why doesn't god answer prayers to lift sinful behavior from a person?

maybenotcrazy · #1 2nd September 2009, 01:45 PM

Why doesn't god answer prayers to stop you from sinning or to lose a sinful passion even though he hates sin? Supposedly God hates the sin and not the sinner so why give people sins they never wanted to have? I feel more than just a sneaking suspicion that he wants us to suffer with things we can't help and feel guilty about them for what? I don't know. I wonder, there are numerous indications in the bible that God hardens hearts and makes people worse than they already are in response to things that those individuals didnt' do even.

MrPolo · #2 4th September 2009, 03:54 PM

If God made us turn away from sin, then there is no love on our part, no? It is vital that we choose Him freely. He gives us grace to enable us to turn to Him, and that is sufficient.

LST 1154 · #3 10th September 2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by maybenotcrazy

Why doesn't God answer [my] prayers to stop me from sinning or to lose a sinful passion even though he hates sin?

He does and He will, but you must hang in there awhile longer. I struggled for about 33 years with numerous sins ranging from a sexual addiction, pornography, lust, a violent temper, cursing and swearing, hating others, drinking, pride, theft and a few others I prefer not to mention, and I was (and am) a born again, baptized, saved, bible believing on my way to heaven genuine bona fide Christian! What happened 18 months ago to change all of this? Quite frankly I'm not sure, but I believe it has something to do with the Holy Spirit! I do know this, I no longer have any desire to sin, absolutely none. Instead I only desire righteousness. That sounds strange but it is true.

Ever since I received Christ nearly 35 years ago I dreamed that maybe someday I could live so close to God that I could live a life free from all sinful activities. Everyone I spoke to about this dream of mine said it is impossible. "We were born sinners, we are currently sinners, and we will always will be sinners until we die, so get used to it. No one can live a life free of sin. The scriptures are plain, our hearts are 'desperately wicked' and even the great apostle Paul said that the things he doesn't want to do he does and the righteousness he wants to do he does not do. Are you a better Christian than Paul? NO, so forget about it."

So I settled into the uneasy belief that God must want us to live a life of defeatism and a life filled with constant and consistant sin, after all every other Christian I knew was living a life of sin, including my pastor and I'm sure they like me prayed that God that would stop them from sinning or lose these sinful passions and yet they still sinned so apparantly He wants it that way! You of course recognize the cycle; Sin, feel guilty, ask God for forgiveness, God grants forgiveness, you feel better, you abstain from sin for the rest of the day, or maybe even two days, and sometimes even three or four days, but at some point, you sin and the cycle starts all over again. When you are around fellow Christians all of you wear your "Christian" mask. Christians are not supposed to sin so when you put on your Christianity mask you become "perfect" or at least as perfect as you can fake it. Besides it is only for a couple of hours, then you can go back to telling dirty jokes and checking out the porno on the 'net.

After a year or two or five or in my case thirty three years you finally throw up your arms and say something like you did above! You are sick of sin. You want victory over sin. You want some righteousness for a change, and something deep down inside your heart tells you that you can live above sin. You are not a sinner, you are a saint. You have been lied to by those well intentioned Christians who are also living in sin and defeat. They didn't do it intentionally they have just believed a lie for so long that the lie seems to now be the gospel truth. Besides they have never actually met anyone who really lives a life of freedom from sinful passions and sinful desires, and if they claim to you doubt them and call them a liar because no one can live above sin... or can they, (there is that nagging feeling again that one can live so close to God that he can live without having to sin.) So what does the scriptures say? You have been justified, you have been sanctified, you are holy and much much more.

In Luke 11:13,"“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Have you asked your heavenly Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit? You must you know, it says so above. The Holy Spirit will make you so holy you will lose all desire to sin. You will be victorious over sin EVERY TIME, God promises it! I'm living proof that it can and does happen.

