I'm sure millions have prayed to end wars and yet they continued .... prayed for the sick and yet they died. Jesus asked .... Why pray for food for the hungry when you can just feed them ....... So, does prayer have any benefit ???
2007-05-12 17:36:20 · 28 answers · asked by burlingtony 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To some people,Yes
2007-05-12 17:41:53 · answer #1 · answered by °Tr!n!ty° 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
In case there is no God, prayer is a form of meditation, a way to focus your thoughts on your issues, other people's problems, and maybe find an answer in your subconscious.
Organized thinking of any sort is useful.
If one believes in God, as I do, then an attempt at communication with a higher power is very useful, and can produce results. I am not going to bore anyone with testimonials, which I instinctively distrust, but I will say that I have often found God to be a mute and unresponsive God, but there have been a handful of times in my life when I felt that my prayers had been unmistakably answered.
In the Jewish tradition, prayers are usually offered as thanks, and I prefer to be around people who are grateful for the good things in their lives. In the Christian tradition in which I was raised, prayers are composed for just about everything. I think that this cheapens prayer, in a way.
the best thing to pray for/about is to be grateful, to pray for others to find comfort, and to forgive people who have p1ssed us off. Praying for a pony or a lottery ticket doesn't work too well---I've tried.
2007-05-13 00:49:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on who you call on when you pray. It's very important you pray to the right God and the only true God is none other than Jehovah. He listens to our prayers all the time, both as a group as well as individually. He does answer our prayers but you have to be patient with Him, not because He doesn't have the time but He has his own ways of answering prayers. So you must really practise patience and humility when you pray. And remember to end your prayer through Jesus' name because he's the only way to Jehovah God.
2007-05-13 01:36:54 · answer #3 · answered by ASTAN 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prayer does have benefit. The problem is, often people get stuck in a me side to prayer. That is to say, they ask for prayer for things based on what they want to see happen in their live, the community, or even the world.
God has His will, and His will be done. God has revealed much of His will to us through the Holy Bible. It does little good to pray for things that are not in God's will. God is sovereign. His ways are perfect. We don't always understand God's ways. This is apparent in the book of Job. Job questions God about the termoil in his life. God makes it known to Job, through a series of questions of His own, that Job is incapable of understanding God's reasons and they are beyond his grasp.
There are things that we can ask for in prayer that are in God's will, and He will answer those prayers. But, we must be ready for His answer.
2007-05-13 00:47:20 · answer #4 · answered by kentrahen 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does. Sometimes it seems like God isn't listening to us, because we don't receive the answers that we want. What you have to remember is that God is much wiser than us, and He can see the end from the beginning. He knows what is best, unlike us. So maybe the answer we were looking for is not in our best interest. Maybe it would bring worse things to come upon us. God may say no, or He may say wait awhile. He knows what is best ultimately. But prayer benefits us in many ways. When you love God and have relationship with Him, you want to talk to Him. Would you have a best friend and never communicate with them in any way? That wouldn't be a strong friendship, would it? Prayer is our connection to our Lord. By communicating with Him, our relationship is strengthened. Plus, God does listen to the cries and pleas of His children, and He will act in accordance to their best interest. He knows what is best, and will do what is best. He have to trust Him.
2007-05-13 00:46:53 · answer #5 · answered by musicalchik 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. Jesus also taught (by his model prayer) that we need to pray for God's will to take place, not simply our own. We also need to ask in his name. AND, it's gotta be more than just a relatively few people. The more people praying, the more spiritual power there is, especially if they are asking humbly but recognizing God's will to do things His way.
2007-05-13 00:42:22 · answer #6 · answered by personal.pastor 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Every culture, every civilization known to history has engaged in some form of prayer. The soul of each person who lives is not satisfied with food, drink, and warmth. Our bodies are satisfied with these things, but our soul cries out for more, our soul wants to know why it exists, how it exists, and for Whom it exists. These questions, and many more, can only be answered by prayer.
Prayer comes in many shapes and sizes. Do not be deceived; what appears to be a powerless and simplistic exercise can yield tremendous fruit. Christ taught his disciples only one prayer.
Prayer is silent, but it is not the silence of inactivity. Prayer is a dance with God, a time for drawing oneself out of the visible world and entering into the world of the infinite. It may or may not take a long time. When one is gazing at the infinite, a minute or an hour dissolve into a single reality.
Caution must be used if one is seriously interested in pursuing contemplative prayer. It should be obvious to any mature mind that all is not perfect with this world we live in. As one enters into soulful prayer one will discover that while there are many joys and beauties to be found, there are also dark forces at play. It is important to remember at all times that
1) God is loving. Anything that does not have as its source the overwhelming love of God flowing from it like a blaze of sunshine should be treated with caution.
2) As you progress in prayer so should you progress in your treatment of those around you. If you find that you are becoming less patient, less caring, less humble, and are causing grief rather than joy, you are not praying correctly.
3) We pray to discover God. As we discover God all other desires will either be fulfilled (if they were healthy) or discarded (if they were not healthy to begin with). Be prepared to have your selfish ways torn from you.
Our destiny as human beings is to discover eternity, and there is no one to whom an invitation to this banquet is not offered. Prayer is the road that leads to the banquet hall.
2007-05-13 00:43:41 · answer #7 · answered by morkie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. And even when a prayer isn't answered the way you would like it to be that doesn't mean it hasn't been answered.
My favorite song is "Thank God for Unanswered Prayers." Google the lyrics, they're very good.
2007-05-13 00:47:00 · answer #8 · answered by silver wings 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. When we pray, it is communication with our Father. Remember, we have to pray that God's will be done. By Knowing His will, you will know how to pray and what to pray for, instead of selfish prayers. We learn about Him and His will through studying scripture. Listen to His voice, He speaks.
2007-05-13 00:42:52 · answer #9 · answered by Cyndi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does petitioning your parents do any good? Sure they say no most of the time but how did it make you feel the times they said yes?
There are 3 answers to prayer, no, yes, and wait. And God is willing to work in your life not to make it better by your standards, but make it productive by his. Too many people are making unrealistic, ungodly, selfish prayers that cant possibly be answered. But the most important prayer, "God can you please save me?" will never go unanswered.
2007-05-13 00:56:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said pray to the Father according to his will
Jesus intercedes for us according to the will of the Father
If it were not for prayer I would be dead and so many more
Look up
2007-05-13 00:45:32 · answer #11 · answered by Gifted 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