peeping peeps
Hi,
Buddhists pray for things and may or may not receive them. Muslims pray to Allah and Hindus pray to their many. many dieties and may receive what they pray for. Witches and Satanists do their spells and sometimes their spells work. New Age people ask their spirit-guides or angels for things and they may receive them. Hell even atheists may get what they want without praying lol. The problem is all of the many people who pray to their god (which isn't Jesus) are getting results from their prayers or spells.
Something's working for these non Christian people therefore is that proof that there is no Jesus answering our prayers? We can't all be right about the same God existing can we?
You can't go by success in life either. Many Hindus or Buddhists or Satanists or Witches or NEW Agers are successful people too.
But, for one thing, what are people praying for? If they are praying for what is only or mainly for themselves, they are not getting all that God would give them.
Also . . . you can read how the Jews went against God and said they wanted a human king. God gave them a king, but it was not good for them to get what they wanted. So, even though they got what they wanted, and God was giving this to them, it was not really working! > 1 Samuel 8
There are times when people ask for what is not right for them, but God gives them what they ask for. So, ones say, "Be careful what you ask for, or you may get it."
Also, I am finding that when God gives me something, I often need correction and maturing so I can receive the good He does me and appreciate it and benefit from it; because
God is so greater and better than we are, and so He can give us more than we are ready to handle the right way
Also, 1 Samuel 12:23 quotes what Samuel said to those Jews who had refused the LORD as their King and had demanded a human king > "'Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.'"
So, he prayed for ones who were refusing God and him as their prophet and example.
This is our example, I would say, of how we need to never give up on anyone, but pray
for any and every person, with hope of all God is able to do for each even "impossible" person.
And this praying in love . . . all-caring love for any and all people > this praying works for us, not only to get things we want, but this helps us stay strong in real love with God.
So, if certain people not of God are managing to get a few things they pray to get for themselves, this does not impress me much. We need to pray for these people whose prayer results are so limited. Prayer is not for trying to make God our puppet or "genie". He is able to do so much more and better than just things for our lives (Romans 8:26, Ephesians 3:19-21).
And He desires to share with us and care for us (1 Peter 5:7) and guide us in every detail . . . not only to be waiting "on call" for a prayer, now and then when we get stuck and can't do or get something, ourselves: "that's too impersonal; our God is our Father through Jesus His Son; so He is about family . . . personal and intimate sharing in prayer with us, in His love."
So, prayer is for personal sharing and developing our relationship with our Father and Jesus > "praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God," we have in Jude 20-21.