29 replies to this topic

[FOOSE1]

This is mainly for people who do pray but feel free to add your thoughts as you wish.We are called by GOD to pray. Not because we need to, because GOD already knows our hearts and thoughts, but because GOD wants to have a personal relationship with us. So to me, when I pray, I do not use fancy words or phrases. I do not drop on my knees with folded hands as depicted in movies. I pray where I am no matter where that is . . . in my car, the shower, at work . . . etc . . . etc. I use my normal speech even if it is not "proper". I express my emotions whether that be joy, sadness or even anger. Yes . . . it is OK to let GOD know that you are angry or frustrated. He knows anyway, why not tell him right? But getting to the meat of this topic . . . does prayer really work? How can you tell?There are many examples in the Bible where GOD has answered prayer. But let's think about our own lives for a second. Has GOD ever answered your prayers? Some people will say yes to this question and some will say no. But we need to look at how we interpret if GOD really answered our prayers or not. So how can we measure if GOD really answered our prayers? First we need to decide how GOD answers them, then we need to apply that conclusion to our own life and finally reference back to examples in the bible.Let’s first look at how GOD answers prayers. Does he answer specific prayers? How does he answer them? When does he answer them? How will we know when they are answered? These are all very good questions I have been asked in the past. Let’s first look to see if he answers specific prayers. Well the answer is really not cut and dry because frankly we just do not know how GOD works. If we pray to win the lottery for example . . . there is a pretty good chance that GOD will not answer that prayer for us. But if we ask for GOD to show us ways to improve our financial status then that prayer may be answered. But how and when will he answer them? The brutal fact is sometimes GOD answers our prayers and we don’t even realize it. This is because he answers them in the way HE feels is the best and not the way WE feel is the best. In addition he answers in HIS timing and not OUR timing. I will use a personal example for this one. I was in a high stress position with a company for ten years. The company was really struggling financially and it was causing me a great deal of stress, some of which I took home to my family. It was causing me to be very irritable and touchy with my family, which obviously caused me to say some things I regret. This went on for well over a year. For this entire time I prayed for GOD to help me. I asked for him to help our company financially. I asked for him to help me relieve some of my stress. Well next thing I know the company is going into bankruptcy and I get laid off. On the surface it appears that GOD did not answer my prayers. BUT . . . I believe he did! You see after the company was discharged from bankruptcy they were actually a lot healthier. And although I went through one of the hardest times in my life while I was unemployed for 8 weeks, I eventually found another job in my industry and have never been happier in my life. I now work for a great, healthy company and my stress level is almost nonexistent. This not only helped me mentally but it helped me to be a better father and husband to my family. So although he didn’t exactly answer my prayers in the way I thought. He knew what was best for me in the long run and gave me exactly what I prayed for!To me it is simple now. I know that GOD is listening when I speak. When I pray I know he hears me. I also know that he knows what’s best for me. So even though he doesn’t answer me sometimes the way I envision it, he stills answers. So what is a good biblical example of this? I always think about the story of Abraham. He prayed for children with his wife Sarah. Now GOD could have snapped his fingers and instantly given Abraham a child. But he didn’t. It was not until Abraham was 99 years old did Sarah become pregnant with a son. (He did have another son from Hagar but that is a different story). I’m sure both Sarah and Abraham doubted what GOD had promised them in prayer (it says so) and I am sure that they even thought it was funny that GOD waited so long (it says that too) but it does show that GOD will answer in his own time and way.In conclusion, I believe that GOD does answer our prayers. I think sometimes it is hard to recognize his answers because of our narrow sighted view. Sometimes his answers are not our own and even do not make sense. But I do feel it works if we take off our blinders and recognize the whole picture. Thoughts?

[herokid7]

Good post. Prayer defintely works, even though we may not understand God's answers. I agree very much that God wants us to communicate with Him, because He wants a relationship with us, He wants to hear our thoughts, concerns, and our triumphs. I believe He even wants to hear us when we are angry with Him. That's all part of a growing relationship. Good job, this forum needs more posts like this.

[copernicus]

"On the surface it appears that GOD did not answer my prayers. BUT . . . I believe he did! You see after the company was discharged from bankruptcy they were actually a lot healthier. And although I went through one of the hardest times in my life while I was unemployed for 8 weeks, I eventually found another job in my industry and have never been happier in my life. I now work for a great, healthy company and my stress level is almost nonexistent. This not only helped me mentally but it helped me to be a better father and husband to my family. So although he didn’t exactly answer my prayers in the way I thought. He knew what was best for me in the long run and gave me exactly what I prayed for!"Ahhhhh, so all of your education, hard work, experience and diligence in finding another job would have been for nought without prayer.

[DerekTah]

When I pray other than forgivness I don't ask for anything.I see prayer as a personal communication with god, not a "can you do this and that for me please"

[Jerry_Lundegaard]

Honest question here... so if GOD answered your prayer, what would have happened if you hadn't prayed? The business would have stayed intact, and you would have kept the job?Or would the same thing of happened anyway, because that's what GOD wants? In that case why pray? If the events "caused" by your prayer would have occured anway I dont think we can say GOD answered your prayer, in any way, shape, or form.

