What exactly is prayer for?

Question

God has a plan right? Is prayer to ask God to change his plan because we think we have a better idea? And why pray for the dead? Isn't their fate pretty much decided or can we get a bad person let out of eternal damnation if enough of us plead for his release? How does it work exactly?

Answer 1

A serious question! Thank you!
The only "modern" theologian to give it philosophical "heft" was Karl Barth. And, I have to say, the weakest part of his exposition has to do with the issue of "petition", or "intercessory" prayer.

Some people use prayer to ask God for more faith, enlightenment, and such. Other use the opportunity to praise God or in general to be in "contact" with Him.

Then there is the "gimme/takeaway" category - that's the "please cure cancer," "pay my bills," "make Harry stop drinking," "send Martha to heaven," etc. This is the part I think you're referring to and I do think it's dodgy. Outside of the various requirements for it from the deity's reps, it doesn't make much sense at all.

Answer 2

Hi Chris,

Prayer is communication between you and God. And remember communication is essential for a relationship to grow. You can chat with God in a prayer about your Problems, what you really want etc. Remember you may pray to get a bicycle but God will give you a Motorbike. Just ensure your motives for what you want..or what God want....remember it is His will and he will give you something if you really need it. If you Pray for the dead you ask God to have mercy on a person. Remember He is a God of Love and if that person gave his Heart to Jesus a long time ago he will be saved.

Plz read the book Matthew where Jesus talked about the prayer etc. And the book of James ( how a Christian must behave etc.)

Good Luck
Mossie

Answer 3

God does have a plan, but man has free will. Prayer is not to change Gods mind, Prayer is to align yourself with Gods plan. I could ask God for something that He knows would ruin my life, so when I pray for anything or anyone, I always end my request with" not my will Lord but yours be done." If I can believe I am in Gods will for my life, then I can be content. Praying for the dead to lessen their time of torment is not found in the Bible. This is just one more convenient, appealing, invention of a denomiination to attract converts. One day, all these people who have invented religious plans and practices that are supposed to enhance their beliefs will answer for their misleading.

Answer 4

Praying is your time to talk to God about what is on your mind. Yes, God already knows everything but he wants to hear it from you, in the one on one time with Him. When the Lord returns & picks the chosen ones the people who have already passed on will be included in this new coming. You can pray that your loved ones that have passed on will be in heaven with you, that would be a reason to pray for the dead, not that their fate is pretty much decided.
Do you realize that when you are sitting in your room and you ask a question out loud even though you are alone, if you have then you have spoken to God.

Answer 5

1) Communication with GOD
2) No need to pray for the dead EC 9:5
3)Pray for the living there the ones that are suffering

Answer 6

God is all powerful and all knowing. He knows what you need before you ask it. Nevertheless, just because He knows does not absolve you of your need to fellowship with Him. Prayer is a two-way street. Our Lord Jesus showed the disciples how to pray...(1) He first acknowledged God for who He was -- holy and above man, and who man was...(2) He thanked the Father...(3) He petitioned the Father...but only those things that are in the Will of God. What is the Will of God, you ask? To the believer in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to indwell you, and minister to you. As you read the Bible, it becomes real and living in your life...when you pray, you begin to understand God's nature...He speaks Truth to your mind. God is at work all around us, but many fail to see or recognize it. The closer you draw near to God, the closer He will draw near to you. You begin to understand His nature...His Will in your life. God seeks our fellowship, but will not coerce us...the choice to follow Jesus is by faith alone...and is the only way to please the Father. And, finally, we as Christians who seek to be Christlike, pray because our Lord prayed...we love the Lord and pray out of obedience...out of love.
As for the dead...I do not pray for them...who does? Their opportunity to have faith and thus eternal life is over. If you read Rev. 20:11-15 you will see where the dead will be, and get a glimpse of where we will all be someday. Once the faithless are thrown -- yes thrown -- into the lake of fire after satan and the beast, there is no hope of escape...there is no hope for mercy and grace...there will be eternal wailing and gnashing of teeth...it will be unbearable and unrelenting. No wonder then, in the subsequent verses, the faithful show exceeding joy as Jesus is finally revealed, and their salvation is made complete.

Answer 7

Prayer is talking to God, and doesnt have to always be asking for something. Praying for the dead is futile.We should pray to God in Jesus name.

Answer 8

Pray is a connection to our creator. Its the way to communicate with our father. You dont have to get onyour knees light candles and hum anything you just talk to him as if your talking to you friend your parent. Talk with him ask him questions. That is the only way to ge to know him and to read your bible. Prayer is power. If you dont call out to God how do you expect him to answer you? Prayer is just communication with our Father.Its not some magical thing were you just pray for it and it's gonna happen. Some of my greatest answers to prayers were the ones unanswered. God is so God, talk to him daily and you will hear Him more. He knows your heart and wants and desires. But He wants you !and he wants to talk to you. Its quit simple : )

Answer 9

No where in the bible does it say to pray for the dead. This is a superstition of some religions who do not refer to the bible as the only source of God's word.

Prayer is a way to align our hearts with God. It is a way to be in communication, an intimate relationship with God, through His son. The bible tells us we can come before the throne of grace to obtain mercy....because of what Jesus did on the cross.

We pray because Jesus told us to! He said, cast your cares on God, because He cares for you. We are told to bring our requests before God with thanksgiving. Prayer is not something I do to manipulate God. In His own words, God says He is not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

The most powerful prayers are those that I offer to God and use His own words in praying for another. I did it when praying for my father's salvation....and after ten years of praying, four days before by father died, he said yes to Jesus Christ.

I think it's less important to know how prayers work exactly (and I don't mean you shouldn't ask the question)...than to pray fervently, and unceasingly. Because He asks us to, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Answer 10

Prayer is a wondeful avenue by which we can communicate with Jehovah, almighty God. Just think of that! You can communicate with God himself! He wants us to have a friendship with him. Have you not read Jesus' model prayer? He said to pray for God's will to be done in heaven and on earth. That's not praying for our plans to take place, but Gods.