Why are prayers unanswered?

just-us-2 · Sep 27, 2013

Yearning is a good word to describe prayer! And it makes sense that if we yearn for something we would be more focused on it.
As a young Christian, I got the “pray without ceasing” thing, but allowed my all day long quick prayers as I went about whatever my day had in store for me, to be all I had to do. Time spent in prayer was disappointing because I had the wandering mind problem so it was easy to give in to quick requests or thank yous during the day. It was, however, very unfulfilling. And that is something I am thankful for because it caused me to seek a closer walk with my heavenly Father.

just-us-2 · Sep 27, 2013

There are some very remarkable stories in the Bible that tell how prayer works, or should work, and reading them inspires me to yearn and strive for the kind of relationship those people had with God.

Look at Hannah, for instance, who became the mother of Samuel.
(1 Samuel 1:1-27, 2:19-21)
The name, Hannah, means ‘favored’ but she certainly didn’t feel like she was favored. She was one of Elkanah’s two wives but was unable to have children. Elkanah’s other wife Peninah had several children and was mean and hateful to Hannah. Every year Elakanah took his family up to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to God. He gave a portion of the sacrifice to Peninah and all her children, but to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her more in spite of her inability to give him children. One year, while at Shiloh, Peninah had taunted Hannah to the point she started to cry and could not eat…again, as happened every year. Elkanah tried to comfort her and among other things said, “Am I not better to you than ten sons?” He must have said something that made an impression on Hannah because when they were finished eating and drinking, she went to the temple and in deep depression, quietly prayed to God and cried. Eli, the priest, was sitting nearby and saw Hannah’s lips moving but could not hear her praying so he thought she was drunk. He asked Hannah how long she was going to stay drunk and told her to “sober up” as we would say it. She explained that she wasn’t the least bit drunk but rather was a very unhappy woman praying from the depths of her heart. Eli understood then and told her, “Go in peace. May the God of Israel grant what you have asked of Him.” After Eli’s blessing, Hannah went her way, ate, and was no longer so sad. The family got up early the next morning and headed home to Ramah.

It wasn’t long before Hannah gave birth to Samuel - which means “heard from God” – because as she said, “because I asked Adonai for him.” When the time came again for the annual trip to Shiloh, Hannah declined to go and explained to her husband, “Not til the child has been weaned. Then I will bring him, so that he can appear before Adonai and live there forever.” Every year Hannah made Samuel a little coat and took it to him when the family went to Shiloh. The result: 1 Samuel 2:20-21 (CJB)
20 'Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "May ADONAI give you children from this woman because of the boy you have loaned to ADONAI"; then they would go home.
21 So ADONAI took notice of Hannah, and she conceived and bore three more sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Sh'mu'el grew in the presence of ADONAI.

I would like to be able to say that I could do as well as she, but in all honesty, I don’t know if I could give my child away as a very young child, and be content to make him a little coat, and take it to him every year when the family went to where he was living. But this is the dedication God rewards, and the prayer life He desires because He loves us so much. This story always humbles me when I read it, and that is good. Uncomfortable, but good.

David is the star of another story about prayer. But I’ve gotten long-winded again (it must come with old age!) so I will put that in the next post, God willing.
Hebrews 6:3 (CJB)
3 And, God willing, this is what we will do.

just-us-2 · Sep 29, 2013

We consider King David a hero of the Old Testament in spite of his imperfections. It is fascinating to study about David because there is so much written about him in the Bible but as we were reading a few days ago, my husband and I ran across this story in 1 Chronicles 14.

In 1 Chronicles 14, it is confirmed to David that God has set him up as king over Israel. Israel prospers, David has lots of children, and in general, things are going well.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all of Israel, they determined to destroy him. I can just imagine the Philistines saying something like, “Aha! You killed our great soldier, Goliath, so now, David, we’ll fix your wagon!”

Hearing of this, David went to God and asked Him, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” God replied, “Attack, I will hand them over to you.” And because God said it, that is what happened. David’s army whipped the Philistines so badly that they even left their gods there when they ran away. Not wanting to pass up a rare opportunity, David ordered his men to burn the Philistine gods to ashes.

As could be expected, that didn’t set well with the Philistines and they came back and raided the valley. Again, David asked God if he should attack and this time God said, “No,” and told David to turn away from the Philistines and engage in battle with them in another particular location. God told David to listen for a sound in the tops of the trees that sounded like marching, and then move out and attack the Philistines. David did exactly what God had told him to do so of course, the result was complete success.

Reading this made me think about how important it is to inquire of God for every move we make, even if it is a repeat of a prior event. If David had assumed God would grant him victory over the Philistines the second time just because He did the first time, I dare say the outcome would have been different. Just because a circumstance is the same as before, that does not mean that the course of events will be the same again or even that the results would be the same.

