What Would Happen if God Answered Every Prayer?
What would happen if God answered every prayer? By answering every possible prayer, God would in effect abdicate, turning the world over to us to run. History shows how we have handled the limited power granted us: we have fought wars, committed genocide, fouled the air and water, destroyed forests, established unjust political systems, concentrated pockets of superfluous wealth and grinding poverty. What if God gave us automatic access to supernatural power? What further havoc might we wreak? Most of us learn, over time, that some prayers prove better off unanswered.
Country singer Garth Brooks had a hit song in which he recalls his impassioned prayers for God to melt the heart of a high school sweetheart—later apparent to him as a terrible choice: Just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care. Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
—Philip Yancey, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?
Any comments or testimonies today?
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Labels: Philip Yancey, Prayer
posted by Keith Finnegan @ 11:00 AM.
God answers all prayers. Sometimes he answers "yes", sometimes "no" and sometimes "not now". No prayer is unanswered.
God answers every prayer, sometimes not with the answer we want; that's His wisdom and plan. Sometimes He gives us exactly what we ask for and it causes pain; that is also, His wisdom and plan -this is how we learn and grow. Our Father knows our needs. See Jeremiah 29:11.
I heard an interesting comment on God answering prayer. Its funny, but I know it probably fits me many times. Sometimes it "no; sometimes its "yes"; and other times it is "you've got to be kidding."
I do believe God answers all prayers in HIS own time. My question is how do I know for sure if the answer is really from God...? I recently got married , I always have argument with my wife almost every week. My second question is is it God's will or not...?
Beautiful words we all need to hear
Thank you to Philip Yancey, one of my favorites, for reminding us
Margaret Prator
mprator@satx.rr.com
God does answer all prayers... even if it seems unanswered, and all for the better
There is no unanswerd prayers.If there is.It is for my Goodness.
balavrajan@gmail.com
anonymous said... "how do I know for sure if the answer is really from God...?"
Well, you start with the Bible. God's will does not contradict his revealed will in the Bible.
Thanks for the posts! For your own sake, Please do not include your email address with your post. It only sets you up for getting Spammed. This is a public forum, so anyone can see your address.
A wonder thought just at the right time for me as I struggle with asking for what I want my kids to be instead of accepting what God wants them to be.
I think that depends on what you're asking. Are you're asking God to shape them into people who will please him? Then keep on praying! But keep in mind free will enters into the picture, too. Philip's book really dives into some of these issues. It's one of my favorites.
"My ways are not your ways; neither are your thoughts my thoughts." So says God through the prophet Isaiah. We'll never really know which prayers are "answered" and which are "not answered" until we get to heaven. If we could figure God out that easily, it would be scary. Perhaps we're just not listening to His answer because it's not the one we want to hear. That said, it is true that He will not contradict His word; in that we can rest assured.
I have just decided to turn my will and life over to the care of God whom
I now choose to call Jesus Christ. I believe that He already knows what I am going to pray for before I pray since He created me. I make sure before I pray that I examine my motives and at the end I make sure I say if it is in your will.
"Although prayers are not the least we can do, it is the most... Although prayers cannot change God's eternal decrees, and yet, in terms of God's involvement in the time and providence, it is the means God uses to move HIM to action. Thus prayers can accomplish much!"
God certainly doen't answer all prayers thankfully. Some prayers scriptures tell us he will close his ears to.
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