If God is real, should God answer every prayer?

Question

Okay, here is my deep thought for the day...

As a Christian, I believe in God, but I also have this theory on why God does not answer every prayer. So please bear with my while I explain this.

Did you ever see the movie Bruce Almighty, where Bruce, now possessing all of God's powers was give the responsibility for answering the prayers? Did you see what happened when he gave a "yes" answer to every request?

Now, look at a God saying yes to every prayer from the total perspective of all time and the entire population, not just on how it affects those people who are immediately involved in that situation (and yes, I have lost people close to me). Think of the ramifications if every person who ever died never did, every time someone suffered, it would be resolved, or if nothing bad ever happened to anyone simply because we called upon a God to save us.

Should God answer every prayer the way we want it??

Should any God answer all prayers the way the people want them to be answered?

No PJerry, I use Movie examples, because it is something that most people can understand.

Answer 1

Does God Answer Prayers?

The answer is yes, no, and wait. If God answered every prayer from everyone who asked, God would become our own personal genie. Basically we would just have to tell God our wish and he would grant it to us. This is not biblical to think all prayers will be answered. If God answered every prayer the world would turn in to a big mess. God knows what is best for us.

Here are some conditions that God has for our prayers:
1) We are to ask in God’s name. This means we need to ask in God’s will. God’s will is what ever glorifies God. The bible says, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13,14)
2) God cannot hear us if there is sin in our hearts. If we are living a life that we are being convicted of and do not repent of our sins, God will not hear our prayers. Our prayers will only be heard when we repent to God and turn from our sins. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Psalm 66:18)
3) God will not answer us if we do not have faith that God will hear and answer our prayers. We need to also have faith that God knows best for our lives and will not answer the prayers that will hurt us. There is always a reason for answered and unanswered prayers. We will not always understand this but God does. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
4) We need to ask in God’s will. If we ask in prayer for the wrong motives our prayer will not be answered. When you ask, you do not receive; because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:3)
5) Sometimes we need to wait and know God will answer when the time is right. When we ask God in prayer, our prayers will not always be instant. Now days everyone wants things instant. This is not how God works. The Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. (Luke 18:6-8)

Answer 2

The bible assures us that Almighty God answer the prayers of his faithful servants , but it gives reason why he does not listen to some prayers. For example, at a time when violence was rampant in ancient Israel, God directed his prophet Isaiah to tell the people:"Although you offer many prayers, I am not listening;your hands are filled with blood." Clearly, those who show contempt for God's law or pray with improper motives cannot expect to be heard by God. (Proverbs 28:9;James4:3. On the other hand, the bible states:"No matter what we ask according to his will he hears us." So this helps us to see that we must be in harmony with our prayers, if we want God to hear them. Prayer draws us close to God(James4:8)

www.jw.org

Answer 3

If God were to answer every prayer the way we wanted it, a couple of things would happen: First, our world would be more chaotic than it has ever been. Second, were would be the need for faith. If we knew that God was going to answer our prayer what would be the point in having faith because we knew God would come through for us all the tiime.

God has the ultimate plan for each of our lives. If prayers were always answered each of us would have the plan for our own lives mapped out. There have been so many times when I have asked for something in prayer and God has said no. In retrospect though I am often glad God said no because what he had planned is often even better than what I asked prayer for or i realize that what I wanted is not that important.

Answer 4

"should" is a wonderful word... in the book, "I'm Okay, You're Okay" it is explained to be a "Parent" word... "You SHOULD do this," "You SHOULD do that..." along with "ought." It expresses a "condition" or "obligation". Putting a condition or obligation on God is not a good idea!

As for your questions:

SHOULD God answer every prayer? He does, only it may not be the way we EXPECT it to be answered.

SHOULD God answer every prayer the way we want it? No, because we are not God, we are human, and we do not know the will of God. If anything that we SHOULD pray for is to KNOW and DO the will of God (as per Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethseme, "But not My will... but THY will be done.")

SHOULD "any" God answer all prayers the way the people want them to be answered? As for "ANY" god, well.. that's up to the people who have created THAT god... but that god is not THE God, so there's no way for me to respond, since I am discussing THE God.

Have a blessed day!

