Does God Listen to All Prayers?

God invites people of all nations to draw close to him in prayer.

"O Hearer of prayer, even to you people of all flesh will come."

(Psalm 65:2)

However, he does not listen to all prayers. For instance, when the Israelites persisted in badness, God refused to hear their prayers.

"Where else will YOU be struck still more, in that YOU add more revolt? The whole head is in a sick condition, and the whole heart is feeble."  (Isaiah 1:5)

The prayers of a man who mistreats his wife can be hindered too. 

"YOU husbands, continue dwelling in like manner with them according to knowledge, assigning them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one, since YOU are also heirs with them of the undeserved favor of life, in order for YOUR prayers not to be hindered."   (1 Peter 3:7)

But God will hear the prayers of gross sinners if they are truly repentant.

"And Ma‧nas′seh kept seducing Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do worse than the nations that Jehovah had annihilated from before the sons of Israel.

And Jehovah kept speaking to Ma‧nas′seh and his people, but they paid no attention. Finally Jehovah brought against them the chiefs of the army that belonged to the king of As‧syr′i‧a, and so they captured Ma‧nas′seh in the hollows and bound him with two fetters of copper and took him to Babylon. And as soon as it caused him distress, he softened the face of Jehovah his God and kept humbling himself greatly because of the God of his forefathers. And he kept praying to Him, so that He let himself be entreated by him and He heard his request for favor and restored him to Jerusalem to his kingship; and Ma‧nas′seh came to know that Jehovah is the [true] God."  (2 Chronicles 33:9-13)

(Based on the Watchtower, Sept. 1, 2011, page 16)

Does Praying Do Any Good?

"O Hearer of prayer, 

even to you people of all flesh will come." 

(Psalm 65:2) 

Almost everyone feels the need to pray. On the other hand, there are those who feel that praying doesn't help at all.

Such differing sentiments raise these following questions:

What do people expect to achieve by praying? 
Are all these prayers doing any good?


The answers can be read here:
Does Praying Do Any Good?
                                                  
In this article, the following question will also be answered:

WHY DO PEOPLE PRAY?
DOES ANYONE HEAR PRAYERS?
ARE ALL PRAYERS HEARD?

Read on, and find out about a power that you may have never known before.

Have You Ever Wondered....

WHY SHOULD WE STUDY THE BIBLE?


- What important information is contained in the Bible?


- Who is the Bible's author?


- Why should you study the Bible?


ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THIS LINK:
Have You Ever Wondered....?

Are You Lonely?

Loneliness is a powerful feeling, and it can be very painful. It is a feeling of emptiness. There is a sensation of isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other humans. It affects people of all ages and of all races, social strata, and creeds. 

No wonder why many people today experience loneliness. Is it possible to cope with loneliness?

What have some done to overcome this powerful feeling?

Here are comforting words from Someone who cares about us and doesn't want us to be lonely: 

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not gaze about, for I am your God. I will fortify you. I will really help you. I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand of righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)

The following link will show us how to cope successfully with this feeling.

Alone But Not Lonely

Do Humans Become Angels When They Die?

Some people take comfort in their belief that when their loved ones die, they become angels. Some religious leaders also try to comfort parents who have lost their baby with these words, “God wanted another angel, and He took your little baby to be with him. Now her soul flutters around the Almighty’s throne.”

Questions like the following might arise:

Are such words truly comforting or they only make people blame God and take away their faith in him? 

More importantly, is such teaching true? 

What does God's Word, the Bible, teach about this?

Who really are the angels?

What happens at death?

Clear answers can be found in this link:

Do Humans Become Angels When They Die?

Following this link and reading the article carefully can liberate us from extreme grief, fear of death and false beliefs.

What Makes Life Meaningful

To find real meaning in life, it helps to examine some sound principles found in God's Word, the Bible. After all, our Creator and the Author of the Bible, created us to live a happy and meaningful life. And so he provided his Written Word to show that he cares for us and desires to guide us to a life that he has meant for us.

The following are some of these guiding principles.

Ecclesiastes 2:24

"With a man there is nothing better than that he should eat and indeed drink and cause his soul to see good because of his hard work. This too I have seen, even I, that this is from the hand of the true God."

God created us to find satisfaction in wholesome work. Even in unfavorable circumstances, we can still find joy in life from working honestly and diligently.

 Acts 20:35

‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."


If we keep doing things for others, like giving of our time and energy to assist them in times of difficulty, we can add real meaning to our lives and reap unexpected rewards.

Here's another Scripture related to this principle:

Proverbs 3:27

"Do not hold back good from those to whom it is owing when it happens to be in the power of your hand to do it."

Wholeheartedly following these words  brings us rich blessings.

Proverbs 17:17

"A true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress."

We all need true friends to make life more bearable, especially in times of troubles. They are there to cushion the blow for us. Having true friends and being a good friend can be beautiful and satisfying.

Matthew 5:3

“Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them."

We humans have the innate need to understand the meaning and purpose of life. It is vital therefore to recognize and fill our spiritual need if we want to enjoy the fulfillment of God's promises. We can fill that need by making time to study the Bible, from which we can understand such Scriptural truths as to God's purpose for the earth, why we are here, why there is so much suffering and what God expects of us. Learning about these and applying them in our lives can make us happy because we are building a trusting relationship with our Creator, "the happy God." 

