Practicing Prayer

Raphael_Bagot said:

Do you find praying to be frustrating, given that sometimes it's like putting putting money into a soda machine that doesn't give a can of pop in return! you are standing in front of it until you get so frustrated that you kick it and walk away! which is because you didn't get the result, do you find prayer to be like this at times? If God is Sovereign and can do whatever he wishes, then why pray?

Click to expand...

I don't wish to sound trite, but there is an old Country song that says, something to the affect that 'sometimes God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers'. I think that's true. So, sometimes I think He knows better what is best for us than we do. Maybe you didn't need that soda after all, ya think?

No praying is not frustrating. For God knows what is best (and what is truly in my heart). I may not always like the answers I get. I amy not seem to get an answer yet each time I pray I know I am engaging and asking the Lord in to my life more than the moment before. So no matter what I am asking for or about I am doing what my soul actually longs for. Too be closer to my God. Sometimes when we are frustrated with prayer it is because we are asking for something that is not in our best interest . Yet that prayer may have taught us a stronger prayer life that we may need in trying times.

Praying is good. It is a way to be in contact with your Father. Never underestimate the power of prayer! As I often say, people may destroy all your Bible copies, cut your connexions with your brothers in Christ, and even with everyone else in the world, but they shall never be able to cut your connexion with God, which you obtain by praying.

God values our desires and wants us to pray. For more information, I highly recommend: http://www.gotquestions.org/why-pray.html.

I hope this has been helpful.

He is our father, and he will and can do anything if he feels it's in our best interest. I guess it's also good to remember that prayer is not about asking all the time , it's about praising, thanking, chatting, that's how we build our relationship. He knows us well

Just like Miche_nz said prayer isn't just asking for something it's praising, worshiping too. You don't ask your spouse only for favors or requests, right? You praise her for the little things she does for you. You build an intimate relationship with her. God wants an intimate relationship with you. Bring Him your fears, tears, love, and requests. He will answer, you may not think it happens but He does.

When I'm slacking in the praying department, I remember that God has taken care of everything and will do so again, even if it's in a way I can't see or a way I dislike at the time.

Raphael_Bagot said:

Matthew 21:22 is the best response for you...Even if we didn't need the soda...he promised to answer and say so...Another Verse is Jeremiah 33:3...this says that the singer of the old country song wasn't singing the Word...I believe it comes down to technique...If we pray wrong no answer...if we get it right...we get answers...like the soda machine if used wrong or it malfunctions

Click to expand...

I disagree. I know for sure there are things I have prayed for that did not happen and looking back I can see they would have been wrong for me.
He knows the end from the beginning and do you think He will do something that will harm you just because you were dumb (not you) enough to ask for it?
When we read His word we have to read it with some logic and common sense as well. When the Lord is silent I think He is being silent for a reason, and we need to learn to listen even to His silence.

Raphael_Bagot said:

Point 1...Its very valuable for us to examine if God's Promises are limited to our "logic and common sense", point 2...I was searching his Word for one example where God responded to anyone's prayer with silence, couldn't find any, but what is in there several times is "delays", point 3...If we pray for things that didn't happen, closer examination would reveal that it was not according to God's will, so my suggestion would be to learn the techniques of praying every prayer according to God's will in order to always get them answered...I am able to say this today after years of unanswered prayers and frustrations, when I learned the secret to the Art of Prayer, Bye, Bye is what I told Unanswered prayers and it works!

Click to expand...

Well if it works for you that is wonderful!

Raphael_Bagot said:

Matthew 21:22 is the best response for you...Even if we didn't need the soda...he promised to answer and say so...Another Verse is Jeremiah 33:3...this says that the singer of the old country song wasn't singing the Word...I believe it comes down to technique...If we pray wrong no answer...if we get it right...we get answers...like the soda machine if used wrong or it malfunctions

Click to expand...

it's not a "technique".......God answers prayers that are in accordance with His will. Surely you know the Bible verse that says prayers are not answered because they are asked "wrongly"?

Raphael_Bagot said:

Actually, no I don't the scripture about prayers that are asked "wrongly" plus it has to be said that it is "technique" to learn to pray according to God's will...see definition of technique!

Click to expand...

please elaborate.

Praying shouldn't be frustrating, nor should it always be a request to God. Prayers should be used for thanks and praise to our Lord more than constantly requesting this be fixed or that be fixed. And though it may not seem like He has answered your prayers, it may just not be the answer you were hoping for. But always trust in the Lord.. He knows what is best.

A characteristic of God can be looked at as jealousy, for He is the Creator of all things. And because so (and even the Bible says) that we should love our Lord with all our heart and all our mind. So a constant request to Him to fix things in our life can be see as putting things of the world first when what should be first is love, adoration, and praise to Him for all that He's provided is with.

Sometimes His answer is yes, and sometimes His answer is no. When I pray I try always to remember to ask that His will be done, not mine.
Blessings to all. Star Dancer

Sometimes our prayers are answered, but not in the way we might have been expecting. Sometimes you might not even see God's answer straight away. And remember, He knows what is best for us.

Miche_nz said:

He is our father, and he will and can do anything if he feels it's in our best interest. I guess it's also good to remember that prayer is not about asking all the time , it's about praising, thanking, chatting, that's how we build our relationship. He knows us well

Click to expand...

Praying just to ask for something I think is possibly a waste of time, as what is not in gods plan is not going to happen, I look at prayer as communication.