prayers God doesn't listen to

Proverbs 28:9 "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer shall be abomination."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.28.KJV 1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.3.KJV Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/HEB.11.KJV Romans 14:23b "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.14.KJV Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/HEB.10.KJV Matthew 6:5 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 15 but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.6.KJV Luke 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.18.KJV1 Samuel 15:10 "Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. 12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. 13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. 17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? 20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king. 24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1SA.15.KJV 1 Samuel 16:1 "And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1SA.16.KJV  1 Samuel 28:6 "And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1SA.28.KJV Mark 3:28 "Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MRK.3.KJV Matthew 12:31 "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.12.KJV That voice inside people that tells them right from wrong is the presence of the Holy Spirit. When a person "hushes" that voice it becomes quieter and quieter until one can no longer hear it. This is rejection of the Holy Spirit. When that happens a person's conscience no longer bothers them and they become lost, like king Saul.

What the Bible says about how to be saved

Most everybody knows John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.3.KJV Many Christians also know Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.4.KJV But is that all that there is to being saved? Jesus was asked a question by a rich young ruler, Mark 10:17 "And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered: 19 "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MRK.10.KJV First Jesus reminded him about the commandments and then he told him to sell his possessions. The rich young ruler had made a god out of his possessions. That was actually breaking the first commandment. Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.20.KJV I'm certain that many of you have heard that "all that we need to do is believe in Jesus to be saved." Romans 10:9 "that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.10.KJV  While this is true, there is actually a bit more to it than just believe. James 2:17 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.2.KJV The demons believe that there is a God, and obviously they will not be saved. Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.10.KJV Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.7.KJV What awful words, "I never knew you, depart from me."  So how do we know God? Well, how do you know anyone? You spend time with them and you communicate with them. God has given us His Word, the Bible, in order to communicate with us, and we pray as communication with Him. So Matthew told us that there will be people who were doing good deeds, but are lost; and James chapter 2 told us that "faith without works is dead." Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.17.KJV 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1TH.5.17 Luke 18:1 "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.18.KJV 1 John 2:3 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.2.KJV  1 John 1:6 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.1.KJV John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.14.15

In a marriage people do nice things for their spouse because they love the other person, not in order to get them to love them. So it is with our walk with God. He loved us and sent Jesus to die for our sins. Because we love Him we need to get to know Him and keep His commandments. We don't follow the commandments in order to get God to love us. Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.5.KJV 1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.4.KJV  “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches  https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/943-darkness-cannot-drive-out-darkness-only-light-can-do-that

In conclusion: While the beginning of "Being saved" starts with belief in God and His love for us it cannot end there, even the devil believes. God says that we must show that love to others by our lives, by doing His will and by following His commandments. Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.25.KJV Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EPH.2.KJV   https://youtu.be/FLOa0sUQjqs Revelation 22:14 "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." https://bible.com/bible/1/rev.22.14.KJV

Final events

1. Jesus comes in the clouds: John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.14.KJV Acts 1:9 "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.1.KJV Revelation 1:7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.1.KJV

2. First resurrection and we meet the Lord in the air: 1 Thessalonians 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1TH.4.KJV Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.20.KJV 1 Corinthians 15:51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.15.KJV

3. 1000 years in heaven: Revelation 20:1 "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.20.KJV The "bottomless pit" is just an analogy of what this earth will look like without any other living human on it. During this time in heaven, God's record books are open to us and we will get to go over them and finally ALL will be able to see that God is Just and Merciful. 1 Corinthians 6:2 "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.6.KJV

4. The New Jerusalem and all the saints and God come down to this earth again: Zechariah 14:4 "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ZEC.14.KJV This is where the New Jerusalem will come. Revelation 21:2 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.21.KJV 

5. The second resurrection: John 5:29 "and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.5.KJV Acts 24:15 "and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.24.15 

6. A judgment scene: Revelation 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.20.KJV Isaiah 45:23 "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.45.KJV Philippians 2:10 "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.2.KJV 

