Does god answer your prayers, is he supposed to intervene in our everyday life when we want him to? If I was to ask (pray) for him to help me today, will he do it? Or are we alone to fend for ourselfs.

I think it mostly depends on what your perception of God is. I think if you believe in God and truly ask for guidance in some form, he/she/it will present itself(or help out) in the form of opportunities, epiphanies, etc. Some can call this the power of one's own mind....maybe. If it takes believing in divine intervention to achieve this personal strength or confidence, then so be it. I see nothing wrong with drawing strength from an 'outside' source.

I think the question is fundamentally flawed. When asking if God help you (ie, answered prayer), then follow up and say If I pray to him now, will he give me what I want, then the concept of God is reduced to nothing more than a genie in the bottle. A character that is taken out when you need something, a character who can give you your hearts desire. And if the genie doesn't deliver, then he's not a genie, and thus not important.

But to answer your question, in my opinion, if you pray to God for anything, God will answer. But the answer you receive may not be what you expect, or you may not even recognize the answer when it comes. God will answer, but not always with a "yes".

Regards, PA

Yes, yes she does!

If you ask me, god will help you no more than santa clause or the easter bunny will.

It's easy for someone to say something happened as an act of god, when a lot of good things happen naturally. If you pray for something and it happens, does that necessarily mean it happened because you prayed for it? Of course not.

I would relate to that horoscopes. They give very general descrpitions that can be applied to most people, because most people will take something normal and make it seem special to them because that's what a horoscope is supposed to be. We can do the same thing with religions. Take normal positive things that happen to us and say it was God. Bad things happen to people who believe in and worship God just as often as they do to normal people. But when bad things happen it isn't gods fault right?

Besides, based on what the bible says, the average American Christian would be going to hell anyway. What god would give someone something who he's damning to eternal death?

True, but I really hate those people that don't ever pray to God, or ever go to church, and always sin, but when something bad happens to them, they expect God to jump in and save them.

Anyway, God can't just go around everyday granting our wishes. If he did that we'd never get anything done for ourselves.

It also depends on you being close to God, or being a good person.

That would make gods love (and attention) conditional. Doesn't sound like a god, if it plays favorites with creation.

Relative to that point: Imagine the untold numbers of devout faithful that have died, praying for salvation! Those that always go to church, sin or not, and then when something bad happens to them they expect god to jump in and save them.

Good point, but now I'm confused, and starting to think that God might not help ANYONE

I dont think god help anyone
If he did africa would have enough rain

I definitely think that as individuals we must be diligent in our tasks, responsible for our actions and to do things with good and honest intentions. But there comes a time when we feel as if we are at a road block, and we don't know which way to turn. I think this is when the God thing(no disrespect in the term) or our questionable nature kicks in the most. In our minds we ask ourselves(or God), what to do now? I believe if we truly trust ourselves(or God) to present the answers in whatever way necessary, the solution or answers will come about. As (PA) stated above, we must be willing to accept the answers presented to us, that is part of the deal for it to work. If our expectations are too high, though, we will most likely be disappointed. It is for this reason that most people blame God (or other people) for their problems, they are not willing to accept their role. Whether you believe in God or the unseen forces of the universe, it all depends on your openness and/or willingness to do things with honest and good intent and to accept the results you receive. If you are not happy with the results, then ask yourself(or God), what do I need to change about myself? Its all about being honest with yourself.

Agreed

If I believed in ''God''(the biblical one sitting in heaven watching his ant human farm) I would say that he helps no one but gives each individual the ability to help themselves(by worshipping him, the almighty, I imagine).

But the way I see it prayer works for the religious, ''spells'' work for the spiritualists(for lack of a better word), and good luck can work for the non-believers. God only plays a part if you believe he plays a part. If I can receive what I ask for without asking anyone other than myself for it, what does that mean for God?

If someone were to cast a spell using candles and ritual and I were to do the same without any candles or ritual and we both got our desired result, what does that mean for candles and ritual?

I guess I'm trying to say that God is as useful as a candle. Very important to some and not necessary for others. The only thing that is necessary for both is the individual, we are the reason that God and candles work, we are the one using these tools.

I think it is safe to say there is no God watching what we do and protecting us....

Lightning kills 5 Mexican children in prayer

Gran killed praying at spot where biker died

When I seen that link it made me think about lighting rods on churches....
How accurate this is I don't know but I just got to post it anyway

It is well-known that the Catholic and Protestant churches opposed the scientific theories of Galileo and Copernicus, but did you know they also opposed Benjamin Franklin's lightning rod ?

