How is prayer supposed to work?

Question

A questioner (at http://tinyurl.com/2mzpns ) asks people to pray that the she keeps her job. I'm sincerely interested how such a thing would work - especially if God has a plan, and has already decided the outcome

1 God plans for her to lose her job. Impressed by the number of prayers, he changes the plan.

2 God plans for her to keep her job. Unimpressed by the low turnout of prayers, he changes the plan.

3 God has plans for her job. Prayers are insufficient to change the plan.

4 God has no plans for her job, but intervenes based on the prayers.

5 God has no plans for her job, and allows the issue to work itself out regardless of prayers.

6 God plans for her to lose her job, and prayers can't change it. But a last-minute prayer from the Pope [or similar] is sufficient to cause the change.

7 God has plans for her job. He knows about the prayers in advance. The plan goes ahead as intended.

Are any of these close to the way it works? If not, how, then?

CD

Answer 1

Well i believe 4. I don't think that God has a plan for ur job it all depends on you. If u are a good employee then u won't get fired, u can't expect to keep ur job if u r a bad employee. It would kind of be cheating wouldn't it? And in this case the prayers could only make the person change so that they keep their job not make their boss change their mind. It's a little hard to explain.

Answer 2

God has plans for her LIFE and will supply all her needs according to His riches and glory. He's not worried about her job because everything she gets (including the job) come from Him.
God does intercede on behalf of prayers which is why He said the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. He encouraged us to pray without ceasing because it will develop our relationship with him..not because He already knows what's going to happen next. For Prayer is simply communication with God...and he wants a relationship with us..that's why He encourages us to do so. He will intervene on behalf of the faith behind the prayer. Because Faith moves God. Without faith it's impossible to please God...or else how could you come to Him and not believe He exists in the first place? (paraphrasing). Therefore...prayer builds up faith.
You can't put God in a box. Just as the heavens are above the earth so are His ways above our ways. You can't fihure Him out without asking Him some things..but you won't get an answer if you don't expect one.

Answer 3

It is God who rewards the person with the good and bad reactions of karma. It's her karma to struggle with the job.

Depending on her reaction to the situation, is how you find the outcome. Prayer is a positive turning point.

Jack Canfield, a majorly successful writer and entrepreneur , says it works like this..

Event plus Reaction equals Outcome.
E+R=O Turning to God is a positive reaction to an event. (which in turn, has a better outcome)

It is God who rewards the person with the good and bad reactions of karma.

She uses her free will to turn to God for help. This turning to God, is a turning point in the souls development. The more she develops a relationship with God, the closer she gets to eternal salvation.

Prayer is a positive way to connect with God. God is good. A good reaction to difficult karma, creates a better life. God shows the way, to a better life.

God may or may not have her loose the job. But only God knows if the job is the right job for her, or if there is another job that is much better!

Answer 4

What you've gotta do is you give God some good drugs and supply him plentifully. Let him get hooked on the drugs, then suddenly cut the supply short. Increase the price of the drugs and when God can't pay, offer drugs in exchange for prayers being granted. I already did this and all my prayers have been coming true.

Answer 5

"God plans for her to lose her job. Impressed by the number of prayers, he changes the plan."

But he already knew they were going to pray. But he already had a plan. But prayers are sometimes answered. Which means he changed his mind. But he already knew he was going to do that. But

Answer 6

They do certainly no longer something. there have been some recent analyze wherein prayer grow to be examined by employing having human beings pray for the ill. The ill have been given extra perfect or worse reckoning on their scientific protocols, and prayer made certainly no distinction.

Answer 7

As I understand it:

God has a plan for each of us.
If our prayers are in line with His plan, she will keep her job.
If our prayers aren't in line with His plan, she will lose it.
Whichever way it works out, He will do what is best for her (by His definition, not ours).

None of this means that we, by our actions, can't mess up the plan. But, as He exists outside of our perception of time, He knows what the result of our choice is before (from our perspective) we do.

Have I made things muddy enough for you yet?

Answer 8

Prayer is a way for you to communicate with the Father. I know prayer can change out comes of events. I have seen it happen. Yes God has a plan for your life and He will not honor prayer that is out of His will. As you come to know the Father better you prayers will get closer and closer to His will and you will see Him do more works through you. To get Closer to God read you Bible and see Him give you more wisdom.

Answer 9

It is Complicated.

But, Since Adam Kicked GOD out of our Universe (legally), when we Pray (speak words, ask GOD, command things etc.) we are Giving GOD a Legal Voice in our Universe.
If all of our Ducks are in a Row, then it Comes to Pass--sometime.

I compliment you on your Logic.

Answer 10

Simple, talk to yourself in denial as the third person until you come up with an answer, repeat the process every Sunday, until you learn.

Guilt, conscience, low self esteem and being born to be a follower all work.