Can we pray amiss?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#1
Scripture tells us we can in James 4: 3: All of you ask, and receive not, because all of you ask amiss, that all of you may consume it upon your lusts.

We are given many instructions about what God wants to talk with us about in scripture. The Lord’s prayer says to address it to God our Father. It stresses that all must be wthin God’s will, or our talk must be scripture based. God reacts to all that is righteous in a loving way, but in all that is sin with blazing anger.


We are to ask for our daily bread, knowing God is spirit and God’s bread is spiritual bread as well as what feeds our body. Next we ask for forgiveness of our sin as we forgive others. If we have a grudge we insist on holding onto, God can’t forgive us as we don’t forgive.

We have asked God for his kingdom to rule on this earth rather than the world’s kingdom. The world is operated by demons, Christ rules His kingdom We ask that the world not lead us to evil now, but God lead us away from temptation.

Then we give all our praise and love to God.

God cannot live with the evil that is sin, for God hates evil. When the world leads our prayers, God does not hear those prayers with love.


This is praying as God instructs, and not praying amiss.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,607
551
113
#2
Here is the real Question ------Is the Lord's Prayer for today for the Born Again Person ?????------

Jesus was using it as a teaching tool for His Disciples who ask Jesus how they should Pray -------before His death and resurrection -----

Some of what is for the asking in this Prayer is already DONE for Believers ----by asking for something that Jesus already accomplished for us is like saying ------you don't believe in what Jesus did accomplish on the Cross ----so you have to keep asking ------

For example -----

And forgive us our trespasses,
All True Believers are already forgiven for their Trespasses ------so why would we be asking for this again -----


And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

This to has already been accomplished ----Jesus defeated Satan on the Cross so now we have to submit to god and the devil will flee ------Satan has no legal hold on True Believers -----so why would we be asking for God to deliver us from evil when He has already --------we ourselves have to keep our gate closed to not allow Satan in -----

I say ----So while this Prayer is Perfect in every way -----we need to discern what we are asking -------and now we DO NOT Pray to the Father --we Pray to Jesus who takes our request to the Father for us -----

So asking amiss is in James ----you ask with the wrong MOTIVE and in an unrighteous manner ------there is quite a few Scriptures on how to get answered prayer ------you have to Pray God's Will not our will ----you have to forgive others who have wronged you ---you have to believe that you have received your answer right away as soon as you pray it -------all these are in scripture ------you can look them up ==

James 4:3

Amplified Bible

3 You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask [a]with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.

Also God warns against repetitive Prayers -----like saying the Lord's Prayer every Sunday at Church ---or praying on prayer beads ---etc

Matthew 6:7
AMPC
And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.

I say ----Here is the thing ---God already knows your heart when you are going to pray and He also knows what you are about to pray -----

Many believe that God hears all Peoples prayers ----and that is not what Scripture says ------Sin and iniquity block God from hearing the prayers of the unbeliever -----God hears the prayers of the righteous ---


Isaiah 59 AMP
Separation from God
59 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short
That it cannot save,
Nor His ear so [a]impaired
That it cannot hear.
2
But your wickedness has separated you from your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,268
6,584
113
#4
I say ----So while this Prayer is Perfect in every way -----we need to discern what we are asking -------and now we DO NOT Pray to the Father --we Pray to Jesus who takes our request to the Father for us -----
Incorrect.

We pray to God in the Name of Jesus
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,268
6,584
113
#5
Many believe that God hears all Peoples prayers ----and that is not what Scripture says ------Sin and iniquity block God from hearing the prayers of the unbeliever -----God hears the prayers of the righteous ---
IF God does not hear a sinners prayer, how did Jesus hear the prayer of the thief on the Cross? OR, your prayer when you prayed for Jesus to become Lord of your life?
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,268
6,584
113
#6
I say ----Here is the thing ---God already knows your heart when you are going to pray and He also knows what you are about to pray -----
Yes. BUT this does not excuse our NOT praying. Praying is how we communicate with God, and how He communicates with us. Prayer is a cornerstone of a Christians life walk with Jesus...................

