Is prayer a way of manipulating God into doing what you want Him to do?

Question

Or is it a way of gaining fellowship with Him?

Details in your answers are always nice.

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oops! (((((Pangel)))))

Answer 1

I would say it has everything to do with the person praying. Many pray for "fellowship" but some only pray when they are in trouble or when they need something.

Answer 2

I'd say it's manipulative. Doesn't God already know what you want? And hasn't he already decided whether or not he's going to give it to you? Then why bother asking? Christians say to pray according to God's will, but God is going to do his will, anyway, right? Why do you need to ask him to do something that he's already going to do? "God is all-powerful, he can do whatever he wants to," is what I always hear. Okay, so quit asking him to do what YOU want him to do. He doesn't care about YOUR will, he only cares about his.

And, "fellowship with God"? Really? How do you do that? What do you talk about--the weather, the football scores, your crappy job and annoying coworkers? Is this the stuff God wants to hear a million times a day? "Oh, hi, God! Hey, lemme tell you this great joke! Stop me if you've heard it...." God has heard EVERY joke that ever was and ever will be, so you can't even tell him that much!

So, the only thing that leaves is praise. Yes, you can sit on your knees and praise God, telling him what a wonderful guy he is, a really great, swell, wonderful, amazing guy, gosh you sure are nice and great and amazing, God! But of course, he already knows that, too, so you might as well save your breath. See how useless prayer is?

Answer 3

Ms. Red Queen.

Nobody, but nobody manipulates God! Pray is asking for a specific need. It must be an honest request. It is important to know that it must be within the Providence of God. He will not answer your prayer if it is contrary to His Will. You cannot ask for anything that will harm yourself or another.
The answer may come in a way that you do not expect. It may be granted in whole or partially. Do not ask for trivial things. If you have a million dollars, don't ask for more! If you want your prayer to be heard, you must confess any sins you have. God does not hear sinners! Your prayer must be sincere and heartfelt. It must be asked in the Name of Jesus.

Pray is our way of talking to God. You do not need an appointment. No recordings, no hangups, no busy signals. No time limits. No waiting in line. Any time, any place. However, being alone is best. Having two or more to agree with your prayer request, is most advantageous.

Yes, it is a way of gaining fellowship with Him." Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgivings be made known to God." Philippians 4:6.

Answer 4

Since God knows the heart, nobody is gonna do very well trying to manipulate Him. That said, if a person has a real relationship with God, then what you would call prayer is just talking to Him.If there is something I want to ask HIm for, I ask for it in His will, not mine. He knows better than I do whether its really a good idea or not. That is the point where real faith and trust come in.
Fellowship with Him should be the same as it is with your Father, or a close brother or sister. You would talk to them often, telling them about whats been happening, how you feel about things, what things you are planning to do - tell them how you wish something was different. etc etc etc ...
And if something is terribly wrong, and you need help pronto, you ask Him for it - and then, just like you KNOW your brother is totally on it - on the way to help -- thats how you proceed - you KNOW God will pick up the slack after you've done everything on your end that you can do. In fifty years, it hasn't failed me once.
I hope this wordy note is helpful.

Answer 5

You can't "manipulate" God because He only answers prayers that are according to his will.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (15) And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

There are a lot of reasons for prayer. As you have noted, it is one way of fellowshiping with our Heavenly Father. He also allows us to partner with Him in his work here on earth through prayer. Prayer is good for dispelling fears too.

Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Answer 6

For some people it seems to be manipulation. Like when they repeat their prayer so many times.... I find prayer a means of fellowship with God. I don't believe in "praying really hard" for something (sounds like a constipated person going to the toilet, if you'll excuse the comparison!). As I talk to God about something that concerns me, osmetimes my ideas change, and what I want changes. So God changes me as I pray.

Answer 7

Fellowship

Answer 8

Oh dear, do you think that God would be that simple that He would not see our little minds trying to manipulate Him. God is not mocked, my dear. You can gain fellowship with Him through prayer. Usually pray has brought a change in me more than my circumstances or in other people. God is good and His mercy is forever.

Answer 9

Never. Prayer actually changes us, not God. God already wants to give us the good things we ask for him in prayer, but he never imposes his blessing on anyone that doesnt want them. Prayer is about fellowship, and getting to know his will through his word. The only sure way of knowing whether something is his will, is whether it is in his word or not. Praying the word of God will always get results, not praying the word of God will bring doubt and bitterness because you will be fustrated because you dont see the things you ask for. If it is in his word, it is his will for you, IF you choose to accept it. You CANNOT manipulate God, again prayer is to change us so that he can use us to bring about the change we want in our lives...

Answer 10

Let's take one quick example, here. Of the 11 million people who died in Hitler's concentration camps, probably 99 percent prayed to God to be saved, because virtually all of them were Christians, Jews or Molsems. Almost none were atheists.

So needless to say, it's pretty difficult to "manipulate" God into saving 11 million innocent people. But perhaps this is evidence that God doesn't even exist and therefore he doesn't "do" anything. Ever thought of that?

Answer 11

God reserves the right not to answer any prayer, so how can he be manipulated by it?

We pray as a way of talking to God; Jesus did tell us, howevef, to make our prayer requests known to the Father, and that he would take care of our needs.