Then after all this, chapter 16 is a lengthy psalm that David composed in praise to God, but look what happened in chapter 21. King David, the “man after God’s own heart”, is provoked by Satan, and gives in to the provocation without prayer!

I am convinced that there is so much to be learned from the characters of the Bible. I really doubt their stories are there to simply fill up space. Maybe I should start another thread about that…

just-us-2 · Sep 30, 2013

just-us-2 said:

It has come to my attention, that in my efforts to illustrate the need for objective self-examination and exposing how quickly a human mind can degenerate backward into critical, self-righteous thoughts about others by using myself as an example, that I appear unloving. I have received ‘counsel’ for this and the whole point I was trying to make was missed. This manifests another trait of human nature that tells us we are called to find fault with other individuals so quickly that we don’t see the complete picture in the situation. In this case I stuck my neck out, in honesty, to be an example, making it easier for others to see my point, and the point was missed because of this iniquitous trait to see how unloving I am. Now this whole thing again proves the message I was trying to get across, which is to examine honestly, objectively, unbiased, or any other synonym you can think of, our own character and be able to see where we all have iniquitous thoughts that need to be confessed and reckoned with instead of being so quick to point out the log in someone else’s eye.
Matthew 7:3 (CJB)
7Why do you see the splinter in your brother's eye but not notice the log in your own eye?

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
1 John 1:8-10 (CJB)
8 If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing. 10 If we claim we have not been sinning, we are making him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.

I suppose it happened to Paul, although I haven’t found it recorded in the Bible, that when Paul confessed his wretchedness in Romans 7:24 (“What a miserable creature I am! Who will rescue me from this body bound for death?”), that people were calling him unloving, or unworthy to be listened to, because of the battle he was acknowledging within himself (as all of us should be). His point was probably missed by some of his hearers too.

So, I am sorry if my point was so hard to find, and I am thankful for the prayer God always answers – “Lord, have mercy.” After all even when the demons begged Him not to destroy them but cast them into a herd of swine, He did it. Would he not show mercy to me, His child?

homwardbound · Sep 30, 2013

just-us-2 said:

That would be and is the motive behind the prayer, that does the hindering, get rid of selfishness and study to know our loving God of selflessness.

[h=3]James 3[/h]Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. [SUP]2 [/SUP]For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. [SUP]3 [/SUP]Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. [SUP]4 [/SUP]Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. [SUP]5 [/SUP]Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! [SUP]6 [/SUP]And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. [SUP]7 [/SUP]For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: [SUP]8 [/SUP]but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. [SUP]9 [/SUP]Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. [SUP]10 [/SUP]Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. [SUP]11 [/SUP]Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? [SUP]12 [/SUP]Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. [SUP]14 [/SUP]But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. [SUP]15 [/SUP]This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. [SUP]17 [/SUP]But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [SUP]18 [/SUP]And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

john832 · Sep 30, 2013

nogard said:

We must remember that scripture is additive. We should not set doctrine from one passage. You quoted these...

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

And they are true, but they must be viewed with this in mind...

Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Asking to win the lottery is very likely to be unanswered. Another very important point is this...

Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

1Jn 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:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

This is why we fast. We do not fast to cause God to see things our way, we fast to see things God's way...

Isa 58:3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
Isa 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
Isa 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isa 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Isa 58:9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Isa 58:10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
Isa 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Isa 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Brother_Don · Sep 30, 2013

i believe that no prayer goes unanswered, it may not be the answer we want, but God knows whats best.

john832 · Sep 30, 2013

Brother_Don said:

Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Starcrash · Sep 30, 2013

Brother_Don said:

How could you possibly know? If you prayed, for example, that a meal you were about to eat should be "blessed", how would you know if that prayer had gone unanswered? If you got food poisoning from it, would that be a non-answer? Theology suggests this would be a "no" answer, and that God must have wanted you to get sick. If no result could possibly prove that a prayer is unanswered, then how could a result prove that it has been answered?

Brother_Don · Sep 30, 2013

getting sick some times is a cleansing, so maybe if God wanted me sick, it is to get me well. Yes, no, and not yet, are answers maybe not the answer we want, but God knows best.

Starcrash · Sep 30, 2013

Brother_Don said:

This proves my point. While it seems counter-intuitive to suggest that God would want you to get sick (an examination of the life of Jesus shows that he spent a significant amount of time healing sickness but never making anyone sick), it could be rationalized if you really wanted to believe that prayer is answered (and you did exactly that -- rationalize it). In fact, any result could be rationalized and could be made to fit the "yes, no, and not yet" answers that are claimed to be given in answer to prayer. So what would an unanswered prayer look like?

An atheist speaker once gave this example, where a boy was gunned down by a drive-by shooting: if the boy is completely unharmed, it is considered a miracle. If the boy is crippled, then God is praised for sparing his life. If the boy dies, then it must have been a part of God's plan. If we grant that his Christian family and friends were praying for him, then they could offer any of these rationalizations for any outcome.

