Ive been told by all of the Christians on this site that a) God has a plan, and this plan is already written out. It cannot be changed. b) God is omniscient and knows everything you think and feel.
With those being "facts" of the religion, what point is there to praying for another person? (I am asking about praying for others SPECIFICALLY, because I already know that praying for personal reasons really does work...the subconcious is an amazing tool...) What I mean is - God has a plan right? And that plan is for Person A to die a miserable death at the hands of cancer or some other disease... So why prray about it? God isnt going to change His mind - he cant change it, because it is all "written in His Book."
So why pray? Other than for the obvious selfish reasons (it makes you feel better, etc.) Isnt it really just wasted effort?
2006-10-05 09:50:34 · 14 answers · asked by YDoncha_Blowme 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Inocent_me - I have read the Bible - several times. You, on the other hand, might be better served reading a DICTIONARY. You dont even have INMNOCENT spelled correctly! How can I take anything you say seriously when you come offf as being uneducated?
2006-10-05 10:04:43 · update #1
INNOCENT. darn fat fingers....
2006-10-05 10:05:13 · update #2
Prayer is an instrument not to change God's will or to suggest an alternate perspective, but rather a tool to change one's own heart. God has placed whatever circumstances in our lives for our greater sanctification - the ultimate goal of God's will.
3For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
1 Thessalonians 4:3
2006-10-05 10:12:54 · answer #1 · answered by sporkscalamity 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here again, asking these questions. It is a fair enough question, though. And I will try to spell correctly; hopefully my fingers will not slip as sometimes happens.
I am not sure what to say other than what has been said. God has a plan which is based upon His omniscience. Through His omniscience, God knows before hand if we will choose to pray for someone or not; those prayers are answered, but they are answered according to how God desires to answer them for our good. That is to address the question of why some prayers do not seem to be answered; they are answered, but not always the way we wanted them to be.
Now, we have the choice to pray or not to pray. There is power in prayer, because God will, according to His plan, cause or allow to happen all things. But His plan includes responses to our prayers. We have the option of praying, and based upon what God already knows, in other words if we are going to pray or not, His plan is made. Therefore, when we pray, which God already knew, God's plan includes a response to that prayer. If we do not pray, which God already knew, then His plan does not include a response to that prayer.
In addition, we are talking about omniscience, a topic that we really cannot comprehend. We don't really know how it all works.
But we are told to pray, and we are told that there is power in prayer. My above explanation was given so that those who are logical thinkers may have a system to think through the process that makes sense to them. I believe what I have said does have truth, and is viable. However, I also accept that the reality of God's truth is complex beyond what I can comprehend, let alone explain.
For a Christian, or any believer, what it comes down to is faith. We have faith that we are to pray, that there is power in prayer, and that God hears and answers each prayer. If for no other reason, we should pray to be obedient.
2006-10-05 14:48:14 · answer #2 · answered by hisnamesaves 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To speak to God is a wasted effort? I think you need to straighten out what you think is important in this life. Yes we pray for others to help them over come things, but of course you can only do the will of the lord. but, there are times if you don't pray and have faith, why would god save or make you better when you don't have faith. knowing that if you would of just prayed you could of helped someone in need or saved them.
The plan is a plan of happiness, Not everything is set in stone, we do have agency, that is a gift from god and no one can take that away. You choose your destination, god doesn't.
2006-10-05 09:58:48 · answer #3 · answered by kimber g 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
neh, you've been told a heresy by certain protestants. the future is non-deterministic... in other words, outcomes are not absolutely determined for us (otherwise there is no free will). God IS omniscient, but that is because God does not exist within the physical universe and is therefore unbound by time. in other words, the entire temporal existance of the universe is an eternal now to God's perspective
2006-10-05 09:53:46 · answer #4 · answered by promethius9594 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If He cares for you, He answers your prayers, in His time. If you pray for a better job, it might come later on down the line, but it happens. Sickness reigns on the just and the unjust. If someone has cancer and they are to die a terrible death, how do you know it wouldnt be a lot worse if you HADNT prayed? There was a little girl named Jessica that lived next door to my mother. Her parents did all they could do to help save her life, but in the end, she lost her battle to cancer. Do you know how many people that little girl inspired? Thousands. Do you know why? She told everyone she wasnt afraid to die, because she knew Jesus would take care of her. Everyone prayed for her,and she didnt die a horrible death. She dies in her bed, at home, with her mommy and daddy and sister next to her, in her sleep. And, yes, they were sad, but they knew that she had done much more in her lifetime than most people will ever do. Because 1. she had faith and 2. that faith was fueled by prayer. And I truly believe her and her parents' prayers were answered.
2006-10-05 10:02:47 · answer #5 · answered by Hurray for the ANGELS! 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it seems to me u dont believe in god u should pray cuz it is god u gives u every breath
and wakes you every morning so u should be thankful 4 another day of living god doesnt have to keep u alive but he does cuz he knows you have a porposed on this earth so he lets you live. so start praying and believing in god so that when your day comes to go u r already bless and ur name will b written in the book of life and u shall go to heaven. and must of all u should pray and ask for forgivness.amen
2006-10-05 09:58:37 · answer #6 · answered by inocent me 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when i prayed for my dad .. i knew he was dying
i did not pray for him to be miraculously made well
but for his suffering to ease
he died 2 days later ... his heart just stopped ( unrelated to his illness ) and he had such a beautiful smile on his face
now .. prayer i dont feel can change what is meant to be
but it can perhaps do a couple of things
give us some comfort that we are trying our best for others ...
and if our prayers " are " heard .. then the best will be done for that person
2006-10-05 09:54:59 · answer #7 · answered by Peace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our praying and him answering our prayers is part of the plan
2006-10-05 10:05:23 · answer #8 · answered by wisdom 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i agree.
but in my opinion, i don't believe praying works.
any time i've ever prayed it hasn't worked so i just decided never to do it again. and so now i'm an atheist. and don't believe in any of that stuff
2006-10-05 09:55:10 · answer #9 · answered by Rexy 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yup.
2006-10-05 09:53:40 · answer #10 · answered by S K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