Whose Prayers Are Answered?

[goodlife]

But many have prayed in vain for health, happiness, peace, and prosperity. In fact, some feel that God does not really listen to prayers. Yet, the Bible calls him the “Hearer of prayer.”—Psalm 65:2.

[naomi24]

Ha ha! And who decides what is literal and what is symbolic – and more to the point how is it decided? Let me guess. ‘That bit doesn’t work so it must be symbolic’.

[naomi24]

Jordyboy, save it for Chatterbank.

[vulcan42]

goodlife, why, when RATTER gives you an example of jehovah witness inhumanity, you immediately demand proof but when we ask you for proof to back up what you're saying , you ignore us? do you believe that your statements don't need any justification?
//And to date 700 a day are becoming Witnesses.\\
This is a statement you made on another thread and you won't find the answer in the bible, so what is your source?

[goodlife]

Vulcan

If your sincere and find it hard to embrace this hope. It sounds too good to be true, It can never happen! So do millions like you .

Your not credulous or gullible? No,But like everywhere, they wanted proof before they believed things.

Today there is a similarity in this viewpoint to that of the religious scribes and Pharisees of nineteen centuries ago.

They wanted proof or sign from Jesus, to convince them that he was the Messiah. They required that he make a visible appearance in the sky, one of great power and glory, so that all could see with their natural eyes. But he refused.—Matt. 12:38;

So you do well to consider carefully the things Jesus pointed out that would provide full and sufficient proof of his invisible presence. The “sign” with its many features, as outlined by Jesus, is not a sign that he is on the way—coming—but that he is present, directing his invisible attention and power toward the earth.

All I am is one who study the Bible who have understanding, using the ‘eyes of the heart,’ will discern that fact.

As the prophet Daniel wrote: “the ones having insight will understand.” (Dan. 12:10) If Christ appeared in visible form, with a dazzling display, or by causing miraculous happenings world wide, where would insight be needed.

True Christians, therefore, will not be like those who have a wrong expectation; but will have insight and discernment, (Luke 21:28, 36)

[naomi24]

//They required that he make a visible appearance in the sky, one of great power and glory, so that all could see with their natural eyes. But he refused.—Matt. 12:38;//

Goodlife, where do you get it from? Not from your bible. There’s no mention in that verse of a request to him to “make a visible appearance in the sky, one of great power and glory”. What it actually says is this:

//then as an answer to him some of the scribes and Pharisees said “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you”.//

‘True Christians’, it seems, make it up as they go along.

[goodlife]

That why you will not know the truth,because John 8:32 say it will.

[naomi24]

I just told you the truth. You’re making it up as you go along.

[Wharton]

naomi24 - Are you still miffed at not knowing what colour the wind is? :-)

[naomi24]

What?

[Wharton]

I can't remember the exact post, but it was something to do with an argument about the soul, which you lost :-)

[goodlife]

I think Your right, poor soul :)

[naomi24]

Wharton, I haven’t the foggiest idea what you’re talking about, but if your reverie makes you happy that’s fine by me. ;o)

Back to the topic.

[Wharton]

Very amusing goodlife, but I meant the argument, not the soul :-)

[naomi24]

Goodlife, who are you talking to?

[Wharton]

No hard feelings naomi24, get wired into the topic :-)

[naomi24]

Steve, that's a thought. So Goodlife, whose prayers are answered?

[Hypognosis]

Following on from the link DTCwordfan posted (on page 2)
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080904235949AAXBecF

The 'best answer' closes with the following:

//
“Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening,” Jehovah once told the Israelites. Pointing out the reason, he continued: “With bloodshed your very hands have become filled.” (Isaiah 1:15) How could anyone ignore Jehovah’s law and yet have an audience with him? A Bible proverb gives a clear answer, saying: “He that is turning his ear away from hearing the law—even his prayer is something detestable.”—Proverbs 28:9.

The Bible gives another reason why some prayers are not heard, when it says: “You do ask, and yet you do not receive, because you are asking for a wrong purpose, that you may expend it upon your cravings for sensual pleasure.” (James 4:3) No, Jehovah will not answer prayers for the satisfying of wrong desires. We must also remember that God is not taking orders from humans, so to speak. He is the One who decides how he will answer our prayers.
Source:
Bible study and I asked a JW
//

The first paragraph just confirms what you might already suspect: -
prayers from commandment breakers will be ignored

The second paragraph kind of chimes with the way I think, only it's far too specific, fixating on "sensual pleasure" whereas I would have thought that all prayer in the hope of personal gain would class as avarice and thus lump the perpetrator in with the class referenced in the previous paragraph.

I'm unsure whether praying for one's own life to be spared counts as 'personal gain' though. If so, that doesn't leave too many other options - praying for good things to happen to a third party, maybe? Praying for world peace, perhaps?

For the time bing, I'm happy to join the local cult and also pray that goodlife quits using AB as his/her pulpit.