Pastor said . . .

[NostalgicGranny]

We recently moved to a new town so I have been looking for a new church to attend. Well, a miracle happened and hubby actually went to church with me.

The pastor (at this church we were visiting) said something to the effect that God will not answer your prayers unless you are right with god. I disagree. My husband agree's.
The thing is hubby made a statement last year about God not answering prayers. So now he is convinced you can only pray for certain god-ly type things.

To me prayers are for so much more than spiritual things, they are for everyday things too.

What do I say to my husband or do I just keep quiet?

[snoochface]

Prayers are for everyday things. We are to pray ceaselessly, and let God direct our paths in everything we do. I disagree with your pastor on this one.

I would talk to your husband about it and show him the verses in the Bible that pertain to prayer, that show so many people in the Bible praying for all kinds of requests, OT and NT, and let him know what you believe from your interpretation of those verses. If he still doesn't agree, I guess he doesn't have to. He can pray for all of his "Godly" things and you can pray for everything else. :)

[jawsmetroid]

Ah, the only prayers that will be granted are Godly things- things that go with God's will and timing. Surely you know that from Scripture.

[snoochface]

Ah, the only prayers that will be granted are Godly things- things that go with God's will and timing. Surely you know that from Scripture.
Of course, God only grants the things that he wants to grant.

But that does not mean that we should only pray for "pious" or "holy" or "Godly" things. We are to pray for ALL things and seek God's will for everything -- should I take this job, should I move to another state, what church should I go to, in everything we should pray and seek God's will.

God's answer will then be what he wants it to be, but we are instructed to pray ceaselessly and ask God to direct all our paths.

[ephraimanesti]

We recently moved to a new town so I have been looking for a new church to attend. Well, a miracle happened and hubby actually went to church with me.

The pastor (at this church we were visiting) said something to the effect that God will not answer your prayers unless you are right with god. I disagree. My husband agree's.
The thing is hubby made a statement last year about God not answering prayers. So now he is convinced you can only pray for certain god-ly type things.

To me prayers are for so much more than spiritual things, they are for everyday things too.

What do I say to my husband or do I just keep quiet?

MY SISTER,

You state that "a miracle happened and hubby actually went to church with me." Perhaps i am reading too much into that statement, but it sounds like you two are often separate on spiritual matters--to the point that you don't even worship together often.

If this be true, why not "just keep quiet", enjoy the togetherness you have perhaps found in this new Church, and don't allow differences in prayer beliefs (of all things!) to separate you. Pray for what you feel led to pray for and allow him to do the same. Perhaps going together to this new Church will bring the two of you closer together spiritually.

Incidentially, the best book i have ever read on prayer is "PRAYER--Does It Make Any Difference" by Philip Yancey. You guys might get a copy and read and discuss it together. Mr. Yancey has some very deep insights on the topic of prayer from which you both might benefit.

A BOND-SLAVE OF CHRIST,
ephraim

[NostalgicGranny]

:prayer:
I believe God answers all prayers. Sometimes the answers are easily seen. Sometimes you only realize the answer was there when you look back at the situation. And sometimes you just have to wait for the answer because God works in his own time schedule and not mandkind's.

Obviously if you are a Christian, there are things you shouldn't pray for. Which would be things that go against the scripture.

Hubby doesn't go to church. Thus the miracle happened and he went. We have only been to that church once. So reading a book together is out.

The thing is last year some time hubby insisted God never answers prayers. It saddened me that he thought so. And now with this new pastor saying essentially what amounted to "only certain people - the righteous - get their prayers answered" hubby is convinced it doesn't pay to pray so to speak.



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[breakingaway]

Ok, to put it simply, God answers prayers of the sincere but it'll be in His timing.
I like the way my pastor puts it, if God doesn't answer your prayer request now, it's only because He has something greater and better for you in the future.

Another thing, try telling your hubby that prayer is more than just requesting things from God, that's like treating Him like a vending machine, but rather, prayer is communicating with God, talking to Him, letting Him know how the day went, etc. Prayer is like your soul breathing air from heaven.

[NostalgicGranny]

Ok, to put it simply, God answers prayers of the sincere but it'll be in His timing.
I like the way my pastor puts it, if God doesn't answer your prayer request now, it's only because He has something greater and better for you in the future.

Another thing, try telling your hubby that prayer is more than just requesting things from God, that's like treating Him like a vending machine, but rather, prayer is communicating with God, talking to Him, letting Him know how the day went, etc. Prayer is like your soul breathing air from heaven.
My brother says God's answers to prayers are: Yes, Not yet, and I've got something better in mind.

I agree God isn't a vending machine.

Really like what you said about Prayer is like your soul breathing air from heaven.

[mrscplus]

I agree with Nostalgic, God always answers prayers, He may not grant the desire, but no is an answer.

He also does not want us to pray for "God-ly" things, but wants to know all the concerns of our heart. My pastor did a series on prayer this past year, and one of the statements was,
If you get distracted during your prayer time, pray about your distractions, because that is what is on your mind.

[NostalgicGranny]

I agree with Nostalgic, God always answers prayers, He may not grant the desire, but no is an answer.

He also does not want us to pray for "God-ly" things, but wants to know all the concerns of our heart. My pastor did a series on prayer this past year, and one of the statements was,
If you get distracted during your prayer time, pray about your distractions, because that is what is on your mind.
I agree with you. It just floored me when he said only the righteous got their prayers answered! Jesus didn't come for the righteous - he came for the sinners. . .

[Ishida]

Indeed, it is sinners who pray for Jesus to come into their hearts. But maybe your pastor meant like selfish prayers? It wouldn't be hard to understand.. But if not I also disagree with him/her.

[NostalgicGranny]

Indeed, it is sinners who pray for Jesus to come into their hearts. But maybe your pastor meant like selfish prayers? It wouldn't be hard to understand.. But if not I also disagree with him/her.
I'm not really sure what he meant it was my first visit there - I was looking for a new church because we moved away from my old one.

[jive4005]

It isn't so much what is prayed for, but rather the motive for the prayer.

God knows hearts, sees truths, we can't phoney Him. He also says He wants to be intimately involved in our lives, to live in us, with us, be in on all the stuff. That means the little stuff too.

Your hubby's right about part of it... if you're not right with God (or your fellow man) you'll need to fix that first.

It isn't really about the praying, it's about the relationship, involvement and love.
Does a daddy want to treat his kids to some little bits of fun as well as the big surprizes? U-bet! He gets a big kick out of blessing us... even the small stuff.

His,
Rev J