Many, many years ago, when I was a youthful unbeliever, I challenged God to prove to me that He existed. He did that very night.
Last edited:
- Status
If God isn’t answering a multitude of prayers why would an ultimatum work?
I would like Him to tell me what more I have to do for my ongoing prayer to be answered but He won’t it seems.
I have been completely abandoned!
I used to have a huge love for Him, now it is like loving a sibling or parent when you were a child if you know what I mean?
I would like Him to tell me what more I have to do for my ongoing prayer to be answered but He won’t it seems.
I have been completely abandoned!
I used to have a huge love for Him, now it is like loving a sibling or parent when you were a child if you know what I mean?
L
Lost_Sheep
Guest
You mean like “Answer my prayers or else?” Or else what?
I
Irishmom2
Guest
Perhaps he has answered you Nelka, and the answer he has given is no, or not yet.
And so, because he has not met your demands you are going to give up on him. You are pouting like a child that hasn’t gotten their way. You need to learn to accept God’s will for your life. Do you think not praying and not wearing your scapular will make you any happier? Will your life be better without God?
And so, because he has not met your demands you are going to give up on him. You are pouting like a child that hasn’t gotten their way. You need to learn to accept God’s will for your life. Do you think not praying and not wearing your scapular will make you any happier? Will your life be better without God?
T
Thinker_Doer
Guest
Silence is not an answer.
Any prayer that actually asks for anything specific treats God like a vending machine. Only meditative prayers, which simply try to get close to God are exempt from this.
I
Irishmom2
Guest
Not sure what you mean by silence. If someone prays for something and their prayer is not answered, do you think God is going to send a clear message or something that says “no?” No, whatever we are praying for just doesn’t happen.
Last edited:
T
Thinker_Doer
Guest
Yes, that would be a polite way to act. But there is no answer, either positively, or dismissively. To interpret the silence as “no” or as “not yet” is ridiculous. And once again, don’t treat God like a vending machine.
Last edited:
He asks me to go to church and I do, He asks me to go to confession and I do, He asks me to pray for my enemies and I do, I ask Him for help and He says no.
It is better I feel to abandon hope and just get on with life then to hope and be disheartened every single time. Hope is causing pain.
I
Irishmom2
Guest
I am not sure why you have twice told me not to treat God like a vending machine. I find that statement offensive. I have said quite the opposite. People don’t always get what they are praying for, and they need to accept God’s will.
Are you saying God is not polite because he doesn’t send a clear message? I am struggling to understand what your point is.
Are you saying God is not polite because he doesn’t send a clear message? I am struggling to understand what your point is.
W
whatistrue
Guest
I disagree. Asking is fine, as long as we realize that we are not automatically entitled to what we request. Keep in mind the ever-present “Thy will be done”. I recently was shown the ACTS mnemonic for types of prayers that I thought was quite useful:
Adoration - Praise and worship
Contrition - sorrow for sins committed or good not done
Thanksgiving - Appreciation for gifts or graces received
Supplication - Making a request for self or others
I am sure many here are very familiar with it, but it is relatively new to me.
Do my children not treat me the same and I give them what they need in life?
I care for people with learning disabilities, when one of them cries or screams or bangs their head (they are non-verbal), do I give them what they need especially if it is pain relief without delay or do I just sit there and so no or wait a very long time? Am I not being merciful? I do it out of love not because it’s my job (many staff do the minimum you see)?
C
CelticWarlord
Guest
There is more than one way of looking at this. If we give the ultimatum as a raving tantrum from a spoiled child, then we know what the result is going to be. Nothing. But if, in genuine contrition, sorrow and despair we say, God if you don’t do something by tomorrow I’m going to have to take my life, that is very different. I went through that, 26 years ago. The answer came. I’m still here.
K
Kullervo
Guest
You are strong.
T
Thinker_Doer
Guest
This is what I was told innumerable times, when I asked why God does NOT feed the hungry, heal the sick, and so on… even when millions of people pray for help. God is not a vending machine, where you put in a prayer, and it will be fulfilled. Don’t shoot the “messenger”.
It is that you have no grounds to interpret God’s silence of being either “no”, or “not yet”.
Since God is omniscient, there is no need to ask for anything, since he already knows what you will ask for. Also he is immutable, so he will not change his mind, no matter how fervently you ask for it.
Meditative prayers are file… supplicative prayers are not.
Obviously you are neither omniscient nor omnipotent, so you MUST recourse to verbal communication. Isn’t it obvious?
W
whatistrue
Guest
He knows what you will ask for, but you have to actually ask for the request to exist. In other words, if you don’t actually ask, there is nothing there for Him to know about.
You can of course say that He knows what you need, which is true, but I think part of it is for us to “train” ourselves into the proper frame of mind; to truly internalize and believe “Thy will, not mine, be done”. And why would it be not fine to ask for help or benefits for someone else?
And who says He doesn’t? Not necessarily “in Person” so to speak, but through others…
M
MamaJewel
Guest
T
Thinker_Doer
Guest
This only shows that the omniscience is another nonsensical proposition.
Bah! Humbug!!
W
whatistrue
Guest
How does not knowing about something that did not and will not happen disprove omniscience?
In that case, just Scrooge it…
- Status