Then what is the point of prayer? You contradict yourself. In one verse it says "ask what you will, and the Father will give it to you," and in another you say that God will give the answer, but not necessarily what you want. You contradict yourself.
john 16 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
you: Jesus did not say that when you ask, you receive only what you asked for.
Jesus did not say that if you seek, you will find only what you're looking for.
Jesus did not promise that when you knock, what's on the other side of the door is exactly what you think it is.
But Jesus did promise that you’re going to get an answer.
The answer might not be anything like what you expect.
But I want to get what I asked for, and not necessarily an answer from God. Just what I wanted.
I said to read fully what I wrote in each case, not to cherry-pick a sentence or two.
Jesus’ promise in John 14 and John 16 is to disciples who fully knew Jesus’ mission. They dedicated their lives to following Jesus and doing what He wanted them to do. In that context, they could ask, and He would give. This was not a blanket genie-in-a-bottle kind of situation, as if they could ask for a new sports car and get it just because they asked.
You need to see who Jesus is speaking to, what kind of promise He’s making, why He’s making it, and all it encompasses.
You can’t pick one sentence out of it and think you’ve properly understood it.
Then what is the point of prayer? You contradict yourself. In one verse it says "ask what you will, and the Father will give it to you," and in another you say that God will give the answer, but not necessarily what you want. You contradict yourself.
Hello Lilithun,
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
You make it seem contradictory by not quoting me accurately.
Read fully what I say in each case and you’ll see how they fit.
john 16 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
you: Jesus did not say that when you ask, you receive only what you asked for.
Jesus did not say that if you seek, you will find only what you're looking for.
Jesus did not promise that when you knock, what's on the other side of the door is exactly what you think it is.
But Jesus did promise that you’re going to get an answer.
The answer might not be anything like what you expect.
But I want to get what I asked for, and not necessarily an answer from God. Just what I wanted.
Hello Lilithun,
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Again, you fail to quote me accurately.
I said to read fully what I wrote in each case, not to cherry-pick a sentence or two.
Jesus’ promise in John 14 and John 16 is to disciples who fully knew Jesus’ mission. They dedicated their lives to following Jesus and doing what He wanted them to do. In that context, they could ask, and He would give. This was not a blanket genie-in-a-bottle kind of situation, as if they could ask for a new sports car and get it just because they asked.
You need to see who Jesus is speaking to, what kind of promise He’s making, why He’s making it, and all it encompasses.
You can’t pick one sentence out of it and think you’ve properly understood it.
And even though Jesus asked the disciples to pray, he found them asleep, as well.
When we pray, our change in circumstances may not match our request, but God can change us as we come to Him faithfully.