Posts Tagged ‘prayers’
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…
Read MoreShould one prayer or two be given at the Lord’s Supper?
Question: Is it proper to give thanks for the bread and the cup in one prayer instead of two separate prayers? I have been searching for scriptural examples that support one position or the other or both. Answer: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and…
Read MoreIs it wrong to be competitive in school?
Question: Is it wrong to be competitive in school? I know that God stresses the importance of education, but I see myself to be very competitive when it comes to grades. It’s not an ego thing where I get scores to show off or anything, but it is because I want to get into good…
Read MoreI prayed to God but He doesn’t answer me. Your God is asleep!
Question: Regarding witchcraft: Unless you have lived the person’s life walked the same miles as they walked can you be certain of your responses, a mile in your own shoes does not describe how they feel and what they are going through. I have been impacted for 46 years by my own mother. I have…
Read MoreIs it appropriate to say a prayer in a restaurant?
Question: Hello, Mr. Hamilton! My husband and I have been studying the book of Matthew, and we have a question about Matthew 6:5-6. How do these verses apply to saying a prayer of thanks before a meal in a restaurant? We have read your answer to the question, “Must a prayer be said before eating…
Read MoreIs justification through faith? Is a sinner forgiven when he prays?
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, I was reading your article on the NIV and I found it very informative! I just want to start off by saying thank you I had no idea there were a few discrepancies I needed to be aware of. With regards to this, I had a question. I completely agree with the point…
Read MoreShould the husband lead Bible discussions and prayers when the family is gathered together?
Question: Hi, If God were to bless me with a wife and kids, I would like for the family to have Bible study sessions as a family. Would it be proper for my wife to lead the discussions at times? Or to pray? Or it should always be the husband? How about the kids? Answer:…
Read MoreWill God bring my boyfriend back to take responsibility for me and our soon-to-be-born child?
Question: Good Afternoon, I am a strong believer and was recently engaged to a believer for about a year and a half. We had an amazing relationship until things took a hard toll in our relationship when we lost our son at 7 months into pregnancy. Things began getting harder for us since we did…
Read MoreCan a Christian’s worship be hindered if he is in sin?
Question: Good morning, Can a Christian’s worship be hindered if they are in sin? Does God expect Christians to be completely holy when we worship Him? Answer: “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that…
Read MoreIf people on opposite sides are praying for their team to win, whose prayer does God answer?
Question: Please, I need your help on an issue. We are very fanatical about football (soccer) in our country. I was involved in a discussion some time ago with my roommate and he was saying God answered his prayer for the team he supports and that was why they were able to win, but I…
Read MoreWhat about prayer cloths?
Question: I have a friend that asked me about “prayer blankets or cloths”. I am aware of the Scripture she is referencing: Acts 19:11-12. I’m just unsure on how to help her understand scripturally why this is not necessary. Thank you for your time and scriptural truth; I really appreciate it. Answer: “Now God worked unusual…
Read MoreWill God forgive me for not saying my prayers as I had promised?
Question: Hello, I’m 17 years old. My family has always been very secular. For a small period of time, my older sister went to a Catholic school, and I was sent to Sunday school. When I was little I was very much afraid of death and the concept of eternal nothingness. This fear led me…
Read MoreIs it a lack of faith if your prayer isn’t answered?
Question: Dear Sir, Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to your website. I have recently started attending a local church of Christ, in part because of the wonderful Scripture-based answers on your website and the freedom and new life promised by following God’s laws rather than man-made directives. My boyfriend attends…
Read MoreI failed to pray last night because I fell asleep. Should I offer two prayers tonight?
Question: Hello, I have a question. I ask you because I did not find any topic related to what I am curious about. Last night I was watching TV and in a moment I fell asleep. The problem is that I did not pray that night because I fell asleep. Will God forgive me or…
Read MoreHow do I call prayer points?
Question: Hello Sir, I will be leading a prayer meeting (small group). The title is “Trusting God”, from Psalm 125:1. Please how do I go about it, especially calling the prayer points? I have led prayer meetings in the group in the past, but I want to do this right. My church, the teenage church,…
Read MoreWhy Pray for the Sick?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/WhyPrayForTheSick.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. We have talked about the purpose of miracles earlier A. Purpose 1. To reveal the truth – John 16:13 2. To confirm the truth a. Heb. 2:3-4 – God shows his agreement with the speaker b. Mk 16:20 – Confirmed the word spoken c. Acts 2:22 – Jesus was attested by God through miracles 3. Miracles were…
Read MoreWhy doesn’t God restore my marriage?
Question: I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for putting the article, The Awful Aftermath of Adultery, on the Internet. My wife committed adultery over 30 years ago with a man while she was in the military. She told me she did nothing wrong. She places all the blame on me and then…
Read MoreThe Sinner’s Prayer
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/SinnersPrayer.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 9:1-19 I. A key feature of salvation in many denominations is the praying of the sinner’s prayer. A. It is generally presented at the end of a service to tell people how they may be saved. B. Each “Sinner’s Prayer” varies in detail, but generally carry the same theme: that…
Read MoreHow many times a day should a Christian pray?
Question: Is it required that a Christian pray once every day? The Bible tells us to never cease to pray, but how often are we required to pray? Answer: The concept of not ceasing to pray refers to not giving up on prayers. “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). Or as Paul told the Romans,…
Read MoreHow We Ought to Pray
How We Ought to Pray – Part 1How We Ought to Pray – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:1-13 I. Being creatures of habit, we often fall into a pattern of doing certain things in certain ways. A. There is nothing wrong with a habit, so long as it is a good habit. B. In…
Read MoreWould God accept prayer for the dead in order for the dead to be forgiven?