7. Satan musters his forces, then all outside of the new Jerusalem are destroyed: Revelation 20:7 "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.20.KJV Malachi 4:1 "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAL.4.KJV Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.21.KJV

8. God recreates this earth: Isaiah 65:17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.65.KJV Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."   https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.21.KJV

Death Row Inmates

 We are all on death row. The Bible says, Romans 6:23a "For the wages of sin is death;" What are wages? Wages are what you earn because of work that you do. Romans also says in chapter 3:23 "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.3.KJV That little word ALL in the Greek actually means--ALL. Other than Jesus, there has never been a perfect person. I'm so glad that Romans 6:23 didn't end after the phrase above but it continued, 23b "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.6.KJV We could probably all quote John 3:16 but verse 17 expounds on verse 16. "16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.3.KJV Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.8.KJV 1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.4.KJV So, what is that big word, propitiation? According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance "Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of ἱλασμός in the Greek New Testament corresponds to several Hebrew terms related to atonement and propitiation, most notably:• Strong's Hebrew 3722: כָּפַר (kaphar) • to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation.• Strong's Hebrew 3725: כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporeth) • the mercy seat, the place of atonement.• Strong's Hebrew 3724: כֹּפֶר (kopher) • a ransom, gift to secure favor, atonement."  https://biblehub.com/greek/2434.htm To make an atonement for our sins. The word atonement can be broken down like this: At one ment. God was giving us a way to be reconciled to Him through Jesus. Romans 5:10 "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.5.KJV 2 Corinthians 5:18 "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2CO.5.KJV Colossians 1:12 "giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/COL.1.KJV "It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross." DA 83.4 https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.313&index=0  Matthew chapters 26-28 contain the record, as well as Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24 and John 17-20. For a good Bible online or on your phone: https://www.bible.com/ it has any version that you want. (The version that I choose is the King James Version because I believe it to be the most accurate, without leaving verses out of it. I am not fond of all that is in the app, such as the "guided meditation" which I believe can be used by the devil to cause people to stray from the truths in the Bible.)

I began this blog to talk about the infinite love of God, but I don't think that we can begin to comprehend God's love for us unless we first can see: #1 how abhorrent sin is to God and #2 how sinful we are. One might think to themselves that they are a good person, because they don't go around raping, or killing people, they hold down good jobs and are good spouses, and parents, but that is not how God sees even the "smaller" sins, like lying or lusting. The Bible explains in Matthew 5:21 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:... 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.5.KJV If anyone can honestly say that they have never gotten angry, or lusted it would be very surprising; in fact 1 John 1 says, "8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.1.KJV Jesus came to take those wages, that we earn by our sin so that we could live forever in the paradise made new.  Isaiah 53 is a prophecy about Jesus and it says in verse 5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.53.KJV 1 Peter 2 further explains, 21 "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.2.KJV Oh what infinite love. There is a story about a young boy named Jimmy Carver; his grandfather had taught him how to whittle. For several weeks he spent every day whittling away on different pieces of wood. He made a fine sail boat and even carved figures of people on the boat. He put a sail on it and carved his initials on the bottom-JC. Jimmy tied a string to the bow of his boat and put it on a nearby lake.  Jimmy would let the wind catch the sail and take the boat out as far as the string would allow and then he would pull it back to shore. Oh he had so much fun with his boat.  One day, while playing with the boat a strong gust of wind came up and yanked the string right from his grasp.  He tried very hard to get his boat back, but the wind carried it away too quickly. Jimmy was so sad. The weeks and months went by slowly. One day as Jimmy was going to the store for his mom, he stopped and stared into the shop window, for there in the window sat his boat. He was so excited, he ran in the store and cried out to the shop owner, "mister, mister, mister, you have my boat in your window." The shop owner responded slowly, "well, son, that's my boat. You see I bought that boat from a gentleman who brought it in here a little while ago." "But mister," Jimmy said politely, "I made that boat, if you get it down for me I will show you that it has my initials in it." The shop owner did get it down for Jimmy and he did see Jimmy's initials in the bottom of it. "Well," he said at last, "I just paid good money for it, and I'm afraid, if you want it back, you are going to have to buy it back from me." Jimmy promised to return as soon as he had enough money to buy it back.  Every day, all summer long, Jimmy found odd jobs to do in his neighborhood; he mowed lawns, whatever he could find that people would pay him for. By the end of the summer, he had made enough money to buy back his boat; he made sure by counting it twice. He walked down to the store and counted out the money to the shopkeeper, who then handed Jimmy back his boat.  Jimmy hugged it to himself tightly and whispered, "Now you are twice mine, because first I made you, and then I bought you back." God made us in His image, (Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:..." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV) we rebelled and satan became our rightful master, (Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.5.KJV) Jesus bought us back (Acts 4:10 "be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.4.KJV"). The price had to be paid. OH, what INFINITE LOVE! Ephesians 3:14 "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EPH.3.KJV

