Why do you pray for someone?

Question

I think many people have heard the statement that goes something like, "Prayer is the request by a self-declaredly unworthy person that the laws of physics be changed for him." Of course I know that's only one flavor of prayer. I know many people see prayer as merely a communication with God. Sometimes they hope for insight and others they just want to say hi and thanks etc. But why pray for someone? Do you think you'll convince God to reach out in a way he wouldn't have before? In my opinion, an all-knowing God wouldn't need such a reminder, and a lowly human wouldn't be able to influence his infinite wisdom. Do you think it has a direct effect on the person? Is it just a way of expression of compassion with no real goal, like giving your condolences? Or is it something else entirely? This is just something I've never understood.

Responses only from people who actually pray, please.

Jan: If he doesn't want to force his will on us, then why do people pray for others who don't want to be prayed for? I strongly object to anyone praying for me unless they ask me. Then I'm usually fine with it because to me their asking is a sign of respect, and I appreciate that. But what about the ones who just do it anyway?

chekeir: Thanks for that quote. It's important in the question of prayer, but I have to wonder how it applies in this case. If you pray on behalf of someone else, an atheist for instance, how does that work. You asked sincerely, so will the request be granted? But they didn't, so that says it should not be specifically attended to.

Also, I probably should have been more clear in what I was asking. I was more curious about the generic "I'll pray for you" statement that gets tossed around. I can only assume that's short for "I'll pray for you...r salvation" or "I'll pray for you... to come to know Christ." In this case the person's praying for something the other doesn't even want as well as something that could only be granted through interference with the gift of free will that is so frequently celebrated. I may ask this again with clarification.

Answer 1

In the Old Testament, there are indeed times when God and a human had some sort of discussion, and God listened to the Human.

Take Moses for example. When the Jews in desert gave up all hope while Moses was on the mountain, they created a golden calf to worship, claiming that Moses most certainly was dead, and God was nowhere to be seen.

God was rather ticked off and had a mind to just destroy the whole lot of them. Moses, however, asked God to reconsider. He said if God wiped them all out, who would be there to proclaim God's ultimate power to the unbelievers out there? Moses had a point. God took it.

When a prayer goes out to God on behalf of someone else, it is a sure sign of truth and belief. If I have nothing to gain, why would I put forth the effort? A true prayer said out of love does get God's attention. God is Love. Those humans who "get it" and show their love get God's attention.

Keep in mind, as stated in the Bible, we receive not because we ask not. People who pray are asking and receiving, within reason of course.

If you ask for something stupid or unreasonable, I am sure the answer will be "No". It works the same way with parents and children. Kids who ask for unreasonable things get "No" for the answer.

Keep in mind too, that trials and tribulations can be used to help us mature and learn. We don't want to pray somebody out of a lesson, now do we?

When I pray for another person, I pray for God's Will to be done. God does not torture us and send us disasters just to make us suffer. If anything, he allows them, but gives us the tools to get over the suffering, and maybe even learn from it.

God wastes nothing. Not even death and destruction. My parents, for example passed away within weeks of one another. Had I not been in a state of faith, this may have destroyed me. I prayed in my grief, but when it began to pass, I learned that God's power is greater than the grief. I was able to reach out to my siblings (who are not Christian) and comfort them. One even decided that being a Christian was a good thing and he turned to God, too.

Now, my parents were going to die anyway. They were getting up in age. But isn't it amazing that he answered my prayer for comfort and understanding and passed on some of the power to me so I could use it to benefit my family? And, God got another soul saved in the process.

Answer 2

We have to pray because that is the way God has set things up for us in this world. He has given us a lot of freedom and he will not interfere unless he is invited to. God will reach out to us or anyone else if we pray and only if we pray sometimes. He simply will not step in and help out sometimes unless someone prays for it because otherwise it would be a violation of our free will.

It's not that he doesn't know our needs and our situations but he has bound himself where he cannot force himself on us. Many times we have to ask him for what we want. He has this free will in place like this so we can help each other by praying to him. He especially wants us to learn to love him and love other people because we genuinely want to . God does hear every prayer and he answers them all. I think the speed in which he answers may be affected by our faith. None of our thoughts or words go unnoticed by God.

He has answered many of my very specific prayers. When my grandmother started getting sick 2 years ago she started losing her mind. I prayed that God would put her back in her right mind and let her pass peacefully in her sleep and he answered both of those prayers. I don't believe it was coincidence because she was in really bad shape until some time after I prayed.