LST 1154

sungaunga · #4 30th December 2009, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by maybenotcrazy

Why doesn't god answer prayers to stop you from sinning or to lose a sinful passion even though he hates sin? Supposedly God hates the sin and not the sinner so why give people sins they never wanted to have?

whoa hold your horses, all sin comes from within our hearts. "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust" Your assumptions are incorrect in that you think we are not sinners by nature and that we oppose sin from our birth. That's not what the Bible teaches. Even in a born again state, we are still living in this "body of death" as the apostle Paul put it. It's a battle we're engaged in. God will empower you and as a believer, we have all that is necessary to win. Nevertheless, it is not apart from our will and actions. This can get long but i'll cut it short for now.

ps - God doesn't classify a persons sin from his sinful nature, in other words He doesn't just send some persons "sins" to hell, he sends the sinner to hell.

optiong · #5 5th January 2010, 11:30 PM

I had my sinful urge wiped away and don't have it anymore. I called to Jesus to deliver me from it and I was cured! Amen to His mercy!

valeriedickinson · #6 26th January 2010, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by maybenotcrazy

Why doesn't god answer prayers to stop you from sinning or to lose a sinful passion even though he hates sin? Supposedly God hates the sin and not the sinner so why give people sins they never wanted to have? I feel more than just a sneaking suspicion that he wants us to suffer with things we can't help and feel guilty about them for what? I don't know. I wonder, there are numerous indications in the bible that God hardens hearts and makes people worse than they already are in response to things that those individuals didnt' do even.

God wouldn't harden someone's heart in the sense that God himself prevents someone from salvation. God absolutely does not desire anyone to suffer.

Why did he allow the fall in the first place? So that we could be greater than Adam and Eve in communion with Him.

I encourage and invite you to learn about the original ancient Christian teachings on sin, suffering and the fall - it is much different than latter Catholic, Reformation or even Reform theology, and I think makes much more sense for a loving God.

KCDAD · #7 25th February 2010, 12:27 PM

Because God is not a vending machine. God doesn't answer prayer. Prayer connects you to God, so that you are one with God through prayer. That is why Paul recommends you pray without ceasing. When you are one with God, there is no answer necessary.

pehkay · #8 27th February 2010, 07:01 AM

Many Christians try to overcome sin. Some think that if they try hard enough to renounce sin, they will eventually be free from sin. As a result, they try their best to reject the temptations of sin. Some realize that sin should be overcome, and they continually wrestle with sin in the hope of overcoming it. Others think that sin has made them a captive and that they must strive hard to free themselves from its bondage. However, all these are man's thoughts; they are not God's word or teaching. None of these methods lead to victory. God's Word does not tell us to struggle with sin by our own efforts. It says that we should be delivered from sin, that is, be released or freed from sin. Sin is a power which enslaves man. The way to deal with this power is not by destroying it ourselves but by allowing the Lord to free us from it. We have sin, and there is no way to separate ourselves from it. The Lord's way is not to vanquish sin. He is saving us from sin's power by moving us away from it. New believers should know from the start the right way to be delivered from sin. There is no need to travel a long and tortuous path to find deliverance from sin. We can take the way of freedom as soon as we believe.

ittarter · #9 27th February 2010, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by maybenotcrazy

Why doesn't god answer prayers to stop you from sinning or to lose a sinful passion even though he hates sin? Supposedly God hates the sin and not the sinner so why give people sins they never wanted to have? I feel more than just a sneaking suspicion that he wants us to suffer with things we can't help and feel guilty about them for what? I don't know. I wonder, there are numerous indications in the bible that God hardens hearts and makes people worse than they already are in response to things that those individuals didnt' do even.

Why doesn't God make the world perfect when I pray, "Lord, make the world as it should be"?

Maybe he does answer it. Maybe it's just not as fast as a microwaved dinner. Maybe I'm part of the answer. Maybe I'm part of the answer that he has been orchestrating since the beginning of time.

Likewise -- praying for God to change your heart, why should you expect instantaneous results? That's not how the world works, and you know it. Everyone wants a magical shortcut to happiness and ease, but that's not the message of Christ and it never has been.

DonnyT · #10 27th February 2010, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by maybenotcrazy

Why doesn't god answer prayers to stop you from sinning or to lose a sinful passion even though he hates sin? Supposedly God hates the sin and not the sinner so why give people sins they never wanted to have? I feel more than just a sneaking suspicion that he wants us to suffer with things we can't help and feel guilty about them for what? I don't know. I wonder, there are numerous indications in the bible that God hardens hearts and makes people worse than they already are in response to things that those individuals didnt' do even.

Everything is as God planned from the beginning with all the suffering, sin, death, destruction, etc. It's not that God finds pleasure in it, but IMO it serves some kind of purpose. It teaches us something. In Luke 13 Jesus addressed the suffering of many. He said,"unless your repent, you too shall perish."