God did not answer prayer

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

Actually what Jesus said is very straightforward, pray and believe, and God will immediately take action.
Because when answering our prayer God will be glorified.
Either Jesus is lying or there is no such thing as omnipotent God.

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it says we must prey in spirit and in truth ....

i can explain this to you , but to understand it you must put aside everything you believe thus far ...

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

When prayer is not answered there is no direction for you to go forward.
There is no point to hope for an unknown God to help you,
end of the day, you may go to seek help from humans which is more effective and practical.

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I am assuming by this context, you're asking God for a specific guidance (e.g. choosing a school/job/place to live, etc.) and that He hasn't answered you. As someone who dislikes taking risks myself, I understand the concern. If it were possible, I'd prefer God to tell me what to do everyday so that I don't need to make my own decisions, which more often than not are poorly thought out.

However, Jesus himself says that he does not see the apostles as servants or mindless drones who can only follows instructions. Instead, he sees them as disciples, children or friends, which means that there are times where God wants and entrusts us to make our own decisions, but that he will be there to catch us when we fall.

I work as a teacher, and we are usually encouraged not to spoon-feed the answers to the students, but that they need to be challenged to be able to solve the problems on their own, giving them guidance and correction when they get the steps wrong.

And sometimes, God wants us to learn from our mistakes, rather than telling us the potential mistakes we can make if we do things wrongly, because people don't usually learn or grow as much by just being told information.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

Actually what Jesus said is very straightforward, pray and believe, and God will immediately take action.
Because when answering our prayer God will be glorified.
Either Jesus is lying or there is no such thing as omnipotent God.

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Nowhere in the bible does it say that God will always take immediate action, nor does it say that He will always say yes to our prayers. Even Jesus got a "no" when he prayed in Gethsemane to "let this cup pass from me" (Matthew 26:39).

The closest verse that comes to what you're saying is in John 14:13-14: "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

But here's the thing about Bible verses: never, ever take it out of the context of the preceding/succeeding text.

The verse that comes before says, "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. " (John 14:11-12), which indicates that the promises Jesus gave in v.13-14 are spoken in the context of doing the work of God, and not just any prayer request He gets.

I know that in a digital age where we are used to getting what we want immediately, it is very difficult to wait patiently for an answer. However, patience and temperance is the fruit of the Spirit that God wants his children to have (Galatians 5:22-23), and God is glorified, not when we are most happy, but when we are most like Him.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

Actually what Jesus said is very straightforward, pray and believe, and God will immediately take action.
Because when answering our prayer God will be glorified.
Either Jesus is lying or there is no such thing as omnipotent God.

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This attitude says a lot about unanswered prayer.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

Actually what Jesus said is very straightforward, pray and believe, and God will immediately take action.
Because when answering our prayer God will be glorified.
Either Jesus is lying or there is no such thing as omnipotent God.

Click to expand...

I'm noticing from this and other posts on the forum that you seem very confused about most everything surrounding the Christian faith.

At the same time, your claiming to have been praying for 20 years only to be ignored and not led in any direction.

My question, and perhaps the most important question is, are you sure your praying to God, or are you praying to a construct of your own imagination?

If you don't know God, how can you pray to Him?

Perhaps, before claiming God didn't answer you, or call Jesus a liar or say God is no God at all, you should spend time learning who He is, and what He isn't...

You can pray to Jesus of Nazareth, Son of the Living God who was crucified, died, and rose again on the third day, very specifically, to ask for more knowledge of God and the ability to discern truth from error. Then, as you pray for that daily, start reading Scripture, participate in Bible studies at church, and overall attending church regularly so that you grow in understanding of the faith.

Seems that is the prescription that is needed here...

After you know God in truth praying will be a different experience.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

Actually what Jesus said is very straightforward, pray and believe, and God will immediately take action.
Because when answering our prayer God will be glorified.
Either Jesus is lying or there is no such thing as omnipotent God.

