hb2
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Joined: 10/22/2005
Msg: 26 | |
| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 11:41:13 AM | Posted By: grplaman on 10/25/2005 5 51 PM
Subject: Does God answer prayer?
God assures us that everyone of our tears is recorded and He is listening and watching.
I like that point you make. It makes sense then to pray whilst you are having a damn good cry.... I would recommend "Wuthering Heights" as the book alone brought me to tears but I really cried buckets when I watched the movie. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 12:12:54 PM | Lol, that book almost had me in tears too. But not for the same reasons. I just pray I never have to read another Bronte sisters book in this lifetime. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 12:30:38 PM | rdtoo
In my own experience I've found that God does answer prayer.I don't think its in his own time as much as during periods of receptivity.For me that is when I'm walking , listening to music or sitting in nature.I can ask God something and it might takes days to get an answer but thats because of ME not him.I don't picture God saying "well let me get back to you on that".I think God has the answers to ALL our prayers its just a matter of us asking him and interpreting those answers correctly--which sometimes takes time.I think its also based on your motivation-say you want a job for status or money because your materialistic then God will teach you not to be.But if you want a job or mate to provide for your family and love and be happy then the teaching is different there too.So I think that God answers all prayers--no matter how ridiculous-according to what that person needs. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 5:13:45 PM | There are people who 'pray' at football games, no kidding (someone reading this has done this.) People, ALL THE TIME, ask for God to help the team, or the play, or (way worse) to do something bad to a player on another team--even like "God, break that quarterback's leg, please." (That's more about 'prey,' than pray.) My answer is somewhat karmic... praying for harm to another is absurd. Praying for help with something that makes no difference in the well-being of humanity or your family and friends, (that's not the outcome of a sport game), doesn't make sense.
I guess the advice I give, right now, about prayer is:
1. Don't try to make deals. "If you do this, I will..." That, now, seems to me like attempting to bribe God.
2. Ask for honorable purpose.
3. Understand that if your prayer is not answered as you hoped, that you might not know as much as God.
4. And, sometimes (borrowing from JFK) ask not what can do for you, but what you can do for...
Few ideas, for now. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 5:20:50 PM | | just a side note i do pray at football game that i coach not to win but that we should never embark on any endevor without first envoking the blessings of God. I pray for safety of the kids playing and for good sportsmanship and I pray at he end of the game giving him thanks for the chance to be with these young men and for his blessings | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 5:23:20 PM | littletwin: And that is certainly the honorable way to pray about a sport... those are the ones that I think make a difference. Thanks.
Peace. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 6:05:34 PM | Yes, but prayers also require you to partake in the betterment of the situation.
If all you do is expect God to take care of everything just because you pray and give thanks every day, of course nothing will get done...As far as praying for a family member's life in jeopardy or something, that may be out of your hands. If it's "the time" or whatever you wanna call it, you can't stop it. Praying for the strength to make your own prayers come true is something that can be achieved through yourself as well. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 10:08:06 PM | | Littletwin, reading your post I was reminded of the little boy who prayed before he participated in a soap box derby race. His mother asked him if he had prayed to win and he replied "No. I just prayed that I would not cry if I lost". That is probably the proper attitude for prayer. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 10:14:55 PM | Thank you your post has touched me. I never gave what i did a second thought it was the way I was brought up. I love the Lord. I'm not a zelot by no means but I know where my blessings come from and i am so thankful | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 10:23:43 PM | I told this story once before, but I'll say it quick, again.
My grandma and grandpa partly raised me. Very close. Last year my grandma suddenly started doing weird things like moving my grandparents bedroom to another room and giving away important items... she died of a massive heart attact about two weeks later.
My grandpa, a strong man (they had been married 60 years--sixty years married, wow--at that time)... we had been tilling soil for an organic garden weeks before she died. He almost died AT her funeral. Everyone prayed for him, including me. He lived. His health went downhill after my grandma died... he needed meds, started dialasis, etc etc... He was miserable. We prayed. He lived.
