Did They Not Pray Hard Enough

[Tonus]

It's because you gave an example of you just asking God without seeking or knocking.

I would note that in our exchange, including this reply to me, you have not provided any explanation of what is involved in "seeking" or "knocking" that is any different from "asking."

It is a Map to a Guide. God tells you to A/S/K for the Holy Spirit. The Indewellment of the Holy Spirit puts you in direct contact with God.

But the lord's prayer, which you use below as a specific way of "asking," does not include a request for holy spirit. And I don't get the "map to a guide" part. Why does god seem to try so hard to remain distant from people? Couldn't he have just provided a guide?

God only ever interacted with Adam and His prophets. Now God the Holy Spirit directly interacts with everyone!! what are you talking about?

God interacted with the nation of Israel, he interacted with the nation of Egypt, he interacted with every nation that saw his hand take direct action in favor or against them. Now he interacts "directly" through a third party? Do you understand what "directly" means?

That is why you have been told to A/S/K. When you do God will directly interact with you.

He'll interact directly, but in a non-direct manner. That's... not direct.

No, the Holy Spirit, The aspect of God who inspired the bible will write it's precepts on your heart. Where the bible comes in it to help us discern if the message on our hearts is from God or from someone else.

So we verify the veracity of the message in our hearts by using a book that is notoriously open to interpretation?

That's a curious statement. Do you consider yourself free from sin and the law?

Yes as does the rest of Christianity.

In what way? Do you not sin?

You Ask in Modeled/The Lord's Prayer

The lord's prayer doesn't ask for guidance or holy spirit. The lord's prayer sounds like something you use once you have faith and belief in god and accept his sovereignty.

You Seek Understanding in the bible, By asking questions in places like this, in church, and one on one with those who are willing to study, and you know by repeating the process over and over again. (It's a life time process, I am still A/S/K)

This dismisses the experiences of those of us who worshiped god devoutly for many years before realizing that he wasn't there. As I said before in this topic, if you believe that A/S/K has to work if it's 'done right' then the only explanation for those who did not find god is that they must not have done it right.

But as this conversation shows, there really isn't much to the process. So either the process is unnecessarily difficult and designed to turn people away from god, or it's a construct of men who found it a way to separate the wheat from the chaff in a manner that was convenient to their personal or socio-political goals.