Oh no Jeff. You’re placing John 9:31 totally out of context and you’re just giving one line of a whole conversation between a single person speaking with Jesus. To begin with, if God didn’t listen to sinners then none would be saved ! What you’ve essentially done is to indicate that God listens only to the righteous and left it at that. We of ourselves are not nor cannot be righteous nor sinless. (For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God). You might like to publish what Jesus said which is after the verse you provided. Note: People studying the Bible especially when we’re reading the New Testament need to read the verses or even several verses before and after ANY questionable verse.
"In context", by the Father's Own Revealing, of His Own Word, it is far far worse than just not listening to whoever considers sin in their heart. "In context", taking away from God's Own Word, denying the Truth Revealed by Him, on pretext of .... any reason at all.... results in His Word Being Fulfilled Again - "Revelation 22 Amplified Bible The Perfect Life 22 Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Christ), "...And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time [of their fulfillment] is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy (vile, impure), still be filthy; and the one who is righteous (just, upright), still be righteous; and the one who is holy, still be holy.” 12 “Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to the merit of his deeds (earthly works, faithfulness). 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One].” 14 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs [the godless, the impure, those of low moral character] and the sorcerers [with their intoxicating drugs, and magic arts], and the immoral persons [the perverted, the molesters, and the adulterers], and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (deception, cheating). The Final Invitation 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you and to give you assurance of these things "I testify and warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [its predictions, consolations, and admonitions]: if anyone adds [anything] to them, God will add to him the plagues (afflictions, calamities) which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from or distorts the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away [from that one] his share from the tree of life and from the holy city (new Jerusalem), which are written in this book."
Writing a bunch of scripture down doesn’t change the fact that you were totally out of context concerning God hearing prayer. I know what you’re attempting to do but sorry, I’m not going to bite because it will only go around into some very unproductive circles which is, after all, what you like to do.
I think it depends on what people pray for as to how what is answered and what is not. First, some prayers are simply wishful thinking and nothing more. Others are used as bargaining chips offering a quid pro quo. Those who truly are spiritual pray for God to do what is best in certain circumstances, even if it isn't what we all like. At any rate we can only pray that we all can survive the evil that abounds in this world at the moment. This should be a universal prayer regardless of whether one is religious or spiritual, or not.
Hey dear God. come and show yourself to me, tap me on my shoulder or better yet give me strength to walk ... I've talked to you so much but nothing. Or at least help me to walk better and not worry about falling. I honored you, prayed to you, bowed my head w hen I said your son's name, and never used your name in vane, and then finally it was Julia Sweeney and her one woman play, Letting Go of God, that I let go. I was in my mid 60's so talked to you for decades and didn't hear back.. And I was told "mystery god" that you see all, know all etc. and just in case you don't know, Julia Sweeney is now on the board of Freedom From Religion.
@Joy Martin .. you said- Beth, I'm playing a pretend game, just in case there is a god out there..., I am not religious by most standards- but I do think you show signs of being totally lost, and that is very dis heartening. I can not claim to understand it all my self, yet I do have faith, and hope. But keep in mind, God tests us- we do not test God. I feel you are suffering in your heart, I pray that you find peace .
Hedi, maybe I'm lost. The U.S. is a christian country and there are plenty who feel strongly about there NOT being a supreme power i.e. god. I met many at a Cal Tech lecture in Pasadena yrs ago sponsored by the Skeptics Society and their major guest was Stephen Hawking. I know I'm not alone in being so called Lost. Hedi, I live with HOPE and I've had so much faith before the covid mess and the takeover by the elite globalists, and trust in a univversal energy at least I always have. I have a lot of peace or I wouldn't sleep the close to 10 hrs that I do...it's just the nagging "believe in god thing".....
On my upbringing my mom was so passionate about god and the tapes are so engrained in my mind, and all the catholic teachers in my life, same.... My dad on the other hand NEVER mentioned god in my life and at the end of his life, he said "he never believed":.... So I got it socked to me for a long long while.
You have said basically the same thing many times before. Are you looking for something from us? An argument? Proof that God exists? None of us can provide the proof, and by this time of life there's nothing to argue about... most people simply believe or they don't. You seem to be angry that your mother and your upbringing included religious instruction, which was the case for a lot of people. You say you have peace with your beliefs but you keep beating on the dead horse so perhaps you don't have that peace after all. As adults we have the freedom to follow our own paths when it comes to religion. I'm agnostic. I am totally unable to get onboard with any organized religion or the threats held out to non-believers. Fire and brimstone... pffffft. That said, I do wonder about the "meaning of life," why we exist, and if there is some greater power in the universe. I also sleep well and believe that when I die it will simply be like a light switch turned off. One minute I'm shining; the next moment it's "lights out." It was a nothingness before I existed and I'll simply return to nothingness. Frankly, the belief of eternal life doesn't even appeal to me. I don't make it my business to criticize believers or to question their beliefs. That does not concern me so it's a non-issue. I hope you find what you're looking for.
Did you ever in your life meet anyone who overcame both evil religion and plain unbelief and became one who is born again by the Will of Abba in /from Heaven as required ?
My neighbor has been brainwashed by the "born againers".. I've known her a long time, but I knew the other person, the fun, going dancing, looking for boys gf. She was rasied by a Methodist minister and his wife, and found when he died that she had been incested by him and she believes her sisters too. She struggled for a long time, saw therapists and was on programs where other women went thru this...and then about 20 yrs ago she was "born again". Has spent years in her apt with her bibles and even talks in tongues and we don't speak sometimes for months. She said if I don't beleive "I will burn in hell"...