jsb58 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 I just read a quote, "If we want to see an overflow of God's favor, we have to learn to pray bold prayers and ask Him to fulfill our highest hopes and dreams." How do you feel about this? Why would God favor me more than someone else? Does God not favor us equally? If not, why not? I'm not sure the quote is wrong, but I'm not sure it's right. Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 do you believe in god? Link to post Share on other sites
KathyM Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 I just read a quote, "If we want to see an overflow of God's favor, we have to learn to pray bold prayers and ask Him to fulfill our highest hopes and dreams." How do you feel about this? Why would God favor me more than someone else? Does God not favor us equally? If not, why not? I'm not sure the quote is wrong, but I'm not sure it's right. I actually know a man (friend of a woman in my Bible study group) who did exactly that--prayed bold prayers asking God to fulfill his highest hopes and dreams. I met the man, talked to him, I've been to his house, and have heard a lot about him. God fulfilled all of his highest hopes and dreams. The man has a hugely successful company, a multi-million dollar home, a wonderful wife and family, and all of his desires have been met. God answered his prayers in abundance, for sure. God does bless His followers who are "right with God". He does answer prayers, although not always in the way we would like. He does also bring challenges into our lives to test us at times. God does not favor His followers equally. He does so according to His plan, which is His right. He has answered my prayers in so many ways, that it should be no wonder why I am convinced of His existence. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author jsb58 Posted January 29, 2012 Author Share Posted January 29, 2012 do you believe in god?Yes. I actually know a man (friend of a woman in my Bible study group) who did exactly that--prayed bold prayers asking God to fulfill his highest hopes and dreams. I met the man, talked to him, I've been to his house, and have heard a lot about him. God fulfilled all of his highest hopes and dreams. The man has a hugely successful company, a multi-million dollar home, a wonderful wife and family, and all of his desires have been met. God answered his prayers in abundance, for sure. God does bless His followers who are "right with God". He does answer prayers, although not always in the way we would like. He does also bring challenges into our lives to test us at times. God does not favor His followers equally. He does so according to His plan, which is His right. He has answered my prayers in so many ways, that it should be no wonder why I am convinced of His existence.Thank you. I always believed that our God is a loving and forgiving God, and loves us equally, and favors us equally. My wife wondered how I could reconcile that belief with people who are poor or starving. I guess this has given me a lot to think about. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
stillafool Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 I most certainly believe in God. He has answered my prayers time after time according to his will. He is the only one who has never failed me in this life. The prayers that weren't answered were a blessing to me when I look back over my life and I praise him for not answering them. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 God fulfilled all of his highest hopes and dreams. The man has a hugely successful company, a multi-million dollar home, a wonderful wife and family, and all of his desires have been met. there's a term for this, and for the life of me I cannot think of it right now. But I think it's misleading, because it's saying "God will fulfill all your earthly desires if you just ask." Sorry, in my experience, it doesn't work that way. I've learned that as I've matured, my prayers have gone from treating God like he's Santa so that I can have things, to seeking guidance and support ... and asking for him to help with those things that sometimes don't seem to be in my power, like willpower, patience, etc. and I'm guessing this is what the comment that the original poster alludes to, learning to find peace and acceptance with what we've been given and asking that we find our joy there, instead of wanting more and more. Because the "favor" is found when we turn ourselves inward, to our spiritual side, to a point where the material stuff becomes less important. just my 2 cents! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
otherfish Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Being a Christian, when we pray boldly for blessings we have to remember that those blessings have to line up with the Word of God in the Scriptures. Putting it bluntly, lets say you desire sex...and you pray that God would bring you a prostitute to satisfy your need. Of course, God is not going to answer that prayer because it doesnt line up with the way God designed sex in the Bible. Or even, if someone would pray for a beautiful home, with a flashy car and a built in swimming pool. God sees the heart and if you are "boldly" asking for these things because you want to impress those around you or to keep up with the Jones', again, of course God is not going to answer those prayers. The prayers God answers is when the heart is seeking to Glorify God and it lines up with His will and ultimate plan for your life. Also, something that I have come to learn recently and understand is that not one thing that we will do on this earth is about us. EVERYTHING is about God and bringing glory to His name. I dont really understand what you mean when you say, "Why would God favor me over someone else?" I mean, your prayer to God is your prayer and specific to you...it doesnt have anything to do with anyone else unless you are asking for someone not to get a blessing that you are desiring. Link to post Share on other sites
