Why does God answer some prayers but ignore others?

[dlaw7566]

I have never understood the idea that the guy with the great masterplan will change his ways on your demand.
And if assuming that - for whatever obscure reason - he really does, I am wondering how (being omnipotent and all that) he couldn´t spontaneously create an additional slot.

I always loved the question: Why won't god heal amputees?

 

[Emmy]

Dear ObamaChristian. God answers all prayers, but there are some reasons why God does not answer some prayers straight away, and then we have to keep on praying: it often may take some time. First we must remember that God does not force anybody, we all have free will to either Love God or not.
When the prayer is straightforward and hurts nobody, ( ourselves included)
then the prayer can be answered soon. If another person is involved, and since God has given us all free will, it stands to reason that our prayers cannot be answered soon. We may be sure that God has ways and means to answer all prayers, but sometimes the person, or persons involved can be very stubborn, and would need much of God`s persuasions. Then it is with us, have we enough patience to wait for God`s answer, or Love, at work?
We all have heard of cases where people have to wait for a long time, and our best weapon is patience and Love for God to keep asking and praying.
Our Heavenly Father is Loving and Almighty, and Loves us enough to give us free will. God will NEVER act as a cheap Magician.
I say this with love, Obama. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.
P.S. The question you asked about the two Candidates for a place, God would give the place to the one most suited.

 

[dlaw7566]

Dear ObamaChristian. God answers all prayers, but there are some reasons why God does not answer some prayers straight away, and then we have to keep on praying: it often may take some time. First we must remember that God does not force anybody, we all have free will to either Love God or not.
When the prayer is straightforward and hurts nobody, ( ourselves included)
then the prayer can be answered soon. If another person is involved, and since God has given us all free will, it stands to reason that our prayers cannot be answered soon. We may be sure that God has ways and means to answer all prayers, but sometimes the person, or persons involved can be very stubborn, and would need much of God`s persuasions. Then it is with us, have we enough patience to wait for God`s answer, or Love, at work?
We all have heard of cases where people have to wait for a long time, and our best weapon is patience and Love for God to keep asking and praying.
Our Heavenly Father is Loving and Almighty, and Loves us enough to give us free will. God will NEVER act as a cheap Magician.
I say this with love, Obama. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.
P.S. The question you asked about the two Candidates for a place, God would give the place to the one most suited.

Please show me one amputee that has had a limb restored through prayer. Also please show me that prayer handbook, specfically the parts where:

1. Straightforward (not sure what is really complicated for god) that don't hurt anyone get answered soon.
2. How does free will have anything to do with god's response time if prayer involves someone else, e.g. (one person praying for another person to get well from an illness).

 

[Hentenza]

I always loved the question: Why won't god heal amputees?

Can you prove that God has never healed an amputee?

 

[Hentenza]

Suppose me and my friend both prays that our son gets into college. There is only one spot left. If God grants my prayer, God cannot grant his.

Why not? Maybe God can open a second space for your friend.

Will God grant someone's prayer who is Christian over someone who is not?

Why would a nonbeliever pray to God?

Will God grant it based on the merit of how good the person is?

Nope. He grants prayer according to His will.

Or will God ignore both prayers?

He might if the prayer is against His will.

 

[dlaw7566]

Can you prove that God has never healed an amputee?

Why should I? I do not hold the premise that prayer accomplishes anything. But I would say that given that there is absolutely zero evidence that anyone has ever grown a limb back through prayer, god doesn't heal amputees, no matter how pious or prayerful. If you have any evidence of an amputee growing a limb back through prayer then please share it and will re-evaluate my position.

 

[Hentenza]

Why should I? I do not hold the premise that prayer accomplishes anything. But I would say that given that there is absolutely zero evidence that anyone has ever grown a limb back through prayer, god doesn't heal amputees, no matter how pious or prayerful. If you have any evidence of an amputee growing a limb back through prayer then please share it and will re-evaluate my position.

Ever read about the plethora of lepers that Jesus restored whole? Many of these by prayer? Do you know that many lepers loose digits and limbs?

 

[poolerboy0077]

We pray out of obedience.

Why would an all-powerful and all-knowing deity require prayer and worship?

 

[Hentenza]

Why would an all-powerful and all-knowing deity require prayer and worship?

Because He has everything else.

 

[dlaw7566]

Ever read about the plethora of lepers that Jesus restored whole? Many of these by prayer? Do you know that many lepers loose digits and limbs?

Sorry but that is not credible evidence. it cannot be corroborated independently. If you had a letter from one of the alleged lepers verfying that some guy named Jesus camed through and healed them, then we can talk. Otherwise I have some story written after JC died by some unknown author, claiming that JC performed a magic trick (miracle).

 

[Hentenza]

Sorry but that is not credible evidence.

It is to Christians. I can't help it if you don't believe it.

it cannot be corroborated independently.

The teachings of the bible have been corroborated by a plethora of religious and secular sources.

If you had a letter from one of the alleged lepers verfying that some guy named Jesus camed through and healed them, then we can talk. Otherwise I have some story written after JC died by some unknown author, claiming that JC performed a magic trick (miracle).

You are entitled to your opinion.

 

[poolerboy0077]

Because He has everything else.

Huh?

A deity who is both all-knowing and all-powerful would need or require nothing, most especially something as self-centered as worship.

 

[theophilus777]

I have never understood the idea that the guy with the great masterplan will change his ways on your demand.
And if assuming that - for whatever obscure reason - he really does, I am wondering how (being omnipotent and all that) he couldn´t spontaneously create an additional slot.

