Prayer does it really work?

Question

People like to say that prayer works. I have seen no evidence of this. I know nice Christian people who pray and there whole life nothing is answered. I also know people who are bad people who have everything and only worship money. Please don't say that the Lord works in mysterious ways that is the biggest cop out ever. I do believe in God but I think you are punished or rewarded when you die not here on earth. Anyone who tells me there prayers were answered it is just a matter of odds. What about people who are not religious and everything goes there way how do you explain that? Thanks for answering my question.

Answer 1

Yes prayer works and God answers all prayers. Sometimes the answer is yes, somethimes it is no, and sometimes the answer is wait. God answers prayers in His time, not ours

Answer 2

I don't think prayers being answered is a matter of odds, I say this coz most of my life whatever I've prayed for has come true. Prayer takes a lot of effort and u must mean it from the heart and have faith in God that he is hearing u. Some of my prayers were answered quickly whereas some took a matter of years to be answered, but almost all of my prayers have been answered. God does reward/punish people in this life too for their good and bad deeds. Also, what u said about good Christians who pray and nothing is answered, well sometimes God tests people. God tests their faith and patience and sure enough if they continue to have full faith in God and stay patient, then their prayers should be answered sooner or later. About the bad people who have everything, well their happiness will only last in this life, if they don't obey God and think of money as everything.
I hope my answer will be of help to u .

Answer 3

God always answers my prayers, but most of the times He says "NO".

Thats my favourite quote. Well, i have said a lot of prayers too. Have not asked for anything that i should not have asked. But, sad. Things only happened the way they were goin to. I still do pray. Not sure why i do though, when i know things will not change just because i prayed.

Lately, i have come to realisation that no matter what i do, no matter how much i prayed, things will always happen the way they are meant to happen. Nathin changes that. Not my prayers, nathin. If things happened the way one prayed, then its just because it would have happened that way even if one hadnt prayed.

This life is about trust and thats what we do.
Prayer is only a manifestation of our trust in a power we believe is almighty. Trust and hope is what keep us going. Even if we are to become shattered at some point of our lives, trust is what keeps us always picking up our shattered pieces, put them together, recompose ourselves and keep moving on. Thats the kind of trust we have in that supreme power which we ourselves have not seen to believe. Thus, we say prayers. We keep on goin back to Him even when He is in a permanent non-responsive mode.

Life's like this.

So, do prayers work?
Prayers are a way in which we can find ourselves peace. They may create positive energy and strength in us. They give u hope and solace atleast for some more time, even if u would be disappointed later. They give u the strength of mind and body to overcome things.They may just give u something to hold onto.
And that, is how they work.

Answer 4

Prayer really works! It works in me. I have prayers answered instantly, waited for sometime and some are still unanswered. It depends on what you ask and what you expect. We do not see though we already received the answer because we are expecting differently. We ask for guidance yet we still insist on what we like to do. We expect God to follow us not guide us. Instead of praying we are dictating God that's is asking for things to happen the way we want it . God knows what we need even before we open our hearts in prayer. Why does He wait then for us to speak up? Because when we pray we believe in our hearts that there is an answer for everything. Somehow, SomeOne up there hears though we don't deserve to be heard. But when we pray with an unbelieving heart expect to receive nothing at all. Our prayers may have been answered yet we receive not and we believe not. The answer may be just in front of us yet we don't see because we have blinded eyes. Blinded with unbelief. God loves all people whether rich or poor, religious or unreligious. He loves them all. Moreover He loves to answer our prayers always! It's as simple as "Believe so as to receive."

Answer 5

So... you're asking this open-ended question, or at least it looks that way. Then in the details, you insist that you won't accept any answers for this question unless they happen to be the same as yours.

What's wrong with this picture?

And, yes, God answers prayers. Note, I didn't say "prayer works" because that reduces it to the level of a magic spell, which it isn't (just pronounce this incantation, and presto!). Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Sometimes he gives me what I asked Him to, but sometimes not. Just like a human father, who sometimes gives his children what they ask for and sometimes not. He sees the big picture, and I don't. God is not a vending machine in the sky, that you order what you want and it falls into your lap. He's a person with whom one either has a relationship, or doesn't.

And as far as other people who don't pray, you don't have any way of knowing what actually goes on in their lives, or whether everything really "goes their way" or not. No one ever has everything "go their way"...

Answer 6

Its all about perception... 10 people have cancer and out of all of them 1 gets cured and then all the sudden it's because that person's prayer was answered. What about the others that prayed just as hard and their cancer is still there...? Why does only certain people's prayers get "answered" and yet just as deserving people don't get their's answered. So does this mean god only chooses certain people over others..? Does that sound fair? Or could it be just coincidence that certain people get cured or escape death... Prayer is what people make of it, it helps people believe in something and gives them hope they need.

Answer 7

I know prayer works because I should be dead now but the prayers of a righteous man saved my life. I am sorry that you have seen no evidence and I will pray that you will. I believe and strive for obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ. Father God hears me. He also answers me through the Holy Spirit.

Answer 8

Anyone who says prayer works will be speaking anecdotally. There has never been a single scientific study in any respected university that has proved prayer works. In fact, in one study where people prayed for ill relatives, some of those prayed for became sicker.

Answer 9

As the feeling of hunger ,thirst,pain,etc are different for each and every person...so, does the question of faith.
For me....Yup! the Prayers work big time.My Life runs on them...but more over I consider Prayers to be a personal conversation with God.Like you mail and God sometimes Instantly answers or waits for the appropriat time.
and for the ppl those prayers are not answered ,I blv theirs always a Right time for every thing.and for ppl who are not religious but the things work for them is might be coz they may not know but pray secretly for it...for those who deny , some times pray and do blv in God , Prayer is a very personal affair, so even when they are denying it to the world may be praying in their solitude.
God Bless.

Answer 10

first of all you must believe with your heart that god does exiist.by you saying he does but he doesnt answer prayers is contradictory.god does indeed answer prayers,but it is in his own time.what kind of world would this be if the lord answered every prayer.where would we be.the bible states that he would supply all of our needs according to his riches and glory .that should be sufficient.we dont always know whats best for us and if god answered all of our prayers we would probaly be dead.but our father who is all seeing all knowing knows exactly what would happen to us if he answered that particuliar prayer.and as for those people who seem to have it all, how do you know they are truly happy?money cannot buy you into heaven.when you die you cant take it with you.someone who is rich and doesnt know true peace would probaly gladly give it all to have some.we as people get ourselves in trouble by making bad choices god doesnt force us to do anything you must come to him believing who he is and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.god is good.he might not come when you want him but he will be there right on time.amen

Answer 11

I think that is a matter of opinion,I know many people who just fall into money, have good luck etc. I look at the bigger picture.
I know when it gets really bad,God ha always been there.Four
times I was pulled from death by His Holy Angels,not only were these miracles but it tells me God wants me here for a reason.