Ping
Bfl
What’s really wrong is perceiving God as some sort of natural phenomenon that can be practically utilized if only you know how to work His bells and whistles.
And sometimes the answer is, “No.” (Example: St. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
I believe in James 1-3, which addresses prayers, gives us a very informative answer to this question of supposed ‘unanswered prayers’. James speaks of not praying with a ‘double-minded’ mindset, that is to pray for something/someone while having doubt in one’s mind & heart.
IOW, it is not just the mind & heart of the person doing the praying, but also the heart & mind of those whom we are praying for that matters. If our hearts and minds are not of one accord, then this is praying in ‘double-mindedness’ aka sending mixed messages to God.
All throughout Scripture the Word of God tells us how to pray and He tells us which prayers He hears and which prayers He does not hear. Therefore, we need to return to His Word that Jesus preached, taught & prayed according to and not according to some ‘book’ that man has written.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in Him.
I answer prayer means “no”.
“Our prayers are sometimes not answered because we pray in vague generalities.”
Our prayers are answered. Its just that sometimes the answer is “no”.
Thanks for posting that.
[Verse 1]
Just the other night, at a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into, my old high school flame
And as I introduced them, the past came back to me
And I couldn’t help but think of, the way things used to be
[Verse 2]
She was the one, that I’d wanted for all times
And each night I’d spend prayin’, that God would make her mine
And if he’d only grant me, this wish I wished back then
I’d never ask, for anything again
[Chorus]
Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’, to the man upstairs
And just because he doesn’t answer, doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers
[Verse 3]
She wasn’t quite the angel, that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me, in her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days, there wasn’t much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he’s doin’, after all
[Bridge]
And as she walked away, well I looked at my wife
And then and there I thanked the good Lord, for the gifts in my life
[Chorus]
Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’, to the man upstairs
And just because he may not answer, doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered...
[Outro]
Some of God’s greatest gifts, are all too often unanswered
Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers