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Why won’t God answer my prayers?

Every Christian experiences this multiple times in their lives. It’s actually very common. The cliché is if we pray to God sincerely God will answer us. But if you are tuned into reality, you know that is not always the case. There are times when God is silent and seems to go on for many years without answering your prayer.  The false assumption is that God responds to our prayer because of our sincerity or because we are sincere, God will respond. Now that becomes a work of righteous and the Bible is clear that no one is righteous. You have often heard in church or through another Christian that “God will give you what you need, not what you want” or “God’s time to answer your prayers are not your time; God knows the right time”.  Although these may be correct, that isn’t always true in every situation. You may have heard in the Bible when Jesus was saying “Ask and it shall be given to you”  or “..I will do whatever you ask in my name”; “My father will give you whatever you ask in my name”.

But then there is silence on that matter and that prayer goes unanswered. We are then left wondering where’s God when we need him or “we must done something bad and our punishment is an unanswered prayer!” What some Christians fail to understand is that the Jesus’ promises were based on qualifications.  Dr. William Lane Craig enlightens us on that issue in his book “Hard Questions, Real Answers” on biblical possibilities on why our prayers could be unanswered.

1.  God cannot contradict Himself: We know that when two rival football teams, equal in faith, experience, and talent pray to God for Victory, only one will win and the other will lose. God cannot contradict prayers.

2.  We have to repent for our sins and come clean:

Psalm 66:18 says “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord will not have listened”

Proverbs 15:29 NIV, “The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

Unfortunately the Bible also says that no one is righteous and all have fallen short. But it is through the blood of Jesus, our faith in Him, and our repentance to Him that washes our unrighteous away.

The Bible says in (1 John 1:6-9 NIV), “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. {7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. {8} If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. {9} If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.“

Romans 4:5

However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Romans 4:9

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:6

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Bottom line: We must be right before God and come clean before He even accepts our prayers.

1 Peter 3:7

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

In other words, we must be respectful to our spouses and neighbors because failing to do so can hinder your prayers!

3.  Wrong Motives- Too often are our prayers are motivated by selfishness such as “Dear God, please give me that car I always wanted”.

James tells us “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3)

Prayer that is totally self-centered does not fall under the promises of Jesus. We should request things that are of God and not only to satisfy our selfish desires.

4.  Lack of faith-

Mark 11:24 tells us “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

James 1:6-8 tells us “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

A doubtful prayer will not be answered. Words without faith are words without meaning, its empty. We must pray in faith and bold confidence.

5.  Lack of earnestness.

You must be sincere when you pray.

6.  Lack of perseverance- Many times we will pray once or twice and that’s it. We just give up. Jesus talks about perseverance in his parables Luke 11:5-8 and Luke 18:1-8.  The point of the message is that if we want something bad we should preserve and never give up

7.  It must be according to God’s will and not your own will.

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The only decision God does not want us to make is the decision to sin or resist His will.

“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

You will know what God’s will is by asking Him, walking with Him by obeying his commandments, and doing things that will glorify Him.

1 John 3:21-22 (New International Version)

²¹Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²²and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

More related Blogs:
Historical Jesus and what the early Church Christians believe he was
Did Jesus die on the Cross and Resurrect?
Was Jesus a copy of the other gods like Horus?
Why does God allow Evil and Suffering?
Where did Morals come from?
What the Bible says about Reincarnation
What the Bible says about Astrology
Did Mary assume into Heaven?
Nephilim, Fallen Angels, Giants, and sons of God
Book of Mormon VS The Bible
Why Won’t God Answer my Prayers?
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Why did God order Genocide and murders in the Bible

Most of the time when people refer to God as being cruel and a bloodthirsty barbarian, they usually refer to how God ordered bloodshed and total annihilation of an entire race including babies and old people. A genocide if you call it. Well, this makes a perfect argument for atheist to bank off of to prove to us that the God in the Bible cannot be real. But is that truly the case? If God is a judge then how can he be so unfair? This seems to be a uncomfortable, touchy subject in which Christians will overlook and hope to ignore. In today’s society, people ask simple questions but demand instant answers because they are impatient with complexity. Why did God order the annihilation of the Canaanites (consisting of the Sidon, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites) including babies and women? That certainly is a simple question deserving an answer. But fortunately God gives us the answers by leaving His Word and that answer is  found simply by doing homework, what anti-Christians usually fail to do.

Tracing back from the beginning of the encounters, Joshua, Aaron, and Moses were leading the Israelites to their promise land. The fist battle occurred against Edom. Israel asked first if they can pass through and said they wouldn’t touch anything. Instead of just refusing, Edom initiated a war for no reason so the Israelites fought back to defend themselves and defeated them. (Numbers 20:14-24) Nothing unfair with that.