[FOOSE1]

Jerry_Lundegaard, on Monday, May 1st, 2006, 5:31 PM, said:

Honest question here... so if GOD answered your prayer, what would have happened if you hadn't prayed? The business would have stayed intact, and you would have kept the job?I have a personal relationship with GOD. Therefore I pray daily. What would have happened if I hadn't prayed? Hard to say . . . the outcome could have been the same anyway. BUT . . . it is my relationship with GOD that helps me through diversity. When I am faced with a challenge I talk to GOD and look to him for guidance. In this instance I was miserable in my job. It was changing the way I felt and acted. I asked GOD for help. TO ME . . . he answered my prayers by getting me out of that job and into another one. Just like any other point one can make about GOD . . . It is by my FAITH that I believe prayer works.Or would the same thing of happened anyway, because that's what GOD wants? In that case why pray? If the events "caused" by your prayer would have occured anway I dont think we can say GOD answered your prayer, in any way, shape, or form.Why pray? Because I choose to have that relationship with GOD. Will your life go on if you don't pray? Absolutely. We are given Free Will to do as we wish. We don't have to pray if we don't want to. We don't have to beliieve at all if we don't want to. However, GOD wants that personal relationship with us. I choose to believe my prayers were answered because I believe what GOD has said to us all in his word.

[FOOSE1]

DerekTah, on Monday, May 1st, 2006, 4:26 PM, said:

When I pray other than forgivness I don't ask for anything.I see prayer as a personal communication with god, not a "can you do this and that for me please"

It's not bad to ask for things in prayer. There again . . . if you ask to win the lottery . . . don't count on it . But the bible is clear on prayer.Matthew 7:8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."Mark 11:24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.John 16:24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.James 4:3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.*** This one addresses why we can't win the lottery . . . lol . . . ***1 John 3:22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

[FOOSE1]

copernicus, on Monday, May 1st, 2006, 2:22 PM, said:

"On the surface it appears that GOD did not answer my prayers. BUT . . . I believe he did! You see after the company was discharged from bankruptcy they were actually a lot healthier. And although I went through one of the hardest times in my life while I was unemployed for 8 weeks, I eventually found another job in my industry and have never been happier in my life. I now work for a great, healthy company and my stress level is almost nonexistent. This not only helped me mentally but it helped me to be a better father and husband to my family. So although he didn’t exactly answer my prayers in the way I thought. He knew what was best for me in the long run and gave me exactly what I prayed for!"Ahhhhh, so all of your education, hard work, experience and diligence in finding another job would have been for nought without prayer.

Of course my education, hard work, etc. had something to do with it. It's not like I sit there, pray and expect GOD to take care of it all while I sit back and do nothing. Just because I believe in prayer doesn't mean that I don't live a normal life and make my own choices. I just choose to pray through my choices and trust that GOD will help me through the good times and the bad. And yes I believe that GOD answered my prayers in this instance.

[copernicus]

FOOSE1, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, 9:03 AM, said:

Of course my education, hard work, etc. had something to do with it. It's not like I sit there, pray and expect GOD to take care of it all while I sit back and do nothing. Just because I believe in prayer doesn't mean that I don't live a normal life and make my own choices. I just choose to pray through my choices and trust that GOD will help me through the good times and the bad. And yes I believe that GOD answered my prayers in this instance.

I didnt ask if they had something to do with it, I asked if they would not have been sufficient without prayer.And re your other post, I think you meant he helps you through ADversity, not DIversity...at least I hope so.Ajd re your subtitle to the thread...How can we tell?....Youve answered that question yourself..you cant.

[FOOSE1]

copernicus, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, 6:40 AM, said:

I didnt ask if they had something to do with it, I asked if they would not have been sufficient without prayer.And re your other post, I think you meant he helps you through ADversity, not DIversity...at least I hope so.Ajd re your subtitle to the thread...How can we tell?....Youve answered that question yourself..you cant.

Thank you for correcting my grammar - yes I meant adversity.For someone like you . . . your right . . . you can't tell because you have no Faith. I myself have Faith. That's what it boils down to. I could live my entire life not believing or not praying at all and I would live a normal life. But I choose by Faith to believe in GOD and believe in prayer. I do believe in prayer. I have noticed a difference in my life since spending more time with GOD in prayer. If you don't agree that's just fine with me. We could sit here and argue all day about whether or not prayer works. To me, in my life, it works . . . plain and simple. To answer your question, would it have been sufficient? We'll never know because I prayed during that time and also had people praying for me.

[DerekTah]

FOOSE1, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, 4:41 AM, said:

It's not bad to ask for things in prayer. There again . . . if you ask to win the lottery . . . don't count on it . But the bible is clear on prayer.Matthew 7:8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."Mark 11:24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.John 16:24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.James 4:3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.*** This one addresses why we can't win the lottery . . . lol . . . ***1 John 3:22and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.