You are way off on your assessment, sorry
 

Artios1

Born again to serve
Dec 11, 2020
669
400
63
#7
IF God does not hear a sinners prayer, how did Jesus hear the prayer of the thief on the Cross? OR, your prayer when you prayed for Jesus to become Lord of your life?
I believe that was a malefactor not a thief ....just say'n

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Many things changed with the advent of the Grace administration on Pentecost.


Jesus gave us great instruction on how to pray, and there are specifics we should adhere to, when we pray.
Verses 5-8 give those specifics

Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8
Be not ye therefore like unto them:
for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.


Mat 6:9 After this manner (similitude) therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation (Not a good translation) Should read ….And do not let us enter into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.


Forgiveness is no longer contingent upon forgiving others. It’s good practice, because unforgiveness will eat a person up inside. But we are to forgive as instructed in the epistles.


Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
 
S

SophieT

Guest
#8
Here is the real Question ------Is the Lord's Prayer for today for the Born Again Person ?????------

Jesus was using it as a teaching tool for His Disciples who ask Jesus how they should Pray -------before His death and resurrection -----

Some of what is for the asking in this Prayer is already DONE for Believers ----by asking for something that Jesus already accomplished for us is like saying ------you don't believe in what Jesus did accomplish on the Cross ----so you have to keep asking ------

For example -----



All True Believers are already forgiven for their Trespasses ------so why would we be asking for this again -----





This to has already been accomplished ----Jesus defeated Satan on the Cross so now we have to submit to god and the devil will flee ------Satan has no legal hold on True Believers -----so why would we be asking for God to deliver us from evil when He has already --------we ourselves have to keep our gate closed to not allow Satan in -----

I say ----So while this Prayer is Perfect in every way -----we need to discern what we are asking -------and now we DO NOT Pray to the Father --we Pray to Jesus who takes our request to the Father for us -----

So asking amiss is in James ----you ask with the wrong MOTIVE and in an unrighteous manner ------there is quite a few Scriptures on how to get answered prayer ------you have to Pray God's Will not our will ----you have to forgive others who have wronged you ---you have to believe that you have received your answer right away as soon as you pray it -------all these are in scripture ------you can look them up ==

James 4:3

Amplified Bible

3 You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask [a]with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.

Also God warns against repetitive Prayers -----like saying the Lord's Prayer every Sunday at Church ---or praying on prayer beads ---etc

Matthew 6:7
AMPC
And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.

I say ----Here is the thing ---God already knows your heart when you are going to pray and He also knows what you are about to pray -----

Many believe that God hears all Peoples prayers ----and that is not what Scripture says ------Sin and iniquity block God from hearing the prayers of the unbeliever -----God hears the prayers of the righteous ---


Isaiah 59 AMP
Separation from God
59 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short
That it cannot save,
Nor His ear so [a]impaired
That it cannot hear.
2
But your wickedness has separated you from your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

what other things that Jesus taught are to be ignored?
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#9
Here is the real Question ------Is the Lord's Prayer for today for the Born Again Person ?????------ .
You are completely wrong in saying that God changed his mind about how we are to pray.

God is an eternal God who is absolutely dependable to stay the same holy Father God was the day we were created. God spoke to man in stone through the flesh for the first about 4,000 years and then God spoke to man through Christ in the spirit direct to the heart but the message is the same.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,607
551
113
#10
We pray to God in the Name of Jesus
I say ------Jesus is God ------and we pay in Jesus name you are right ----we have Access to pray to God the Father THROUGH Jesus who is our Mediator ----Jesus is the Bridge between man and God the Father ---

So see it as you like ----

! Timothy 2:5

Context
A Call to Prayer
…4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.…

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF God does not hear a sinners prayer, how did Jesus hear the prayer of the thief on the Cross? OR, your prayer when you prayed for Jesus to become Lord of your life?
This first part you post here -------
IF God does not hear a sinners prayer, how did Jesus hear the prayer of the thief on the Cross?

