Bumping up this thread because of an epiphany I had in Bible study today.
So many come to our boards and basically say that they don't believe in God because God doesn't answer their prayers. Well these two scripture came forward to me today...
James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
and
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
So basically the Bible is telling us that "greedy prayers" will not be answered. I also understand where God is coming from with the covetousness being the same as idolatry. Have you seen people who are fixated on one item? They pretty much worship that item, once I get that item then everything will be perfect, I will be completely happy, nothing will ever go wrong again.
Amazing how the Bible always has the answers!