I think it is a bad thing to ask for certain things. Its one thing to ask "please be with me for I am scared and at a crisis" and another thing to say "I want everyone to be ok and to never have problems and for my family to get rich and for a Tonka truck and...."Alot of people believe that when we pray, its so we get stuff or so we can change god's mind on an issue. Doesn't help that certain people do actually pray that way (looking at certain evalangists on TV).

[rkard]

I see guys praying all the time in Football (soccer) matches and then they end up losing. So, I suppose if they pray to lose then it does work, but what if their teammates prayed to win. Does it work like a democracy?

[FOOSE1]

DerekTah, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, 8:59 AM, said:

I think it is a bad thing to ask for certain things. Its one thing to ask "please be with me for I am scared and at a crisis" and another thing to say "I want everyone to be ok and to never have problems and for my family to get rich and for a Tonka truck and...."Alot of people believe that when we pray, its so we get stuff or so we can change god's mind on an issue. Doesn't help that certain people do actually pray that way (looking at certain evalangists on TV).

I agree 100%. That's why I threw James 4:3 in there. The purpose of prayer is not for "stuff". TV Evangelists are the worst and most, in my eyes, are hypocrites.James 4:3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.When I said it is OK to ask for things . . . I wasn't referring to money or possessions. I was simply saying that it is OK to request things from GOD as in guidance, health, etc. But we must also know that GOD's will, will be done.

[DNIQUE420]

God is great with out him I wouldn't be the person i am today i challenge anyone to pray...after prayer it feels like a weight has been taken off your shoulders...

[FOOSE1]

rkard, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, 9:00 AM, said:

I see guys praying all the time in Football (soccer) matches and then they end up losing. So, I suppose if they pray to lose then it does work, but what if their teammates prayed to win. Does it work like a democracy?

Selfish prayers are not answered . . . James 4:3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives . . .

[copernicus]

FOOSE1, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, 12:39 PM, said:

Thank you for correcting my grammar - yes I meant adversity.For someone like you . . . your right . . . you can't tell because you have no Faith. I myself have Faith. That's what it boils down to. I could live my entire life not believing or not praying at all and I would live a normal life. But I choose by Faith to believe in GOD and believe in prayer. I do believe in prayer. I have noticed a difference in my life since spending more time with GOD in prayer. If you don't agree that's just fine with me. We could sit here and argue all day about whether or not prayer works. To me, in my life, it works . . . plain and simple. To answer your question, would it have been sufficient? We'll never know because I prayed during that time and also had people praying for me.

Then why post with ?'s, you have the answers and dont want to discuss them.

[DerekTah]

FOOSE1, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, 9:16 AM, said:

I agree 100%. That's why I threw James 4:3 in there. The purpose of prayer is not for "stuff". TV Evangelists are the worst and most, in my eyes, are hypocrites.James 4:3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.When I said it is OK to ask for things . . . I wasn't referring to money or possessions. I was simply saying that it is OK to request things from GOD as in guidance, health, etc. But we must also know that GOD's will, will be done.

Well, I'm glad we are both in agreement, its just the outside view is "Christians pray to get stuff their way" (including one poster who made a comment about those type of prayers). I think its important to show that when we pray, its not just give me this and that. Most prayer is simply to give thanks without asking for anything.

[speedz99]

http://www.nytimes.c...cf3709b&ei=5070Interesting stuff. I would have thought at least the people being prayed for would do a LITTLE better because of their belief that the prayer would help (mind over matter and all that). Turns out prayer does absolutely nothing in this case.I'm not saying prayer isn't great if it helps you out personally and enriches your life in some way...but to say that God really does anything about it is pretty silly...no? FOOSE?

[copernicus]

speedz99, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006, 4:17 PM, said:

http://www.nytimes.c...cf3709b&ei=5070Interesting stuff. I would have thought at least the people being prayed for would do a LITTLE better because of their belief that the prayer would help (mind over matter and all that). Turns out prayer does absolutely nothing in this case.I'm not saying prayer isn't great if it helps you out personally and enriches your life in some way...but to say that God really does anything about it is pretty silly...no? FOOSE?

God refuses to participate in any scientific studies.

[cu in 4years Dan]

i believe it does work. i have prayed for so many things in my life and would like to share one with you now.about 4 years ago my father was having a huge operation on his neck.there were complications this way and that and after about 8 hours of surgery done, the doc came out and told us that he was almost 100% not going to make it.of course my mother and my whole family (about 35 of us) broke down in fear and sadness. everyone was everywhere and no one knew what to do.then a voice inside me told me to pray, so I did. I prayed for about 30 min without stopping. about 2 hours after i prayed my dad was going to be alright. his blood pressure leveled his breathing was ok and everything was cool. he was out of the hospital days later.thats what I call a miricle prayer