If you simply assume that prayer to God is effective, then how can you know that prayer to Allah is not? Muslims believe in prayer for the same reason, and also interpret any outcome as "answered". I could confidently say that their prayer can be tested and found false, and I wouldn't have to hold on to a double-standard to do so.

homwardbound · Oct 1, 2013

john832 said:

And that was back before the message of today:
2 Corinthians 5:18

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Corinthians 5:19 to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

homwardbound · Oct 1, 2013

Brother_Don said:

And yes I now agree with that, after going through Foreigners Gangrene, and having my penis cut off, no more puberty in the way, Thanking God, not at first though, but now am seeing this saving from My wonderful Savior.

homwardbound · Oct 1, 2013

Starcrash said:

Faith is Forever Able In The Heavens, with the creator of this entire universe, and the only way to the creator of all is through Son, Christ Jesus, that no other man has shown the mighty miracles that he has shown while here on earth in the 3 and a half years he ministered. Even this world knows this truth, or why did they divide the time before the cross and after the cross of Christ. The dividing line of human history. And today this world denies this dividing now as common era before and after. Even though it is set up by the cross of Christ.
To this very day, there has been no other man here on earth and has done the things he has done, ultimately proving he was from God and is.
Choice is to each their own as what is truth and what is not.

john832 · Oct 1, 2013

homwardbound said:

Who inspired that to be recorded by Isaiah? The One who said this...

Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

and inspired Paul to write...

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Starcrash · Oct 1, 2013

homwardbound said:

What a bunch of useless assertions -- it's akin to being told by a Muslim that Allah is the greatest of all the gods and that you must serve him. Being told this, you'd simply reject it on the basis of "no argument given".

Your only argument is that "the world divides the common era along the birthdate of Jesus", which has a perfectly natural explanation. Constantine claimed to be a Christian, and as ruler of his world, he set this is place. It wasn't because "the whole world" agreed with him, but because he alone had the power to make it happen. Contrast this with the current movement in science and history that has taken the religiosity out of "BC" and "AD" by changing them to "BCE" and "CE"... this clearly isn't because "the whole world" suddenly believed that Jesus shouldn't be the dividing line, but because the people who wrought this change had the power and motive to make it happen.

And your last line, that truth is a choice, is idiotic. The truth is observed, not made. Some evidence is stronger than other evidence, and philosophers have worked hard to define what constitutes "strong evidence", as well as tease out better methods for discovering it. Presumption always has been and still is a poor way to divine the truth, because literally anything can be presumed, whether or not it's true.

Brother_Don · Oct 1, 2013

Starcrash, i don't assume prayer to the God is effective, it has been proven to me to many times, and i can't deny the effectiveness of prayer to God. As for Allah i don't know nothing about him but the name, so i wouldn't know if he answers prayer, but remember satanist pray to satan to, and i couldn't tell you if he answers prayer. i'll keep praying to the Father in Jesus name it's been proven to me that works.

Canchristiansgetalong · Oct 1, 2013

Can I say thanks to all of you on this thread. I enjoyed reading through the thread. I also want to just add that I know God answers prayers too. I know he loves me enough to some times say no, or wait, or you need to look at other options. This last week I have caught my two year old out on the road twice. She is so fast and just takes off before I even realize she is gone. I tell her that she can't go out there even though she wants to because its dangerous and she could get hurt or killed. I try to teach her why she shouldn't go out there and why she should do something else, but she only sees me not giving her what she wants when she wants it. I think we are like 2 year-olds in God's eyes. We think he just doesn't let us have what we want when we want it, but in reality, he has some understanding that we don't. If we listen, we will be protected and enjoy the blessings he can give us if we listen.

homwardbound · Oct 2, 2013

john832 said:

Yes and that is 100% truth as in the Abrahamic Covenant in the order of Melchizadek
not in the order of Aaron
[h=3]Hebrews 7[/h]New International Version (NIV)

[h=3]Melchizedek the Priest[/h]7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, [SUP]2 [/SUP]and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

[h=3]Jesus Like Melchizedek[/h][SUP]11 [/SUP]If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

just-me · Oct 2, 2013

homwardbound said:

Yes and that is 100% truth as in the Abrahamic Covenant in the order of Melchizadek
not in the order of Aaron
Hebrews 7

New International Version (NIV)

Melchizedek the Priest

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, [SUP]2 [/SUP]and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Jesus Like Melchizedek

[SUP]11 [/SUP]If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

I have a simple question that some other people might have about Melchizedek. He had to be either Shem (Noah's son) or Christ Himself. Which one was He, or is he neither? Anybody can contribute, not just you buddy (homewardbound)

Why are prayers unanswered?

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