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To: 353FMG; Salvation
How do we KNOW prayer is necessary when we don’t KNOW if our prayers even reach God’s ear or are accepted by Him?

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7

God is a loving Father who hears and answers all prayers ... but He is not bound by time. For example, I prayed for 50 years that my step-father would be baptized before he died. 3 years ago, he surprised us by waking up one morning and announcing that he wanted to be baptized Catholic. My mother did not take him seriously but he persisted until she relented and called the pastor of her parish. Since dad was in a wheelchair, the priest came to their home and sent us into another room with the door closed while he spoke with dad. Half hour later, we were called out to bear witness as dad received the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion. Two months later, dad underwent knee replacement surgery and awoke with full blown dementia. Had he not been baptized prior to surgery, when he was in full control of his faculties, no priest would have baptized him. Ironically, the baptism took place before my mother passed away, 11 months later.

God has answered many of my prayers but these were all offered with "if it be your will". Luke 11:11 reminds us ""Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?" God knows what we need and answers prayers accordingly. Sometimes, the answer is 'no'.

4 posted on 12/18/2018 2:54:46 PM PST by NYer ("You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears." James 4:14)
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To: NYer

Excellent answer.


5 posted on 12/18/2018 4:47:40 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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