When you pray, is it the Name of your God that counts, or what is in your Heart?

Question

When you pray, is it the Name you call your God that determines who hears your prayers, or is it what is in your heart and your understanding of that God? So what is more important, the Name, or what we understand to be the character of our God?

This question is a follow up to my two concurrent questions;
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071230102020AAcxEx6&r=w
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071230102330AAsOpyL&r=w

Answer 1

What's in your heart. Many people can not worship in the name of "jesus" because of the evil those who follow Jesus do so often... Yet, these people still serve the principle of Mercy which Jesus held above all other principles. (while those who turn people away from Jesus in their polyester Leisure suits, don't know Mercy at all)

Answer 2

I did a study on the word "name" of the Father by using Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and # 3686 is the reference that came up on all of them, starting with:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

G3686
ὄνομα
onoma
on'-om-ah
From a presumed derivative of the base of G1097 (compare G3685); a “name” (literally or figuratively), (authority, character)

(In this concordance, italicized words are literal translations and the others are interpretations. The words "authority, character" are italicized.
Please bear with me - I have a reason for bringing this up.)

G1097
γινώσκω
ginōskō
ghin-oce'-ko
A prolonged form of a primary verb; to “know” (absolutely), in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as shown at left, with others not thus clearly expressed): - allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) known (-ledge), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand. [No italics]

G3785
ὄφελον
ophelon
of'-el-on
First person singular of a past tense of G3784; I ought (wish), that is, (interjectionally) oh that!: - would (to God). [Ought, wish, oh that in italics]

Now Jesus prayed to His Father constantly and tells us that without the Father, He could do nothing. He "knew" His Father intimately. He wants us to "know" Him too, i.e., experience His way of life and power. That's why Jesus came to this earth to teach us how to live and keep the commandments and to disprove Satan's claim that no one can keep the commandments, and since He promised us that we can accomplish even greater things than He did if we follow the example of Jesus, then we must pray in the "character" of Jesus. In other words, we cannot ask anything if we are not prepared to follow "the way, the truth, and the life" of Jesus and expect an answer in the manner we expect it to be answered. Have you ever wondered how the prophets of old were so sure that God would answer them? There are a few people like that today but on the whole, I think we have lost that close connection over the ages. But that shouldn't stop us from reconnecting with Him again. In fact, it's imperative we do considering the end times are just around the corner.

If we do follow the directives give to us by Jesus, then God will answer us in a way that:
- leads us to pray aright
- causes us to search our hearts for any spiritual deficiencies on our part
- says no [He often shows us why later on, but not always. We must trust Him for that]
- brings on the desired results we pray for.

Sometimes it's all 4 of the above; sometimes a combo.

[Last paragraph, I promise!]
The COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE by David H. Stern is the Bible from a Hebrew point of view. The Scriptures are from Jewish or Hebrew origin, are they not? It translates the word "name" as "reality" so that it reads: "immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach Hakodesh [Holy Spirit]"

Answer 3

What is in your heart.

God has no name. For to name something is to exert authority over it. Thus a parent names its child and Noah named all the animals. Man cannot name God. What names we use are just cultural and nothing more. This is the reason that it is forbidden for a Jew to speak the name of God.

Answer 4

I once received a profoundly concise answer tho this question through another question that was asked. Previously, an individual asked Edgar Cayce the question, "Which religion is the right religion." Edgar Cayce's answer was simply, "The one that you're faithful to."

So to answer your question, it matters not the name, unless you are trying to pray in the name of something that you don't believe in wholeheartedly.

I like to think of God/Source Energy/Infinite Intelligence as this Oneness, or Being that is so infinitely abundant, that we cannot categorize it and make it infinitesimal with one or a few names.

Another way I like to dumb down this analogy is to look at yourself if you're a parent. Do you talk to or relate to each of your children in the same exact way? Or are they all unique and require a different way of communicating? Source can be looked at the same way.

I advocate what works best for your beliefs, and not to seek to impose those beliefs as truth on another.

Answer 5

God and His name are one when you say Krsna.
In answer to ALL your questions it comes down to this: Understanding WHO God REALLY is and His Personality. Aswell as WHO WORKS for God.

God is unlimited and therefore known by various names according to Gods qualities, abilities and human understanding He is so named. God is all powerful and we are minute in quantity and qualities of Him. He is the SUPREME person and the powerhouse of all creation.

The Supreme being creates the creator of the universe and imparts the relevant knowledge unto this being for creation to begin. Creation is continuous and there are phases of the material creation. Our identites are not with the body that changes until it dies, but the soul that is immortal, around which the body is changing. The soul has a journey to fulfill, and that is to qualify itself to reach the spiritual abode of the supreme being. In order for us to know about God, Prophets descend on earth to teach people. Many times this has happened and therefore Religions spring forth. In very tedious times on earth where there is major need for righteousness, God Himself descends and destroys all evil.

In Hinduism there are millions of "Gods" but they are DEMI-GODS with various roles to perform, they are not the supreme personality. The original name for the original person is Krsna which means reservoir of pleasure or all attractive, Because inevitably God is the supreme enjoyer. When Krsna creates the universes He becomes Vishnu. (eg. if you are a teacher, when you are at work you are called Mam or sir but at home you are yourself.) When God is creating the universe He changes accordingly and when He is Himself He is then Krsna. With us it is not possible to be everywhere at the same time, But with God it is and more, He can be everywhere but still be a whole person simultaneously. (eg. there are many droplets of water with the same qualities as the ocean, that are everywhere, but the ocean is still remains the same.
Another example is electricity, in the same way electricity spreads everywhere and illuminates things, yet the powerhouse remains the source.) Similarly God is a person and He is present everywhere.
Omnipresent: present everywhere.
Omnipotent: possesses all the potencies in full
Omniscient: has all the knowledge.
SO if people call God by different names, they're still referring to the same God (eg. If you are the president and I refer to you as: the president or call you by your personal name, you're still the same person. If you are calling God using names of the Demi Gods, the demigods have to still acquire permission from the supreme being. So either way the original supreme being answers.

Answer 6

I answered your first questions with a simple yes, now to explain. all too often humanity tries to put a face on God, to make him more human. Humans have emotions, like love and hate, God doesn't. When we pray we are talking to our heart, ourselves. God, the energy of the universe, is there with us listening as best as energy can do, but you listening to your desires and you directing energy towards that goal is the object and ultimate ending of prayer or meditation. I like to picture Odin, Freyr, or Freyja standing next to me, but I know my heart (and mind) is what listens.

Answer 7

Both are equally important. It does not matter where my heart is if I am praying to any God other than the one in the Holy Bible.

Answer 8

I love your questions, my friend. Makes you think too early in the morning! I've had some caffeine so I'll tackle this.

I think what's in your head and heart. Your perception of the deity is what is in both. The name doesn't matter, I think. It's what your perception and feelings are about the deity that comes through in prayers and worship.

Answer 9

its both as there are many gods out there . As a result one must call upon the name of that god and also have his or her name in ones heart

Answer 10

The Name of God is important. One Name is Jehovah Nissi. Lord my Healer. I can just look up & say, "Lord my Healer". Or Father God, or Jesus. Or El Shadai, the God of more than enouph.

All is important, respecting Gods Name. The character of God is Gods Name also. And we need to be praying to God in spirit & honestly from our heart.

God would have us worship God in spirit & truth. Whosoever calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. There is no other Name given by whom we can call on & be saved. Jesus is Yeshua & this means 'He shall save' or 'Savior'.