Prayer, help me understand?

Question

Lets say prayer works (full disclosure: I don't believe for a minute that it does). But, help me understand this point.

If god is already involved and influencing world events, does prayer convince him to change things from the way they are going?

Was he going to get involved in an event in a certain manner (or not get involved), but the amount of prayer he received changed his mind?

Was he going to allow a person to die, but the amount of "email"/prayer he received convinces him otherwise?

Does he only get involved and change things when "public opinion" is strong enough? What is the threshold for his getting involved?

Really, I don't mean to be trite, but if prayer works is it like lobbying a congressman. Doesn't god already know what he's doing and have a plan. Does he require reminding of certain events - or nagging to get him to act?

Honestly, if god exists, the prayer thing doesn't really make sense does it?

Answer 1

Well the reasoning is that somewhere in the Bible it states that after the great flood God won't ever interfere with humanity again. From what I understand. Yes it is a 'catch 22'

There may be no proof of prayer, not directly. But there is a huge amount of information on the power of prayer, and meditation. Which is healthy. Is that how people pray anymore, no, they pray for others, and don't focus their energies within.

Answer 2

My understanding of prayer is simply this:
Prayer is how you talk to God. It is simply your private time to get to know him before, during and after studying the Bible. If God does answer a prayer for help, or whatever, it's not necessarily in the way you expect. Things will still happen, but the end result will be what you were praying for.
Prayer is just a line of communication, not a cure-all for death or illness or what have you.
I also believe that prayer may cause God to send out an angel (or protector) on the behalf of the person being prayed for. I don't beleive God does everything, but he has many, many angels that help.

Answer 3

Dimples (above) is on to something.

I will confess that there was a time I felt like you--was struggling with my faith a lot and felt like my prayers were being ignored. Prayer is communication with God, and it's not always just about asking for things. Prayer can be something as simple as "Lord, I thank you today that it is not snowing because I have to make this 1 hour drive out of town!" or "God, you are awesome. I thank you for your love."

But I do realize that most prayer is for something ... help that person who is ill, that family member who is struggling with their finances and may be about to lose their home, protect those soldiers overseas, help our government to use wisdom, help me in this situation, NOW, please, God ... I know that. Dimples is right that sometimes our prayers are answered, but God presents a scenario different from what we expected, and since we're looking for something particular, we may not immediately recognize that the prayer has been answered. Sweet!

I do know that prayer can change situations. I just got word this morning, as a matter of fact, that a lady I knew of to file for divorce had, after much prayer from friends and family (and her and the husband, too) had decided to reconcile with her husband and they are committed to working on their relationship. Prayer is not a Magic 8 Ball, and when people expect that of prayer (and it has been presented that way, so sometimes we DO expect that, through no fault of our own, it has been taught) they can be disappointed. Hope in God-not situations, people or things-and you will not be disappointed.

Answer 4

We pray according to His will to be done. If its His will to heal, then so be it. We are to be involved with His will while we are in this life. Its up to us also to be involved with God's helping other people. Lets say that there is a man sitting on the curb. He is cold and starving. He doesn't want to ask anybody for money. He prays to God to help him some how. Now I'm walking down the street and I see him sitting there. There is something inside me telling me to do something for that guy.

There have been other times when I felt justified by passing some of these guys up because all they want is your money. But with this guy, from what I feel deep inside of me, this guy needs help. Its up to me from what God through the unction of the Holy Spirit wants me to do for this man. Perhaps all I can do is buy him something hot to eat but I wont feel at peace until I know that this mans need has been met. There are other times when God works a miracle in a more supernatural way. Such as when the elders of the church pray for someone, anoint their head with oil, and that person is healed. There is a difference in praying according to the will of the masses and the will of God.

Answer 5

Prayer serves more of a personal function. It allows people to think out loud and eventually come to terms with whatever they are facing.

It is a form of expression.

Answer 6

I like your question because I think you are really interested in this problem of praying.

I can tell you from my life (I was for 15 years an atheist) that God exist and listen your prayers.

I can try to explain if you want.

In fact we are child of the God. And we are somehow free in life. We are completly free to choose between good things and bad things. And somehow free to choose our way in life. And we have no choice when we born, where we born, who are our parents, when we die, when have children etc.

Any pray is asking for something to our God. To have mercy, to have health, to have good life, to take care of our parents or sons, to help us to become better in good things etc. And like a good parent, God answer us. If he don`t answer, that mean that he hear us but what we ask is not good for us.

It is thrue that God hear us. And help us. WHY???? Because He love us! And because He love us, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to have body and to suffer for us.

Remember, when you will be in verry veryy trouble, pray! Pray with your hearth, with tears and you will receive what you request.

Can you prohibite a child to do not ask his parents for something???

Kyrie eleison!

Answer 7

when you have faith have patience too ma friend .. god has already planned everything about our lives but we have to do things which are according to what god has planned .. its not that god knows you better than urself... and he knows all of reactions to all kind of things you do.. so when u ask something ask good... not as an agressor. God will give you what you wnat but yu have to strive and god wil help you all the way towards it..like giving you patience , strength for your efforts.. and there are many ways god helps. you and he likes the one who asks who pleases him to grant his true and good wish.. if you pray god helps you to achieve a good goal not bad...

Answer 8

Perhaps prayer is really nothing more than an acknowledgment that He is GOD.

Answer 9

God already knows what we want to say to him,it's just a matter of saying it to repent and relieve our conscience.

7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Bless you

Answer 10

No, it doesn't.