Lost, can you help me find the way?

Hi; good to see you. John's First Epistle is very searching.

LostOne971 said:

I was raised in an extremely religious home (Christian) and led to believe that prayer worked.

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Question: "Is there evidence that God answers prayer?"

Answer: Countless stories could be cited of diseases cured, exams passed, repentance and forgiveness granted, relationships restored, hungry children fed, bills paid and lives and souls saved through the efficacy of prayer. So, yes, there is plenty of evidence that God answers prayer. Most of the evidence is anecdotal and personal, however, and that bothers many who think of “evidence” only as that which is observable, measureable, and reproducible.

Scripture clearly teaches that prayers are answered. James 5:16 states that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Jesus taught His disciples that “if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). First John 3:22 echoes this truth, saying that we “receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.”

Scripture, moreover, is replete with stories of answered prayer. Elijah’s prayer for fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:12), Hezekiah’s prayer for deliverance (2 Kings 19:19), and the apostles’ prayer for boldness (Acts 4:29) are just three examples. Since these accounts were written by eyewitnesses to the events, they constitute clear evidence of answered prayer. One might, of course, counter that Scripture does not present observable evidence in the “scientific” sense. However, no statement of Scripture has ever been conclusively disproved, so there is no reason to doubt its testimony. In fact, labeling some kinds of evidence as “scientific” and other kinds as “non-scientific” is a fuzzy and artificial distinction at best. Such a distinction can only be made a priori, i.e., prior to the evaluation of the data. In other words, the choice to evaluate the efficacy of prayer only in light of observable evidence is not a choice motivated by the data but by prior philosophical commitments. When this arbitrary restriction is relaxed, the biblical data speaks clearly for itself.

Occasionally, a group of researchers will conduct a scientific study on the efficacy of prayer. Their findings are usually that prayer has no effect (or possibly even a negative effect) on, for instance, the average recovery time of people in medical care. How are we to understand the results of studies such as these? Are there any biblical reasons for unanswered prayer?

Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (NASB). Likewise, 1 John 5:15qualifies our receiving “anything we ask” with our obedience to God’s commands. James notes that “when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (4:3). So, a couple reasons for unanswered prayer are unconfessed sin and wrong motivations.

Another reason for unanswered prayer is lack of faith: “When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7). Hebrews 11:6 also identifies faith as a necessary condition for a relationship with God, something always mediated by prayer in the name of Christ: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Faith, then, is necessary for answered prayer.

Finally, some critics of Christianity make the case that, since Jesus instructs His disciples to “ask whatever you wish,” all prayers should be answered. However, such criticisms completely ignore the conditions to the promise in the first part of the verse: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you.” This is clearly a prescription for praying within the will of God; in other words, genuine prayer which God always answers is, in fact, that sort which requests, explicitly or implicitly, that God’s will be accomplished. The will of the petitioner is secondary. Jesus Himself prayed this way in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42). The humble prayer of faith allows that the prayer may be answered with a “no”; anyone not offering such a prayer—anyone who demands to be answered—has no right to expect an answer.

Another reason why so many studies report the inefficacy of prayer is that it is impossible to eliminate the variables associated with the spiritual condition of those praying (is the petitioner even a believer?), the motivation for which they offer the prayer (is it to provide evidence or because the Holy Spirit has moved them to pray?), the way in which they offer their prayer (are they praying a formulaic expression or intentionally bringing requests to God?), and so on.

Even if all such lurking variables could be eliminated, one overarching problem would remain: if prayer could be tested empirically and forced to yield conclusive results, it would obviate the need for faith. We cannot “discover” God through empirical observations; we come to Him by faith. God is not so clumsy that He should reveal Himself in ways He did not intend. “He who comes to God must believe that He is” (that is, that He exists). Faith is the prerequisite and the priority.

Does God answer prayer? Ask any believer, and you will know the answer. Every changed life of every believer is proof positive that God answers prayer.

www.gotquestions.org/evidence-answered-prayer.html

Does God hear my prayers?
What are some hindrances to a potent prayer life?

LostOne971 said:

I am 43 years old and recently divorced. I was married for 13 years to my second wife and had 2 kids with my first wife. Both kids are now over the age of 18. I was raised in an extremely religious home (Christian) and led to believe that prayer worked. I rebelled against my upbringing until after my first divorce which left me devastated. During that time I was searching for answers and for the first time in my life actually prayed, read the bible, etc. on a regular basis. After a few years I met a woman at church who I felt I was "led" to so I married her even though I do not believe I was in love. I thought over time I would love her and I just needed to put my trust into God and make a show of faith. Long story short, the fun little sayings that Christians love to say echoed in my mind for years and I felt completely betrayed by God. Everything I had been taught, my core belief system, was destroyed over the course of that 13 year marriage. Don't get me wrong, she was a decent person and if you met her, you would like her. But, she was probably the laziest person I have ever met and not only did my attraction for her fade, so did my respect. I felt I did not marry the right person which looking back was unfair to both of us. I had it ingrained in my mind how wrong divorce was and how much God hated it. I pleaded with god, I got mad at god and my frustration turned to hate eventually. I cheated a few times on my wife because of my frustration, and honestly opportunity, part of it was in direct defiance to god because of my anger and the other was to her. It took me years to finally pull the trigger but I finally divorced her after I realized that 1) she deserved someone that was faithful and loved her and 2) divorce was a better option than suicide, which I had been contemplating for a while.