Question: Before going to my question, I’d like to thank you for all the work you’ve done, preaching the Word of God. I am truly grateful for having found your site, as it has really opened my eyes to a lot of my previously unrecognized errors and helped me with some other issues I knew…
Read MoreIs it right to pray for God’s judgment on the world?
Question: With all the sin and mockery and God, is it right to wish or pray for God’s judgment on the world? I’m not talking about killing people, I’m just talking about good old-fashioned judgment. Answer: “Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; For the righteous God…
Read MoreWill God heal my brother?
Question: Hello, My brother is going through cancer right now, and the doctors say he is not getting better. I have accepted Jesus into my heart, and I want to trust Him that He will heal my brother, but my mom, who is also a Christian, wants me to face the reality that the Lord…
Read MoreDid my sins cause my pain? If I stop, will my disease go away?
Question: Dear preacher, I am 25 years old. For the past six years, I have been walking with severe heel pain in both legs. I have consulted many doctors, and I have taken many pain killers, steroids, and anti-inflammatory medications but I am unable to walk properly. I was once a district volleyball player, but…
Read MoreShould I ask God to give people His complete knowledge?
Question: Is it worthwhile to ask God in prayer to give confused or unbelieving people His complete knowledge of what is expected of them and a chance to accept it and be saved right before they would otherwise be damned? An example of what I mean by a confused person is, say, someone who thinks…
Read MoreShould I pray for a non-Christian who wants to have children?
Question: Mr. Hamilton, I need your guidance, please. I encountered a moment where a non-Christian, who told me that she had been married for a number of years and had no children. She said she really wants to have children. Inside, my heart said something like “pray for her,” but I don’t know what words…
Read MoreWhat would be an example of a sin not to pray for?
Question: Your article “A Sin Leading to Death” reminded me of a question I have struggled with. The lead-in verse I John 5:16-17, if I may paraphrase simply says there is a sin to pray for and not to pray for. What would be an example of a sin not to pray for? Answer: Sins…
Read MoreCan a Christian believe in God and not believe in prayer?
Question: Can a Christian believe in God but not believe in prayer? I’m a member of the church but I don’t believe in prayer? How do I overcome that? Answer: Let’s work backward. You say you don’t believe in prayer, yet the Bible says that Jesus taught, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that…
Read MoreI am no longer committing sexual sins, but should I get myself checked or just trust God to answer my prayers?
Question: I was one of those Christians that if you were to ask me if I died today would I go to heaven, I would say yes. But I was still in fornication, drinking, etc. And I would of went to hell thinking I was living right. I’ve let go of all of that and…
Read MoreAre we not to ask God for what we want to have?
Question: I thought prayer is about telling God about everything, such as how your day went, what you want to achieve, what you hope for, etc. But now I see that it is not actually that. For example, on one of the questions, I see that asking something that is only for your pleasure is…
Read MoreIs there any certain prayer of forgiveness for fornication?
Question: Hi, I’m a Catholic. I’m in need of advice! I’ve committed fornication with a girl I’m in a relationship with! I prayed to God for forgiveness! Is there any certain prayer of forgiveness to pray for the sinful acts I’ve done? I don’t want to turn my back on God again. I only want…
Read MoreIs it useless to pray for a wife?
Question: When it comes to marriage, I know that we are the ones who chose who we are with. I know that God did not make nor designed a special person for you and there are millions of people on the planet with which we can possibly be happy. So is praying for a wife…
Read MoreHow long do I pray for a cure for my TMAU?
Question: I clearly understand that Jesus Christ is absolutely under no obligation to heal anyone. He owes us nothing in the way of healing, health, prosperity, or posterity. If Jesus decides to heal anyone, He does so because it’s His will. I remember Paul’s thorn in his flesh. He prayed to God to remove this…
Read MoreWhy do some use King James English in their prayers?
Question: Why do some men, in their public prayer, use King James English? In their minds do they think it shows reverence or holiness? Answer: The King James Version was a popular translation for almost 400 years, so its language has stuck in people’s minds as religious or biblical language. But at the time it…
Read MoreWhat should I pray for?
Question: I am confused about praying. Say, for example, I really want to be signed up to a dance class, but I know the possibility of that happening is zero, or I want a job, do I pray to God and expect these things to happen eventually? I know you have to put effort into…
Read MoreSometimes I feel Jesus when I pray and other times I don’t. Am I going in the right direction?
Question: Hello, I really need your help. Every day I go off and pray. Sometimes I feel Jesus and it feels great, but other times I don’t feel Him and I become worried. I’m confused about whether I am going on the right path or not. When I don’t feel him I think He is…
Read MoreAmen
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Amen.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Deuteronomy 27:14-26 I. Deuteronomy 27:14-26 A. What did it mean when the people said “Amen?” B. Amen started as a Hebrew word 1. It was transliterated into Greek and then eventually into English 2. Same pronunciation, but with an English spelling 3. It also retained the original meaning. 4. Interestingly, it is nearly a universal…
Read MoreAre singing and prayers during mid-week Bible study worship?
Question: Dear Brother, I am a member of the Body of Christ. I have a question that I hope you can answer for me. After midweek Bible class everyone gathers and we sing songs, offer up prayers, a short sermon is given, and an invitation is extended. Is this worship? I know it is not…
Read MoreMust a prayer be said before eating a meal?
Question: Is it good to say grace before eating a meal whether it be big or small? Would it be a sin if I don’t give thanks to God before eating? Answer: Being thankful to God is important. We need to express in prayer your recognition of where our blessings come from. “Giving thanks always…
Read MoreHow do I convince my mother to stop paying people for prayers?
Question: How can I convince my mum that paying people for prayers is not right, she is just being ripped off? She does not want my brother to go back to prison so she believes paying people to pray for my brother — and I mean a lot of money — will prevent him from…
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