How can I pray so that God will hear me?

Question

I see others in daily life who are more troubled than me, but my problems seem overwhelming at times. How can I pray, without feeling selfish?

Answer 1

You pray from your heart and God will hear you.

Answer 2

I've often thought people treat God rather rudely, don't you? Asking trillions and trillions of prayers every day. Asking and pleading and begging for favors. Do this, gimme that, I need a new car, I want a better job. And most of this praying takes place on Sunday His day off. It's not nice. And it's no way to treat a friend. But people do pray, and they pray for a lot of different things, you know, your sister needs an operation on her crotch, your brother was arrested for defecating in a mall. But most of all, you'd really like to f**k that hot little redhead down at the convenience store. Can you pray for that? I think you'd have to. And I say, fine. Pray for anything you want. Pray for anything, but what about the Divine Plan?
Remember that? The Divine Plan. Long time ago, God made a Divine Plan. Gave it a lot of thought, decided it was a good plan, put it into practice. And for billions and billions of years, the Divine Plan has been doing just fine. Now, you come along, and pray for something. Well suppose the thing you want isn't in God's Divine Plan? What do you want Him to do? Change His plan? Just for you? Doesn't it seem a little arrogant? It's a Divine Plan. What's the use of being God if every run-down shmuck with a two-dollar prayerbook can come along and f**k up Your Plan?
And here's something else, another problem you might have: Suppose your prayers aren't answered. What do you say? "Well, it's God's will." "Thy Will Be Done." Fine, but if it's God's will, and He's going to do what He wants to anyway, why the f**k bother praying in the first place? Seems like a big waste of time to me! Couldn't you just skip the praying part and go right to His Will? It's all very confusing.

Answer 3

When you pray, that is between you and God!! You really can't be selfish in prayer, unless you want to harm someone else or take something away from someone else. But really, you can ALWAYS ask God for help for ANY situation!! Just ask, and he'll listen. But if you still feel selfish, thank God for what He's already done in your life. You can ask for forgiveness too. That might help take way selfish feelings.

Answer 4

There is only one way to pray. That's with your heart. If you open up to God, He will most assuredly hear you. And there is no problem that you cannot overcome through Him.

Do not think it selfish to pray for yourself. A loving God does not want you to be troubled. His promise can be found in Jeremish 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

And rest easy on these words from Psalm 91 ...

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

Answer 5

God looks on the heart. Go to Him sincerely. Say what you feel, ask for what you need - don't try to say what you think He wants to hear.

It's a tricky thing to grasp in our human comprehension, but God does care about every aspect of our lives. I sometimes question my own prayers - why pray for such-and-such when so-and-so is suffering so much greater than I?

It's tough, I know, but here's the thing - the trick isn't figuring out HOW to pray, it's having FAITH that God does care and that He will see you through every situation. Easier said than done, I know, but believe that it's true and work toward having that assurance without making an effort to be aware of it.

Answer 6

Matthew 6:5-6 says "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth they have received their reward in full. But when you pray go into your room close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Answer 7

Are you a born again believer ?? John 9:31 , 1 Peter 3:12 . If not , why should he listen to you ?? If you are , just pray what is in your heart . Maybe direction in life , strength for that moment or day , wisdom in what you are doing , to be like him etc...

Answer 8

My advice is to accept that you will have troubles, as will everyone else. Since Jesus himself was not spared terrible troubles, we all need to accept that it is God's will that we suffer them at one time or another. Sure, you can pray that God will take away your troubles, but also pray that if it's not his will to take them away, he will give you the strength, but not only strength, but patience, to bear them.

Suffering is good for us, spiritually, but mainly when we bear it with patience, keeping in mind that God willed to put us in a life where suffering is practically unavoidable. If God asked you to endure some terrible trial for love of him, wouldn't you do it? If so, then treat all of your unavoidable troubles in that way. Endure them for the love of God and in uncomplaining (to the extent possible) obedience to his will.

I highly recommend the book "Thy Will Be Done: Letters to Persons in the World" by St. Francis de Sales. The author was a bishop, and the book consists of his answers to letters that he received from people asking for spiritual advice.

Answer 9

Never feel selfish to ask God for ANYTHING! It's selfish when you DON'T pray to God. You can pray about anything you want..Let God be the one to determine if your prayers are selfish or not..

Answer 10

II Chronicles 7
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.