Let me see if I have this straight....?

Question

See, I have gotten a lot of conflicting advice in the past - - so I'm going to take a consensus on this one.....
So, am I suppossed to be praying for guidance, or not?
How about stuff like a job where I can afford a house payment? or is that considered asking him to grant wishes?
I'm a mess....

Answer 1

Pray as if everything depends on God. Act as if everything depends on you.

Answer 2

I don't think that's considered granting wishes. What's in your heart is already known anyway, right? Ask, but be specific. Time THERE is a lot different then time HERE, so try putting a time frame on what you need help with. Example, " .......Please help me through this by the end of April 2007...." or something similar. It also helps to be more specific with exactly what you're asking help with. "I need a good job in a month" is very vague. A job considered good by someone else might not be your 'cup of tea' ... so, ask for the type of job you want = "I desperately need a job that will pay me at least $12 an hour in the nursing feild by the end of April 2007 so that I may afford my house payments each month and still keep all my bills paid and food on the table. Thank you for all that you have, are, and will do in my life and my family's lives. ....." Well, I pray with as much detail as I can. The way I see it, there's bound to be a LOT of people praying at the same time, at any given time, and it makes me feel better knowing that I don't have to guess if what I prayed for will happen when I need it to or years down the road, know what I mean?

Oh-- "A wish is a dream your heart makes" so it's already known, it just needs to be voiced so that it can be acted upon.

Good luck finding the answer you need!

Answer 3

I don't know. Everyone has their own beliefs. I'll just tell you mine, but really it's up to you, noone else can tell you what to do. I only pray for things like strength and yes guidance. And to learn lessons out of my bad experience and stuff. I also pray alot for understanding and patience, because it's hard to have faith most of the time (atleast for me). And yea some time I pray for things I know I shouldn't, and then I feel bad and apologize...lol...I'm a mess too! But really it's more like if I want/need something. I pray that the person I want or need something from can see things my way and that God will open their heart to helping me. And also you should know that God can do ANYTHING so maybe praying for things like a job oppurtunity are good, because it is showing that you know God is all powerful. And just make sure to remember to thank God when these things do come through, and not forget, or assume they were all up to luck.

Answer 4

So are you asking if it's ok to pray for a good job, or are you asking for wisdom on what job to choose?

If you are a believer in Christ then God has promised you in His Word to supply all of your needs (Phil.4:19; 2 Pet.1:3). Just ask for what you need and God will supply it. That doesn't mean that you don't go out and apply for jobs, of course, but that you go and apply for jobs and trust that God will lead you and get you hired by the right one.

As far as choosing the right job, or making any good biblical decision for that matter, I think sometimes we Christians get caught up in, "Oh, I hope this is God's will for my life. What if I make the wrong decision? How can I know what God's will is for my life in this decision?" and it paralyzes us into not making any decisions at all until God shows us some miraculous sign (for fear that we're sinning if we make a decision). Well, He has already shown us a miraculous sign, it's called the Holy Bible. And although it doesn't list what specific employer God wants us to work for (for instance) it does give us some great guidance. In making any specific decision in your life I think every believer should do 3 things:

1. Ask yourself if what you are deciding to do is an obvious sin. "Should I steal this money?" Well, this is a no-brainer. The bible clearly tells us that stealing is a sin (Eph.4:28). If what you are deciding to do is not an obvious sin, however, then go to step 2.

2. Ask yourself "Is what I'm deciding to do wise? Will it help me or hinder me from growing? Will it hurt my testimony? Could it lead to sin? Will it cause another brother or sister in Christ to stumble?", etc. If it does, then, even though it is not an obvious sin, the believer should not decide to do it. If it's not an obvious sin and it seems like a wise thing to do (according to the bible), then go to step 3.

3. Make your own decision whether to do it or not. Yes, God DOES let us make our own decisions!!! It's called free will and as long as what we are deciding to do isn't sinful or unwise, then we can choose to do it. WOW, FREEDOM!!!

It took me forever to get to this point, and sometimes I am still afraid to make decisions on my own, but this has been SOOOO helpful.

If you have any questions or maybe some more Scripture please e-mail me. I'd love to chat some more about this.