I say --------The Thief on the Cross Repented and called Jesus ---the Messiah ------He understood and BELIEVED that Jesus was the Messiah ---if one receives Jesus on their death bed --they are saved ------

Luke 23 NIV

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the 2nd part of your post -
------OR, your prayer when you prayed for Jesus to become Lord of your life

I say ----you don't pray a Prayer for Jesus to become the Lord of your life ------

This ia what Scripture says -----no where does it say you need to pray ---it says believe and Confess your Faith with your mouth -----if you had to pray for salvation then it would not be Grace given -----it would be works -----

Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes. BUT this does not excuse our NOT praying. Praying is how we communicate with God, and how He communicates with us. Prayer is a cornerstone of a Christians life walk with Jesus...................

You are way off on your assessment, sorry

I say --------This is your first part of what you quote here -------Yes. BUT this does not excuse our NOT praying. Praying is how we communicate with God,


I say ---So what you did here is took my statement out of Context and used it to suit what you wanted ----This I quoted was said about saying repetitive prayers Like the Lords Prayer ----Prayer beads ---etc

This is my whole Quote from above ------which gives the Context of what i posted and the Scripture -----

Also God warns against repetitive Prayers -----like saying the Lord's Prayer every Sunday at Church ---or praying on prayer beads ---etc

Matthew 6:7
AMPC
And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.

I say ----Here is the thing ---God already knows your heart when you are going to pray and He also knows what you are about to pray -----

Many believe that God hears all Peoples prayers ----and that is not what Scripture says ------Sin and iniquity block God from hearing the prayers of the unbeliever -----God hears the prayers of the righteous ---
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I say ---I have no idea how God Communicates with you but with me He communicates with a still small voice noy in prayer ----and I agree with you that Prayer is the only way to approach God ------
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#11
Jesus gave us great instruction on how to pray, and there are specifics we should adhere to, when we pray. .
I believe the specifics we need to adhere to especially is to remember that the essence of prayer needs to be that what we ask for is within the will of God.

God has a specific reaction to sin and evil and the kingdom of the world is run by demons. God's reacts to what is not of God and within his kingdom is anger.

There are countless scriptures telling of God's reaction to sin. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness" (Proverbs 15:8 - 9).

Isaiah 59: 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

If we pray for something that is not within his kingdom of heaven, God does not listen to us. God hears us, for we are told God is omnipresent and we cannot hide from Him, but we are also told his reaction is with anger to what is against his will.

We need scriptural backup for what we ask for.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,607
551
113
#12
what other things that Jesus taught are to be ignored?
Who said ignored ---I say that what Jesus accomplished on the Cross is already in Place for the Born Again person -------there is no need to keep asking God for something that He sent His Only Son to accomplish for us --------Healing is already in place for us ------so to pray for God to heal you is fruitless as it is alread done ---we have to believe that our healing is in place -------


For unbelievers they are still under the law and are subject to the Curse of the Law -so for unbelievers ----their sin has not been forgiven -therefore they remain away from God ------
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,607
551
113
#13
You are completely wrong in saying that God changed his mind about how we are to pray.

God is an eternal God who is absolutely dependable to stay the same holy Father God was the day we were created. God spoke to man in stone through the flesh for the first about 4,000 years and then God spoke to man through Christ in the spirit direct to the heart but the message is the same.
So what your saying is God Sent His ONLY SON To BE Flogged --Beaten --Punched ---Bruised ---and to Shedding His Blood for Nothing ---and be unrecognizable and then be hung on a stake and all All remains the same -----even how we are to pray -----WOW I suggest you read the Scripture more -----


Hebrews 8 NIV

New International Version
The High Priest of a New Covenant

7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said[b]:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”[c]
13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

I say -----Good luck staying with the law --and God remaining under the Old Covenant ------
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,607
551
113
#14
Christ in the spirit direct to the heart but the message is the same.
The message is the Same ----come back to God -----Jesus is the way today to do that ------no praying will save you ---you have to RECEIVE by and through Faith ------
 
Jan 5, 2022
1,224
620
113
36
"A higher plane," hehe
www.youtube.com
#15
So what your saying is God Sent His ONLY SON To BE Flogged --Beaten --Punched ---Bruised ---and to Shedding His Blood for Nothing ---and be unrecognizable and then be hung on a stake and all All remains the same -----even how we are to pray -----WOW I suggest you read the Scripture more -----


Hebrews 8 NIV

New International Version
The High Priest of a New Covenant

7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said[b]:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”[c]
13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

I say -----Good luck staying with the law --and God remaining under the Old Covenant ------
Please don't use the corrupt NIV. I automatically ignore any text from this Luciferian version.

