Why Does God Delay?

by Matthew W. Bassford At some point in their lives, all Christians have to deal with the disappointment and frustration of God not answering their prayers on their timetable. They want something that is godly and good, they pray for it, and. . . nothing. Photo by Agê Barros on Unsplash When we are wrestling…

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Is it wrong to pray the Psalms?

Question: I have an urgent question that is generating heat in my congregation. This heat is created by my wife. She prays the Psalms, and I personally do not agree with her on this. But she insists that it is the word of God. I don’t agree because we are New Testament worshipers and the…

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Should we pray for the end of the COVID-19 plague?

Question: I hope this coronavirus will end soon. What should we pray for in this crisis? I believe God knows what is happening so how should we pray and what should we pray for? Answer: Prayer is the time to tell God about our desires. Consider that Jesus knew that he would die on a…

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Can you pray in your mind or with your head covered?

Question: Dear Jeffrey, I have a couple of questions about prayer. Is it OK to pray in your mind if you are someplace where it is not convenient to do so by speaking the words? Is it wrong to pray with a cap on your head (if you are a man)? Answer: When dedicating the…

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When Hard Times Come

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/When-Hard-Times-Come.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 1:12-14   I.         Life often goes in different in directions from what we expect.             A.        It had long been Paul’s desire to go to Rome to preach the Gospel – Acts 19:21             B.        It seemed though that something always came up which kept him from reaching his goal – Romans 1:13…

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Can we pray individual prayers together in worship?

Question: Brother Jeffrey, Please, I want to know from Scriptures about mass prayer in New Testament worship. Can we pray together, when we come together, but each one prays his or her own prayer? Thank you. Answer: Worship as a church is distinct from individual worship. In a church service, everything is done to edify those…

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Where do prayers go?

Question: Where do all prayers go? Does God answer all prayers, even those of Muslims, Hindus, etc. although they pray to false gods? I heard from someone that the Bible says all prayers and praise reach God only. Is there scriptural evidence for this? Thanks. Answer: There is only one God. The gods of other…

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What do you think about rugged prayers?

Question: What do you think about aggressive prayers or rugged type of prayers? Someone told me that there are situations that demand ruggedness, such as shouting, screaming, and crying unto God in prayer and not being silent. That this is the only way to shake heaven. That your silent prayers will do not much. What…

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Hezekiah’s Prayer

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hezekiahs-Prayer-2019.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 38:9-20   I.         Many people are familiar with Hezekiah’s prayer asking God for help against the Assyrian army, but I would like for us to take a few minutes to examine Hezekiah’s prayer of thanksgiving after he was healed of an illness II.        Bitterness             A.        Isaiah 38:9-10                         1.         Hezekiah was told he…

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On Praying to Jesus

by Nathan Ward If you haven’t yet, you will likely encounter a person who believes Christians should not pray to Jesus. The position is often accompanied by what seems like reasonable logic, at least on a surface level. We ought not to pray to Jesus, it is said, because he is our mediator — and…

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Do we experience God in a present way or only in the past tense?

Question: Good day, Is the church not to experience God in a “present way,” or does it only need to be in a past tense manner through the Bible? Thanks. Answer: I had difficulty with your question because it was worded vaguely. The meaning changes depending on how you define the terms. God is ever…

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How can we be confident that God will answer our prayers?

Question: Hello, I have a question regarding prayer, one which I have submitted to numerous places. I’ve tried to present it in the most concise and intellectually understandable language I can think of but have received in response almost an outright refusal to acknowledge what it is I am asking. Whether it is deliberate or…

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Why didn’t God heal my wife?

Question: Hi, I read some sermons from your website about the person who accepted Jesus, believe in him, and went to church, but he turned back to his old way and sinned again. It’s like me now. I went to Bible college with my wife about ten years ago. We came back and helped lead…

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Why doesn’t God remove the temptation?

Question: Mr. Hamilton, I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior in my early twenties. Through a re-commitment of my life, I started studying the Bible when I was in my late twenties and have continued to do so for nearly forty years. I have many Christian friends who are pastors, Bible teachers, friends, etc.,…

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Rituals Don’t Cancel Sin

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/RitualsDontCancelSin.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 58:1-14   I.         Men get into their minds that they need to make God listen to them             A.        Like a child holding his breath, they believe that if they suffer, then God will listen             B.        There were false religions based on self-inflicted pain to gain their god’s attention – I Kings…

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Should we pray to cover ourselves with the blood of Jesus?

