How does God answer prayers if it contradicts free will?

Question

In other words. If free will is based on a persons choice without outside influences how can god answer prayers?

http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary - definition of free will.

the link is dead ****

this link might work http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/free%20will

to jay:
ummm, apples and oranges?... oooook I think you might be the one confused.

Answer 1

It doesn't contradict free will. You have free will to invite God's intervention in your life through prayer. Or you can do things your own way, and He'll let you.

Answer 2

I would say that god would never contradict free will. The person always has a choice. He can present things to influence people in certain directions, but he will never force.

Free will is NOT based on a persons choices without outside influences. Dictionaries are not judges of truth, just because you found a certain definition does not make is true in every sense.

If we take you premise that free will is a persons choices without influence, then there is no such thing as free will, as no choice can be made without some influence. The entire history of humanity influences every choice you make.

I did debate for four years. We spent large amounts of time in each debate trying to prove that our definition was the correct one. Webster is not the arbiter of truth, it is something to help you understand the meaning of words, an imperfect thing created by imperfect people, that serves a function. Don't try to use it as the basis for an argument of morality.

We must reject that definition of free will, as it does not allow for the existance of the very thing it attempts to define.

God does not infringe upon free will. He does however influence events. He couldn't force pharoah to let the israelites go. He COULD present some VERY strong incentives to comply with his request.

No one can take your free will, it is a part of you, you can always choose. But they can certainly provide some very good reasons for you to excersize your free will in the way they want you to.

Answer 3

The same way my son's rubber ducky does... yes, no, or wait. My left shoe does the same thing. As a matter of fact, so does my crap (before I flush it, it usually doesn't stay around enough to answer anything other than no though).

Christians, you should try praying to your crap. It answers just as fast, if not faster, than your god. It doesn't require you to worship it, won't reveal your secrets to strangers, doesn't judge you, you can actually see it, AND it can be flushed in an instant whether you get what you want or not.

Best of all, it's an all natural renewable source of prayer answering power. You don't have to worry about atheists saying your religion stinks, you already know it stinks. But at least they'll have to admit your deity is real, something you just can't do with christianity.

But as for how it interferes with free will, well, you either have free will and god can answer no prayers because ANYTHING he does infringes on someone's free will, or you don't have free will, and we're all programed and god is going to do what god wants to do because it is his plan that we're living out. Plain and simple, you can't have both.

Answer 4

I have no need of a dictionary to define Free Will for me as I know exactly what it means. It is a GIFT that God gave you when He created you and I.
Free will defines who you are, what type of person you are whether Good or Bad.
Free will which we all are blessed with as nothing to do with our prayers as you probably know already. Your question is purely hypocritical, which you've made it your business on this forum.
Our prayers are answered by God's Free will, so to speak! If He chooses to bless us or not " Thy will be done."
God will only answer our prayers if we keep ourselves in the love of God. We have to keep a position of harmony with God's love, so that we can receive and enjoy the blessings of answered prayer.
It most assurably does not have anything to do with OUR Free Will.

Ok, remember " Thy Will Be Done."

Answer 5

God does not mess with the free will of an individual. God does answer prayers but the answer is not always yes. So if you pray that and unsaved friend might be saved God will allow that person to hear the truth but He will not force any one to accept Him. He only gives them the chance it is still up to the person to make his own choice.

Answer 6

Man... It sounds like you might be praying without belief! You need a lot of power in the spirit world to ask on other peoples behalf! You can pray for the right circumstances to surround them... But they still make choices! God doesn't answer prayers that are based on self gain! You don't believe in God... do you? The answer to your question is NO!

Answer 7

God does not interfere with our lives unless we ask Him to. He has been invited into the Christian's life. This is why He answers our prayer. He does always hears the invitation if you are interested in His love.

Many people think that they can just request and petition anything that they want to without accepting His Son into their lives. He does not interfere with their lives. This is free will to accept Him or deny Him. And this is why many people say that He doesn't answer prayer.

We are God's children if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and repent of our sin.

Answer 8

Your definition of free will is far from correct. We are all subject to many outside influences. Free will is the right to make the final decision in spite of all outside influences. You make the final decision in what to pray for, so how does asking for someone else's help - God's or anyone else's - deny you free will??

Answer 9

God is the creator so he can answer a prayer that is according to his plan. Free will is based on man's understanding and is not immortal. It is a finite understanding. Therefore a man can choose and pray but God knows already what needs to take place according to his plan.

Answer 10

God answers prayers in three ways.
Yes, No, or Wait.

Most often, He answers prayers positively when we have made the free will choice to align our desires with His.