What is the meaning of prayer?

Question

I've been taught that God has a plan for each of us. Then what is the use of prayer? Why should I pray for someone when God has chosen what is going to happen to them anyway? Why should I ask God to change his plans?

Answer 1

Does prayer work? Hundreds of millions prayed for God to stop Hitler, but God did nothing and 30 million+ died. Either God is heartless, powerless, both, or does not exist at all.

Answer 2

These are questions concerning predestination vs free-will. God works in mysterious ways. On the one hand we are taught God has preordained what will happen to us, whether we will be saved and go to Heaven or not. On the other we are led to believe that just as Adam and Eve had the free will to disobey God and sin or remain faithful we also are faced with choices to make that will ultimately determine our eternal state of being.

Perhaps what God has really determined is that we are to make up our own minds about our choices in life and eternity, all the while He is hoping we make the right decisions. I don't know how He works but I do know He has certain expectations of us. One of which is to pray steadfastly. Just because He is all knowing, which includes the future, He still wants us to communicate our wants and needs to Him. We do that through prayer.

Some are so great at prayer that they are called "prayer warriors." I think that means their prayers have a way of getting answered. My late Mother was one of those individuals. When someone was sick or in need I always called upon Mom to pray. And many times, actually more times than I can remember, her prayers were answered in a short while. I truly believe she was in direct communication with the Lord. And her passing was the most serene and inspiring I have ever witnessed. She seemed more to simply leave us than die.

I guess the answer to your question is: you should pray not only FOR the person you feel you need to pray for, but also to build up your own faith. To strengthen your faith. I know the conversation will seem one sided, but remember the more fervent your prayers the more it will seem He is listening.

Even Jesus prayed. In fact He left us with a wonderful prayer in which we can address many issues. lt is called the "Lord's Prayer," as you may know. Good luck to you Friend.

Answer 3

Prayer can also be called spiritual warfare. Actually the whole reason for prayer is to bring about a change in the way things are.

God does have a plan for each or us, doesn't mean to say it is going to happen. Anymore than you make perfect plans but things get in the way of it.

So God's plans, which are the best for you, can be prevented by your own self will, by demonic activity, by your insensitivity to the Holy Spirit prompting you to do something.

So prayer is asking for help to be sensitive to God's leading in your life or someone else's. It is asking for help to be more obedient and trusting and it is rebuking the enemy who may be trying to stop God's best plan for your life.

That is a very simplified answer, there are many aspects to prayer

Answer 4

There are many types of prayer. There is formal prayer with memorized words (like the "Our Father" prayer). There is prayer of petition where we ask God for things we want or need. There is prayers of praise and gratitude just thanking God for all He has given us, etc so prayer varies according to the person praying. Yes, God has a plan for each and everyone of us but you also need to keep in mind that God has given us all free will. We are free to chose our path, even if it is in direct contradiction to that which God would have us go. When you pray for yourself and/or someone else, you are asking God to show you/them His will for our lives and help us to do His will. God has not deliberately chosen for any one of His children to fall into sin and make bad choices in life. Its not God's plan you are changing, but asking for a change of heart or mind of the person so as to be in conformity with God's Holy plan.

Answer 5

Have you heard of intercessory prayer? It's like when Abraham talked to God about saving Sodom and Gomorah. God wasn't able to do so cuz part of the deal was to find enough righteous people there. You see, that prayer revealed Abraham's heart. God knew that there wasn't enough righteous people to save those 2 cities, but you could almost hear the sigh of relief as we all saw how far Abraham had come with his walk with God.
So, maybe it is God's plan for you to pray for that person and that person be healed because of that prayer to show God's glory.

Answer 6

You aren't asking him to change his plans. Prayer is communicating. You have a personal relationship with God and you can't just ignore Him. There are some excellent books about prayer, the importance of it, and what it does. Check them out at your local Christian bookstore.

Answer 7

Just because God has a plan in mind for each of us doesn't mean each of us will necessarily follow it. Example: If someone kills a child, that's obviously not in God's plan. What we are in fact praying for is for God to reveal His plan to us. And even though He knows the decisions we'll make, they're still ours to make since we have free will.

Answer 8

Prayer is simply talking to God.

Answer 9

I believe that people who study magic ultimately come to the concusion that the best magic is no magic at all. Prayer is a form of magic.

However, some of the mystery schools teach that the purposes of prayer are praise, thanks and adoration. And if prayer is an expression of love, why would God not honor it?

Answer 10

Prayer is talking to God like you would to a friend. What's the use of talking to a friend?