If god knows everything, then why would prayer work? Wouldn’t the knowledge of any and every event result in the inability to change any event and thus answer the prayer.
2007-11-26 11:42:49 · 44 answers · asked by mam2121 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is a little reminder about those that seem to think prayer is just hangin' out with god.
John 16:23
I say to you: if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you.
2007-11-26 12:08:15 · update #1
I know that I'm typing. I also know that I could change that.
2007-11-26 11:46:03 · answer #1 · answered by delsydebothom 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Or if God knows what is going to happen, what will any prayer I do affect anything?
You are asking a question that still troubles many. Some use the word predestination to account for it. Others call it Calvinism.
What is the human struggle is how can we affect anything in the midst of an all powerful God? Yet, all through Scripture God uses people, rather than independent action. The patriarchs, the prophets, the judges, the kings, and Jesus while on earth and since, and more were all used by God to carry out God's will. What needs to be realized is that even though God can do everything by Himself, he chooses to do things through His people too.
2007-11-26 11:52:09 · answer #2 · answered by idiot 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
God knows what is going to happen, that's true... but God is not there to tell us what's going on, etc. Furthermore, what's going to happen is not necessarily in accord with His WILL.
Just as Jesus prayed in Gethsemene, "but THY will be done." It is a matter of aligning our wills to that of God's.
God is not a oujia board from which we gleem information about the future. Even Jesus does not know the time of "the end," but only The Father knows, and The Father hasn't told The Son that.
There is a passage in Psalms 25:4 which explains how we should view prayer... "Make me to know Thy ways, O Lord, Teach me Thy paths." We are to desire to know what God wants us to do, and that is pleasing to Him.
God answers ALL prayer directed to Him. But that doesn't mean He answers it in the way WE would like to see it answered, but with HIS will. It is not that He is unable to change any event... He CAN... and if He does (if it is His WILL)... He also KNOWS (omniscience) that that event is changed. Take Abraham's prayer to God about Sodom and Gommorah.... Abraham "bargained" with God... and seemed to bargain Him down to even 10 righteous people. Now, it may seem that God changed His mind, but that's not true. Because God knew that even 10 righteous people would not be found in those cities. So what seems to be God changing His mind is actually God knowing what is going to happen, even IN a "changed" future!
Gosh... I hope I explained this well enough! Sometimes I think I get lost in different trains of thought!
Have a blessed day.
2007-11-26 15:08:32 · answer #3 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Power Of Prayer - How powerful is it?
The power of prayer should not be underestimated. James 5:16-18 declares, "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." God most definitely listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers.
Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE
2007-11-26 11:46:35 · answer #4 · answered by mgaribay74 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
God knows everything yes but has chosen not to forsee our individual futures, prayer works as it helps develop a deep relationship with God and to impart Holy spirit to those asking. God is not going to give help to those not asking, we all have free will, our most valuable gift, and therefore nothing is written in stone
2007-11-26 11:55:25 · answer #5 · answered by Kurt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not religious in any way and i can puzzle out an answer to that question. Why should God just give things to people? They should at least show faith in some way - prayer being one way.
2007-11-26 11:45:36 · answer #6 · answered by Cass . 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No because God knows everything people take that to mean that we do not have free will, and that things cannot change but they can... god knows what the outcome will be... god can also change his mind about things... as proven so in the bible... if someone is dyin and u pray for them to live... and they live... god knew that they were going to live because u prayed... if they died... god knew that they were going to pass because u didnt pray... that is just an example... we pray because our prayer can change outcomes... and god knows whether we are going to pray or not, and what the outcome will be as a result of that.... Good Luck!
2007-11-26 11:48:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you've thought something like "I wish God would help me get better from this cold," then you really have prayed it. Just thinking something in Gods name is the same as praying out loud.
God desires to have a relationship with you. What is a relationship with out talking to people? Surely you and your friends talk almost everyday. God desires to have the same sort of relationship with you. It doesn't need to be vocal, but time spent thinkink, waiting, praying, meditating, etc...
2007-11-26 11:52:30 · answer #8 · answered by olpa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you misunderstand what prayer is.
Prayer isn't just to ask for something, it's also to praise and be thankful for what God provides. It's a communication. It helps people stay on the straight path and out of trouble, not all prayers should begin with "I want"
2007-11-26 11:46:53 · answer #9 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He wants us to form a relationship with Him. Prayer is one of the many things that can show your faithfulness towards God. You are willing to spend time to ask Him something specific even though He knows what you are going to ask. His whole purpose on creating mankind is so that they might reach out to Him.
2007-11-26 11:50:59 · answer #10 · answered by niiro13 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Prayer helps in the Spiritual world.
2007-11-26 11:45:44 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