We prayed. He almost died many times. He lived. Finally, he was in the hospital and in mostly a coma. My dad called me to say that grandpa is likely going to die in a few hours. Go to the hospital, NOW, if you want to see him. I STOPPED. I THOUGHT. I PRAYED. I asked not that he keep on living, if that isn't what God or he wanted, but rather that his family have a chance to say goodbye to him (and he could tell grandma)...
He came out of a coma for ONE day--the day many people, family and friends, came to see him. Although he had gone weeks without knowing where he was, he knew everyone THAT DAY. My child, his great grandchild, gave him a flower--in his funny, normal way, he said, 'awwe' sweetie 'beautiful,' and then he stuck the stalk in his mouth and clamped the flower between his teeth.
He died, soon after.
I am thankful, and at peace, with that. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/26/2005 10:28:03 PM | | you know what may ease some of our pain is hell for others I lost a friend the day of his wifes funeral it sounds awful but it was grace Gods love so he would not have to be with out her very long.. Thanks for the post dharma great story | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/27/2005 6:49:28 AM | | I believe that God knows what is in our hearts, and minds,and that he does answer prayers, although it may not be in the way that we expect it, or in the timeframe we demand. And sometimes unanswered prayers turn out to be the biggest blessings in the long run. I believe that God has a plan for all of us, and we just have to have faith that what is meant to be will happen. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/27/2005 6:51:01 PM | Dear Hb2 :
What's that supposed to mean? I never wear a toga any more. I have no pictures either. Where's this going? Get back with details, I can take it...
Ed.. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/28/2005 2:26:33 AM | The Lord is always in the process of answering prayer, but there are times that He requires us to wait. In our fast-paced society, we want (selfish) results. But Jesus taught that we must have a steadfast Holy Spirit in prayer. (Luke 18.1-7)
God's reasons for delay vary, but He invarbly intends for us to benefit by having waited a season.
*Sin and Rebellion* God will withhold an answer if He detects unforgivenes, bitterness, or disobedience, or if He sees unhealthy habits forming in our lives. Our hearts desire may be packaged and ready for delivery, but God cannot send it until we are spiritually ready to receive.
*Faith* The Lord's ultimate goal is to build our faith by teaching us more about Himself. Sometimes He achieves this by postponing an answer to prayer. As we speak to Him of our need and ultimately see Him respond, we learn who He is and how He operates. We also discover that He is always trustworthy.
*Patience* Steadfast prayer requires patience, a trait believers often have to learn. Our sense of the perfect moment for an answer - usually right now -is different from god's. patience allows us to endure until the timing is right.
If we are sincere about developing a steadfast, God-centered prayer life, we will not give up after presenting a single request. We will do as the Lord tells us and keep asking, seeking, and knocking on the door of heaven until He either says no or gives us our hearts desire. We are not bothering God,we are communicating with God our Father.
"All that I do I do unto myself."
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/30/2005 6:41:03 PM | "All that I do I do unto myself."
Maybe. I ask you two questions... "what is ALL' and 'what do you DO" Who do you DO WHAT for? (I keep in mind that 'not doing' can be a way of DOING... [e.g. NOT eating meat is not harming animals, the environment and human health.... but there are many examples] | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/30/2005 7:21:33 PM | Dharma, what a wonderful story (as sad as the circumstances were). Is is possible that prayer has a better chance of being answered if a group of people are praying for the same thing. (Even if there isn't a god/goddess, maybe a group of people can affect the energy around someone)
If prayer causes change, and it does happen, maybe those whose prayers are not being answered are simply not praying properly. And maybe, the prayers of others are getting in the way. If I ask for something, getting what I want will affect someone else so perhaps it is either 1. better I don't get my way for the time being, or 2. someone else can pray better than I. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 10/30/2005 8:56:50 PM | I cannot say how 'prayer works,' but prayer works. The universe works, too. No human understands the universe... too big... too much mystery and beauty...
