Thoughts on prayer?

[rjohnsonbfw]

Disclaimer: I'm a first time poster and this post may be placed in the wrong area. If it needs to be moved, please let me know and I will post it in the proper forum.



I have a question for all of you who know more than I do. I was talking to a friend today who was wondering why God won't answer her prayers. Her prayers are always along the lines of "send me a man who will love me and my child." Then she hooks up with some guy who is totally wrong for her i.e. into drugs, domestic violence, against church and God. She tells everyone that this guy is sent to her from God as an answer to her prayers. When they show their true colors she is devastated and questions why God would answer her prayers and give her a guy that was like that.



As you can imagine this frustrates me to no end. She believes that if she asks for something by prayer that her request will be granted to her. She quotes Matt 7:7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened." as her proof. I've told her that in my opinion God won't answer every prayer and that in my own prayer life I've never seen a selfish prayer answered. What I'm lacking is scriptural references to give her to show her the fallacy of her argument. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ben_Hur]

I'm sorry I don't have references right of the top of my head, but elsewhere it does clarify that we should be asking in accordance with the will of God.

Some other thoughts. Satan will probably send her all kinds of prospects before God's selection gets there.

It sounds like she's looking in the wrong place for a husband. I mean, the type that she is getting don't sound like regular church goers.

She should join a singles group at church or something like that. Hopefully, she goes to church.

Finally, she needs to wait on God. He will provide in His own time.

 

[Kaylynn]

Well, like I have already told you, if you can explain Romans 8:26 to her, that may be helpful. What Ben said about a singles group at church would be a good idea, if her church offers one. But you can tell her when you see her that I am praying for her and her son!

 

[wonder111]

I know a few girls who are not filled with God's love and they seek it in other men. God wants her to desire Him more than any man. It's true God does answer your prayers when you have faith, However, I've noticed that the closer I get to God, the more I realize what I should be praying for and what I shouldn't be praying for. I'm working on this everyday, because sometimes my "fleshly self" says pray for this! but the spirit is telling me otherwise. So the nearer she draws to God, the more she may understand how to pray properly. "The Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." God knows what we are to ask for before we even think it, so trusting and putting your faith in God is sometimes the best way to go.

 

[lands21]

Jesus tells us how to pray in The Lord's Prayer, and it is a very unselfish prayer.

Also, sometimes no answer is an answer

 

[wonder111]

Also, sometimes no answer is an answer

absolutely!

 

[rjohnsonbfw]

I have already given this girl most the answers you guys have stated. I'm still at a loss with her and I will definately point out the Lord's prayer. Other then that I will pray for wisdom on how to deal with this situation. I appreciate all your suggestions and if anyone else has thoughts as to this I'd love your input.

Thanks,
rjohnsonbfw

 

[jbarcher]

I have a question for all of you who know more than I do. I was talking to a friend today who was wondering why God won't answer her prayers. Her prayers are always along the lines of "send me a man who will love me and my child." Then she hooks up with some guy who is totally wrong for her i.e. into drugs, domestic violence, against church and God. She tells everyone that this guy is sent to her from God as an answer to her prayers. When they show their true colors she is devastated and questions why God would answer her prayers and give her a guy that was like that.



As you can imagine this frustrates me to no end. She believes that if she asks for something by prayer that her request will be granted to her. She quotes Matt 7:7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened." as her proof. I've told her that in my opinion God won't answer every prayer and that in my own prayer life I've never seen a selfish prayer answered. What I'm lacking is scriptural references to give her to show her the fallacy of her argument. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

I'm going to take a crack at this...it's almost 3 AM...but...

- Focus on God (that's exactly where it should be). The prayers should go away from "send me a loving man" to "help me to see Your love"
- Put what God has in store first, before any personal wants. "Yet not my will, but Thine be done" - something I remind myself a lot. I haven't heard of God granting the request to someone who has not put Him first. And that's what Christianity is about...serving Him.

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." If what she wants is a loving man then it would be quite illogical for God, who would like her to focus on where her focus should be, to bring into her life a loving man. He isn't done with her. Not yet.

"And when He had called the people [unto him] with His disciples also, He said unto them, whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

I think what this woman needs is to see that the love of God is sufficient. And I can sympthasize with you; this must exasperate and confound you to no end! But, you may be edified yourself: with great patience handle this lamb, and with unceasing love search the Scriptures. Pray with complete obedience and focus on God's will.

In my own life...my failure to help another brother/sister to overcome something is the kick I need to grow myself.

I suggest that you and and .

Think about His love...think about His goodness...think about His grace...that brought us through...for as high as the heavens above...so great is the measure of our Father's love...great is the measure of our Father's love...

 

[rjohnsonbfw]

Thank you so much for your reply sweetsoulsong! You were able to put into words the exact thoughts I had but was unable to convey to my friend. I will be passing this along to her in hopes that it will help open her eyes.

 

[Rafael]

I'm sorry I don't have references right of the top of my head, but elsewhere it does clarify that we should be asking in accordance with the will of God.

Some other thoughts. Satan will probably send her all kinds of prospects before God's selection gets there.

It sounds like she's looking in the wrong place for a husband. I mean, the type that she is getting don't sound like regular church goers.

She should join a singles group at church or something like that. Hopefully, she goes to church.

Finally, she needs to wait on God. He will provide in His own time.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

God doesn't just serve up whatever we ask for if we don't ask for His will. Sometimes we want what is worst for us and it takes a long time to learn. I hope she will be blessed, eventually, in the knowledge of having Him and His will in her life. "All things work together for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

 

[jbarcher]

We're all here for each other..

Go 3 AM posts! Lol...