Does God listen to prayers or are prayers decreed?

[MartyF]

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
[14] Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

James 4:3 NLT
[3] And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure.

John 9:31 NLT
[31] We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.

 

[AustinC]

Does God listen to our prayers or are prayers decreed?

The answer is...yes.

The question does not require an either or answer.

 

[HankD]

i have pointed out that Cain appears to have been "religious" and had a prayer life and even made a request of God and God answered him and granted his request.

God does as He pleases even listening to and heading the request of a lost person.

So was Cain lost or not?
Did He grant Cain's request?

 

[Van]

I am not sure what "Prayers Decreed" means.
But God does listen to the prayers of some lost individuals, who are (of course) "sinners."
Some of these lost "sinners" are open to God's word, they believe in God, and are seeking His favor.

Thus God does not listen to:
Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
But God does listen to:
Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.

And of course God hears the prayers of His children!!

 

[Marooncat79]

The prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.

 

[InTheLight]

I am not sure what "Prayers Decreed" means.

It means that God had decided from before the foundation of the what you would pray and when you would pray it. In essence, God is putting the words into your head/heart/mouth so you can repeat them and He can listen to them.

 

[MartyF]

It means that God had decided from before the foundation of the what you would pray and when you would pray it. In essence, God is putting the words into your head/heart/mouth so you can repeat them and He can listen to them.

I like your new avatar.

 

[37818]

God listens to prayers by way of His Son and hears what we ask before we ask Him, John 14:6, Matthew 6:8.

 

[AustinC]

God listens to prayers by way of His Son and hears what we ask before we ask Him, John 14:6, Matthew 6:8.

Even moreso, the Holy Spirit prays for us when we cannot pray for ourselves. (Romans 8)

 

[Van]

It means that God had decided from before the foundation of the what you would pray and when you would pray it. In essence, God is putting the words into your head/heart/mouth so you can repeat them and He can listen to them.

Thanks, so it is simply a corollary of the bogus "exhaustive determinism" false doctrine.

 

[Van]

God listens to prayers by way of His Son and hears what we ask before we ask Him, John 14:6, Matthew 6:8.

Once again verses are listed that do not support the premise. Yes, God knows what we need (salvation and guidance) before we ask, but that is a long way from knowing our thoughts before we have them. God knows our hearts, our attributes and attitudes, and our thoughts, but the effort to expand known truth into exhaustive determinism is absurd.

 

[InTheLight]

Thanks, so it is simply a corollary of the bogus "exhaustive determinism" false doctrine.

I believe it is, yes.

 

[agedman]

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
[14] Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

James 4:3 NLT
[3] And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure.

John 9:31 NLT
[31] We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.

Do you allow God the honor of visiting in fellowship with Him?

 

[Deacon]

When the Apostle Paul prayed he often prayed that people would know God better.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.”
Colossians 1:1-14​

If we know God better our prayers will be more in line with his foreknowledge.

So when we pray, we pray for God’s will to be made evident.
If our prayers are in line with God, then what we pray for will have been decreed.

Notice that Paul doesn’t pray for his lost car keys.
He doesn’t pray for the neighbor’s sick dog.
He doesn’t even pray that God would speed up the arrival of his cold weather coat and books.

Paul prays for the advancement and expression of the gospel in those he cared about.

Rob

 

[MartyF]

Do you allow God the honor of visiting in fellowship with Him?

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