I've never posted in the religion forum before, but I've been thinking about something lately.
I'm probably not the kind of Christian that most folks who post here are, but I do believe in a supreme being. I also believe that Christ existed and did great humanitarian work in his time. I'm not debating that.
What I wonder about is the futility of prayer for a certain outcome. It could be anything from your favorite sports team winning to a loved one recovering from a terminal illness.
The thing is, doesn't God, as an infinately wise and infinately powerful being have a little better of an idea how an even is supposed to turn out than you or I? It seems that God knows what outcome needs to occur and is going to see that it happens regardless of what we pray for.
When I pray, I pray more for qualities such as strength and clarity than for particular outcomes. I can also see praying to express sorrow for one's own personal wrongdoings.
Great question. Praying to me is basically building in my relationship with God. Showing him that I am willing to let him decide my fate.
My favorite verse is Phillipeans 4:6
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I along with many other probably use prayer inappropiately. I have kinda changed the way I pray a bit lately just asking for God's will be done. Cause your right, he does know better.
Praying for me is simply talking to the Lord and spending time with Him. By praying I'm giving Him a chance to show me His view on a situation or allowing Him to be a part of it. The Lord is a gentlemen and loves his children (us) and enjoys attention and being invited into every area of our lives. As far as knowing His will when we pray I like to look up situations I'm going through in the Bible and than pray according to what the Bible says about it. The Bible says to remind God of His Word so I do in obedience to that. If it says He loves me, than He does. If he says to cast my cares on Him because He cares for me, than I believe it and cast my cares. If I'm ina situation where I don't see anyway out I pray "Lord you said in yourWord that you will make a way where there seems to be no way. You said nothing is impossible for you so I put my trust and hope in your ability not mine". I think the more Bible you know the easier it is to pray and fellowship in prayer because you are speaking God's words back to Him.
I can tell you this, God loves to hunt and fish too. He cares about every area of our lives, there is nothing to strange or weird that we can't bring to Him. He made everything so He understands how everything works better than we do. Also He has a good plan for our lives, theBible says inJeremiah "I know the plans I have for you says the Lord plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope!" How awesome is that? If we rememberGod cares aboutevery area of our lives and wecan go toHim with anything, thanits just a matter of talking to Him, reading the Bible and worshiping and getting to know Him better. Just like any relationship it growswith time.
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Mike
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.
I've never posted in the religion forum before, but I've been thinking about something lately.
I'm probably not the kind of Christian that most folks who post here are, Don't kid yourself. None of us are anything apart from Christ.And the minute we think we are we become Pharisees.but I do believe in a supreme being. I also believe that Christ existed and did great humanitarian work in his time. I'm not debating that. ?? Do ya believe that He is the Son of God ?? or just a prophet or good teacher.
What I wonder about is the futilityThe Bible talks about in James 5 of the prayers of a righteous man availing much. ..Such as Elijah who prayed for 7 years of no rain. We are told to be specific in prayer and "Ask what ye will." Jesus said that.Jn 15. of prayer for a certain outcome. It could be anything from your favorite sports team winning to a loved one recovering from a terminal illness. Sports Teams and lottery prayers. Christians are to pray according to God's will.Actualy goes with John 15 "If you abide in me and my Words abide in you." That is a condition. Also goes along with "A righteous man's prayer." A righteous man is one who obeys...or Right Living
The thing is, doesn't God, as an infinately wise and infinately powerful being have a little better of an idea how an even is supposed to turn out than you or I?yes..and He still desires that we ask...because this is an act of faith. We are showing our dependancy upon God.It seems that God knows what outcome needs to occur and is going to see that it happens regardless of what we pray for.
When I pray, I pray more for qualities such as strength and clarity than for particular outcomes.This is good. Some prayers must be like that. I'm entering into a verydifficult teaching year. I can't escape that .Most of my prayers will be for favor with the other staff members , help me with my anger ,and like you said ..to help me to glorify Him through my behavor .andI can also see praying to express sorrow for one's own personal wrongdoings.
AMen..My friend Jesus is more near you .than you can imagine. "He is a very present help in a time of need." God loves you. Jesus is much more than a good man or teacher. Read the following verses carefully my friend to see who Jesus says He is.
John 14:6"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father. 7If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him."
8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need."
9Jesus replied:
Philip, I have been with you for a long time. Don't you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.
VT 1980
God can change the outcome of anything he wants and sometimes we can change his mind.
Such examples are found in the word, such as when God came down to destroy Sodom and gohmorrah.
Abraham interceeded for his nephew LOTand God granted his life.
A certain hebrew King was dying and the prophet Samuel Prayed on his behalf and God extended his life 15 years.
I have such experiences myself where God changed an ovious bad situation and made it to my benefit.
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
welcome VT, i believe all prayer is answered, but i also believe prayer should not be selfish in nature, most prayer, IMO should be giving thanks. what is amazing to me, when i decided to exercise these things in my life, i would have never dreamed or thought i would be where i am today, i believe that if you are a good steward of the gifts God gives, you will be blessed with more than you ever thought possible
Quote:
It could be anything from your favorite sports team winning
i'm getting mixed signals on this one, have you seen the braves this year, neither has anybody else[:-]
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
The thing is, doesn't God, as an infinately wise and infinately powerful being have a little better of an idea how an even is supposed to turn out than you or I? It seems that God knows what outcome needs to occur and is going to see that it happens regardless of what we pray for. your quite right.
11I returned to see under the sun that the swift do not have the race, nor the mighty ones the battle, nor do the wise also have the food, nor do the understanding ones also have the riches, nor do even those having knowledge have the favor; because time and unforeseen occurrence befall them all
God can change the outcome of anything he wants and sometimes we can change his mind.
Such examples are found in the word, such as when God came down to destroy Sodom and gohmorrah.
Abraham interceeded for his nephew LOTand God granted his life.
A certain hebrew King was dying and the prophet Samuel Prayed on his behalf and God extended his life 15 years.
I have such experiences myself where God changed an ovious bad situation and made it to my benefit. Colonel Alex
Somewhere back in time, prayer became synonomous with request.
That's not what it's really supposed to be. It's hard not to pray for a particular outcome. Especially when someone is suffering. Or when your watching the World Cup and the U.S. is getting smashed! But that's not really what prayer is about.
You kinda hit it on the head. It's about asking for strength and wisdom to see what His path for you is. And about asking for forgiveness.
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While you rest, someone, somewhere, is training. When you meet, you will lose.
Is praying for a certain outcome futile?
He cares about every area of our lives, there is nothing to strange or weird that we can't bring to Him. He made everything so He understands how everything works better than we do. Also He has a good plan for our lives, theBible says inJeremiah "I know the plans I have for you says the Lord plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope!" How awesome is that? If we rememberGod cares aboutevery area of our lives and wecan go toHim with anything, thanits just a matter of talking to Him, reading the Bible and worshiping and getting to know Him better. Just like any relationship it growswith time.