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Here's where you are missing it. You cannot force yourself to believe with the human heart and have true faith. Faith is something God gives to a person as evidence that he has answered the prayer before they see it happen. So when I pray, I look for faith as a sign he answered my prayer. If it's not there I check to see what I might have asked for instead. Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It's not from you.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

If God is effective, we do not need to pray for so long.
Actually God not only cannot answer/fullfil most prayers,
he also cannot show evidence of his existence by replying our prayers.

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Have you been exposed to the Word of Faith movement?

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

Christian teaching is contradictory,
in one hand it tells you that you have free will,
on the other hand, it says faith is from God.
Nothing will work in us if our free will is not involved.

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James says people cannot control their own tongues. What makes you think the will is free?

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

James implied he wants us to control our tongues, he said faith without deed is dead.
Deed is the manifestation of your mind.
You control your mind, not God.
God can only advise you, it is you who make the decision.

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Why pray;

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13 (KJV 1900)

If seeking Gods will for my life is going through the constant stuff I have gone through then I dont want Gods will for my life. Lets take the last month which is typical in the worsening constant events of my life. My car hit by other drivers twice, my pay being way too low and my employer refusing to accept its wrong resulting in me starting the process to go to tribunal and my long term health issues getting worse meaning I will struggle to find another job as doctors just dont seem to care or have a clue.

GirdYourLoins said:

If seeking Gods will for my life is going through the constant stuff I have gone through then I dont want Gods will for my life.

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Let's look at the Apostle Paul for a minute. He was flogged many times, beaten, arrested at every turn, worked his fingers to the bone, was shunned by all his former freinds and more.

All this because He preached the Gospel.

It could have all ended in a minute, all he had to do was to sit down and shut up, go with the flow and his life would have been great. He was a Pharisee, both a Jew and a Roman citizen... he had it all if only he sat down and shut up.

But he chose instead to be beaten, flogged, to be put out of the synagogues, to be arrested time and time again... because he loved God.. He loved the truth.

Yet your here saying having a few difficulties in life (very few in comparison) means you don't want God's will for you because if everything isnt perfect in your life then you just cant love Him.

That's more like a child throwing a temper tantrum over not getting a cookie than it is a true believer in God willing to sacrifice all for His Names sake.

If you can't be trusted with the little you have, how can you be trusted with much?

Hazelelponi said:

Let's look at the Apostle Paul for a minute. He was flogged many times, beaten, arrested at every turn, worked his fingers to the bone, was shunned by all his former friends and more.

All this because He preached the Gospel.

It could have all ended in a minute, all he had to do was to sit down and shut up, go with the flow and his life would have been great. He was a Pharisee, both a Jew and a Roman citizen... he had it all if only he sat down and shut up.

But he chose instead to be beaten, flogged, to be put out of the synagogues, to be arrested time and time again... because he loved God.. He loved the truth.

Yet your here saying having a few difficulties in life (very few in comparison) means you don't want God's will for you because if everything isnt perfect in your life then you just cant love Him.

That's more like a child throwing a temper tantrum over not getting a cookie than it is a true believer in God willing to sacrifice all for His Names sake.

If you can't be trusted with the little you have, how can you be trusted with much?

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So you know my life do you? You know what Ive been through in enough detail to compare it to Paul? Paul was someone who was educated, respected and no doubt had a good upbringing that allowed him to achieve those things. After he had such a solid foundation in his life you can see why he was able to carry on through those struggles. Same with Job, people see him as someone who went through horrible suffering, he did of course have a short period of suffering, however I see Job as someone who had a greatly blessed life. He was someone who God cast a hedge around and greatly blessed. Then he lost that for a period in his life and after thats was even more blessed. And even Jesus, born to suffer for us, very likely had a good childhood. we know he parents were Godly people so ever likelihood is he was brought up in a caring loving family. From my perspective the fact that Herod had the babies murdered because of him and being god he would have known it would have a far more detrimental effect on him than his last few days.

There are people in this world who have suffered far worse than I have, once spent 6 weeks with a Christian charity in a country following war (my time there included the first anniversary of the ceasefire to give context of timescales). The charity ministered to children who had suffered in the war, including some who had their parents and/or grandparents killed in front of them. And worse, but its not appropriate to put details here.

