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.

[chakka35]

He can hardly listen, goodlife, if he doesn't exist. Don't you think that's a sort of a clue?

[Cannedgranny]

Hello chakka35, have'nt seen you around for a while. Thought maybe you were spending some time in a monastery

[Old_Geezer]

One can always claim a prayer has been answered no matter what the result, which makes it a non-useful area for discussion. Believers will believe, non-believers will not.

[seadogg]

"I can call spirits from the vasty deep" Llewellyn.

"So can I, so can any man
but will they come when you call them" Hotspur

Henry IV Part One William Shakespeare

[idiosyncrasy]

Depends on what you are praying for. Many people pray for a win on the lottery, or get have a lot of money. Others pray for good health, or their local football team to win the cup.

When you read the Bible it does tell us in many places to pray, and not just now and again, but continually, For example the Apostle Paul tells us to persevere in prayer, and Jesus himself told his followers to keep "asking".

[modeller]

I know a very strong believer who prayed fervently for his wife to recover from a terminal illness. She didn't but he still claimed his prayer had been answered because she was now with Jesus and that is a Christian's true aim. He described himself and her as pilgrims and the shorter time we spend on earth the better.
It makes you wonder why he bothered to pray for her recovery in the first place.

[Peter Pedant]

I used to pray for sweeties when I was 6 .....

Now I pray for something else.

[Peter Pedant]

Mod:She didn't but he still claimed his prayer had been answered because she was now with Jesus and that is a Christian's true aim.

So to a certain extent prayer had changed things
basically his attitude - calmer and more accepting.

I regularly pray for recovery from ill health -
someone else's - it seems a bit selfish to pray for oneself....

[jomifl]

I think I will pray to not go to heaven......it might just work :o)

[society]

Peter-P, is that what you call the other sweeties, "something else"? :)

[goodlife]

First see how God answers the prayers of his faithful servants in the past.

For example, when King Jehoshaphat of Judah prayed for deliverance, God answered his prayer and gave him victory by causing his enemies to smite one another. (2 Chronicles 20:1-26) When King Hezekiah similarly faced a formidable military force, he humbly prayed to God for help. Hezekiah saw the salvation of Jehovah when an angel struck down 185,000 Assyrians in one night.—Isaiah 37:14-20, 36-38.

So why did God answer those prayers? In both cases, the kings pleaded that losing the battle would reflect badly on Jehovah’s name.
They were concerned not of their reputation.No, The ultimate object of prayer, says The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, is not merely the good of the petitioner but the honor of God’s name.


So only, faithful servants of Jehovah can be sure that he will help them “for the sake of his name.” The record proving that such prayers have been answered gives God’s people today confidence that he hears their prayers. (Psalm 91:14, 15)

[sfby]

Emo Phillips joke....

When I was a little boy, I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised, the Lord, in his wisdom, doesn't work that way. So I just stole one and asked Him to forgive me

[weecalf]

Be careful what you ask for .guy prayed for bike ,three weeks later he lost his driving licence .

[pixie373]

I agree with you goodlife- the bible doesn't make sense.

[tamborine]

Biker lost his job & gf and asked God to find him a job & home on the river....his plea was heard with such work & home.

[goodlife]

Funny ins't people believe the bad,but not the good.
do you know why,the Bible say it here at Ps. 139:21, 22

[joggerjayne]

//So why did God answer those prayers? In both cases, the kings pleaded that losing the battle would reflect badly on Jehovah’s name//

And God thought ... oh yeah, I hadn't thought of that!

Not all that omniscient then, is he, this God fellow.