Now along their journey, King Arad, a Canaanite also instigated a war against and held them captive for no reason. So Israel fought back in self defense. Nothing unusual with that (Numbers 21:1).

Then a third incident occurs. Israel is once again minding their own business and wanting to travel to their promise land without bothering anyone. They came across Sihon, King of the Amorites and requested if they could peacefully pass through. You guessed it, Sihon refused and started a war against Israel for no apparent reason so Israel fought against them. They defeated Sihon and Og, kings of that region. (Numbers 21;22) Can you see the trends here?

Continuing their journey, the Midinites knew they couldn’t defeat Israel through war. They knew they were protected under the True God because of their victories. So instead of applying with what they understood, they still maintained their evil ways. They got real tricky and used their women to sexually seduce the Israel men and take part of evil practices and Baal worship (Numbers 31:16). They were partially successful until God struck down the men and women engaged in that practice through plagues and execution. Fortunately the Midinite women who were innocent were spared.

Later on, a tribe called the Gibeonites cleverly tricked the Israelites into having a peace treaty with them. Even though Israel wasn’t too happy being tricked, they still honored their word for being allies. We read later on that the Adoni, Hoham, Piram, Japhra, and Debir fought against Israel’s allies. Israel, keeping their truce, fought back against their ally’s enemies. That’s what friends are for right? Just like we helped our allies during World War 1 and 2. There is nothing wrong with that.

Although these answer certain episodes they don’t account for the rest of the wars that continued after. So what was the reason?

Well One great reason why God ordered the genocide was because they practiced Baalism with their God’s of Peor, Astheroth, Berith, and Molech. God called Baalism detestable and such an abomination. (Judges 2:19) It consisted of sacrificing innocent children (2 Judges 11-14). King Ahab and Ahaz who sacrificed their son by burning them into the fire (2 Kings 16:3, 2 Kings 21:6)

The Bible speaks clearly on this:

“And they built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech” (Jeremiah 32:35).

“They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons as offering to Baal” (Jeremiah 19:5).

‘You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags’ (Isa.57:5).

They have set their abominations in the house which is called My name, to pollute it. And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire ..’ (Jer.7:30-31)

You took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them [the idols] to be devoured. Were your acts of harlotry a small matter, that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?‘ (Ezek.16:20-21)

The LORD said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront them with their detestable practices,  for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, [a] as food for them. They have also done this to me: At that same time they defiled my sanctuary and desecrated my Sabbaths. On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecrated it. That is what they did in my house. ( Ezekiel 23:36-39)

Also get this- after the Baal priest rolled the babies into the fire, they engaged in sexual intercourse and orgies! In fact archaeology confirmed this by has uncovering Baal cemeteries with the remains of more than 20,000 children and 6000 cremated children in urns in a Phoenician Baal worship site. Now if you don’t see why God wanted this nation destroyed now you know. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you’ (Deut.18:10)

God also says this about Baal worship:

“I will bring such a catastrophe on this place … because they have forsaken Me and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents. They have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into mind; therefore behold, the days are coming,”

The children were going to die anyways or grow up to continue this abominal act. By ending their lives as children, God enabled them to have entrance into Heaven. The Bible also reveals that God was patient to the Canaanites. After hundreds of years they continued to practice evil ways. We see an example of a Canaanite prostitute by the name of Rahab spared because of her righteousness. Unfortunately the Canaanites continued to do evil.

Finally, the reason why God gave that order was because He knew if they allowed that race to continue to exist, they would lead the daughters and sons of Israel to intermarry and be taught the ways of Baal (Duet 20:18, Judges 2: 1-4, Duet 7:1-6, Judges 8:33, Exodus 23:19). Over and over again God warned what would happen. God also warned them not to make any covenants because they would turn against Israel when they least expected it, rise into power, and then enslave them. Of course, God is God and can see the future. And guess what? When Israel didn’t listen and disobeyed, God’s prophecies came true. When Israel spared a few Canaanites, they later started practicing their ways of child sacrifices and orgies (Judges 2:11, Judges 2:19). Baal worship is a religion of fertility so you could imagine what took place. Furthermore, these Canaanites that were spared rose back to power to enslave the Israelites. We see tons of examples of slavery and oppression from the Canaanites in the entire Book Of Judges and also in Judges 2:1-3; 1 Kings 11:5; 14:24; 2 Kings 16:3-4. One perfect example we see is when Saul disobeyed God’s command to wipe away the Amalekites by sparing 400 men. Just a couple of decades later there were enough Amalekites to take David and his men’s families captive (1 Samuel 30:1-2). After David and his men attacked the Amalekites and rescued their families, 400 Amalekites escaped. If Saul had fulfilled what God had commanded him, this never would have occurred. Several hundred years later, a descendant of Agag, Haman, tried to have the entire Jewish people exterminated (see the book of Esther). So, Saul’s incomplete obedience almost resulted in Israel’s destruction. God knew this would occur, so He ordered the extermination of the Amalekites ahead of time.