This is sorta the problem with the OP's scenario, yeah. Its not what prayer is about.

 

[theophilus777]

Huh?

A deity who is both all-knowing and all-powerful would need or require nothing, most especially something as self-centered as worship.

I'm not sure if this is So's law or just assumption, but you're wrong either way; logically this statement makes no sense.

 

[doomsayer2]

It depends all on how you define "worship". If towards an earthly ruler or king,then yes it's selfish and egotistical to demand such. But why is there the assumption that towards God it is the same with no LOVE associated with it?
Why is it this idea of obesiance to a Higher Power so repugnant to the Atheist? First of all,even if you could prove His existance how would it change your thinking about Him? Even many Christians are way too flippant and casual about this.

Say for example,your biological father who abandoned you as a child suddenly showed up wanting reconciliation. But first demanded that YOU apologize to him for living such a bad life. His offer would be very easy to reject. But a God who offered His son and eternal love simply in exchange for your repentance is yet viewed no different by most Atheists than the absentee father. So the real question i feel most believers would have is not WHY don't you believe,but would it even matter if you did? If there were suddenly a scientific proof of Divine Creator,then what? Even if a non-Biblical One,good luck to that Deity in getting any Atheist converts.

But the question of why God ignores some prayers is a valid one. The easiest answer which may be a cop-out,is simply that we humans tend to get big heads,especially when dealing with big success. But that would only deal with the blessings of God being withheld,and not the sufferings being removed. As much as i hate to say it but I don't know. But again,what does it matter to an unbeliever even if a "cruel" God did answer favorably on occassion? It is what it is.

 

[FireDragon76]

Huh?

A deity who is both all-knowing and all-powerful would need or require nothing, most especially something as self-centered as worship.

Christians do not worship God because he needs worship. Worship is strictly something that humans benefit from, it's not like God is going to be hurt if somebody doesn't worship him.

 

[Lollerskates]

Christians do not worship God because he needs worship. Worship is strictly something that humans benefit from, it's not like God is going to be hurt if somebody doesn't worship him.

Most likely we humans have polluted the real leaning of "worship," just like people believe Fear The Lord God actually means to fear Him (when the Hebrew translates to reverence.) I suspect "worship" simply means loving respect. And, it is - in a Godly sense - something the worshipper wants to do.

It isn't about breaking your knee caps, or dry tear ducts. It is an aspect of a relationship. As an example, the loving respect one gives to their parents is worship in the Godly sense. That is probably why God said not to put them before Him, because if you are a good child, your parents are the closest thing to a Godly representation of a relationship with Him.

 

[FireDragon76]

It isn't about breaking your knee caps, or dry tear ducts. It is an aspect of a relationship. As an example, the loving respect one gives to their parents is worship in the Godly sense.

The essence of monotheistic worship is gratitude- this is the common thread throughout Jewish and Christian patterns of worship. Gratitude is based in not taking things for granted, or to use a trendy term, being "mindful"- bringing our own awareness to the many blessings of life, and to our troubles. This is why in historic practice, there is more to Christian prayer than treating God as a genie that must deliver blessings to us, a will to bend in our favor. Real prayer is also remembering the many ways God has already blessed us.

Secular psychologists have noted the many benefits of gratitude and mindfulness to physical and mental health, so it's not hard to understand the appeal of true worship as a pattern of living meant to cultivate a life-affirming attitude despite the often frequent moral ambiguities we face. Whether or not we think God exists is quite secondary in this respect- it's a cultivation of a movement of the heart, and it is something that one can appreciate without having to make sense out of God.

 

[Neochristian]

Because some are asked correctly and others are not. If we ask for gain we are not praying. Those apparent answers are just luck.

 

[doomsayer2]

The original poster's use of college as an analogy is not really a great one in this case. Since for one person,going to a vocational school is a blessing and for another it's either Ivy League or bust. Either way,whether it's a "no" from God or from the university itself,the result is the same. If something doesn't go your way,the only option is that either not God's will or simple life circumstances. And usually a non-answer from God scenario means wait some more,or no period. Other than stating the obvious,there's really not a whole lot more you could say on the matter.
But God can be very picky for His own reasons,taking for example what Jesus told about all those who He was healing...

"But I tell you of a truth,many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias,when the heaven was shut up 3 years and 6 months,when great famine was throughout all the land;
"But unto none of them was Elias sent,save unto Sarepta,a city of Sidon,unto a woman that was a widow.
"And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet;and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian."
{Luke-4:25-27}

After this the Pharisees were enraged and thrusted Jesus out of the city and even tried to throw Him off the top of a hill,the only time they had actually tried to kill Him. So this struck a nerve for some reason,and I think it probably had to do with the the fact that Christ was only sent to heal some and they were not included.
I feel the reason for God appearing to be so choosy is that His blessings are more spread out and around and eventually do get to those who feel there own prayers are being ignored. If being a Christian consisted mainly of getting almost every prayer answered,then how many people do you think would want that kind of religion just for that reason alone?
A lot of people see God primarily as the Blesser who's first purpose is in blessing us. But we are told to FIRST seek the kingdom,and only then will all the things we need be added to us. Salvation itself is really the only thing that is guaranteed,and the Holy Spirit.
So maybe instead of becoming bitter at God's non-answers,we should try to be more appreciative of those times God does intervene in others lives,and just accept that maybe there are things about us that we need to work on before we get the same kind of response.