A prayer for those needing help........?

Question

How about a prayer for hope to those who are less fortunate this coming holiday season? Be it food, loneliness, poor, homeless.

I just thought something positive and useful could help us all in this section. Anyone agree?

Answer 1

The best prayers for home use on all subjects are found in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer - Anglican

Kind Heavenly Father, source of all good things, keeper of our souls, look with especial kindness upon the needs we bring to the foot of the cross. Grant us the strength to find our help from thee as we labor in difficulties - Renew our hearts with the power of the Holy Spirit, finding thee within, the true source of strength in time of trouble, to face unafraid that which fate and circumstance places in our path to thee. Let us not be ashamed to receive your gifts from the hands of others, that one day we may be channels of your grace to others who face that which we have overcome through the grace you are about to pour forth on us. We thank you in advance for that which you are about to do.
In Jesus' most Holy Name, for his sake, and by whose direction we reverently pray :
Our father, who art .....

Answer 2

Prayers are indeed needed for this season, along with hope and action.

I love Christmas, the story of Jesus and want to share that hope with others. It is pure joy.

You do not need money to help someone. Many people at Christmas are lonely. You can help with a smile, a phone call, or a card.

You can volunteer to help pass out a Christmas dinner at the homeless shelter and be sweet and just smile if that is all you can do.

You can visit anyone in need just to say, How are you? We care.

The best thing is if everyone would keep the feeling and actions of Christmas all year long.

There is always hope, always a promise of a better future. You can help others see that.

Answer 3

It is frightening to see that so many have hardened hearts to prayer. My heart and prayer goes out to not just the less fortunate materially but the less fortunate non-believers. A mere hot meal or comforting word will not satisfy the torment that non-believers are sure to fall subject to when they are left behind.

Prayer does work. The bible is the truth, God-breathed and needs no defending.

For those who can attest to the power of prayer, please make mention of the spiritually lost and for their forgiveness for they know not what they do.

Answer 4

Living in a Christian dominated country the prevalence of prayer is outstanding. We pray for our leaders to succeed. We pray for our enemies to fail. We pray for the sick. We pray to win the lottery. We pray for so many things, and expect the intercession of God in our affairs.

This last is an interesting concept, expecting God to intercede in everyday activity. For many devout Christian, and I suspect for the devout Muslim, Jew, or what have you, this is a very profoundly held belief. But as a side note, if God actually did intercede then we would finally have proof that God exists.

Prayer has been tested, with disturbing results. One study showed that praying over heart patients actually resulted in worsening of the patient’s condition. In another the studied showed an increase in the growth of bacteria in a culture, the desired effect by the way. These conflicting studies truly only establish that prayer is not what we think it is.

God created this universe and established the rule of engagement at the outset. S/he then stepped back and let it run. S/he does not intercede in the affairs of the universe, why should s/he? After all s/he made it right the first time!

No, prayer does not call God’s intercession into play but causes the person who prays mind to realign to their concept of morality, assuming that it is done with true intentions.

Prayer is thus much like meditation. It is a method to calm the mind, and to prioritize the events of one’s life. Through prayer the individual can reconcile the difficult events in their life and smoothly accept the inevitable.
As for the lottery, will we all know that it is a crap shoot anyway!

Answer 5

And All Things, Whatsoever Ye Shall Ask In Prayer, Believing, Ye Shall Receive. Matthew 21:22. Love Them Like Jesus! What do into others, you do unto Me. God will bless You!

Answer 6

How about instead of praying to an imaginary friend in the sky, people get out and actually do something to help those less fortunate?

Answer 7

Maybe a unique 'Prayer' category should be created? This is Religion & Spirituality. Lots of folks asking for prayers, here. Everyone soliciting prayers could have a centralized place to gather. A separate 'Proselytize' category might be a good idea, too.

Answer 8

It's hopelessness, and hippocrisy if you just pray or think something positive for the less fortunate, without actually doing anything.

Answer 9

Amen

Answer 10

Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mat 6:6 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.
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.