What's the point of prayer if it doesn't change anything?

Answer 1

Prayer

I. What is prayer?

Prayer is talking to God; it is asking and receiving.

Encouragement to Pray.

7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10 "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:7-12 nas.


II. Why Pray?
Because Jesus commanded us to pray often.

Parable on Prayer.

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2 saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3 "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, `Give me legal protection from my opponent.'
4 "For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, `Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.' "
6 And the Lord said,"Hear what the unrighteous judge said;
7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

Luke 18:1-8 nas.


III. How do I pray?
1. We are to glorify the name of God (style or elegance is not neccessary, the Holy Spirit conveys (see Romans 8:26ff.)
2. We are to pray that God's will be done in everything (see also James 4:15)
3. We are to pray for the return of Christ (also Matthew 25:31-46)
4. We are to pray for our daily needs, both Spiritual & physical (see also Luke 11:3).
5. We are to pray for forgiveness and forgive others (see also Matthew 18:21,22)
6. We are to pray that the LORD leads our footsteps and guides us from evil (also Luke 22:42)
7. We are to pray in faith (Hebrews 11:1; James 1:6)

How to pray

9 "Pray, then, in this way: `Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
10 `Thykingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11 `Give us this day our daily bread.
12 `And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 `And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'
14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matthew 6:9-15 nas.


IV. Where should one pray?
One does not need a specific place to go to and pray. One can pray standing, sitting, kneeling, driving or in any position in any place.

Prayer can be done with other belivers in Christ:

"And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." - Acts 1:13,14.

"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." - Acts 6:4.

Paul and Silas prayed while in prison:

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." - Acts 16:25,26.

It is also important that one find a quiet place where they can pray alone to God:

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." - Matthew 6:6.

We are instructed to pray in all places at all times:

"Pray without ceasing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Christians should take joy in the fact that we are able to talk with God, at any time, in any place, under any condition, and know that He will both hear and answer.


V. What will hinder prayer?

If one continually finds that their prayers appear to be going unanswered, it may be time to take a moment and examine themselves in light of God's Word. If one finds things in their life that is not pleasing to God, they should confess and ask God for forgiveness, believing that He will forgive:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9.

Some specific things that may hinder prayer:

1.) An unharmonius relationship between husband and wife:

"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." - 1 Peter 3:1-7.

2.) Selfishness:

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." - James 4:3.

3.) An unforgiving nature:

"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." - Matthew 5:22-24.

4.) Unbelief:

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." - James 1:5-7.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6.

5.) Known sin in the heart:

"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." - Isaiah 59:1,2.

"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me." - Psalm 66:16-20.

When praying, one should approach God with great humility. One should pray with simplicity, earnestness and belief; and God will hear prayer and answer it according to His goodness.


VI. DOES GOD ANSWER ALL PRAYERS?

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." - John 15:7,8.

Throughout the Bible we read of God answering prayers. We are commanded to pray and God promises He will answer:

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." - Jeremiah 33:3.

When we compare the two verses above we see that answered prayer has a basis of abiding in God, that is being a consistent Christian, not lukewarm, "on and off":

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:1,2.

Furthermore, His Word should abide in us. We should always be filled and guided by the Word of God:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." - Colossians 3:16,17.

These are the two main requirements for answered prayer.

Sometimes the answer is immediate. Sometimes it is delayed, but according to God's goodness:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28.

Sometimes the answer from God is "no". Although we don't always understand why, God know what is ultimately for our good and that is the reason, although often a seeming mystery:

"Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:6-8.

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:10.

Sometimes God answers in a different manner than we expect, but God does answer all prayers ---- not according to our wishes, but rather according to what is infinately better, His goodness.

Answer 2

Well, if it didn't do anything, there would be no point.

But it does.

Prayer (of faith) is scientifically proven to increase endorphins in our brains.

Metaphysically, faith-filled prayer alters the energetic makeup of the universe... giving greater energetic power to the Being (or object) to whom you pray. If that prayer is focused to God, he will immediately bless you back again, in whatever way your spirit allows.

