Intercessionary prayer is by definition a request for god to do something different to that which he is currently doing - for example to help your parent with cancer into remission. If you maintain that god is perfect, it seems like prayer is redundant, since whatever he's doing is necessarily already for the best. In fact it could even be considered an insult, to question his judgement. So why do theists pray and what's the reasoning behind doing so?
2006-10-06 11:43:24 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Fireball: So was god going to do the wrong thing if you hadn't prayed for him?
Pudding: It's both, variant spellings. And being a human spellcheck would hardly be adding to the debate even if you were right.
2006-10-06 11:54:02 · update #1
I've no idea which answer to choose here - so I'll turn it over to a vote.
2006-10-09 02:00:10 · update #2
HE wants us to communicate-- we do.
Sometimes HE says YES!
Often NO.
HIS WILL, BE DONE.
2006-10-06 11:45:30 · answer #1 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
God showed us the value of intercessory prayer in the bible at the Wedding of caana. At the wedding, the servants ran out of wine and were afraid to tell their master for fear of punishment (Because in those days it was embarrassing for the groom to run out of wine at his wedding); so they went to Mary the mother of Jesus for advise because she was known to be kind and wise. She told Jesus that they needed His help. He replied that His time had not come yet (meaning His time to begin His public miracles). But Mary said to them anyway that they should do as Jesus says. That is when Jesus told them to fill the jugs with water and He turned it into wine (the best of the evening).
So you see, here they asked Mary to intercede and she turned to Jesus and asked on their behalf and he did it. This shows us not only the power of intercessory prayer, but also how even when Jesus had not planned on doing what was asked of Him, He still did it because he was asked in faith. Mary's great faith was demonstrated by her perseverance in asking Jesus to help even though He had said he wasn't ready to, and her confidence that He would comply.
Intercessory prayer is very efficacious whether you ask someone you know to pray with you and for you, or if you ask someone who is in heaven to do the same. (They will hear you in Heaven if you ask with your heart, and the fact that you ask someone to pray with you and for you demonstrates your faith that God hears and answers for the asking.)
Jesus also said that wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He will be in their midst. That also could be a form of intercessory prayer .
There is nothing wrong at all to pray alone, but it is a little more powerful and sometimes faster results when you add the intercessory element.
2006-10-06 14:10:01 · answer #2 · answered by mammabecki 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Intercessory prayer is what you are asking about. C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) said it very well when he said "Prayer doesn't change God, prayer changes people." My other thought is that God commands us to pray, so we do so out of obedience. Certainly this is a difficult question and one I look forward to understanding fully in heaven.
2006-10-06 11:49:14 · answer #3 · answered by Cc 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"The prayers of a righteous man availeth much", he says. He can do anything he wants and he can pull good from any bad. Time is his to control and we are not to question his goodness. I have a favorite coffee mug that I like to use for my coffee. Does that coffee mug have a right to complain if I use it for soup or something else? We are the Lord's and he can do with us as he likes so if he decides to do something with his possessions and we petition him to change his mind, what's wrong with that?
2006-10-06 12:05:30 · answer #4 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Prayer is the elevation of the mind and heart to God:
+ In praise of his glory
+ In petition for some desired good
+ In thanksgiving for a good received
+ In intercession for others before God
Through prayer the Christian experiences a communion with God through Christ in the Church.
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)
"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." (St. John Damascene)
But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart? (Psalm 130:1)
He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God."
+ Prayer of Intersession - Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men, especially sinners.
In intercession, he who prays looks "not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others," even to the point of praying for those who do him harm.
The intercession of Christians recognizes no boundaries: "for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions," for persecutors, for the salvation of those who reject the Gospel.
With love in Christ.
2006-10-06 18:21:40 · answer #5 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a good question, and all I can give you is my own understanding of prayer.
Prayer isn't to bring the will of God to us, but to bring our will to him...at the same time, there are many blessings that are within His will that He's only waiting for us to ask before he gives them to us. Why does He do that? I guess it's because we're His kids (spiritually speaking) and He likes hearing from us, it's a good way to make sure we call so to speak.
best wishes
2006-10-06 11:54:43 · answer #6 · answered by daisyk 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
God can change his mind from prayers...i know someone who hasnt been to church in 40 years and was healed of cancer when we prayed for him!! it works
2006-10-06 11:50:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The point is that...God tells us we can come boldly into His throne room to petition and intercede for others. ((That's Him inviting us. How cool is that))?
God knows everything. He wants us to come to Him (to be dependent on Him).
Such as...
Jesus asked the blind man, did he want to be healed? Jesus knew he wanted healing...but he wanted him (blind man) to ask.
We need to always ask that His will be done...over anything we would ever pray! Besides, communication is key!
Prayer is not an empty check to be written by us. It is to draw us nearer to God's heart and His will.
2006-10-06 11:46:58 · answer #8 · answered by Salvation is a gift, Eph 2:8-9 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
While you are critiquing a belief, get the name of it right.
intercessory prayer
[edit] We are not having a debate, dude. People are just trying to give you answers that you could have found on goodle, if you had the name right.
2006-10-06 11:50:32 · answer #9 · answered by BABY 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
but its pointless because his will will be done nomatter what you do
praying a wast of time
2006-10-06 11:51:32 · answer #10 · answered by Truthasarous rex 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