Biblical Meteorology

For centuries, Protestant and Catholic churches, basing their teachings on various texts in the Bible, taught that the air was filled with devils, demons and witches. The great Christian scholar St. Augustine held this belief to be beyond controversy.
St. Thomas Aquinas stated in his Summa Theologica, "Rain and winds, and whatsoever occurs by local impulse alone, can be caused by demons. It is a dogma of faith that the demons can produce winds, storms, and rain of fire from heaven."

Martin Luther asserted that the winds themselves are good or evil spirits. He declared that a stone thrown into a certain pond in his native city would cause a dreadful storm because of the devils kept prisoners there.

Christian churches tried to ward off the damaging effects of storms and lightning by saying prayers, consecrating church bells, sprinkling holy water and burning witches. Lengthy rites were said for the consecration of bells, and priests prayed that their sound might "temper the destruction of hail and cyclones and the force of tempests and lightning; check hostile thunders and great winds; and cast down the spirits of storms and the powers of the air."

Unfortunately, these efforts were to no avail. The priest ought to have prayed for the bell ringer, who was frequently electrocuted while ringing the blessed bells. The church tower, usually the highest structure in the village or town, was the building most often hit, while the brothels and gambling houses next door were left untouched.

One eyewitness to the damaging effects of lightning recorded, "Little by little we took in what happened. A bolt of lightning had struck the tower, partly melting the bell and electrocuting the priest; afterwards, continuing, it had shattered a great part of the ceiling, had passed behind the mistress, whom it deprived of sensibility, and after destroying a picture of the Savior hanging upon the wall, had disappeared through the floor . . ."

Peter Ahlwardts, the author of Reasonable and Theological Considerations about Thunder and Lightning (1745), accordingly advised his readers to seek refuge from storms anywhere except in or around a church. Had not lightning struck only the churches ringing bells during the terrific storm in lower Brittany on Good Friday, 1718?

In 1786, the Parliament of Paris finally signed an edict "to make the custom of ringing church bells during storms illegal on account of the many deaths it caused to those pulling the ropes."

There is more: Franklin's Unholy Lightning Rod

You guys are talking as if God is actually helping people everyday. Maybe God never interferes with the physical world except for when it's at a prophets will

Hey thanks I get it now, it wasn't lightning that killed them, it was Satan. Wow, religion sure has a rational answer for everything doesn't it?

Sorry Zandore but that reminds me of the one about the armless hunchback bell ringer in the cathedral. Because the loss of his arms he was forced to grab the chain with his teeth and by swinging back and forth he was able to do his job every Sunday morning up until the bell tower was struck by lightning. The blast troughs him from the tower into the street. While the police investigating the scene the Priest runs out into the street screaming my god what has happened. The policeman queries him with “do you know this poor man?”
To which the Priest replied “No but his face rings a bell”
Irish

Later the hunchback brother took over his bell ringing duties and suffered the same fate. The same policeman was at the scene doing the investigation when out runs the priest again. The policeman asks him directly “do you know this poor man”
And the priest answers “No! But he’s a dead ringer for his brother”
Sorry again
Irish

Irish! Who'd a thunk you were funny!?



"Honest officer, the dwarf was on fire when I got here." Black Dragon

Love the jokes Irish!

Are Irish people usually funny?

That is called writers block.

Oh heck yea! That’s why even the bad ones ware the wooly masks, so the Brits can’t see them grinning.

some of gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. Like the song says, this guy was in love with girl in high school prays that God makes her for him. Doesnt happen then guy meets love of his life, then later sees the girl from high school and is glad that god didnt answer that prayer, all in all, it means that God know what we need even if we dont think its what we need.

Irish....you are off topic.

Guilty as charged

I talk to the almighty all the time. Be realistic about what you ask, and he will show you through time. Don't ask him to prove his existance to you by making something appear, this is ignorance.

He will help you for sure, help you make the right choice. He's not a "POOF!" kind of almighty.

This is the 1st time I have ever agreed with you..but yes...some of our greatests gifts are un-answered prayers...I recal my mom telling me this years ago.....When God closes a door ..he then opens a window...he has his reasons to answer or not answer

Here's a question that's been asked before... Why does God take christians into priority when his love is s'posed to be eternal and universal? Why does he help a nun having problems with her bags instead of starving children in Africa????

Christians take God into priority.

You got that twisted, as does the church. Different sects & religions were created from the Hebew scripts, adding to or differing from christianity.

EDIT: Children weren't always starving in Africa. It used to be rich in wealth. It was robbed naked. Should we give it back? Is it too late for all that?

