So if God only hears the prayers of those who have repented, then what about this?

Question

What about someone that isn't sure if God exists, but is open to the possibility, and prays for God to provide some type of certainty? According to many of your answers on my last question, you suggested that one must be repented and have given themselves over to God before prayers can be heard.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Apj.MHoNOQv8g55.kEh0Kqnsy6IX?qid=20070831153236AA6wv0n

Matt, thanks. I have wanted to email you so many times, you really need to allow emails. lol

Just to give you guys a little background info, the reason why I am asking this is because one time I posted a question that asked why God apparently doesn't want me to feel certain that he exists, and many of you replied, "Have you tried asking him?" so.. that's where this question stems from.

Answer 1

Mark 11:24-26
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

You must be a believer in Jesus and God. There is no way around it. Why would someone pray to a God they are not sure is for real? The first step would be to accept Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior. Then do according to Mark 11:24-26. If I were in this situation, I would rather know for certain I was praying to a god I believed to be real. If I had any doubts, then I would not bother. God is not going to provide you proof of His existence. That comes from faith. God proving Himself to a skeptic would diminish faith. Search for God. That is all I can say.

Answer 2

God is aware of everything a person says because the Bible teaches that we will all have to give an account of every idle word we have spoken on the day of judgment. God hears and answers every prayer with a "yes" that is according to His will. While the Bible teaches that certain things can hinder our prayers, it is God who makes the final decision and plenty of unrepentant sinners have cried out to God and been heard.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Answer 3

God will show he is there but keep your eyes open. It is usually a subtle way that he does it. He listens to the prayers of everyone that talks to him. You do not have to be repented for hime to hear you. Just keep praying and he will give you an answer. Sometimes it is no but keep it up.

Answer 4

Asking God to provide certainty that He exists is "testing" Him and we're told in His Word to not do that.

It sounds to me as if you're TRYING to believe He exists, but can't find valid reason. I can only tell you about my own experience of new faith and why I became a Christian and it was because God literally melted me with His love. I mean, Jesus actually DIED a HORRID death because of His love for me (and you!) Can you even fathom that kind of love?

That was when I knew He was real. And that was when my prayers stopped hitting the ceiling and I knew He was hearing me and I was hearing Him as well.

Answer 5

You are talking about two different things. One is a personal, walking, talking relationship with God. The other is a revealing and confirmation of His existence.

To talk and hear God, yes, you need a personal relationship. However, there were many times when God "revealed" Himself to people-- Egyptian kings like Abimelech, or even a Roman centurion like Cornelius.

When I was an adolescent, I used to talk to God, but it was a one way conversation. I longed for an answer, but never got one. Then one day someone told me about accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior--that positional sin was hindering my communication with God. With Jesus in my heart, the "phone line" would be established. I accepted Christ and within a few months God revealed Himself to me in a big way. His Holy Spirit came inside of me, and communication was established. For 37 years I have walked and talked with God. Sometimes His voice was so soft, and my thoughts were so loud, I could not hear Him. But as I quiet down, He makes His will known to me and often shows me AWESOME stuff.

Answer 6

God is God. He can do whatever he wants. Yes ,it helps to be saved to get his attention, but as it says in his Word, that he takes care of the lost and the saved. He does not show favoritism. That is why he is so wonderful. Keep in mind, most of the people who reply don't read their Bibles...so their answers are mostly opinion. Don't take it to heart. Read the Bible, it will make it clear. Good luck!

Answer 7

God will listen to your prayers no matter what. He hears everyone's prayers, no matter how evil or righteous they are. He loves us all, and wants us all to come unto Him. How can we repent and ask for his forgiveness if He doesn't listen to our prayers? That would mean that He doesn't listen to anyones prayers, because we all must repent all the time. We are always doing something contrary to His will that we need to repent of.

Answer 8

There's a good story in the Book of Mormon, Enos who became a prophet. He had many sins and he spent a long time praying. God answers the prayers of the sincere heart, asking for things that you need not want.

God knows your needs before you ask him, asking him humbles you and makes you more teachable.

Answer 9

Arrange a meeting with your local parish priest and tell him your feelings. He can answer your questions and provide you with more insight.

Answer 10

notwithstanding asianmofo's rudeness and apparant bad taste in women, Linz....time spent praying could be better spent in actual DOing. study all religions...and study atheistic thought as well...when you find what feels right through actually working for it, I think you'll find it was time better spent.