Answer 5

I believe that "if God is real",that he should "Hear" every prayer..which as you have used in your example,He Did,in the film "Bruce Almighty". Once this confidence is extablished in the heart of the believer,then we must each go through the stages of confusion,untill we eventually trust in his "goodness"...specifically,that his is interested in our well being and works all things out for our best interest in mind. It is difficult to understand his ways,including: timing,method of answer,and evident silence at times..As you have stated and was pointed out in the movie illustration,how could he seriously answer yes to all of our petitions? Further,James stated that oftentimes we have not,because we don't ask(God moves by prayer)and often times we ask for things so as to consume them in our own lusts.(we are all guilty,of this).

I do believe that there are exceptions to the rule however...I firmly believe that God will occassionaly answer prayers that are backed by such an intense faith..that he is moved emotionally and will answer even when it may not be the best option...even in this case,he will work all things out for the good,to those who trust in his goodness.

Answer 6

According to many promises found in what Christians call the "New Testament", God, as Father, must answer every prayer made in the name of the Son, Jesus (i.e., whatsoever you ask for in my name shall be granted unto you,; whatsoever two or three of you ask for in my name you shall receive....) No limitations were placed on these promises. Ask and you shall receive. If Jesus is the Son of God the Father, and God keeps its word....

Such, as you have pointed out by way of referrence to a "movie" (not a preferred source of theological understanding or information), could well have disasterous results for all of humankind and the world.

Also, virtually, if not literally, everyone has had the experience of praying for something, making some sourt of petition to God and not having it answered as they would have preferred.

Everyone as also had the experience of asking for a need to be fulfilled and receiving no answer. The receiving of no answer is the biggest problem.

As the father of a young child whom I love dearly, spend a great deal of time with, provide for, nuture and care for, I know that to be a good "father" I must always answer my daughter's questions and request.

I have had to say "No" to certain request however, I have always taken the time to carefully and fully explain to my daughter my reasoning behind both my saying "Yes" and "No". By giving her full and complete answers, I am assisting her in learning how to reason and make choices that are more benficial not only to herself but to all others (as everything is interdependent on everything else.)

I have never just said, "No', nor have I ever used that tired and ridiculous phrase, "Because I said so!".

God, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, does not offer humankind such a truly loving, caring and compassionate understanding. God, all too often (i.e., for at least the last 1500 years) has remained silent.

Fathers who do not speak to their children, who do not answer their children, who do not nuture their children, who do not help to educate their chidren are known as "abusive parents" within the context of our society.

The God of the three major monotheistic religions is, in many ways, an abusive "parental figure".

One is left wondering, why anyone who can reason and think, who can understand that such a behavior would not be appropsitae for them to do can not see that any God/god that behaves in such a manner must be questionable and not worthy of worship?

Then again, reasoning and faith have collided head on since the ideas of a "god" were accepted by those who either did not proof read the text of the revelations they received or who could not reason things out for themselves.

C'est la vie.

Answer 7

Sorry but your all wrong, bruce almighty....a lame comparison. Look think of god as a little kid with a magnifying glass, when he burns the ants do you really think he gives a crap what they think? Like all people we whine and complain about the things we want, but never get off our butts and do anything about it. God ( if there was one ) could care less about us, much less our pathetic little requests. For that matter if we all believe that god has his sights on us as the only puney beings in the universe, and helps us because thats the case then were all in for a big shock when our planets disappear.

Answer 8

Personally, I never ask for God to make something happen. I ask only for His strength and guidance for me to make the right decisions, in order for His will to be done, and that I may grow to be a better, stronger person. As His child, He never abandons me, so my answer will always be "yes". Asking for something without taking some of the responsibility onto yourself to make it happen is just foolishness. Heavenly Father gives challenges to everyone, but He will never give you more than you can bear, as long as you ask for His help. And He will NEVER give you an easy way out. How can you learn and grow without trials?

Blessings

Answer 9

God answers every prayer, as a christian i believe that. but God doesnt always answer in the way we expect.

Answer 10

Yeah, yeah, god answers all prayers, but sometimes the answer is no. What a cliche'. The way I understand it, there is no sense praying for something anyway. Whatever happens is called "god's plan." Is god going to be influenced by what millions of people are asking for? Did it care that people, for example, trapped in World Trade Center on 9/11 were praying to get out? Why pray for anything? It might make you feel better, but it won't influence the outcome of anything, ever.