What is the act, the verb, of prayer? When you pray, you are presumebly talking to God. Are you asking for things, help, strength? Is it a conversation with God, i.e. do you feel God responds? Is it a request? Do you ask for something supernatural (i.e. something outside yourself) to affect your life, to give you some thing in the material world, either comfort or something material that you feel you lack? Or is it more a "communing" with God, i.e. "centering" or calming yourself through a connection with the devine? Is it asking God to affect the world, or a way of assuring yourself as to a devine plan, or some other such communication with God?
When one prays, one assumes God is outside themselves...is it then asking God which you percieve to be outside of you to affect the world as you percieve it?
I hope this was respectful enough, as I genuinely am curious. Atheists be kind, this is an honest question; let them respond.
2007-10-30 02:48:15 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Per the responses...Why converse with a being that already knows your thoughts? God, presumebly, knows of your devotion to him...when you declare it or thank him...are you doing so for Him or yourself?
2007-10-30 02:58:01 · update #1
such a cute little kitty..........
ok, my interpretation of prayer is that it's meant to be a personal conversation with god (obviously) in which you are supposed to thank him for the blessings and even thank him for any calamity for that is his divine purpose in your life. It is not meant to ask him for lotto numbers or limbs to grow back. In scripture it is allowed to request for strength, more faith and any virtue that is not physical, also extending to loved ones and humanity at large.
*edit* to answer your follow up question because i get the impression you want specifics and not a vague retort, christians believe in growing in their spirit while we walk this orphaned god forsaken world, and yes, while we pray to a God who knows our thoughts already, we want to humble ourselves to our Father and enrich our lives. Example....my children KNOW i love them already so why do I have to sooth their tears when they cry or join in on their laughter? It's because I want to SHOW them my love for them AND b/c it makes ME feel good and OUR bond grows....(the correlation being the bond with God grows, ergo, enriched life)
2007-10-30 02:55:45 · answer #1 · answered by Hope 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The problem some people have is that they "expect" to gain something from prayer when they have not entered a true relationship with Jesus. He has answered prayer for me, and I know He has done so for others. Some people go to great lengths criticizing and mocking the Lord when they didn't get what they want. It's like they think of God as a "genie" to fix things, instead of the Lord of their life. It's often not their fault because they have been taught the wrong way. Prayer is for God's own people, those who have His Spirit in them. It's explained very well in scripture, but you first need a genuine desire to get your relationship right with God ... then the blessings follow.
2016-05-26 02:12:08 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think prayer is a lot like meditation. For me, it's a great way to work out the things going on in my mind, reflecting on some issues in my life I usually chose to ignore, and solve mental problems. This is probably closer to your definition of "communing."
I do ask God to affect the world. I do think God has changed his mind in the past and been influenced by prayer, as displayed in the Bible. I also think that prayer has made changes in my life. It could be God doing it, but I also think a lot of it is the power of positive thinking. When I tackle a problem, I usually think I can overcome it through sheer will power. And I usually do.
2007-10-30 03:01:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Prayer is a conversation with God, thanking Him for all the blessings he's given us. We make our requests known to him but mostly it's thankfulness and praise. Mother Teresa once said most of her praying was being silent before God, listening to what He was saying to her.
2007-10-30 02:55:28 · answer #4 · answered by missingora 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I pray...I am having a conversation with God. I do ask for things I need at times but I also thank Him for all of His many blessings (seen and unseen). I thank Him for sacrificing His son Jesus so that I could be saved for all of the sins I commit. I Thank Jesus for the gift of Salvation.
My prayers are always different but these are the things that I repeat often. I feel God does respond. It might not be the answer we are always looking for. But as the song goes.....some of Gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
2007-10-30 03:02:05 · answer #5 · answered by saved_by_grace 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You got the idea. A priest once said that when we pray, we do not change God or His plans for us. God is already perfect and so are his plans not just for us but for everybody. When we pray, we change. When we ask God for something, God will not be influenced if He will grant it or not. When we ask, we change into becoming more reliant on Him, we begin to believe that He cares for our needs. However, we need to gain the understanding that God will deliver in the way that will be best for us.
2007-10-30 02:54:45 · answer #6 · answered by teachervic 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think this a good place to ask this. You really should speak with a pastor and they should be able to more clearly answer your questions then what I'm seeing written here - and they will be more then happy to.
2007-10-30 03:05:00 · answer #7 · answered by *Photo-op* 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You know the answer of your question but you are only philosophizing the word prayer.
jtm
2007-10-30 02:57:49 · answer #8 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Prayer is speaking to whomever you are praying to.
When you Pray to God, your having a conversation (so be quiet everynow and then so He can talk)
2007-10-30 02:51:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
For me it is meditation or quiet time.
2007-10-30 02:58:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