I cannot explain WHY prayer WORKS, but IT DOES. So, I PRAY. I give thanks and pray... BUT I do not pray to a 'specific' GOD ... I just pray to the highest power (whatever 'name' that is)... and go with that. I don't know the 'name' but I KNOW god IS and does ANSWER prayer is his/her/their way.
And mostly, I get, God is a loving scientist. Who else to invite... and by OP, what might they think and what might they say? | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 7/9/2007 7:00:05 PM | | My thoughts on this topic continue to be challenged. When you are forced to rely on God, you find out alot about prayer and if you really have Faith in God or not. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 7/9/2007 11:14:03 PM | No, sometimes the uncaring universe throws you a bone. The more you pray the more likely you prayed for that bone and will attempt to make a relationship between the two.
But it doesn't mean the bone is any more likely.
Here is a great psychological paper that explains a lot of prayer and other superstitious behavior.
http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Skinner/Pigeon/ | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 7/10/2007 9:58:44 PM | Yes he does, the intent of the prayer any way.
As any parent knows, when their kids turn 16, they want Mommy and Daddy to buy them a car. They say, they need one to get school, get to their part time job etc. What most of us do, is get them a bus pass.
God, will give us strength when we request it, will answer our prayers in regards to goals, but not the way we always want. He gives us what we need to accomplish our goals, nothing more and nothing less. If a bus pass is sufficient, lol, thats what he gives us. The fact that I am impatient, hate waiting for a bus, hate being driven by some one else is not his concern. Its my own problem. I would go crazy with out my car, but that in itself is probably against his will, for it shouldnt matter.
With a mate it is the same way, I think. Its not a requirement for some of us to accomplish what he wants, so that is up to us. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 7/10/2007 10:51:38 PM |
God, will give us strength when we request it, will answer our prayers in regards to goals, but not the way we always want. He gives us what we need to accomplish our goals, nothing more and nothing less. If a bus pass is sufficient, lol, thats what he gives us. The fact that I am impatient, hate waiting for a bus, hate being driven by some one else is not his concern. Its my own problem. I would go crazy with out my car, but that in itself is probably against his will, for it shouldnt matter.
This is a really complicated way of saying "no" | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 7/10/2007 11:12:16 PM | Last night on TV I saw one of the most horrifying things I have seen. It was a girl who had battery acid thrown on her. She was being interviewed on the news. It was hard to look as her face was barely recognizable as a face. I decided that the next time I grumble about some of the petty things I pray about that do not seem to be answered, I need to pray for someone like this.
Nice to see you Dunrich. | |
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 7/11/2007 12:28:33 AM | I lived with a husband who was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer in
1986 and was given 6 months to live .
He went to the doctors and took their meds, blood work , but he never accepted their diagnoses . He asked for prayer and stood in line for pray at church often .
He lived untill 2004 and he didnot die from the blood cancer .
I think all because of his faith and prayers of the people .
I personally know God answers prayers for me also . Yes !
He maynot answer right away or as fast as you think He should .
The prayer has to be in accord to His will also .
You have to remember Satan is the God of this world so the only line of communication we have to God is through prayer and meditations,
otherwise your at the mercy of satan and all his demonic host .
The words says if we regard iniquity in our heart God willnot hear us .
Good thread topic .... GBY
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| Does God answer prayer?
Posted: 7/11/2007 7:39:18 AM | I knew an atheist who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the 80's. I'm sure he may have had some people praying for him, I really don't know/remember.
He went into remission and he's still going strong today (and still an atheist). I've heard similar stories from people of other faiths, but that particular story is the one I am most intimately familiar with. I've personally just never seen any huge correlation between good/bad stuff happening vs the amount of prayer or what religion you happen to be.
If the answers are 1)yes 2)no or 3)later; it would seem that one could pray to pretty much anything with the same results (I believe that Alcoholics Anonymous even capitalizes on this aspect).
Prayer isn't one of my stronger suites, but the question of whether it "works" or not is really a moot point as far as I'm concerned. If it gives a little bit of comfort when you feel things are out of your control, then I think that is probably the most important part. | |
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