Question: Is it OK, while we pray, to cover ourselves with the blood of Jesus? For example, we cover ourselves with the blood of Jesus for protection. Do you remember the Passover when a lamb’s blood was used for protection against death? In that same way, better blood that speaks more than that of a…

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Is it wrong to pray to die?

Question: I am a member of the Lord’s church, and I would like to know if it is wrong to pray to die. I have had a couple of incurable health problems for years, and I just can’t take it anymore. It has robbed me of any chance at a good life here, and I’m…

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What should I do to have my prayers answered the way that I pray them?

Question: What should I do to have my prayers answered the way that I pray them? Answer: I think the hardest thing to remember about prayer is that sometimes the answer is “no”.  We have the ability to ask for far too much and a father cannot always grant everything that a child could want.…

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Should I just give up asking God for things?

Question: Hi. I hope things are well with you. I was thinking about something. I have been suffering from a chronic stomach illness since I was 16. I prayed endlessly for healing but never received any. Now I am 20, and in addition to my disease, I now have chronic back pain. Of course, I…

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Should I ask God to give my daughter all my blessings?

Question: Good morning. I’m struggling with the thought of how to pray for a blessing. My daughter is in university, and she has for many years had a struggle with confidence. She is really smart but doesn’t believe in herself. In some of the classes, she is barely passing, though she has a B, which…

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How do I pray when I don’t feel like it?

Question: I have been good at praying. Recently though, I just feel like my prayer life is going downhill. It started with my nightly devotion and now with my morning devotion. I am just not in the mood to pray. I know how important prayer is, so it worries me. My house has become too…

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What does it mean to give your problems to the Lord?

Question: What does it mean to give your problems to the Lord? Does it come down to the fact that things on earth are temporary and we should be looking at the bigger picture? Answer: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your…

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If you’re shy, do you have to lead prayer in church?

Question: If you’re shy, do you have to lead prayer in church? Answer: That is a great question! Let us be honest, you don’t have to do anything if you do not want to! For example: When I was a child, I would try to keep a beat to the music, but to no avail.…

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Can I ask God for help in finding a wife?

Question: Would it be proper to go to God in prayer and ask for help in leading you to the right person to marry? This of course would be someone you have not met, and you are well aware of God’s requirements for a godly and eligible person. Answer: “Now this is the confidence that…

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How should prayers be offered in worship?

Question: Where I need help is with prayers. Is it scriptural to pray saying “In Jesus’ name” several times in between the prayer before concluding? Does it not count as vain repetitions? Is it scriptural to raise prayer points while everyone prays until the person leading will ask everyone to round up and stop eventually?…

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Do you think God hears every prayer I pray?

Question: Do you think God hears every prayer I pray? Is He busy sometimes answering someone else? Why does the Bible say in some verses “God heard their shout?” Is that just the way it was written? I could find the verses, but I’m sure you remember. Answer: “Now this is the confidence that we…

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I didn’t keep all of my sacrifices. Will God still help me?

Question: Hello, A few months ago I started going through a hard time in my life, I had a problem that I, myself, couldn’t solve, so I put it in God’s hands. As I was really desperate and willing to do anything for it, I offered a few sacrifices (yes, more than one) and I…

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Why is the Temple called a house of prayer?

Question: Can you tell me what the phrase “house of prayer” means from Matthew 21:13?  Is this word used as a synecdoche or is it meant to mean literal “prayer?”  If prayer was not the only thing they did at the temple, could this word have been used to mean a house of ‘worship?’ Answer:…

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The Need for Prayer

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015Fall5TheNeedForPrayer.mp3 by Brace Rutledge 2015 Fall Meeting

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How to Pray

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HowToPray.mp3 by Steven Chetelat

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Is it wrong to quote the Bible in your prayer?

Question: Is it wrong to quote the Bible in your prayer? If yes, why, and if no, why? Thanks. Answer: Nowhere in the Bible does it forbid one to quote Bible passages in prayer. As long as your prayers are sincere, humble, with faithfulness, fervent, watchful, praising, and thankful, quoting Scripture is not inappropriate. As…

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What does “praying in the Spirit” mean?

Question: Can you please explain to me Jude 20 when it said “praying in the Spirit”? Answer: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also…

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Pray Without Ceasing

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2014Fall8PrayWithoutCeasing.mp3 by Mike Waters The Good Life

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I prayed to God to change my heart but nothing has changed

Question: I prayed to God to change my heart but nothing has changed my way of thinking or my attitude to show love and not anger. I tried to read the Bible, but I don’t feel anything. Please help. Answer: It appears that you are looking for something outside of you to change you, instead…

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