The same man owns both the publisher that puts out the NIV and the publisher that puts out LaVey's Satanic Bible.

See the book "Serious Omissions in the NIV Bible" by Keith Piper for more info:
https://www.kingjamesvideoministries.com/NIVOmissions.pdf
 
S

SophieT

Guest
#16
Who said ignored ---I say that what Jesus accomplished on the Cross is already in Place for the Born Again person -------there is no need to keep asking God for something that He sent His Only Son to accomplish for us --------Healing is already in place for us ------so to pray for God to heal you is fruitless as it is alread done ---we have to believe that our healing is in place -------


For unbelievers they are still under the law and are subject to the Curse of the Law -so for unbelievers ----their sin has not been forgiven -therefore they remain away from God ------
if it is no longer valid, then, it is ignored

I mean you don't offer sacrifices to God do you? then you ignore those things that are past

Jesus did not say pray this every day...which seems to be your idea of repetitive prayers...although that is not correct either

Jesus gave us an example of how we should pray

praying to God for healing is fruitless because it's already done? LOL!

I pray you do not ever have to test that theory yourself

so we never have to ask God to forgive us because He is just like good ole granddaddy and will burp us on His lap

yeah....follow hyper grace teachings do you? perhaps a little Prince now and then?

a little personal inventory is a good thing...
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,679
113
#17
Scripture tells us we can in James 4: 3: All of you ask, and receive not, because all of you ask amiss, that all of you may consume it upon your lusts.

We are given many instructions about what God wants to talk with us about in scripture. The Lord’s prayer says to address it to God our Father. It stresses that all must be wthin God’s will, or our talk must be scripture based. God reacts to all that is righteous in a loving way, but in all that is sin with blazing anger.

We are to ask for our daily bread, knowing God is spirit and God’s bread is spiritual bread as well as what feeds our body. Next we ask for forgiveness of our sin as we forgive others. If we have a grudge we insist on holding onto, God can’t forgive us as we don’t forgive.

We have asked God for his kingdom to rule on this earth rather than the world’s kingdom. The world is operated by demons, Christ rules His kingdom We ask that the world not lead us to evil now, but God lead us away from temptation.

Then we give all our praise and love to God.

God cannot live with the evil that is sin, for God hates evil. When the world leads our prayers, God does not hear those prayers with love.

This is praying as God instructs, and not praying amiss.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.


Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.


And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.


For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
It appears in a James 4:1-3 they were asking for things with the wrong intentions and asking for the wrong things. They probably weren’t just asking for food, clothing, and shelter because everyone needs those things.

I would guess they were coveting each other’s property and spouses and willing to quarrel, fight, and murder each other over them. They seem to have eventually turned to prayer asking God to take out their opposition in order to acquire their property/resources.
 
Jan 5, 2022
1,224
620
113
36
"A higher plane," hehe
www.youtube.com
#18
It appears in a James 4:1-3 they were asking for things with the wrong intentions and asking for the wrong things. They probably weren’t just asking for food, clothing, and shelter because everyone needs those things.

I would guess they were coveting each other’s property and spouses and willing to quarrel, fight, and murder each other over them. They seem to have eventually turned to prayer asking God to take out their opposition in order to acquire their property/resources.
That's pretty speculative, honestly. Literally a worst case scenario. Does it even make sense that such people would be open to the reproof of an apostolic epistle?
 
S

SophieT

Guest
#19
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. I John 1:8

is there anyone here who does not believe this was written to believers? (along with James, the Peters & Jude)

that would explain much about people's positions/understandings
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,679
113
#20
That's pretty speculative, honestly. Literally a worst case scenario. Does it even make sense that such people would be open to the reproof of an apostolic epistle?
Well, yes. The letter opens in James 1:1-2 referring to them as the 12 tribes of Israel and James calls them his brethren; these are God’s chosen people. James is trying to correct and help his brethren, saying in James 4 there is war and fighting among them, lust, and killing. They are adulterers and adulteresses. The context reads, to me, that they were fighting over things they wanted - things like people and property.