another question about prayer..?

Question

for those of you who said. SOMETIMES the answer is no...

then say we take 1 million people who all are missing a limb of some kind. all of them christian and all of them pray for their limb to grow back. why does god answer no to all of them?

this is called a statistic is it not? people can naturally (or with help of science/doctors) recover from cancer, and the flu,

so why then will god "sometimes" answer yes to things that can happen regardless of his help, and "always" answer no to things that cant happen without his help?

are u guys aware the bible says, "ask and you will be answered, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened"

if praying gets you what u want, why does he answer no sometimes?

isnt his answering "no" just a reflection of your faith? u can refer to the bible that says if you ask with faith u will get.

Answer 1

Still another God hater that hasn't the first idea what Christian pray is all about. Prayer is not a christmas wish list!!! It is a time for conforming our will to that of God's As we become more like Him our desire turn more to His and all prayer is answered because we only pray for think that are His prefect will.... Jim

Answer 2

God says no for many reasons. He knows when NO should be the response. Often ppl pray for things that would not benefit them. and often God says no, because that person is not in a right relationship with God and has lessons to learn first. And, often the answer is no, because they arent ready yet to receive what they ask for. If God says no,it is for a reason and we arent to question that. Sometimes He wants us to live in certain situations to teach us lessons about life. so many reasons He will say no. Yes, some are healed alone by docs. God gave them the knowledgte to know how to heal ppl thru science. ok too. God doesnt say going to a doc is wrong, but sometimes He will heal others without the doc, just on faith. often when someone gets a no, its because they dont have enough faith. If we dont believe we will receive, we usually dont. If God gave us all we demanded, there would be no sickness or pain, right? How would we grow and learn, and appreciate when its all good? Much study done on all of this and its awesome.
God also has His reasons for saying yes too. we just must trust, and study to try and understand. it comes if we truthfully look to God alone for answers.

Answer 3

Prayer is not a blank check. In answer to most of your questions dealing with prayer, just because I, as a Christian, pray for something, does not mean I'll get that request answered the way I want it to be answered. God is NOT a genie. You don't rub a lamp, or send a prayer, and get your three wishes. As a Christian, when I pray I want to pray in line with God's will. If something I think would be beneficial at the moment, like the restoration of a limb or something, is not what God has in mind for me, then I want to be willing to go along with that. As a Christian, I want to pray that God's will, not mine, be done. He will give me what is in line with His will, and He is the judge of that, obviously.

As for your point about people naturally recovering, do you really think that God is not involved in their recovery? God did not create the world and abandon us to our own means; we would instantly die if He had. Who gives us life? Who holds us together? God does! Though something may not make sense at the time for us, or may not be in OUR interest, God knows what He's doing. We can trust in Him. If we ask, seek, knock, and pray about things (it is implied that we would be praying about things in line with God's will, by the way), then we will receive. If earthly fathers know how to give a child a present or gift, then how much more so our Heavenly Father does? Prayer is not a blank check, and anyone who think that has a misconception of the process. It is actually a chance for us to enter into a time of communion with God, a chance for Him to speak to us while our hearts are focused on Him. A chance for US to be changed. I hope that this helps you, God bless!

1 John 5:14 NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Answer 4

I don't know the source, except that I first read about it in "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People," but at least in some Jewish thought, it is inappropriate to pray for certain things, such as praying for things that have already occured to be undone.

There are lots of charletons and amatuers who lie to people and lead them to believe religion is just a fancy way to get what you want. And yes, their claims fall apart when looking at Divine Amputee Limb Regeneration Statistic.

However, I don't think too many serious religious thinkers would encourage someone to pray for a limb to grow back. Not because it won't happen, but because that is not what prayer is for.

And by the way, aren't you just ripping off the richard Dawkin's website? you know, www.whydoesgodhateamputees.com ?

Answer 5

You ask a really tough question. I am not going to blow it off like some of the responses I have read. Why does not God work miracles like Peter and the apostles were doing in the book of acts? I think they are being done. It may have to do with the circles you are in. I hear about them happening at my church even. I also know it has to do with how we pray. Jesus said miracles only happen with fasting and prayer. Meaning they are serious requests that require a fervent attitude. I think people don't ask God like that for a few reasons.
1.They are scared of the supernatural. Jesus said that there would be people in the last days who would perform miracles, yet they would be working for Satan. So it makes us suspicious of it. It's kinda sad that God would give us such power and we would be afraid of looking like fakers. If we know God, we will recognize who miracles come from.
2. Also most Christians don't want to look crazy. There is enough crazy Christians already right?
3. Plus there is a general lack of faith. Maybe someone has felt that they have not been heard or answered in the right way and it has shaken their faith in God's ability. So when it comes down to it, most don't ask. It's sad.
I already posted the story of the indian girl who's shriveled hand grew back when she was prayed over. So miracles do happen like that, not just nature taking it's course like immunity or whatever.
I also know that miracles will increase as the end draws nearer. I myself, am going to start believing what God tells me. I want to be involved in serious prayer for God to work astounding miracles.
I have, as of last night started intercessory prayer for some of my family to turn their lives around. Now that would take a miracle. I am currently waiting for God to impress on their hearts to turn back to Him.I may have to wait, but I'll let you know how it turns out.

Answer 6

yeh but it depends on us not God. The times when 'he doesn't answer' are the times when we're not listening! If we ask for something wrong then God's not going to do it is he. maybe it would be more suitable to pray for the 1 million limb-missing people's beliefs in God.

look, if you set out to prove Christians wrong, by saying that prayer doesn't work. then you have clearly already made up your mind. its all about belief, and I have a feeling that you are looking from the outside in and picking holes in what we believe. try looking from the inside, its a lot nicer

Answer 7

That would take a miracle from God. He may not restore limbs but he still gives purpose to their lives. God never promised us an easy life that we would all be healthy. Some wonderful people have overcome get obstacles with their disabilities, look at Terry Fox. Instead of saying God give me my limb back, ask God teach me how to live as I am.

Answer 8

we can live without our limbs.. not our hearts. God allowed these people to lose there limbs so why would He give them back? He has an answer for all of it and we do not. Ask and you shall receive...... a house, car, money? God wants us to give our hearts and pray for REAL things, like love understanding, health, forgiveness and the like. We should all pray with our hearts and not with greed

Answer 9

Prayer is not about presenting God with a gift list. Prayer must be in accordance with God's will. God is not a cosmic vending machine. He is the all powerful, all knowing God and He decides which prayers to answer and when.

Prayer is talking to God and worshiping God for who HE is.

The other reason prayers don't get answered is because when non-believers pray, God does not hear them unless they are repenting of sin and acknowledging Him as Lord and Creator.

Answer 10

I haven't heard of Christians praying to regrow limbs there is a possibility even theough the act of regrowing a limb sould be a sign and most do not pray for signs knowing we have the sign of Jonas. God provides doctors and medicine and prostetic limbs... there is an old Joke about a man waiting on his rooftop in a flood waiting for God to save him... A boat came by and the man yelled out " No thanks I'm waiting on God" The waters increased and another boat came by and again the man yelled "No thanks I'm waiting on God" the floods increased and a helicopter came by and again the man waited on God. Needless to say the man drown and when he came before God he asked why didnt you save me? and God replied I sent two boats and a helicopter.