Expert: Brenda Martin - 2/19/2008

Question
I am a young person and my parents are not christian. I  am a christian because I want to be but sometimes I pray for things that would make sense and I know that god doesnt answer prayers immediately but for me they never come even if its night after night that I pray. I try to do the right thing most of the time like Jesus and sometimes I worry that I am not a good enough person for god.

Answer
HI Vanessa, you said--"I AM A YOUNG PERSON AND MY PARENTS ARE NOT CHRISTIAN, I’M A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE I WANT TO BE"

You’re to be commended for that, well done!!

"GOD DOESN’T ANSWER MY PRAYERS, EVEN IF IT’S NIGHT AFTER NIGHT THAT I PRAY."

I have met many people who feel the same way; I used to feel like that myself at one time, then it was explained to me what kind of prayers God answers; so I will list some of the scriptures on the matter of prayer & perhaps you will see which ones apply to your situation ok, so first of all--

1. Whose prayers is God willing to hear?

Ps. 65:2; Acts 10:34, 35: “O Hearer of prayer, even to you people of all flesh will come.” “God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.” (One’s nationality, the color of one’s skin, or one’s economic circumstances have no bearing on the matter. But the motivations of one’s heart and one’s way of life do.)

Luke 11:2: “Whenever you pray, say, ‘Father, let your name be sanctified.’” (Are your prayers addressed to the Father, the one whose name the Bible says is Jehovah? Or, instead, do you address your prayers to “saints”?)

John 14:6, 14: “Jesus said to him: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.’” (Do you pray in the name of Jesus Christ, recognizing that as a sinful human you need his intercession on your behalf?)

1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence that we have toward him, that, no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us.” (To have such confidence, however, you must first know God’s will. Then be sure that your requests are in harmony with it.)

1 Pet. 3:12: “The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous ones, and his ears are toward their supplication; but the face of Jehovah is against those doing bad things.” (Have you taken time to learn what Jehovah says through his Word as to what is righteous and what is bad?)

1 John 3:22: “Whatever we ask we receive from him, because we are observing his commandments and are doing the things that are pleasing in his eyes.” (Is it truly your desire to be pleasing to God, and are you earnestly endeavoring to obey those of his commandments that you already know?)

Isa. 55:6, 7: “Search for Jehovah, you people, while he may be found. Call to him while he proves to be near. Let the wicked man leave his way, and the harmful man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, who will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will forgive in a large way.” (Mercifully, Jehovah invites even persons who have done bad things to call to him in prayer. But, to have God’s approval, they must sincerely repent of their wrong ways and thoughts and change their course.)
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2. What could make a person’s prayers unacceptable to God?

Matt. 6:5: “When you pray, you must not be as the hypocrites; because they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the broad ways to be visible to men. Truly I say to you, They are having their reward in full.” (Also Luke 18:9-14)

Matt. 6:7: “When praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words.”

Prov. 28:9: “He that is turning his ear away from hearing the law [of God]—even his prayer is something detestable.”

Mic. 3:4: “At that time they will call to Jehovah for aid, but he will not answer them. And he will conceal his face from them in that time, according as they committed badness in their dealings.”

Jas. 4:3: “You do ask, and yet you do not receive, because you are asking for a wrong purpose, that you may expend it upon your cravings for sensual pleasure.”
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3. What are proper matters about which to pray?

Matt. 6:9-13: “You must pray, then, this way: ‘[1] Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. [2] Let your kingdom come. [3] Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. [4] Give us today our bread for this day; and [5] forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And [6] do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’” (Notice that God’s name and purpose should be given priority.)

Ps. 25:4, 5: “Make me know your own ways, O Jehovah; teach me your own paths. Make me walk in your truth and teach me, for you are my God of salvation.”

"I TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING MOST OF THE TIME LIKE JESUS AND SOMETIMES I WORRY THAT I AM NOT A GOOD ENOUGH PERSON FOR GOD".

Excellent!! but take heart Vanessa, none of us are "good enough":¬)

Its good to examine ourselves from time to time & see just what we are doing for God, I know I used to think it was just a matter of NOT doing wrong, but ive learned that we have to also DO what God requires. Only a study of the scriptures tells us what God requires, so if you would like to discuss what God requires from all his people, I would be happy to chat here.

All the best
Brenda