we've all heard the story about the kid crying to his mom about how god doesn't answer prayers. he tells his mom of something that he really wanted. only to later find out that he didn't get it. his mom explains to him that god does answer every prayer, it's just that this time his answer was "no". my question is sort of two parts. one, is there anyway to know whether or not god will answer yes, or is it pretty much left up to chance? and two, when god does answer no, does this mean he has influenced every factor that goes into you getting what you want so you don't get them, or does he leave it up to chance as well?
2007-12-20 02:03:28 · 16 answers · asked by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Believers claim that God always answers with Yes, No or Wait.
The problem with this teaching is that it can be applied to anything you pray to.
If I pray to my big toe, and ask it to bless my family, help me win the lottery, and help GWBush speak fluently, my toe will always answer.
He might answer with a Yes and my family will continue to do well, he might answer with a No and I will toss my lotto ticket, and he might answers with a Wait, and after 8 years of watching speeches I am learning patience.
My big toe is miraculous.........
Silly, but this is exactly what I was taught about God when I was a child.
2007-12-20 02:12:49 · answer #1 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The idea of prayer is not about want.
Here's a little story I just made up:
A man prays to God on Christmas and says "God. I just wanted to thank you for sending your son to Earth to be born. I don't want anything accept to show my appreciation."
The next day the man is driving to a friend's house to deliver a present and the road is slick with ice. He loses control and careens off the small road. The road is situated ona mountain and his car is sure to go over, having broken through the wooden railing and sliding into the gully. All he had time to do was let out a curse (like most of us would) of "Oh..." you know the rest.
The car stops and suddenly reasserts itself in a way that physics has a little cry over.
In essence I like to think that if God is really listening this is how prayer might work. He doesn't just want to hear "I want this" or "I need that". He wants to be talked to.
I also don't believe the idea that God (or anything else) is somehow pulling the strings of the universe to make every little thing happen. He knows whats going to happen, He created everything with the potential for amazing deeds of heroism and of terrible deeds of hatred (I don't know why, I would like to but I don't).
I think miracles are the divine moving of situations on a limited basis as a confirmation of one's faith.
I defiitely would not depend on God to give me something that I want purely for my own wishes or wants. But that's just me...
2007-12-20 16:09:29 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not chance that determines how the prayer will be answered. In my own life, I document specific prayer requests, and then document the specific answers. The results are rather remarkable. If it were chance, I would expect a 50% response or less.
Whenever I pray for others, the results are often "Yes." (Not always, but often.) Whenever I pray for myself, the prayers are still often "Yes," but with a lower percentage than when I pray for others.
I average about a 72% overall "Yes" response to my prayers, which is better than any "chance."
If we pray according to the Father's will, we will get our answers. (Cf. 1 John 5:14-15) And the Father's will and character are found by studying His Word.
2007-12-20 02:17:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
If I do everything I know I need to do in order for that prayer to be answered...then I'm not surprised the prayer gets answered...I'm thankful...God does not influence every factor...he cannot prevent you from praying for something that would be self gratifying...like money...or a mansion in Beverly Hills...or a puppy...but then you can bet it won't be answered...
Knowing the manner in which one should pray and what one should pray for is the key to having prayers answered...not just sitting at your desk and saying "oh God let me win the powerball this week"...and unless you're a divine being, faith healing isn't really possible...
2007-12-20 02:12:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I enjoy using the Occam's razor idea. With God in this picture, there is a chance that you may or may not get what you pray for. But if you don't consider God, there is STILL a chance that you may or may not get what you pray (hope) for. In both cases, God being in this argument and God not being in the argument, the outcome is the same. More or less, God complicates the scenario without changing the outcome.
So I think it's better to just not think of God when it comes to getting what you want!
:)
2007-12-20 02:17:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is a great question. Does God leave things to chance? I think using the "no" response when wishes do not come true is not quite accurate or fair.
The Bible said Abraham believed God and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. He was promised land in what is now Israel, and the bible says he went to his death believing God's word although he never owned more than a grave site for Sarah and later, himself.
Jesus said that God answers every prayer. And that as a good Father, he is anxious to grant the requests of his children.
There may be conditions...no un-confessed sin, no harmful motives for the request, and one that would not cause him to break his word to another.
In one of the gospels, Jesus even tells us what we should be asking for from this Father who will grant all our wishes: his Holy Spirit.
If you commune with God and share his thoughts, you will know when the answer is yes or no, and your conversation and relationship will help you shape your prayers.
2007-12-20 02:17:30 · answer #6 · answered by Calvin James Hammer 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you’re in the habit of treating God like a vending machine, you’ve probably beat on the glass a few times when the answer to your prayer got stuck in the dispenser.
The 'no' answers are tough, but they are easier to accept when you trust the heart of God. If you know that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28), even the “no” answers are blessings. That saying, "Thank God for unanswered prayers,” is talking about the “no’s.”
Much of the time, what we confuse for “no” answers are really just “what’s your hurry?” answers. God loves to say “yes” to us, but sometimes it’s just too early. He wants to give us the blessing, but we couldn’t handle it yet. (Think about all the people who have been ruined by fame and fortune because they didn’t have the wisdom to manage it well. Now thank God that you’re not one of them.) When we’ve matured, or when the conditions are right, the blessing will come.
2007-12-20 02:15:12 · answer #7 · answered by thundercatt9 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
you pray for a BMW and you get a pair of shoes or a bike....
transportation need....
God knows what you need...praying for things that are selfish,want & gotta have, etc... that is sears....
praying for good health but refusing to eat and practice a healthy life style....who did not answer the prayer? don't blame God...
save grandma from dieing of cancer.....everyone dies.......cancer is the result of all the garbage in this world and bad eating habits, etc.....
praying for her comfort and a peaceful passing is realistic.....
it is not what you want so much as what you need.....
2007-12-20 02:21:02 · answer #8 · answered by coffee_pot12 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one knows God's methods, or reasons. And I don't think that just because God already knows the outcomes, that we have no choice in "fate". We do. He provides the doors, we have to get up and open them.
And His answer isn't always "no" but sometimes "not now".
It's pretty worthless to pray for material stuff like "God, please let me win the lottery" or "God, I really want a new TV, car, whatever". But other things like food if you have none or a job if you need one He provides from His bounty, but what most don't understand is, you can't just pray and sit on your butt waiting for magic.... you gotta WORK for it too. God helps those who help themselves.
2007-12-20 02:12:16 · answer #9 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
God will always answer with yes or here is what you want , only if your will is the same as God's. He is very very generous. He cares to give you what you want . He likes to teach you many lessons while giving you that thing, like patience or thankgiving or giving .
Good Luck!!
2007-12-20 02:31:44 · answer #10 · answered by cleopatra 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