Why People Do Not Pray

People, particularly unbelievers, do not normally pray when they have what they want. They might pray that they can keep what they want. Often believers do not pray when they have what they want either because they are not sufficiently grateful. They forget that God is the one who gave it to them. Unbelievers do not know God*s will is best for them and do not want it. The flesh of believers does not want God*s will either. What unbelievers want is sinful and what the flesh of believers want is also sinful. An unbeliever who does not pray is normal. A believer who does not pray is not filled with the Spirit, is ungrateful and is walking in the flesh. He is an abnormal believer in God*s eyes, if not in his own. An unbeliever might just as well not pray. God is under no obligation to answer his prayer. The first and only prayer God promises to hear and answer in the affirmative from an unbeliever is a prayer of repentance, in which he or she receives Christ. Until they pray that one their prayers will bounce off the ceiling. They might occasionally and accidentally pray for God*s will. They often believe that God*s will must be the same as their own. It is not. I write from a great deal of experience. I was an unbeliever for 43 years and have now been saved for about 33 years.

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 6:15: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

When we receive Christ and become new creatures there are many things that God will change about us. One of the changes will be that we are willing to BE CHANGED and increasingly changed (grow spiritually). This Ephesians passage documents clearly many differences between the old men we were and the new men that we have become. God made me a new man when I was middle-aged. Whether God does that for us when we are young, middle-aged or older we MUST trust Him to do that. Don*t put it off. It may be your last chance.

Ephesians 4:22: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ*s sake hath forgiven you.

Do you fit in the above passage or the passages that follow?

2 Timothy 3:1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

1 Thessalonians 5:18: In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Luke 6:35: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

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