Ecclesiastes 12:1

"Remember your Creator... before the time of trouble comes and the years draw near when you will say, 'I see no purpose in them.'"

Making our Creator the focus of our life will give our life real purpose.  At Ecclesiastes 8:12, the wise King Solomon said that if we "fear the true God", and put him first in our life, things "will turn out well" for us.

Millions worldwide have found these principles truly beneficial and highly rewarding. No matter what their circumstances in life may be, they are enjoying a truly satisfying and meaningful life.

Psalm 6

A comforting video for those who are feeling extreme loneliness and despair.

Our Helper and Our Shield

A less than three minutes video based on Psalm 33:18-22. This will lift our spirits when we feel downhearted.

S

Comforting Verses from Psalm 27

A few selected verses from Psalm 27, which can lift us up when we feel down.

Comfort for the Brokenhearted

"Jehovah is near to those that are broken at heart;
And those who are crushed in spirit he saves."
-Psalm 34:18

Jehovah is near to his worshippers who cry out to him for help. He is like a loving parent who holds and comforts a child in distress. He is eager to comfort and soothe their broken heart and crushed spirit.

How does he comfort the "broken at heart" and "crushed in spirit"?

By giving them strength and wisdom needed to cope with any trials they may face.

"However, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the power beyond what is normal may be God’s and not that out of ourselves."

-2 Corinthians 4:7

"So, if any one of YOU is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him. "

-James 1:5

We need to draw close to God  in order to benefit fully from his promise:

"For this is what the High and Lofty One, who is residing forever and whose name is holy, has said: “In the height and in the holy place is where I reside, also with the one crushed and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly ones and to revive the heart of the ones being crushed."

- Isaiah 57:15

Bible Verses That Comfort

"Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today."

-Matthew 6:34

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort - who comforts us in all our tribulations."

- 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

"Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God;  and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus." 

- Philippians 4:6,7

"Throw all your anxiety upon God, because he cares for you."

- 1 Peter 5:7

When God's Will is Done on Earth

* There will be genuine peace, not just the absence of war.

Psalm 46:8,9
"Come, you people, behold the activities of Jehovah,
How he has set astonishing events on the earth.
He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth.
The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces;
The wagons he burns in the fire."

Psalm 37:11
"But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,
And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."


*  All will have an abundance of food.

Psalm 72:16
"There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth;  on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow."

*  Perfect health will prevail.

Isaiah 33:24
"No resident will say, 'I am sick.'"


*  Everyone will have a comfortable home.

Isaiah 65:21,22
"They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat [their] fruitage. 22 They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating."

*  All forms of suffering will end.

Revelation 21:3,4
"With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them.  And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

(Source: Awake, May 2011, page 18)

Who Is God?

1. Who is God?

The true God is the Creator of all things. The Bible calls him the "King of eternity," meaning that he had no beginning and will never have an end.

Revelation 15:3

  "And they are singing the song of Moses the slave of God and the song of the Lamb, saying: 'Great and wonderful are your works, Jehovah God, the Almighty. Righteous and true are your ways, King of eternity.'" 

Since God is the Source of life, we should worship only him.

Revelation 4:11

   “You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.”

2. What is God like?

No one has ever seen God because he is a Spirit, which means that he is a higher form of life than the physical creatures who live on earth.

John 4:24

   "God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.” 

God's personality is revealed in the things he has made.

Romans 1:20

   "For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship."

We can learn even more about God's personality from the Bible.

Psalm 103:8-10

"Jehovah is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness.

He will not for all time keep finding fault,

Neither will he to time indefinite keep resentful.

He has not done to us even according to our sins;

Nor according to our errors has he brought upon us what we deserve."

3. Does God have a name?

Jesus said: "Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified." (Matthew 6:9) Although God has many titles, he has only one name, which is pronounced differently in each language. In English, we usually say "Jehovah" or sometimes "Yahweh".

Psalm 83:18

   "That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth."

God's name has been taken out of many Bibles and replaced with the titles Lord or God. But when the Bible was written,  it contained God's name some 7,000 times. Jesus made God's name known by using it when he explained God's Word to people. He helped people to come to know God.

John 17:26

   "And I have made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them.”

4. Does Jehovah care about us?

Jehovah shows interest in us by listening personally to our prayers.

Psalm 65:2

   "O Hearer of prayer, even to you people of all flesh will come."

Job 34:10

   "Far be it from the [true] God to act wickedly, And the Almighty to act unjustly!"

James 1:13

   "When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone."

Genesis 6:5,6 

   "Consequently Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time. And Jehovah felt regrets that he had made men in the earth, and he felt hurt at his heart. "

Soon, Jehovah will use Jesus to eliminate suffering and those who cause it.

5. What does God want us to do?

He wants us to learn the truth about him.

1 Timothy 2:3,4 

   "This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God,  whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth." 

If we study the Bible, we can come to know God as a Friend.

Proverbs 2:4,5 

   "If you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it,  in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God."

Since Jehovah has given us life, we should love him more than we love anyone else. We can show God that we love him by speaking to him in prayer and by doing as he asks.

Proverbs 15:8

 "The prayer of the upright ones is a pleasure to him."

1 John 5:3   

"For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome."

(Source: The Watchtower, February 1, 2011, pages 16,17)