisdom is beyond our comprehetion..
If you want money, you pray for a big bag of gold to plop into your lap or for a million dollars..
well your answer most probably wont be that, maybe its to remain poor and the answer comes in an open door to good hard strong work.. You might find a good job oppurtunity and that is your key to financial security.. God might not have it your destiny to be rich.. Your test in life is your patience and discipline in the job you have and how you use the little money you gain in life...
Thats my understanding on how God answers prayers

Answer 5

if you wanted something and you let god know you either wished for it or desired it and it somehow happened when you really couldn't see how it was possible ....you might think that god had a hand in it seeing he already knows the intentions of your heart ... I'd say that's an answered prayer ...praying with faith is a little tougher sometimes,, sometimes it;s even easier though ...trusting that god has things for you and all you have to do is see them and acknowledge that they are from him is sorta fun too ..
it just takes trust and patience.... trusting that he wants to give good gifts to you and patience that you are willing to wait for his timing and his gift not your wish/want.... i think he wants us to acknowledge that he's still in charge and knows us well enough to give us exactly what we need ,when,where and how.....
when u ask ...pray believing you shall receive sometimes your faith will kick in and you'll just know it's commin and all u have to do is thank him and wait .... i think some people put the cart before the horse expecting god will answer any and all wishes
.. i believe the ones you know will be answered are already in your heart and maybe you know it because before you speak them they were already on their way too you ...because of the connection you already have to god through Christ Jesus

Answer 6

He could answer you as a voice in your mind. He could answer you by changing what happens to you or to someone else. He could answer you in natural phenomena, like a weather change. But I think most of His answers could also be attributed to coincidence, so you would never know if it was Him or not. But maybe if you got enough positive "answers", your belief in Him would increase.

Answer 7

gods, or deities don't intervene, that's my conviction. Unlike Delphic I see no divine current whatsoever. Folks make connections with events, and thats part of being human ie; we look for patterns and make connections. This map we make (with our mind) is not evidence of any force moving throughout.

Thats just my private belief.

Answer 8

you are the only one who will know this answer! Depends what you prayed about! He answers in many different ways and it really depends on your situation!

Answer 9

God works in mysterios ways.

Answer 10

God cannot answer prayers, he is forbidden by natural law to answer prayers,



( That is he doesn't exist, ergo he cannot "Do" anything.)