So now, let's talk a little bit about the different kinds of love and found out more about how God loves. For this example we go to the book of John chapter 21:15 "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.21.KJV In Greek, Jesus asked Peter twice, if Peter agapaō loved Him. But Peter responded that he phileō loved Jesus. Agapaō love is an unconditional love and Peter knows that at that time in his life his love is not as strong as that.  Phileō love is like a regular friend might love someone. The last time Jesus asks this question Jesus uses the word phileō, and Peter responds again with phileō  1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God IS love." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.4.KJV (emphasis supplied) John 13:34 "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.13.KJV John 15:12 "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.15.KJV God could have created an army of robots, who would obey Him and daily repeat the phrase, "I love you"; but would they really? God could have made the world in black and white with shades of grey; but He didn't. God didn't have to give us animals like cats or dogs to be our friends; but God loved us so much that He wanted to give us good things. James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.1.KJV God's love isn't based on our "goodness", because in and of ourselves we have none. Romans 3:10 "as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.3.KJV God's love isn't based on race, or gender. Galations 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GAL.3.KJV If God did not love us we would not even exist, and we definitely wouldn't have any hope of an eternal life with Him. Titus 1:2 "in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/TIT.1.KJV

The story is told of a man who took his son and a neighbor boy on a fishing trip. During the trip the boat capsized and the boys were thrown on opposite sides of the boat. Both boys began to drown. The father looked at his son, and then at the neighbor boy, knowing that he could not reach both in time to save each them. The son realized this and nodded to his father just before going under the water again. The father swam towards the neighbor boy and saved him.  Now reread John 3:16, 17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.3.KJV  Hebrews 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/HEB.4.KJV

It has been said that, nobody cares, unless you care; nobody loves, unless you love, but God demonstrated His love for us before we were ever born. Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.5.KJV We need to show others just how much God loves and cares for them.

WHY?

 It's a big question, that is asked frequently. If God is good, WHY is there evil in this world? (partially addressed this here: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2024/06/does-god-exist.html )The answer is both complicated and yet simple, it's two words, free will. Let's begin with the origin of evil:  https://thegreatcontroversy.org/read/132.2227 "The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all created beings depended upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love—homage that springs from an intelligent appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced allegiance, and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service." I could record my voice in a Teddy bear to make it say, "I love you", but would that mean that the Teddy bear actually loves me? NO. " Ezekiel 28 beginning in verse 12 tells us a part of the story about the origin of sin, 12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EZK.28.KJVObviously the phrase. "king of Tyre" is not referring to a literal king but to the angel who used to be called lucifer, but is now called satan. A literal king would not have been in Eden, or heaven, or been called a cherub.  Isaiah helps us to understand a little more of what satan's problem was. Isaiah 14:12 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.14.KJV Satan wanted and still wants to be like God. He wants the worship that is due only to God. Satan was creating discord in heaven and Revelation says in Revelation 12:7 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born." Yes, I put verses 3 and 4 after verse 10 to make a point, verse 9 tells us who the dragon is and the "third part of the stars" is the angels that chose to follow satan rather than God. Now if God had just destroyed one third of the angels in an instant, how do you think that the other two thirds would have reacted? They would have been afraid to step out of line. So one might ask, well how come lucifer was even created in the first place, if God knows everything? This issue of God's fairness actually had to come up so that everyone would understand that true love must have free will. My father once told a story about a woman who married a man. The day after their wedding he handed her a list of how she was to spend each and every minute of every day. It listed when she was to get up, how long she could spend getting herself ready for the day, when she was to serve him each meal, clean the house, do the laundry, etc. Every minute of her day was accounted for and she HATED him for it. In the process of time the man died and eventually she remarried.  On the day after the wedding she asked her new husband for his list of how she was to spend her day.  He replied that he had no list, that she was free to spend her days however she chose.  Every day she loved this man more and more.  One day as she was doing some cleaning she found the old list in her dresser drawer.  As she sat on the edge of the bed to read it tears welled up in her eyes. she realized that she was doing the very things on the list, but not because she was being forced to, but because she loved the man to whom she was married. God is like that, He never forces anyone to chose him. Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commandments." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.14.KJV