KathyM Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 God fulfilled all of his highest hopes and dreams. The man has a hugely successful company, a multi-million dollar home, a wonderful wife and family, and all of his desires have been met. there's a term for this, and for the life of me I cannot think of it right now. But I think it's misleading, because it's saying "God will fulfill all your earthly desires if you just ask." Sorry, in my experience, it doesn't work that way. I've learned that as I've matured, my prayers have gone from treating God like he's Santa so that I can have things, to seeking guidance and support ... and asking for him to help with those things that sometimes don't seem to be in my power, like willpower, patience, etc. and I'm guessing this is what the comment that the original poster alludes to, learning to find peace and acceptance with what we've been given and asking that we find our joy there, instead of wanting more and more. Because the "favor" is found when we turn ourselves inward, to our spiritual side, to a point where the material stuff becomes less important. just my 2 cents! I didn't say God will fulfill everyone's earthly desires. I said He does bless His people in the way He sees fit, and it's not measured out equally. But there are certainly some cases where God has fulfilled a person's greatest desires after the bold prayers that the OP mentioned. I know at least one such person, which I mentioned previously. So it does happen, that was my point. God had a purpose for fulfilling those desires. The man went on to become a very motivational spiritual leader, and the fact that the man's utmost desires were fulfilled is a testament to God's power and his responsiveness to His people. God had a purpose in fulfilling this man's utmost desires. But I would agree with you that we are to seek compliance with God's will, and we will find favor with Him when we live a Godly life. His favor will be according to what He feels is appropriate, and we are to be satisfied with His favor in whatever form that takes. He answered this man's bold prayer because He had a plan to use it as a testament to His power and for the purpose of spreading His word. When the man found that all his hopes and dreams were fulfilled with great abundance, he felt compelled to share his experiences about God's mighty power and the generosity that God has bestowed on him. Link to post Share on other sites
Scottdmw Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 God doesn't give everyone the same things, because people aren’t the same. Remember, God’s goal is our true joy and happiness through spiritual perfection, not to fulfill our material desires. There are plenty of people out there who have all they want materially and they're not happy at all. There are also plenty of people who live on the edge of starvation or at least in poverty who are happy and content. To make this a little more concrete, let’s say you are a parent with two children. One of the children is particularly lazy and tends to break whatever you give him. The other is hard-working and takes care of what he has. When they turn 16, each asks for a car. The lazy one wants a car to cruise the avenue, the other wants a car so he can go to a job. Can you see how you as a human parent, wanting the best for both children, might yet respond very differently to their requests? This is exactly the situation we find ourselves in with respect to God. We often ask for things that might actually harm us, or at least not help us. In this case the lazy child might actually be helped more by the parents refusal to offer a car, it might provide motivation to work. While, the second child is doing fine with work ethic and has a worthwhile purpose in mind for the car. Of course, this whole issue is actually a lot more complicated. Poor people do not in general deserve to be poor because they're lazy, for example (though some may). There is also an element of the larger picture of the material world we live in, which is subject to natural disasters, material shortages such as hunger, etc. In short, privations and evils which are not the direct result of human choices, which leads to the fact that there are not always enough of everything for everyone to have one. Scott 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author jsb58 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 I do think God gives all of us mercy and grace, but not necessarily favor. I think we have some responsibility in how favor is granted through prayer and obedience. I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. But I do recognize that all things work for his will.Please excuse my ignorance, but what do you think is the difference between grace and favor? Link to post Share on other sites
Author jsb58 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 I dont really understand what you mean when you say, "Why would God favor me over someone else?" I mean, your prayer to God is your prayer and specific to you...it doesnt have anything to do with anyone else unless you are asking for someone not to get a blessing that you are desiring. This is where I get confused about it all. Please allow me to repost the quote, "If we want to see an overflow of God's favor, we have to learn to pray bold prayers and ask Him to fulfill our highest hopes and dreams." When we think of the less fortunate, how can this be true? The people that are starving, or abused, or homeless, are they just not praying boldly enough? I don't think so! I don't understand why God would grant me favor, but not grant them favor too. Link to post Share on other sites
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