Sometimes I feel I have gotten answers to prayer right away. Other times, it seems confusing. Do you think that God is an immediate responder to prayer when he shows compassion, or what? How can I pray more effectively?
2007-04-14 10:48:33 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Does fasting enhance answers to prayer, or does it matter? Psalm 4 says He hears, no matter what, so I'm assuming even if I don't fast, He's not holding that as something I have to do to get an answer. How can I hear God better?
2007-04-14 10:54:26 · update #1
Jesus said, about prayer in Mark 11,
22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.
23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Many people pray without belief that their prayers will ever be answered, and many people believe that God answers prayer. Our belief when we pray is a determining factor.
We must believe that our prayers will be answered. When do we believe? Not when the answer comes, but when we pray. Verse 24 says "whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." The believing comes when we pray.
Praying and believing is praying effectively.
2007-04-14 11:01:34 · answer #1 · answered by Deus Luminarium 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is faithful and is ALWAYS on time.
The best way to have effective prayer is first you have to living a life pleasing to God. It's not hard and you wont be perfect but have a sincere heart.
Secondly you have to know a scripture. What does God say about your situation(sickness, finances, marriage, hardships, etc)? If God says in Psalms 91 no harm shall come near my dwelling then you have to say that. Remember while Jesus was being tempted He always had a scripture and we should do the same thing.
Thirdly... If your prayer is not being answered first you have to see if what you're praying for lines up with God's will. No could mean not right now, or I have better for you.
The following things can also cause a hinderance to prayers being answered:
Doubt/Lack of faith/Double-Mindedness - Without faith it's impossible to please God. You must have it in order to get your prayers answered.
-Not repenting/not living a life pleasing to God - Remember, repent means to apologize and stop sinning.
-Arguing with spouses
-Praying for something that does not line up with God's will. - Although I love The Rock, I can't pray for him to be my husband because he's already married.
-Asking for something with the wrong motives - James 4:3 says if we pray for something with bad intentions we won't get it.
Well, I hope this helps. May God Bless.
2007-04-14 11:21:21 · answer #2 · answered by hyrlady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
offering you're easily praying for some thing that may no longer evil God solutions (or listens) to all prayers. Pray, pray and pray then if after 10 years you have no longer gained an answer (which you are going to have yet in simple terms no longer realised) save on. in line with threat you need to wish a prayer that your prayer became into incorrect (if it became into) and doubtless you will get the respond you're finding for. Xxx
2016-12-16 05:51:47 · answer #3 · answered by jeniffer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Goodgyrl, I don't think that an immediate response to a prayer is necessarily an indication that God is compassionate, yet less compassionate when He takes his time about answering. Sometimes the answer is "not yet". Sometimes the answer is packaged in a different way from what we think it should be, and we might not recognize that we have been answered for awhile.
Note that I mention how "we" think an answer should be packaged. God might have other ideas about that.
2007-04-14 11:00:06 · answer #4 · answered by beatlefan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. I can't give you a strong answer but I can say that answers are a lot of times there but we miss it. I think the biggest reason is because of our relationship with Him. The more time we spend with God the better attuned to listening to Him we are. I know it seems radical, but Jesus spent so much time with Him. He was tired at times and would go and rest with Him. He would spend all night with Him. What would happen if we spent that much time with God everyday all the time? Maybe we would be doing what Jesus said... "I only do what I SEE the my Father doing." Kinda sounds like Jesus was getting answers before He was asking. Just a thought.
2007-04-14 11:02:48 · answer #5 · answered by waldrop32 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that God answers your prayers when they need to be answered the most, whether it takes a long time for you to see it or not. It doesn't matter how long it takes but just remember that he always answers them and to keep on praying. He doesn't ever forget about you.
2007-04-14 10:52:59 · answer #6 · answered by Travis L 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God can in some instances take a LONG time to answer prayers. Remember the story in Daniel chapter 10, where it told how Daniel's prayer to God took 'three whole weeks' for him to receive an answer! But that was a very special case, and had to do with the evil angel, the Prince of Persia, and the angel God had appointed to bring Daniel's answer to him!
That's why we are told to 'patiently wait upon the Lord'. Look at what these scriptures relating to waiting on the Lord tell us: (pasted here)
'For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:24-28.
What is in store for us through hope is not usually seen; therefore we do not know specifically what God is going to do for us. I believe, because His word in the Bible tell me, that he will honor his commitment through the Spirit. All I need to do is stay faithful and patienctly wait upon His answer to my prayers!!
2007-04-14 11:08:09 · answer #7 · answered by Old Truth Traveler 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends. God has His own schedule that dosnt always match up with our own. Wait for Him and dont try doing something to make it happen faster. Abraham did that and we still suffer from his mistake today. Pray sincerly and with pure motives. Believe that God os listening and will help you or you are wasting your time.
2007-04-14 10:55:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes he does and sometimes he says No
and sometimes he answers in a way you didn't expect him to.
2007-04-14 10:58:03 · answer #9 · answered by Shirley T 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nearly as long as the tooth fairy takes to collect a tooth.
2007-04-14 10:53:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