 Notice the -if/then statements in this and the other promises that are listed here.  A lot of people want the blessings without the obedience, but that is not usually how God operates.  Some will make bargains with God like, "if you heal me from this, then I will do that." God holds each accountable for the promises that they make. It is better not to make a promise to God than to make one and not keep it. Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?"  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.5.KJV  So let's look at a few health-related promises of God: James 5:13 "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.5.KJV Notice the conditions of each promise. Exodus 15:26 "and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.15.KJV With so many promises in God's Word, why is it that when some people seem to have great faith and are praying for healing that they don't get healed? There is no easy answer to this, and the answers may seem unsatisfactory.  And I know that there are people who wonder why God allows some to die even though they have a great faith, while others live. The only example that I can give someone comes from the life of a king in the Bible, king Hezekiah. The story is told in Isaiah 38:1 "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, 3 and said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 4 Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, 5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.38.KJV King Hezekiah was listed as being a good, God-fearing king, who was told that he was going to die. He prayed and God healed him. The story continues that the Babylonians came and 2 Chronicles records in verse 25 "But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2CH.32.KJV  Isaiah 39 continues the story in verse 3, "Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.39.KJV None of that would have happened had Hezekiah set his house in order as he had been instructed to do in the first place. God knows the end from the beginning and He knows what is for our BEST interest. He is trying to save as many people as possible and His instructions in His Word, and His providence are working toward that goal. 

Another example is Job: which makes this even more plain, beginning in Job 2:3 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.2.KJV When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, Satan became the temporary ruler of this earth.  Adam had been the ruler of this earth as is noted in Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV   In Job when Satan comes to present himself before the Lord, he is in effect saying that he is the representative of this world. Job 2:1 "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.2.KJV Notice how Satan had to get permission to touch Job.  Everything that happens to us has to first passed through God's hands, and for whatever reason He has allowed it. The reasons may never be apparent to us in this life. Romans 8 gives us this promise in verses 26-28: 26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.8.KJV 

One day very soon God WILL put an end to all pain, sickness, sin and death.  He has promised in His word. Revelation 21:4 says, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.21.KJV Until then, know that God loves you very much. Whatever you are going through, He WILL help you through it. His promises are sure and they are for everyone.  (Previous blog on Jesus Knows Our Suffering  https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2024/09/jesus-knows-our-suffering.html) 

Quick thought for today

 Thought for today: My father called us the microwave generation. We want everything and we want it right now. We pray for something and get discouraged when it doesn't happen right away. God is testing our faith. His timing is perfect. I have prayed all my adult life for one thing, and just recently have seen the answer to my prayer. God's answer is better than I could ever have imagined. I spent several years in discouragement because I had begun to believe that God heard everyone's else's prayer but mine. The devil is in the DISCOURAGEMENT business. Cling to God; His promises are sure and they are for each of you.