Answer 3

There's this dude named Andrew Wommack that my mom's obsessed with. His teachings are great. I only hear bits and pieces, so I'll tell you the bits. And the pieces, I guess...

First off, prayer only works for those who actually believe and speak with authority. Just saying "Lord, heal this person" isn't going to do a thing. It's not a reminder to God, it's like a teaching. I don't know everything, but it's just a way to connect. I mean, a random non-believer couldn't just try it out and decide to pray for healing, it would never work. It's basically the believer's authority. When we pray for someone else, it is helping, and practicing. It's a really big topic that no one can actually cover and this is a great question that really can't be answered. Just... kinda indescribable.

Answer 4

lol i get your point!

if u pray for someone, you care about them and are showing God that you care....yes, He does know everything so why do we pray...i dunno! but when we pray, He is listening and He does care about us. maybe sometimes we have to pray to prove that we care so much and trust God.

God doesn't always give us the answer we want. He gives us that answer that is right for us, whether we like it or not!

when i was little, i one of my teachers (well, ex teacher) was dying of leukemia and he also had quite a few kids and i didnt want him to die! i was so upset and i prayed to God coz i guess i wanted some sort of 'miralce' to happen. when this guy got worse, i was angry with God becuase i thought that He didnt care and was just gonna let this guy die so i said that i wouldnt believe in Him anymore.....yes, i was a stupid kid back then!!

but then i realised how wrong i was!!! and i was so sorry and i said sorry to God and everything and i understood the situation for what it really was, not what i had made it out to be....i was still said, but i accepted it.

well....this man eventually died. He went on for a long time...too long apparently....its sad...really sad, but theses things happen. thats life! we are all born, so we must all eventually die, thats just the way it is. this man wouldnt have had quality of life, he was quite sick all the time and even if he did get cured, he would have had side effects from the chemotherapy and everything....

we can still pray for people...sometimes i feel your same confusion, but i think that we should just trust our God to make the right decision for all of us. He knows everything that we do not. He knows the right choices when we do not. yes, He is the all-knowing God.

Praise God! ALLELUIA!

God Bless

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Answer 5

The Word of God says that those who come to God must first believe that He is and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I pray to communicate with God, to seek God on my and others behalf, to ackknowledge and praise Him and sometimes just to thank Him. When you pray, you are in contact with God. You are first of all acknowledging that He exists and that you recognize Him as Sovereign God. Prayer does work, but not without faith. When you pray and have faith that God will do it, God works in and to them on your request. I know there are many things I have overcome in my life(some of which that should have killed be) by my and others prayers for me. I know God answers prayers. May God BLess U.

Answer 6

God made it clear from the beginning that HE would not just jump in and fix things. He gave man dominion over the earth and we Must partner with HIM, or ask HIM to move on our behalf or on someone else's behalf.
Jesus prayed for us and gave us examples of prayers to pray for others. That is the BEST reason to pray for others. I believe that what we help make happen for others, GOD will make happen for us. Can you give a good reason NOT to lift someones needs up to GOD?

Answer 7

I do pray...I think prayers give the angels power to be able to act...God knows the situation and is willing to help but waiting for us to ask. He's a gentleman and isn't going to force His will on us.

Additional comment: Sometimes in praying for someone who hasn't asked it, if opens our own heart to His forgiveness and love and we can love that person without holding bitterness in our heart about them because of what they have done or said. May I pray for you?

Answer 8

Whoa, have you ever heard of "Be nonetheless and understand that i'm God. playstation . 40 six:10. Jesus will return whilst it incredibly is time. there is not any longer something guy can do to speed it up. there is artwork to be completed, like getting the gospel out to the international and that's taking place.Sorry to disagree with you, examine the e book of Revelation whilst Jesus returns,no longer the rapture, yet to choose the international this international would be replaced. As undesirable because it incredibly is to hearken to approximately baby abuse and all the different undesirable issues in this international we would desire to understand that it incredibly is the fallen problem we live in. it incredibly is our duty to help those in soreness, no longer blame God. keep your breathe and end yelling at God for the rotten international we live in, pass help somebody much less fortunate and ask God that may assist you.

Answer 9

You raise a great point. Prayer doesn't make sense there.

Also, what if someone does not want you to pray for them and you do anyway? That's pretty big, calling god in on them.

Answer 10

The Bible tells us that we should always pray and never faint. We should pray for others as well as ourselves with faith, believing that whatever we ask in Jesus' Name, He will do it.
God wants us to pray and draw close to Him. If we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us and oh how sweet it is to be close to God!