Why my prayers were never answered

[Anonymous]

God is not your bitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You know there's a different conclusion you could reach, right?

That there is no god. That when you don't get something you've prayed for, it's because there is no god there listening to and answering (some of) your prayers. And that it's mere coincidence when your prayers are answered. It was something that was going to happen anyhow, prayers or not.

Some people find this conclusion comforting. Others are bothered by it because it means a lack of control and the inability to live forever after our earthly death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP here. I do not think of God as Santa. Firstly, I do not drive, so never asked for a car, but I do know of people who sorely needed cars to get to work where there was no public transportation. People have all sorts of needs from healing, to material things, to money to save their homes from foreclosure etc. God doesn't limit you as to what you can pray for.

I understand that God does not agree to all of our prayers, and I alluded to that. I said not all of my prayers are answered, I don't expect them to all be answered to my satisfaction. I also stated you can ask for this or something better. I no longer plead with God for anything. I thank him for what I need or want. It oftentimes shows up.

I

This sounds like trying to trick or flatter God -- thanking him in advance to give him the idea that he really should give you something, because you're already grateful to him. It also sounds like it hasn't occurred to you that you'd get what you want without praying or using other tactics (thanking in advance).

For a change of pace, you might try not praying or thanking in advance and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP. I'm an interfaith minister. I won't presume to know your faith path, but I did want to jump in and share what I've learned about prayer. First, I don't believe God (Source Energy, Spirit, Creator, Jesus,....whatever name you chose) wants or needs to be worshiped. That's kind of an outdated, fear-based response to God. What God does want is for us to communicate with him/her. Prayer works when we align our intention with God's will. What you describe is a kind of affirmative prayer - Thanking God in advance for answered prayers. It can definitely be a very powerful, positive way to pray. After all, we do co-create with God. Our thoughts create our reality in so many ways. BUT, we need to be careful about treating God as a genie who exists to grant wishes. Remember, that your answered prayers affect everyone around you. For example, if I pray that my husband gets a job he has interviewed for, someone else is not getting that job. When we pray, we should focus on asking God to show us how to get the things that lead to the highest and best. Not necessarily for what we want in the moment.

I would encourage you to continue to pray, but treat it less like pleading with God and more like having a conversation with your Creator. Ask questions and spend time listening for answers. Remember that we live in a responsive universe. God really does want the very best for you. But you have to be willing to listen and to act in accordance with the information you receive.

OP here. Thank you for your response, I appreciate it. I'd like to clarify that I do not only pray for things. I pray for healings, blessings and safety for myself and others etc. Everytime I turn on the local or national news, I pray for victims of crime or accidents, war etc. I also pray for their families, friends and loved ones. I pray the perpetrators of crime will be caught and punished. You referred to what I do as affirmative prayer. Are there other sorts of prayers? I'd welcome a discussion. Prayer is something I've struggled with for many years. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Yea. No on is buying your updates, OP.

You clearly communicated in your initial post that you changed your language to get more wishes granted, as if God wasn't seeing right through that! You know words don't matter in prayer, right? It is your feelings and intentions that matter. You can flatter, thank and psycho-wheedle all you want, but if you're really thinking: "this way works better than the other way", then you have understood nothing about faith or religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You know there's a different conclusion you could reach, right?

That there is no god. That when you don't get something you've prayed for, it's because there is no god there listening to and answering (some of) your prayers. And that it's mere coincidence when your prayers are answered. It was something that was going to happen anyhow, prayers or not.

Some people find this conclusion comforting. Others are bothered by it because it means a lack of control and the inability to live forever after our earthly death.

Op here. This might have worked if I had never felt the force of the Holy Spirit, or never saw a spirit, but I've witnessed both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yea. No on is buying your updates, OP.

You clearly communicated in your initial post that you changed your language to get more wishes granted, as if God wasn't seeing right through that! You know words don't matter in prayer, right? It is your feelings and intentions that matter. You can flatter, thank and psycho-wheedle all you want, but if you're really thinking: "this way works better than the other way", then you have understood nothing about faith or religion.

