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Old 07-18-2008, 03:33 PM
 
Location: Missouri
661 posts, read 1,184,234 times
Reputation: 306

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I was listening to the radio on the way home from work and trying to find something to listen to stumbled upon a religious network.

The woman speaking was talking about prayer. I had listened for a few seconds when she said... 'And sometimes we get the strangest answers, nothing like what we thought we would get.' I had to switch off.

They werent ANSWERS! They were things that were going to happen in your life anyway!

You could make ANYTHING an answer in that case.We have said this before. According to Christians, God answers all prayers. He either:

1. Gives you what you asked for... According to Christians He answered your prayer.

2. Gives you an alternative answer.... He determined you needed something different from what you asked for...He answered your prayer.

3. He does not give you anything.... He determined that what you asked for would not be good for you at this time and so withheld it.... He answered your prayer.

Lets now take the same prayer and but pray to the FSM or a rock in your garden. What will happen? One of the outcomes listed above. Those are the only three outcomes available. So how can you say with certainty it was God?

You cant.
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Old 07-18-2008, 03:46 PM
 
Location: The world, where will fate take me this time?
3,162 posts, read 11,438,345 times
Reputation: 1463
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ringwielder View Post
So how can you say with certainty it was God?

You cant.
For prayers to be answered you need to put all your faith and devotion on it, our minds are like antennas, capable of sending our thoughts and emotions to God, but for our antennas to work, we need to be in a mental state of profound calmness and devotion, although sometimes the energy generated by desperation reaches God in the form of a distress call.

However the supreme Godhead is all knowing, he will never answer prayers that mean harm to others, or that would go against the freewill of others, but he will always answer to the sincere devotee who asks with a pure heart.

Now to answer your question, how can you know for certain it was God, that's what you have your intuition, if you work in developing it you can see God with that sense.

Love and Light!
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Old 07-18-2008, 04:04 PM
 
3,086 posts, read 6,273,572 times
Reputation: 973
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ringwielder View Post
You could make ANYTHING an answer in that case.We have said this before. According to Christians, God answers all prayers. He either:

1. Gives you what you asked for... According to Christians He answered your prayer.

2. Gives you an alternative answer.... He determined you needed something different from what you asked for...He answered your prayer.

3. He does not give you anything.... He determined that what you asked for would not be good for you at this time and so withheld it.... He answered your prayer.
I answer my children's requests in the same way. Just because we can get multiple answers to a prayer does not mean that God does not exist.. unless you think I don't exist.

Quote:
So how can you say with certainty it was God?
Having faith that He is able is good enough for me. And I know He is!
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Old 07-18-2008, 04:19 PM
 
Location: Socialist Republik of Amerika
6,205 posts, read 12,864,840 times
Reputation: 1114
Quote:
Originally Posted by cg81 View Post
I answer my children's requests in the same way. Just because we can get multiple answers to a prayer does not mean that God does not exist.. unless you think I don't exist.
You don't exist? Who have i been reading from all this time.....sheeesh, just when you think you know someone, they don't exist...



godspeed,

freedom
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Old 07-18-2008, 05:24 PM
 
Location: South Florida
553 posts, read 568,586 times
Reputation: 85
Here's another illustration Ring:

Imagine you want a banana. If you pray for it the possible outcomes are:
1. You get a banana fairly soon
2. You get a banana some time in the distant future.
3. You get no banana

Imagine you don't pray for a banana. The possible outcomes are:
1. You get a banana fairly soon
2. You get a banana some time in the distant future.
3. You get no banana

Why bother?
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Old 07-18-2008, 05:39 PM
 
Location: Socialist Republik of Amerika
6,205 posts, read 12,864,840 times
Reputation: 1114
Quote:
Originally Posted by yydanay515 View Post
Here's another illustration Ring:

Imagine you want a banana. If you pray for it the possible outcomes are:
1. You get a banana fairly soon
2. You get a banana some time in the distant future.
3. You get no banana

Imagine you don't pray for a banana. The possible outcomes are:
1. You get a banana fairly soon
2. You get a banana some time in the distant future.
3. You get no banana

Why bother?
True prayer is not about the self. It is more about thankfulness, praise, and love.
When we stop praying the give me prayer, we will start praying the what can i do prayer.

godspeed,

freedom
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Old 07-18-2008, 06:46 PM
 
70 posts, read 229,280 times
Reputation: 73
Quote:
Originally Posted by freedom View Post
True prayer is not about the self. It is more about thankfulness, praise, and love.
When we stop praying the give me prayer, we will start praying the what can i do prayer.

godspeed,

freedom
I agree, and I don't think it is just religious people who pray and feel their prayer was heard on some level. I do believe that if I put forth the energy and time to pray or meditate on something, that on some level the universe receives it (and responds). I also balance that with the perspective that life 'just happens' too.

If you want a little bit of scientific data to back this type of mumbo jumbo up, you should rent "What the (Bleep) Do We Know". It's very interesting.
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Old 07-18-2008, 08:28 PM
 
Location: PA
2,595 posts, read 4,440,808 times
Reputation: 474
Actually Ring you are a little off. As a Christian, I pray to God and talk with Him. Sometimes I ask Him for things, sometimes he gives them. The things though are not the answer from God for my prayer. They are outcomes, but it is his voice that I am listening too!

I ask God for safe drive in the car.... I get a safe drive in the car. Is the safe drive His answer? No, it His words that I am listening too. The "listen to those birds", the "slow downs" the "Hey this is a great song".... It is written that "my sheep hear my voice". I think you just have to let Him be your master before you hear the voice. He can only become your master if you believe He exists.
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Old 07-18-2008, 08:52 PM
 
Location: Sarasota, Florida
3,412 posts, read 10,172,679 times
Reputation: 2033
Have any of you considered positive thinking? When you start wishing for things to happen, and think positive, it is a great possibility that it will. If you surround yourself with positive things and people, more likely your wish can become true.
Does it mean it has anything to do with God's answers? I don't believe in God, but i believe in positive thinking, and power of it can be very strong and real.
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Old 07-18-2008, 08:57 PM
 
Location: God's Country
23,019 posts, read 34,390,903 times
Reputation: 31645
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShepsMom View Post
Have any of you considered positive thinking? When you start wishing for things to happen, and think positive, it is a great possibility that it will. If you surround yourself with positive things and people, more likely your wish can become true.
Does it mean it has anything to do with God's answers? I don't believe in God, but i believe in positive thinking, and power of it can be very strong and real.
For me, believing in God gives me a positive attitude. I do agree with you about surrounding yourself with positive people, I don't want to be around people who are always negative.
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