What I meant to say was, does he in any way help you or the world, or is it more of a I GAVE YOU THE WORLD-POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS-YOU KNOW THE RULES OF THE GAME-PROOF YOURSELFS WORTHY OF HEAVEN-I CAN'T LET MYSELF BE SEEN FOR BLIND FAITH WILL TURN TO FEAR BECAUSE I AM REAL kinda thing?

Actually, the Bible says that if you ask, it will be given to you. (Taken from whydoesgodhateamputees.com)





Hey Jesus, Where's my Ferrari?

Many of you say that there is god but it is not like catholics says.


WTF???

If there were no catholics or bible you will never know what god means.

Well, I've asked God for tons of things, and I can't really remember him giving me even of them. Maybe I'm a bad person, oh well.

Or maybe you didn't put your heart into your prayers??

Well, I used to do alot of praying, but lately I've been sining, so I don't think it's my time to go back to God yet. I've asked for forgiveness a couple of times, but I just keep sining again. So screw it, I don't think I'll be seeing God anytime soon.

How come even the most dedicated and faithful believers in God and Jesus haven't been able to perform these miracles? Your act of sins shouldn't have much of an effect as long as you're faithful in God.

That is what killed my faith in god, when i was young i used to be a christian, i never read the bible but i went to church every sunday and prayed every day (lol hard to believe, me praying hehehe) i would pray all the time and none of the things i prayed for would come true, even when it was something noble, like when my friends dad was in the hospital i prayed every night for him to get better and what happened?? He died. So i say the bible is wrong just because you ask doesnt mean it will be given to you

Yeah, I can completely relate to that. One more reason why I switched my views on religion. I can still remember in 5th grade, when I was in a Catholic school. A well known and well respected janitor had a heart attack, and was rushed to the hospital. Our teacher told us to pray, and considering all the teachers had prayer on their mind, chances are almost the whole school prayed. He died two hours later.

OMG that's why you stopped believing Every one has to pass away sometime. Even if God had granted your wish, and your father had stayed alive for a couple more years, he would've eventually passed away (correct me if I'm wrong). How many people out their do you think pray to God for their loved ones? How many of them do you think he saves? Not alot, I'll tell ya what.

So you pray for your father, he passes away, and you stop believing in God. When what you should of been doing is praying to God to forgive your father for all his sins and take his soul to a better place. How very, very, very, very, very, very.........sad.

I find demonic presence's reasons somewhat logical. Afterall, the Bible says that Jesus will answer any prayer. Would you still trust your friend if he lied to you?

By the way,

thats not why i stopped believing thats just one thing that started me down the road to not believing

[size=4]god has helped me in many ways. for one though you must first believe in him and have faith. also it is said that god helps those who helps themselves. sometimes you ask and you might not get the answer you seek. for you have to put some effort out yourself. as for as why do bad things happen to good people, i belive that sbecause with that faith that person has they use it and at the same time they help themselves they are tought a lesson that is to be re-taught as an example. then again we were created with one main gift, and that is choices, we have choices on everything, and every thing you decide has its conclusions. as far as does god help me, yes, he makes me stronger, and living by his word allows me to be a better person, i gain confidence through him to help my self. so all in all have faith.

BYRDMN, congrats on your first post. You should introduce yourself in the community thread.

byrdmn, if it's not too much of a problem; Write at an understandable level (5th grade?)

I understood just fine.

God is all forgiving right?

There is hardly a person alive that believes in God, that has not told God he/she will stop doing what they feel is a sin, and meant it at the time, then later commited that sin again and again. You can only do your best, and it all depends on what you class as a sin. If you show God that you at least tried to make that effort, then he will try and help you the rest of the way....but if you don't, then dont expect him to either lol

I believe in meeting God half way, at the moment I have asked for his help, and so far i have met him more than half way, and I am 100% sure as of now, he will do the rest, I believe he will

Does god help you?

This is just like jumping a wall.. you are afraid of the wall height.. and you have not done this before.. but you know that is possible.. so many doubts.. negative and positive thoughts.. people who never done this... advise you not to jump and other side of the wall will be hell.. few will encourage you.. but decision will be yours not others.. if you decide not to, then you exist.. if decide to do it.. and succeed goal.. then god exist..

god help exist in your own mind.

Ever since I started following and studying my Druidic path I have had a real run of good luck. For the first time since I can remember I am free of depression. I should start buying lotto tickets again. Who knows.
My Gods and Goddesses truly have blessed me.