When I was a Christian I fervently, unceasingly prayed for my family to be saved so we could worship the Lord together and rejoice in Him for eternity. According to the reasons for unanswered prayer (lack of faith, lack of perserverance, unconfessed sin...) I was good there so why would God choose to not save any of my family? And if you're going to use the free will answer, explain why a person would pray if it makes no difference either way.
2007-04-15 13:35:49 · 25 answers · asked by me 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Chris ... I reached out big time.
Fish ... 10 years was long enough for me to see NOTHING!
Heartbeat ... wrong mindset and for reasons not as important to God?????? What could be more important to God than more followers and how on earth could this be wrong?????
2007-04-15 14:11:14 · update #1
John ... WOW! ... "I must never have been a Christian". Tell yourself whatever it takes as you obviously personally know myself and my heart. People like you are the reason people have no interest in Christianity.
2007-04-15 14:40:18 · update #2
Me, if you are a believer you have what is called a "convenant" relationship with God. A covenant is the strongest form of relationship there is. If you are a believer who has a covenant with God, then you also have rights that go with that covenant. You have the right to see all of your family saved. In the Old Testament when Israel was getting ready to depart out of Egypt they put blood on the door posts. The blood on the door posts covered as many people who were in that household. The Lord showed me long time ago that He was going to save my whole family. But it is not a matter of "if", but "when". You have waited 10 years, I have been waiting 17 years. But they are slowly coming around. Maybe the reason God has not moved in your family is because you didn't stay around yourself. You are the intercessor for your family. If the intercessor quits, then there's nobody covering the family with prayer. Real faith says, I 'm going to believe until it comes to pass. Not well if it does'nt hurry up and come then I quit. That's not faith.
2007-04-15 15:14:58 · answer #1 · answered by super saiyan 3 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Define "answered prayers" though. If you pray for the lottery and some how make it through a year of unemployment, how is that not an answer to your prayers? If you pray that your father will survive his heart attack but instead dies soon after you get to his side, how is that not an answer to your prayers? Sometimes what we think we want is not what we need. A lack of unanswered prayers isn't for any of your reasons.
2016-05-21 00:25:27 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God does not hear the prayers of the lost, except a sincere salvation request. And that would be for yourself- and not someone else (your family).
Now, you said "when I was a Christian". That may be your answer. If you are not a Christian now, then you never were-so God would not have heard your prayers for others. Literally millions of people go to a church regularly and profess to be Christians, and yet never became a Christian. The only way a person can become a Christian is by being "born again". There is no other way. Once a person is born again-they will always be a Christian. You may fall to temptation and sin on occasion, but you will never be un-Christian ever again. I would answer that most likely you were never Christian. But-even if you are-God is not bound by our prayers-He is sovereign.
2007-04-15 13:49:33 · answer #3 · answered by John S 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hope I'm thinking about "save" as you say it:
First of all, you do lack faith and perserverance because you said you " was" a Christian. Did you try to talk and teach your family about Jesus Christ and the wonderful works in the Bible? Did you try to get them to go to church and/or Bible study? If so, you did what you were told to do as a Christian and tried to spread the word. It is up to your family members to take the messages and use them in their everyday life. Sometimes being a devoted "real" Christian is a journey and you cannot decide whether someone should be "saved" or is even ready to be "saved." It's all in the heart and whether you really believe. Were you really "saved"?
2007-04-15 13:59:21 · answer #4 · answered by Lovely 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God chooses to save everyone
2 Peter 3:9 . . . God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God wants to save them all
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
We need to pray that God will send someone to talk to them (our unsaved family), someone who can get them to hear the truth. We need to pray that God will keep them alive until they are saved.
Matt 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest , that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
If they are still alive there is hope.
No where in the bible does it teach God said no. If we pray according to his word his answer will always be yes. His word is his will.
2007-04-15 13:50:14 · answer #5 · answered by Laniermar 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God answers prayer in His way and in His time according to His will. Sometimes we pray for things in the wrong mindset and for perhaps reasons that are not are not as important as something else God deems that are needed more. Sometimes people cannot see that God has answered the prayer..but just not in the way folks prayed for.
2007-04-15 13:41:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Sweetie, prayer does make a difference. Because the things you asked for has not happened in your time frame you have doubts. I have been praying to for my family. Never stop praying till the day you die. Don't get discouraged my friend. Regardless of the final decision of your family members don't let that take your faith away. Go forward in the joy of the Lord and instead of saying pleadingly, "Oh Lord, save my family". Start thanking Him for saving them by faith. Never let the devil steal your joy, child of God.
2007-04-15 13:42:55 · answer #7 · answered by angel 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Our prayers are always answered.God may have had the Holy Spirit prompt your relatives a hundred times.when it comes down to it ,it is their choice not yours.People can refuse God's promptings so many times the become callous.
Not everyone will be saved an unfortunately,some will belong to us.Have you ever thought about the one's He did answer?Sometimes we pray out of his will and then the answer is No.But I'll bet He did answer some as Yes.
2007-04-15 13:43:57 · answer #8 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Why should they follow you in Faith, when you say you have abandoned it.
Jesus said" Matt10:34-39 Do not think I came to bring peace on earth, I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man againest his father, a daughter againest her mother, and a daughter-in-law againest her mother-in-law and a man's eniemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."
Examine your heart, did they see the light shining in your heart, was there a true repentance, a change in your life, heart & mind ? Did they witness that change & the joy in your life?
God loves the whole world, He desires none to perish.Do you love the Lord with all your heart & soul & mind?Did you put Him first? I'm not putting the blame on you, I just would like for you to examine your heart first, before you blame God for unanswered prayer.It does matter to pray, God hears our prayers. Did you be still & wait on the voice of the Lord ? Did you listen? The Father hears & cares, and He knows the future of your loved ones. Put them in His hands & let go, that's trust & faith. Trust the Father to be who He says He is. He is Faithful when we are not. May God bless you & your family!
2007-04-15 17:08:16 · answer #9 · answered by Faith walker 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm a christian but i personally think that unless your family members are very disguisting evil people then God has his own saving plan for each one and that might not be the conventional christian way but some other events that brings peace in their souls.
2007-04-15 13:42:42 · answer #10 · answered by amateurgrower 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