God Bless

Answer 5

‘You Must Pray This Way’
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2004/9/15/article_01.htm

The Lord s Prayer Its Meaning for You
- What Is God's Name?
- God's Will to Take Place on Earth
- Prayer and Our Physical Needs
- Our Prayers and Forgiveness
- Help to Pursue a Righteous Course
- Faith in God Essential
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2004/9/15/article_02.htm

What Does God Require ... ?
http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_00.htm

How to Find a Job and Keep It ...
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2005/7/8/article_01.htm
Can You Be Happy and Secure in Your Work?
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2003/2/1/article_01.htm

How to Maintain a Healthy Mental Outlook
- Poison to the Brain
- Choose Entertainment Wisely
- Seek Divine Direction
http://watchtower.org/e/19990708/article_03.htm

You Can Find Real Happiness!
- The Recipe For True Happiness!
- Rejoice In The Hope
http://www.watchtower.org/e/200604/article_01.htm

Answer 6

Pray without ceasing. God does not have a specific list of things you can and cannot pray for. Read the Prayer of Jabez. This is found in Dueteronomy. Jabez prayed "...Extend my territories...bless me indeed!" and so God did. It is not wrong to pray for blessings, just remember to give what is due back to God of what He gives you.

You should pray for guidance in all things, job included. If you don't ask for the input of God, don't blame Him for bad decisions. You would be amazed how God will work in your life if you trust Him. It won't be at all what you expected, but it is always better in the end.

Answer 7

I think material problems are up to us to figure out. Spiritual guidance talk to God about. You're not a mess. I will try to help you with material problems if you want. Life is hard and confusing sometimes. hahahaha I read some of the other answers. Looks like your getting more conflicting advice. Sorry bliss, I know your having some tough times right now, but you have to admit, it's kind of funny.

Answer 8

You are supposed to do the best you can. If this includes prayer, and that helps, great. Praying, or wishing keeps you in the frame of mind of being open to what you want or need. It allows it to happen. You still need to work to get money to get the payment... Praying and Wishing keeps you (hopefully) positive!

Answer 9

God hears all the prayers of the righteous. But consider the following:

A Christian hunter is hunting bears in the woods. While walking up a hill he grabs a branch for leverage and it breaks sending the hunter tumbling down the hill, gun flying off elsewhere. When the hunter dusts himself off he sees a huge bear charging him. The hunter begins running, but trips and falls, landing on his knees. Seizing the opportunity, and being a good Christian, the hunter begins to pray, "Lord, make this bear a Christian."

The woods are quiet, the hunter turns and, Hallelujah! He sees the bear on his knees, paws together, praying! Listening, he hears the bear praying, "Father, bless this food to my body."

The key message here is that God answers prayers of the righteous, but the answer you get may not be the answer you want, but it will always be the right answer. Prayer is a coming to God, telling Him your need (or the need of others), committing your way unto the Lord, and then leaving God to deal with the case as seems best to Him.

How should one pray to God?

I speak to God in the same manner as I write these words to you now. That is, I have a plain conversation (no “thou’s” “thine’s”, “thy’s”!) with Him each day, usually out under the stars late at night as my family sleeps. My prayers are conversations that follow a pattern. I start every prayer with the following: "Most merciful God, not my will, but yours, be done." I repeat that phrase often during my prayers. Sometimes I will do so for tens of times just to quiet my mind and make it open to hearing from my Creator.

Use the following pattern in all your prayers and you will see them answered: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. See the links below for more information. (acronym: ACTS)

http://www.prayerguide.org.uk/actsmodel.htm
http://www.powertopray.com/howto/ACTS.html

Answer 10

God you pray to - Genie you wish for, some people do! It is difficult to tell the difference since both start with the letter G but don't let this bother you keep living and learning and may God, with a G, Bless you!!

Answer 11

God has answered so many of my prayers. Actually all of them.

One instance is: My husband had just retired from a 30 year position. We moved to a small town. We built a new home and he expected to become employed immediately. He applied for several jobs but was not hired. I became depressed. My husband told me, just trust God. I told him that I would.

A year went by. No job. We had almost depleted our savings and needed for him to have work. We continued to pray and have faith that God would take care of us.

My husband got a call from a company that he had applied to a year earlier, asking him to come in for an interview. They liked him and offered him 2Xs the salary that he had intended to receive.

I learned to pray and wait on God. I praise God everyday for His blessings.

1 Thesalonians 5:16-18, Be joyful always: pray continually: give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Phillipians 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

May God bless you as you wait on Him.