Wow! lots of great responses to this question. You folks are awesome, sometimes funny, and giving much good food for thought. So many things happen in real life...people who overslept and missed a flight or changed their minds about a trip, etc. I don't believe in coincidence at all. I know these stories prove nothing but to my mind, they mean that God has something in mind for these people to accomplish or learn.
When I think of awful things I went through in my life (at 66 I've had the normal number of hurts and worries) I can look back and understand why these things were for my benefit. In the worst of events, I can now say "thank you" to God for unanswered prayers. How great it is that He is in charge of my life and not me. Often it takes many years to understand but eventually it becomes clear. My one question is "why do we pray for a sick person to survive?" Wouldn't it be more appropriate to ask for strength to endure what you must? Now I'm even thinking that the only appropriate prayer is "Thank You for the strength."
Hugs to all,
Pogo
Hi Pogo,
First Welcome back to the Forum, here is the topic of Prayer from Ray's paper: Excerpt from: Praying by God's Rules
God’s Prayer Rules are Simple but Not Easy]
Few subjects in the Bible are more mysterious or less understood than the subject of prayer. Few indeed know how to pray or what to pray about. And what is the proof of that statement? The proof is that most prayers are never answered. Hundreds of millions of people a day pray in vain. They get no answer to their prayers. Why is this? Is there an answer as to why most prayers go unanswered? Absolutely, there is. Will most people accept the only and true Scriptural teaching on this subject? I’m afraid most will not.
There are many cliches regarding prayer, and some are absolutely true. It is said that God has one of three answers for all prayers: "Yes, No, or Later." This is basically, albeit not totally true. This one might be closer to the truth: "Your way, My way, or No way."
There is an interesting essay on prayer in which it is stated: "I got nothing that I asked for, but everything that I could have ever hoped for." That may make for a nice sentiment, but few would ever believe such a thing deep in their heart. Most people do not believe that they got everything in life that they could have ever hoped for.
Christians and heathens alike, ignorantly and stupidly believe that they can change the mind of a Sovereign God Who always knows long in advance how He will fulfill His perfect plan and purpose under every and all circumstances. Many imagine that answered prayer is when God changes His mind with regards to the way things were going in your life. In other words: You change your ways to please God, and God will change His mind and begin blessing you. NOT TRUE. God never, ever changes His mind about anything.
This subject of unanswered prayer is so incredibly simple that a child can understand it, yet many learned theologians and clergymen have not even a clue as to the ultimate Scriptural statement regarding prayer. I will first give you the number one pre-requisite to having prayers answered, and then I will give you a most amazing second witness from a Scripture that is preserved in very few Bible translations.
THE GREATEST DRAMA OF THE AGES
If you like drama, then Matt. 26:36 is the place to find it. Few pay close attention to what is really going on in these few verses of Scripture. The humanity of Jesus is brought into direct conflict with the will of His God and Father. First I will jump ahead of our story slightly so that you understand the setting of this greatest of all prayers in the history of the universe. After praying for one hour Jesus returns a short way back to His Apostles and says:
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt.
george.