Hypothetical situation:
Someone's dying and despite many people praying for their health they kick the bucket. The reason that person dies depsite all the prayers is because it's in gods plan.
Question: If god has a devine plan, which will not be changed despite prayer, what's the point of praying for things?
2007-10-06 22:44:10 · 11 answers · asked by jacque_sue89 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We cannot know what answer our prayer will receive-It could be yes-it could be no-it may be wait. What the Christian does understand is that God knows what the end result would be for an answered prayer and if the answer is no then there is a good reason which we may not know or understand now but someday we will understand. If the answer is yes then that would also be due to God's greater understanding of the end result which we may not understand now but someday we will understand. The same can be said about "wait" for the answer.
Do we give our children everything they ask for? If we are responsible parents we do not-for the child's own good. Does the child always understand why we say yes to some things and no to others or "wait" till they are older and more responsible? Of course not! So the child should stop asking for things? Of course not!
2007-10-06 23:03:28 · answer #1 · answered by PrivacyNowPlease! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suspect, but I do not know for sure, that you are NOT asking this question hypothetically.
If someone is about to die, it's pointless to pray that the person will live--sooner or later we all die.
I remember at a "witness" event some years ago (that is when someone testifies as to the power of God working in their lives) someone talked about a kid about to get hit by a car, and a guardian angel swept down and saved the child. While all the "praise the Lording" was going on I was thinking to myself "Why do kids get run over sometimes? Is the angel out having a smoke?"
Our priest told us years ago that there is a difference between being cured, and being healed. That is a more spritually mature prayer focus than praying for the impossible and then being disappointed and blaming God.
Either I'm a bad Christian, or a realistic one.
2007-10-07 05:51:52 · answer #2 · answered by Pagan Dan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prayers are made in faith. Just because one asks for something does not mean one will always get it. If I ask my boss for a raise, I might get what I am asking for or I might not. It would likely depend on my contributions, skills, current level of pay, and whether the company was able to pay me more money. If I do not ask for what I want or believe I need, then how can I possibly hope or expect to get it?
Sometimes prayers are answered with "no". God is not a slot machine waiting for my prayers to be dropped in like coins. He is waiting for my prayers to develop a relationship with me. There is a huge difference.
2007-10-07 05:56:38 · answer #3 · answered by detailgirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plans can be changed, prayer is pretty much calling out the the Divine force of the universe to change those plans for the better.
2007-10-07 05:47:48 · answer #4 · answered by Grant 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No point in praying, but for some people it's to give them strength and hope that everything will turn out OK. Make sure God is listening, sort of thing, I guess. "Hey God, have you forgotten about me? Things are pretty bad right now.." sort of thing.
2007-10-07 05:51:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
answers to prayer involve more than just the prayer itself
It is God's will that people be healed...or Jesus would not have done it
it is also God's will that someday we do die and leave this earth...but we do not know the time...only he does
we do not know when we pray if it is the time to heal, or the time to die and leave the earth...so we pray, and leave it in God's hand
god's rewards are not dependent upon his positive responses to prayer, but our faithfulness to believe in him
belief in god can help with healing...unbelief can destroy the chances of a healing...
2007-10-07 05:54:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe those who were praying don't know that it is God's plan until after the person dies?
2007-10-07 05:50:27 · answer #7 · answered by discombobulated girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can always ask. This is what King David did after his sin with Bath Sheba even though God already told him the child would die.
2007-10-07 06:29:34 · answer #8 · answered by Erica R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It makes people feel like they are being constructive when there's nothing they can do. It's a lot like the voting process.
2007-10-07 05:49:04 · answer #9 · answered by Pull My Finger 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No point at all.
There is no god
There is no divine plan
There is no point at all in praying.
2007-10-07 05:50:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