Another question on prayer

[Anon]

Studying my Sunday School lesson is bringing up questions today. :lol

Why do we have to pray to God like the importunate woman to get answers? My dad always taught me not to nag...to ask once, and he would decide the answer (him as my dad).... so why can't we just ask God something one time and figure He is powerful enough to decide what the answer should be?

Or what about people who DO beg and beg and beg God for something (see my other thread) like a lost soul, and it does not get answered?

[kevinmiller]

There are so many variables that I think it is impossible to give any kind of conclusive answer. One, is that we are to ask in faith, nothing wavering. God will not answer a prayer where we doubt that He will do it. Another, is that we must ask according to His will. If it is not in His will, we must accept His answer of 'no.' I think that we are to ask God in prayer often because it shows that we are dedicated to getting an answer. We aren't carelessly asking Him to accommodate us. We are daily asking in faith for Him to hear us. Now, that doesn't always happen because of man's will or because God has other plans, etc., but we must also use discernment about when we must cease our requests and accept the will of God.

[John81]

God answers all prayer with a yes or no. I think we are to pray until we get an answer.

Such as Paul, who says he prayed three times and the Lord told him the answer to his prayer was no (and God graciously told him why) so from that point on there was no need to pray about that any longer.

In the case of praying for the lost, I believe we are to pray for them until they are saved or one of us is dead.

[Jerry]

There are times God doesn't answer our prayers:

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

What seems like a "no" in that case might actually be His refusal to listen to us because we are holding onto a specific sin in our hearts.

There are also times He answers "wait" because we are not ready yet (perhaps not mature enough spiritually) or it is not the right time to answer one of our requests.

[Danny Carlton]

God created us as logical, rational, thinking creatures. We therefore will question and test things. One thing I've noticed about my kids is that they often break their toys, testing the boundaries of it's functions. It's a natural logical response to test things to know them better. (annoying though it is)

Prayer allows us to experience a cause/effect response that confirms God's presence and interest in our lives. It's a way for us to experiecne God's presence. However, God want us to have faith and obedience, so prayer must conform to those boundaries. Our prayers must be for what is allowable, but also offered with sicnerity and confidence.

I wrote a song a while back that goes like this:

CHORUS
How can you love Someone you never talk to?
How can you know Someone you never touch?
How can you avoid His presence,
He loves you so much?

Morning comes in a flurry, no time
At all for prayer.
Off to work in a hurry, you know,
It's just too busy there.
Think the Lord will understand if
I don't pray today?
How would you feel every day if
you were treated that way?

CHORUS

Time with Jesus is the water
That our spirits drink.
If you leave your spirit thirsty,
It hurts more than you think.
So renew your spirit each day
From the Living Spring,
Spend some time alone and quiet
In the presence of the King.

CHORUS

[Anon]

That's actually a really good analogy, Danny, thanks.

[JerryNumbers]

What about Abraham's prayer?

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Gen 18:23-33 (KJV)

Abraham was rather persistent.