How to pray

[Blain]

This is a common question even amongst believers, many prayers either go unanswered or the answer is wait or no according to many but I haven't seen this in scripture anywhere. Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
Nowhere does it say the answer is no or wait So why then do most prayers go unanswered?

 

[Haidabo]

This is a common question even amongst believers, many prayers either go unanswered or the answer is wait or no according to many but I haven't seen this in scripture anywhere. Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
Nowhere does it say the answer is no or wait So why then do most prayers go unanswered?

They were not acceptable to God.

 

[GWH]

This is a common question even amongst believers, many prayers either go unanswered or the answer is wait or no according to many but I haven't seen this in scripture anywhere. Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
Nowhere does it say the answer is no or wait So why then do most prayers go unanswered?

A systematic study of prayer is being conducted on the Hermeneutics thread if you would like to participate in that discussion too.
It began with the Lord's Prayer, but I like that you recognized Matt. 7:7 also to be the prayer, and I guess we will discuss Mark 11:24
at the appropriate place.

Prayers that go unanswered must not have wanted God's will to be done (Matt. 26:36-44).

 

[Blain]

They were not acceptable to God.

It is not that they were not accepted by God unless of course they were prayers that went against his will such as praying for something bad to happen to someone

 

[Blain]

A systematic study of prayer is being conducted on the Hermeneutics thread if you would like to participate in that discussion too.
It began with the Lord's Prayer, but I like that you recognized Matt. 7:7 also to be the prayer, and I guess we will discuss Mark 11:24
at the appropriate place.

Prayers that go unanswered must not have wanted God's will to be done (Matt. 26:36-44).

If I may how many of your prayers have been answered compared to the number unanswered?

 

[HopeinHim98]

It says in James, "You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss that you may consume it upon your own lusts."

 

[Blain]

It says in James, "You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss that you may consume it upon your own lusts."

I completely forgot about that verse.

 

[Blain]

So perhaps first we need to pray that his will and our prayers align together

 

[Magenta]

In the 12 step program we are taught to pray only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. And there are
some here who think no matter what they pray for God will give, as if they can boss Him around. Quite concerning to hear that.

 

[Blain]

To be honest my prayers well..... I just don't ever feel like they matter. I can pray for someone and nothing ever comes of it and I want to be able to pray for others but the only times my prayers get answered are my personal prayers for myself. I want to be able to pray for people to recieve healing or to be given life or for them to just feel his love but nothing ever happens

 

[Magenta]

James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

 

[Blain]

James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Well if the prayers of a righteous man are indeed powerful maybe I am just not a righteous person. I don't mind so much if my own prayers are not answered but when I want to pray for others and nothing ever comes of it well it makes me feel like my prayers just don't matter

 

[Magenta]

Well if the prayers of a righteous man are indeed powerful maybe I am just not a righteous person. I don't mind so much if my own prayers are not answered but when I want to pray for others and nothing ever comes of it well it makes me feel like my prayers just don't matter

How do you know nothing happens? Are you praying
for people that are a part of your day to day life?
Besides Blain, you know there are none righteous.
We put on the righteousness of Christ.

 

[Blain]

How do you know nothing happens? Are you praying
for people that are a part of your day to day life?

I know because the people I pray for continue to suffer in their afflictions and some of them end up giving up and just walking away from God. See I go on reddit a lot because there are so many hurting and confused people on there they post a lot on there and I keep tabs on them, I lost one to suicide just the other day.....

 

[Magenta]

I know because the people I pray for continue to suffer in their afflictions and some of them end up giving up
and just walking away from God. See I go on reddit a lot because there are so many hurting and confused people
on there they post a lot on there and I keep tabs on them, I lost one to suicide just the other day.....

That does not mean that all of your prayers are of none effect. We walk by faith, not by sight...

2 Corinthians 5 verse 7 ~ We walk by faith, not by sight.

 

[Blain]

That does not mean that all of your prayers are of none effect. We walk by faith, not by sight...

I even pray just for them to have peace but every single one of them continue to suffer I mean seriously I have prayed for about 16 people on there in the past week and all of them continue to suffer in their struggles and then when I lost that one to suicide that was the final blow to me

 

[Magenta]

I even pray just for them to have peace but every single one of them continue to suffer I mean seriously I have prayed for about 16 people on there in the past week and all of them continue to suffer in their struggles and then when I lost that one to suicide that was the final blow to me

A week? Blain, a week is nothing much. For God's Word to take root and grow it often takes time.

1 Corinthians 3 verses 6-7 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God Who makes things grow.

 

[Blain]

A week? Blain, a week is nothing much. For God's Word to take root and grow it often takes time.

1 Corinthians 3 verses 6-7 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God Who makes things grow.

Yeah but that is just this past week that isn't counting all the people I prayed for in the past. I guess losing that one person to suicide just really took a huge hit to my heart and I haven't recovered

Maybe I am just not meant to pray for people, I mean I give advice and council all the time and I see God use me greatly in this way but prayer? I have yet in all my time as a Christian to see my prayers do anything for anyone.

I'm sorry I am just really distraught right now I just couldn't save that person and it has me in a bad place right now

 

[Haidabo]

It is not that they were not accepted by God unless of course they were prayers that went against his will such as praying for something bad to happen to someone

Well Mr Blain,
I have a great idea for you
Just refer all those people
You want to pray for
to Magenta. And then watch
By her praying for them
all their lives change.

Now that's a brilliant idea
Don't you think?

 

[Magenta]

Yeah but that is just this past week that isn't counting all the people I prayed for in the past. I guess losing that one person to suicide just really took a huge hit to my heart and I haven't recovered

Maybe I am just not meant to pray for people, I mean I give advice and council all the time and I see God use me greatly in this way but prayer? I have yet in all my time as a Christian to see my prayers do anything for anyone.

I'm sorry I am just really distraught right now I just couldn't save that person and it has me in a bad place right now

Yes, Blain, you are a very tender hearted person, I can understand why such a loss would be a blow to you...

Hebrews 12 verses 1-3 ~ Let us run with endurance the race set out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.