It all works by faith. Faith is permission for God's energy to influence you. If you pray without faith, God still can't grant your wishes.

See James 1:3-8 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/james/1/3-8#3.

I know that prayer does make a difference, as prayer has been the means of so many tiny miracles in my life... day by day, they all add up.

Buddhists pray (but not to a god), and it makes a difference in the karmic energies.

The reason why it is hard to see the effects of prayer is that prayer is an energetic labour with energetic results. Energy CAN influence the physical realm, but it takes time, and a LOT of energy.

The first effects of prayer can't be seen. But a lifetime of prayer results in the increasing enlightenment of an individual, and the world (and universe) as a whole. We're all connected...

By small means God brings about great things...
See Alma 37:6-7 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/37/6-7#6

Answer 3

God is real, and He loves you (even if you are the most naughty child in the world, or the most wicked adult). He knows all your weaknesses and struggles, and even if you go wrong (even in a big way) He still loves you. What He does not love is the wrong you have done – but He still loves you. He will never ‘turn His back’ on the person who is sorry and asks for help to be put right again – never! Even if everyone else does, and nobody else understands, He does, and He will never leave you even if you leave Him from time to time.

Prayers do change a lot. But, if some of our prayers are not answered, it doesnt mean that we should stop praying. since God created us, He knows what is good or bad for us. And, since He knows, it is not good for us, He doesnt answer it, but for every unanswered prayer, there is a reward for us in heaven.

Quran is a very interesting Book to read about human being, science, ways to maintain a perfect life in this World, stories of Prophets and Life After Death.

May Almighty Allah make your problems easy and increase your faith on Him.(Ameen).

Plz visit the source mentioned, it is a very good article from Islamic point of view for shy people. Plz read it even, if u r not shy.

Answer 4

Prayer will change not change you in one day. You have to pray from the bottom of your heart. You have to believe what you are praying then only the changes will occur. You will have also to stop sin then only the effect will take place you cant expect to wash your self and then play in the dirt. Clean your spirit and you will see the changes.

Answer 5

Where did you get the idea that prayer doesn't change things?

I have had miraculous answers to my prayers, things turn out so much better than I could ever have imagined, and against huge odds that my prayers could never be answered. Please get yourself in tune with God the Father. Come to know him better and then you will know what to ask and be confident that God will perform his good work in your life.

Answer 6

Hello!
You are mistaken God most definitely answers prayer every day all the time!
If prayed within his will.
Solomon had his prayers answered because he prayed within God's will .
We are told to come boldly before the throne of grace and be specific in our prayers
Take care!

Answer 7

It's an extension of hope made by the religious.

Those that don't pray still have hope in an event occuring (or not) - we can't get away from this, its a human thing to do

The point is, it makes religious people feel better that they have tried to address some issue that they wish rectified. If they did not pray for something they hope strongly for or against, they may feel like they are not being honest with themselves or shirking their responsibility.

Prayer is quick, easy and harmless - why not let people do it if it makes them feel better?

Answer 8

Prayer does change things. Prayer offers our request to God. I believe God is real and that He answers our prayers. He gives us what He knows we need, not what we want.

Dependence is good for the human mind to believe on / accept a higher power whether that power is a power or just a belief it is a power. It is good for the human psyche.

Answer 9

You obviously have not been at it very long. There are plenty of people who have seen answers to their prayers. Some of the answers have been 'No'.

The great thing about prayer is, that an unbeliever will always be able to explain it away.

"The peril of negative arguments is that they may rest on our lack of knowledge, rather than on positive results" (Behe 2003).

Answer 10

What a presumptuous statement! But I've noticed that Y!A is 99 percent presumption anyway.

Jam 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Now I just gotta figure out whether to believe you or God.

Hmmm?

Answer 11

Prayer is to teach you. If you pray for something, and God makes that happen, then you are given some assurance that you are in tune with God's plans. If you pray for something and God does not answer your prayer (or some would say he answers "no"), then you can look at it and try to determine why you got out of sync with God. It is a useful tool to teach you about the ways of God.