can someone clarify for me whether or not i understand the concept of prayer...............?

Question

ok, so there's me, hoping for a favourable outcome in a future event

god, wherever he is, can 'hear' these thoughts in my head. but if he can 'hear' my thoughts, he must also be able to 'hear' the thoughts of millions of other people.

information overload!

anyway. assuming god has 'heard' my thoughts, my hopes for a favourable outcome in a future event, what are the options?

(i) he ignores my prayers

(ii) he acts to effect a favourable outcome

(iii) he is powerless to effect a favourable outcome

this is absolute madness, surely???

Answer 1

The most preposterous notion that H. Sapiens has ever dreamed up is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His creatures, can be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry in all of history.

enjoy the night--have a cookie-you learned your lesson well

Answer 2

Prayer is talking to God, whether you do it out loud or silently. God has the ability to hear your individual prayer amongst the thousands going on at any given moment. He has the ability to zero in on you and as many others that need attention.

As for God's reply, you have to understand a few things.

To begin with, God has a plan that is currently being executed. If you are wishing and hoping for something that would be contrary to the plan, then the answere will, of course, be no.

If you are wishing and hoping for something that would be bad for you in the long run, then the answer will be no.

If you are a disbeliever, the answer is usually no, but if the time is right, God may go ahead and grant your desire. This will get you thinking that there must be something to all this "God Stuff" and you will discover the truth of His existance.

If you are just playing around, the answer is usually no, but again, for the reason stated above, He could grant your desire.

God is not a Sears catalog. He does not generally grant wishes for things, but I have been witness to His granting a way to obtain a car, a home, and jobs, among other things.

I have been witness to His granting money, and the forgiveness of a debt. He has granted people their wish for a loving marriage, for a child, and for the cure of disease. He grants wishes for strength to endure discomfort, and comfort for grieving family members when He calls someone home.

Answer 3

Prayer is very important. You can pray for any situation. That's how we comunicate with God. Sometimes He answers right away sometimes you have to wait. But he does hear and will answer with either a Yes, No, or Not YEt

He is God. He can be and hear everyone at the same time.

But you need to first accept Jesus as your Savior, because only when we believe in Him, we will be saved. Also be consistant in reading Bible, because that's where you learn how to live, and get wisdom on everyday life situations

Answer 4

You MUST be Canadian... Fav - "our" - able.

God knows every single one of his children.

He knows exactly what you need, and only waits for you to ask him.

If it is good for you, he'll make it happen in his OWN time, which is the best outcome for you. In his majesty he is able to foresee the whole world around you and the effect his answer to your prayers will have on you. It may be immediate or may take several years to answer.

If it's not good for you, you won't get an answer, but that IS an answer in itself.

Answer 5

Thats just wishful thinking. What are you doing to help this favorable outcome come to pass?

Prayer is going to God, Calling him by name (Father or God seems to work best)
Then you talk to him. Let your gratitude show. Ask for blessings(though even if you are deserving of them, you still may not get them(
Sometimes you can listen.

(remember the Lord's prayer. Even though God heard his thoughts Jesus still got down and prayed).
Then close in the name of Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

God : Supernatural Spirit
How can you understand God with your very limited poor quality brain. we could not really. as a dog can never understand why man have meal with table cloth, rose vase on a table with spoon and fork when he can eat with his bare mouth dip in a plate.
how can you be sure millions of prayers overload Him?
It does not mean he ignores your prayer when it is not fulfill.
It does not mean he is powerless when your outcome not match yr expectation.
Just try to understand that man can not do anything to his will in his life. all are given and prepared. he can not escape by denying. Please surrender. that's the truth of one's life. All will come in its own way. your life can never be guaranteed to yr expectations.

Answer 7

God is amazing...he can handle the overload.....He wants the best for you....we sometimes think we know better what is bests for us....but do we see the past present and future all at the same time??? So you want something.....is it a righteous desire? to ask amiss is pointless....because it something you don't need and it won't do you or anyone any good to have it....I love this scripture that says:

Mathew 7:7-11
7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

good luck.

Answer 8

"God" by the Christian definition would not do any of these things, "He" cannot ignore you as that would not be benevolent, however helping you would not be in the nature of life so "He" will not. And "He" is omnipotent, as in all powerful, so technically "He" could help you if thats how it worked. Oh and "He" is Omniscient as well, as in all knowing, so "He" will always hear everyones prayers and it won't be an overload because "He" exists out of time since "He" created it and so there could be no overwhelming because its not like they come one after the other, they are always there and always not, its a whole Metaphysical thing...Of course this is all just if you believe in the Christian definition of God, which is what we are all taught

Answer 9

Matthew 21:22 - "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

I am usually not a Bible quoter, but this one fits well. Also, in the Bible where Jesus heals many people, most of the time he always says it is "their" faith that has healed them. So if you pray, and in your heart you don't believe in that outcome, chances are slim for an answer. Now it is easy to say, "sure I believe", but if you really think about it...it is not that easy.

Answer 10

THere is also the possibiblty that your idea of a "favorable outcome" is very different from His. Remember, His ways are higher than our ways. I hate to say it, but maybe that Garth Brooks song was right. (Unanswered Prayers)

*slapping self silly for having used Garth Brooks as a reference


*** Still more slapping

Answer 11

There is no doubt . Whichever football team prays the hardest will win the game ! And the driver with the most pairs of rosary beads hanging from the rearview miror will be the least injured . ( Gee , I wonder why the insurance companies don't give discounts for multiple pairs ? ! ! ! )