It is about faith not begging and pleading. You have to see things as if they already are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You know there's a different conclusion you could reach, right?

That there is no god. That when you don't get something you've prayed for, it's because there is no god there listening to and answering (some of) your prayers. And that it's mere coincidence when your prayers are answered. It was something that was going to happen anyhow, prayers or not.

Some people find this conclusion comforting. Others are bothered by it because it means a lack of control and the inability to live forever after our earthly death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yea. No on is buying your updates, OP.

You clearly communicated in your initial post that you changed your language to get more wishes granted, as if God wasn't seeing right through that! You know words don't matter in prayer, right? It is your feelings and intentions that matter. You can flatter, thank and psycho-wheedle all you want, but if you're really thinking: "this way works better than the other way", then you have understood nothing about faith or religion.

Maybe OP sincerely changed after reading some of the responses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yea. No on is buying your updates, OP.

You clearly communicated in your initial post that you changed your language to get more wishes granted, as if God wasn't seeing right through that! You know words don't matter in prayer, right? It is your feelings and intentions that matter. You can flatter, thank and psycho-wheedle all you want, but if you're really thinking: "this way works better than the other way", then you have understood nothing about faith or religion.

It is about faith not begging and pleading. You have to see things as if they already are.

You do? It sounds like a positive imaging strategy -- not prayer to the Almighty

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You know there's a different conclusion you could reach, right?

That there is no god. That when you don't get something you've prayed for, it's because there is no god there listening to and answering (some of) your prayers. And that it's mere coincidence when your prayers are answered. It was something that was going to happen anyhow, prayers or not.

Some people find this conclusion comforting. Others are bothered by it because it means a lack of control and the inability to live forever after our earthly death.

Op here. This might have worked if I had never felt the force of the Holy Spirit, or never saw a spirit, but I've witnessed both.

What did the spirit look like? How did you know it was the holy spirit and not a ghost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yea. No on is buying your updates, OP.

You clearly communicated in your initial post that you changed your language to get more wishes granted, as if God wasn't seeing right through that! You know words don't matter in prayer, right? It is your feelings and intentions that matter. You can flatter, thank and psycho-wheedle all you want, but if you're really thinking: "this way works better than the other way", then you have understood nothing about faith or religion.

Maybe OP sincerely changed after reading some of the responses

Not the way she responded.

[Anonymous]

https://www.josephprince.org/blog/daily-grace-inspirations/call-it-forth

https://faithingoddaily.com/2011/10/05/call-those-things-that-be-not-as-though-they-are/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You know there's a different conclusion you could reach, right?

That there is no god. That when you don't get something you've prayed for, it's because there is no god there listening to and answering (some of) your prayers. And that it's mere coincidence when your prayers are answered. It was something that was going to happen anyhow, prayers or not.

Some people find this conclusion comforting. Others are bothered by it because it means a lack of control and the inability to live forever after our earthly death.

Op here. This might have worked if I had never felt the force of the Holy Spirit, or never saw a spirit, but I've witnessed both.

What did the spirit look like? How did you know it was the holy spirit and not a ghost?

It was not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was a force that pretty much knocked me down. The spirits I've seen appeared to be made of vapors and light. They were ethereal looking. I'm just saying I know there is a God, because of what I've experienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You know there's a different conclusion you could reach, right?

That there is no god. That when you don't get something you've prayed for, it's because there is no god there listening to and answering (some of) your prayers. And that it's mere coincidence when your prayers are answered. It was something that was going to happen anyhow, prayers or not.

Some people find this conclusion comforting. Others are bothered by it because it means a lack of control and the inability to live forever after our earthly death.

Op here. This might have worked if I had never felt the force of the Holy Spirit, or never saw a spirit, but I've witnessed both.

What did the spirit look like? How did you know it was the holy spirit and not a ghost?

It was not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was a force that pretty much knocked me down. The spirits I've seen appeared to be made of vapors and light. They were ethereal looking. I'm just saying I know there is a God, because of what I've experienced.

You saw evidence of spiritual phenomena. Why didn't you gravitate towards another religion? They all have spirits, you know.