Do you need to believe to pray?

Question

Do you pray?
If so, why?
Is believing a necessity to praying?
Is it possible to pray to believe. Seems like a bit of a contradiction, since you're praying to "nothing" until you believe.

Answer 1

You definitely don't need to believe to pray. Even John Wesley, the founder of what is today's Methodist church, went through a period of weak faith early in his ministry. A mentor told him to basically "fake it til you make it" (probably not in exactly those words back then :) and he actually found his faith strengthened profoundly through his experience of "praying through it" when he wan't feeling so strong in his relationship with God. If you pray enough, you may well find yourself beginning to believe due to answered prayer, or even just a feeling of God's presence that you may begin to develop. He definitely comes to those who seek him, and praying could certainly be seen as a method of "seeking" Best wishes to you !

By the way, no offense intended to your other answerers, but the stuff about "God only hears prayers of believers/Christians" is a load of hooey. God will hear any earnest prayers, whether you are a Christian/believer or not.

Answer 2

I know of many people who speak to "Things" as if these things have the power to do for them what they ask. Kind of like kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland. There's no real power there but it's a cute tradition.

I think true prayer requires the person to believe that they may get an answer to their requests or concerns. Many of us actually pray to say thanks for answers. We believe that our God hears us and that makes it all worthwhile.

I'd say that one needs to believe when they pray or it's pointless, as others have said here.

Kev

Answer 3

From my point of view one has to believe in God in order to pray. If not to God then to whom? There is no need for religion to pray although praying and religion usually go hand in hand. I personally do not have a religious preference but I pray to God every night.

Answer 4

You don't need to "believe" to pray. Think about all the times within yourself when you talk to yourself wishing this or that...that is a form of prayer. Once you believe, I think you pray for others more than for yourself and you begin to thank God in your prayers for what you have....but, it's got to start somewhere.

Answer 5

If you pray to God, believing that he does not exist, then you receive nothing. Faith is the first requirement. See John 3.

Answer 6

that is so true u have to first pray and trust me if u pray he will show u magic blessing and u will have no other choice but to believe, and the reason I pray is becaue I know that there is POWER in prayer, and I also know that when praises go up blessings come down and my good book also tells me if u confess with ur tongue and believe with ur heart it shall come to pass, u know i was always told by my grannie if u are going to pray why worry and u if worry why pray................things that make u go ummmmmmmmmm............... be bless my sista.............. But do remember when u pray and worry that is saying to god that u really dont trust him

Answer 7

Praying is communication to God, If your not a believer what's the point?

Answer 8

Of course, I don't see the point of praying without believing... that, to me, is just a waste of time ( I mean praying without believing); It's like false hope... completely utterly useless.

I ALWAYS believe when I pray: be it to whomever / whatever like God, parents, friends, heroes, etc.

Answer 9

well only people that believe usually pray if you dont believe and you pray then you are praying to some one that you dont even believe in

Answer 10

You don't need to believe to pray. You need to have faith. The Bible says that God gave a "measure of faith" to every human being ... in other words a seed of faith. Some people water their seed and nurture it so it grows, but some people don't. They leave it lying there dormant. It doesn't mean you don't have it. It just means you don't use it. It's a choice made by YOU ... not God.