Anyone Talk to God Lately?

[MissBrattified]

DM, no one can convince you of God's providence or personal attention. You must experience it for yourself.

And He isn't a candy store. It's a relationship with give and take. He doesn't say "yes" to every prayer--although sometimes He does. Trusting God takes conscious choice and effort, and it's rewarding. In fact, I remember a scripture that says He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I don't recall it saying He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek out what He can DO for them. There's a difference between pursuing God, cultivating a relationship with the Creator, just for the sake of knowing Him, and pursuing a relationship with God just so one can have the potential fringe benefits.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

DM, no one can convince you of God's providence or personal attention. You must experience it for yourself.

And He isn't a candy store. It's a relationship with give and take. He doesn't say "yes" to every prayer--although sometimes He does. Trusting God takes conscious choice and effort, and it's rewarding. In fact, I remember a scripture that says He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

I don't recall it saying He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek out what He can DO for them. There's a difference between pursuing God, cultivating a relationship with the Creator, just for the sake of knowing Him, and pursuing a relationship with God just so one can have the potential fringe benefits.

You don't know how many times I've gone alone to church during the evening hours and prayed and bawled to God. I remember God answering one of my prayers. I have over time lost my faith in prayer because I never hear from God or see tangible results. I only pray for the forgiveness of my sins. The reason I ask the question is because I despise judgemental conservatives pontificating about who is a true christian when they themselves don't have a direct line to God but must walk by faith like everyone else including liberal non churchgoers. Who has a corner on answered prayers or God speaking to them?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

You don't know how many times I've gone alone to church during the evening hours and prayed and bawled to God. I remember God answering one of my prayers. I have over time lost my faith in prayer because I never hear from God or see tangible results. I only pray for the forgiveness of my sins. The reason I ask the question is because I despise judgemental conservatives pontificating about who is a true christian when they themselves don't have a direct line to God but must walk by faith like everyone else including liberal non churchgoers. Who has a corner on answered prayers or God speaking to them?

Why does God always need to speak to you in or during prayer? Do you read the bible? Prayer is not supposed to be a hand out session. Prayer is worship to God...not because we hope to get a favor, else it's not worship. Prayer is not just asking forgiveness nor praying for your needs. It's praying for His kingdom (Your kingdom come)...

Prayers should be Christ centered and kingdom centered...not just praying for sister so and so that needs a new car, but for His work here on earth.

I think people stop praying when they have a false concept of what Praying is and don't see the results they expected.

God answered one of your prayers...did that encourage you to keep on praying?

You don't know how many times, in prayer or some other time while reading the word or just spending time alone, I have concepts come to my mind out of the blue. Sometimes actual words spoken in my mind...and the next week the preacher at church preaches on the same concept or verse...No I was not praying for that..but again Prayer is not all about getting what you want. Often it is about what you or someone else NEEDS

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

You don't know how many times I've gone alone to church during the evening hours and prayed and bawled to God. I remember God answering one of my prayers. I have over time lost my faith in prayer because I never hear from God or see tangible results. I only pray for the forgiveness of my sins. The reason I ask the question is because I despise judgemental conservatives pontificating about who is a true christian when they themselves don't have a direct line to God but must walk by faith like everyone else including liberal non churchgoers. Who has a corner on answered prayers or God speaking to them?

I'll be praying for you DM.

Instead of trying to 'hear from God' right now, maybe you can just let Him listen to you. Just work on building a relationship with Him. The Bible says that God does hear us, and does care for us. And we know that God cannot lie. So we just have to believe that He's hearing us, even if we can't feel that sometimes.

Keep seeking after God. He says if you seek Him, you'll find Him.

And I agree, none of us have all of the answers.