We know that God’s ways are higher than our ways and that He knows what’s best for us. He detests Canaanite Baal worship and is evil in his eyes! When we disobey God we will have a consequence not always because God is punishing us but because that’s what our actions lead us to.

More related Blogs:
Historical Jesus and what the early Church Christians believe he was
Did Jesus die on the Cross and Resurrect?
Was Jesus a copy of the other gods like Horus?
Why does God allow Evil and Suffering?
Where did Morals come from?
What the Bible says about Reincarnation
What the Bible says about Astrology
Did Mary assume into Heaven?
Nephilim, Fallen Angels, Giants, and sons of God
Book of Mormon VS The Bible
Why Won’t God Answer my Prayers?
Why I CAN’T be an Athiest. Athiesm is illogical
Why did God order Genocide and murders in the Bible

If you aren’t familiar with the story of Uzzah , it is explained in Samuel 6. The story goes on and says that after the Philistines were victorious against Israel they captured the Ark of the Covenant. They then sent it followed by a series of mysterious deaths from tumor-infested rats, afflicting their rulers and people as well as their statue of their god Dagon breaking, linking it back to the Ark. After 7 months, they finally agreed to send it back to the Israelites with guilt offerings of golden tumors and golden rats on a wooden cart carried by 2 cows. The Israelites were rejoicing for the return of the Ark and celebrated by cutting up the wood and sacrificing the cows however 70 people were struck dead when he looked inside the ark.

The Ark later resided in Abinadab’s house for 20 years. After Saul, David became King of Israel and upon his victory over the Philistines, he sent 30,000 of his men to bring it back to Israel. Upon carrying it, the oxen stumbled and a man named Uzzah went out to grab the ark and was immediatedy stuck dead by God.

Now, one can see this and immediately question “how can God be all loving and strike people dead for a little curiosity and someone trying to help by picking up the ark?” In order to find that answer we must look at the basis for this happening which is in the Bible.

Going back in Exodus, we know that the Ark was one of the most holy artifacts where God dwelled and talked to the high priest. Part of the Ark contained rings around it where poles would go through to move it. Exodus 25:13-16. God also gave careful instructions that the Levites, the lines of priests, were the only ones allowed to move the ark or else death would follow. Numbers 1:51

Numbers 4:15

15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting.

Furthermore, the Kohathites, the clan of Levites, were allowed to move it only and that they couldn’t even touch it or else they would die. Not even Moses or Aaron themselves could touch it. God is so perfect and holy that He should not be in the presence of sin.

What we see here is that God was very specific and that although God is love, He is equally just and perfect, never to break His own Word. He will not give anyone an exception. Allowing Uzzah to get away with it would compromise God and lower his perfect standards. Also if Uzzah got away with it then we would lose respect for God’s Word and start to slack, not taking God serious, and  thinking we can get away with other things. Uzzah was very clear of the consequences and he deliberately disobeyed God which cost him his life.

An easy analogy would be something like this:

Imagine you were the army and a bomb expert officer instructed you to not to touch a specific device no matter what circumstance but could move it with specific machinery. If you disobeyed his instructions it would result in something catastrophic and you would certainly die. Now if that device tilted over, would you pick it up with your hands? Of course not because you know better especially after you knew that the last 70 people that touched it all died.

By the ways not many know that Uzzah was actually the son of Abinadab who first had the ark previously after the Philistines sent it back. That only means that Uzzah already knew the consequence of touching the ark but he did it anyways!!! It wasn’t a mistake  out of curiousity and God being over irrational like many people misconcieve. Uzzah knew what kind of trouble he was getting into way ahead of time. In fact, every single Jew knew about that. It was tribal knowledge and God’s Law that was passed down to everyone. Uzzah knew what he was doing all along but decided to put God to the test.

That comes to show you how God keeps His perfect Word and will not undermine Himself by breaking His own Word.

The Bible also tells us

1 Samuel 15:22

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

More related Blogs:
Historical Jesus and what the early Church Christians believe he was
Did Jesus die on the Cross and Resurrect?
Was Jesus a copy of the other gods like Horus?
Why does God allow Evil and Suffering?
Where did Morals come from?
What the Bible says about Reincarnation
What the Bible says about Astrology
Did Mary assume into Heaven?
Nephilim, Fallen Angels, Giants, and sons of God
Book of Mormon VS The Bible
Why Won’t God Answer my Prayers?
Why I CAN’T be an Athiest. Athiesm is illogical
Why did God order Genocide and murders in the Bible