I know, I know, I am an awful person for all of this and blah blah blah. What I have told you has only scratched the surface of my full story but my anger and bitterness consume me. Overall, I am an intelligent and financially successful individual but I am still lost. I want so desperately to turn away and not believe in this God that has never, ever, answered a meaningful prayer of mine. Oh sure, he's answered the small stuff, but that can be attributed to my doing or luck. What about the big stuff like, hey, don't let this individual who has trusted you their whole life die a long, miserable death. Or give me a warning sign that this marriage is wrong for me. Or how about hey, maybe just maybe this IS too much for me to handle. But, I cannot shake that core belief that he is real. So, instead of rambling any longer, I want to see what venting a small portion of my life will bring in this forum. Is there any real advice that can help me? Because my mind goes back and forth on this subject. The argument for atheism is a compelling one, I know, I've researched it. But I'm still waiting, and honestly wanting the argument, that compelling reason to give me the motivation to put my trust back in god.

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You think your life is totally screwed-up? There are others hear that would call you a whiney crybaby! You have not been called to endure what they had to deal with and endure. They also where not called to deal with what you have endured.

And I'm quite sure that no one has been called to deal with the unimaginable crapola that I had to endure just to figure out what God said!

Dude! I had to study Greek for decades in order to dismantle all the wrongs of theology that we are ALL victims of!

I figured out a long time ago that the life I was living was all God and flying in the face of theological nonsense.

Who was lying to me; my God given life, or the clergy?

The clergy is a bunch of liars! But, God's Word is awesome! I'm not the first to figure that out and I will not be the last. Before they just burned people like me on a stake and on a stack of their(my) "heretical" books.

Don't give up! You have crowns to wear in the future! And, survive this, and you also can be a real and present help to others that are just now, experiencing similar things.

When you learn that it is God's love in question and NOT yours, then you can share that love that God shares with you with others and they will in turn reciprocate the love they share with God with you! I live for that!

LostOne971 said:

I am an intelligent and financially successful individual

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You need to thank God your life is much much better than these people :
There's still so much thing you can do, to be a blessing for the poor
To seek God we need to live in humility and forgiving hearts for many many years. Godliness doesnt come in one day or in one month or in one year.
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LostOne971, to be short, I am a man of many vices, and being such, I have been forced to learn the Bible well (despite what it may seem!), as no other solution has worked for me. I'm doing better in my life than I was before, I can tell God has transformed and still is transforming me, and I have seen God work, as well as some other, perhaps, "spiritual" forces.

A verse comes to mind, James 4:8. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

From what I have gleaned from protestants, it seems many want to believe that Jesus saves them, and then everything is hunky-dory with God. In a sense that's true, but we also have verses like the above that many would rather just ignore. As a man of vices I have known the feeling of losing connection with God has coincided with increased entertainment of vice. I also know that denial of such vices bring one closer to God.

Perhaps James 4:10 may be of help. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." Have a good night, sir.

Hi @LostOne971. Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. Do research on Ezekiel 38 and on the Russia Iran Turkey alliance. Those who believe in Jesus Christ know that a saved person cannot lose eternal life. Everyone at some time should think about how good God has been to them. Getting married is a big decision. Sometimes people spend time around people they should not spend time around. There are people who have been written about in The Bible who suffered as a result of their sins. I spent plenty of time thinking about how my life became so painful. What I was reminded of is that I was a horrible person. I was very prideful and I loved money.

LostOne971 said:

The argument for atheism is a compelling one,

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You've taken some major hits, and it's understandable to be shaken and doubting. I would advise you to take a step back and gain better perspective. Put your losses aside for a moment, and consider only the future. Do you want to spend the rest of your life without God? Without the companionship and hope He alone can provide? Are the losses you have incurred actually due to Him, or do you have the greater role in them? If your role is substantial, does it make sense to pull the plug on God, who by definition is perfect, and who by revelation is love itself?

Going on with God will mean you have to reconcile your past experiences to Him, and that might not be easy. But I can guarantee that the process will bring growth in Christian maturity and character.

I write these things because I walked away from God once. I never want to do that again, for any reason, and I hate to see others make the same mistake.

LostOne971 said:

The argument for atheism is a compelling one, I know, I've researched it. But I'm still waiting, and honestly wanting the argument, that compelling reason to give me the motivation to put my trust back in god.

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So really though what are you wanting people to do. Give you a list of 1-10 why believing God is rational while you set yourself up as judge and jury and you say OK convince me? I think God would say to you convince yourself!

If anyone desire to do his will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on my own." (John7)

What he's saying if you seek him sincerely he'll cause you to find! Matt 7:7

Nobody can really do that for you except you yourself. God promises a revelation into your spirit of the truth and there's no atheist on the planet who have ever received such. None. If they did they could never sincerely claim to be an atheist henceforth. I'd encourage you if you're sincere take the next 30 days and just pray a few times each day for God to reveal himself in such a way as to know that Jesus words are truth.