I would never presume to tell people that someone like Paul has suffered more than them. Paul did suffer of course but how do you know how much anyone else has suffered? To presume that is very damaging and not acting in love as a Christian should.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

When God did not answer prayer and He also did not put his words in my mind,
I really don't know what is in God's mind?
Whether I have to continue praying for the same thing or stop praying?
Some prayers has continued for 20 years and God never showed me his will.
I feel frustrated and grumbled against God.

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God didn't answer your prayer or you didn't see how he answered it.

I went through a divorce in 1981 which almost ended with my death but God came
and saved me with love. I prayed and prayed that my marriage would be restored and it faith in God that it would. 10 years passed and I was still waiting.

Did God failed to answer my prayer? Or did God have something else for me?

Finally, I met a woman at a softball field. (She played for another team) She was the aggressor in the relationship and we finally started dating.

We married but I still wondered about my prayer about my first marriage, kinda feeling guilty about moving on.

We've been together for 30 years but about ten years ago, as I was driving home, I heard God say, "She stayed" and I knew what he meant.

In my first marriage, which was extremely rough, I asked my wife to leave and she left. In my second, we went through a rough stretch and I asked my 2nd wife to leave but instead of leaving, she went to our sons room and stayed.

When God said "She stayed" it was revealing his will in my life and how my prayer had been answered.

We live our lives through faith, taking what is given us and remember that what is really important is what occurs after this body gives out and God gives us what is new.

God bless

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

When prayer is not answered there is no direction for you to go forward.
There is no point to hope for an unknown God to help you,
end of the day, you may go to seek help from humans which is more effective and practical.

Click to expand...

In our weakness, impatience etc. humans put many limitations on God. God does not always give an immediate and timely answer to the things we pray for. This truth is illustrated a number of times in the Bible. Abraham did not receive his promised son, until he was 100 years old! There were a number of people in the Bible that had barrenness and no children which greatly grieved them for decades until the appointed time came. We also know that Joseph languished in the prison for years... Where I'm sure he prayed many times to be released etc.


I currently am struggling with my own issues in this area. I have my own issues with employment and my past schooling that have hounded me all my life for over 40 years. Sometimes you just got to encourage yourself in the Lord as best you can, and simply make due with what you got. Sometimes the hard times helps develop good things in us like the fruit of the Spirit, and sometimes their is even a silver lining of blessings in our circumstances. It also possible behind the scenes that God is actually preparing things for us, because things are not just about us, but also about other people and what is going on in their lives as well.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

When prayer is not answered there is no direction for you to go forward.

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What about all the commands, spiritual principles, wisdom and truth God gives to you in His word? Don't any of these things apply to your life? Aren't they given to guide you through life? Psalms 119:105.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

There is no point to hope for an unknown God to help you

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He's not unknown. He's revealed Himself in Creation, in your conscience, and in His word, the Bible.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

end of the day, you may go to seek help from humans which is more effective and practical

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Sometimes this is exactly what God wants you to do in His word. He has placed all of His children in the Body of Believers, the Church, and in and through the Church intends to strengthen, encourage and practically aid them. This is all laid out in the Bible, by the way.

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

When God did not answer prayer and He also did not put his words in my mind,
I really don't know what is in God's mind?
Whether I have to continue praying for the same thing or stop praying?
Some prayers has continued for 20 years and God never showed me his will.
I feel frustrated and grumbled against God.

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NO: is an answer from God. Sometimes we just cant get to the acceptance of it. Maybe God is frustrated with you because he said NO and you keep praying for the same thing... Maybe its time to accept his answer and move on...

LayHong_Loves_Christ said:

God needs to be specific to our needs, not general comments.
Every individual needs different helps, if God cannot be specific then he is not a personal God.

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There are some basic rules in relationships. and it applies to any relationship: that is love and attention
and faithfulness. something God can't stand is selfishness. it can cause that he departs from you. even when you think you doing well, his spirit will show you what displeases Him.
see this vid