Prayer

Because people have free will and are allowed to make their own decisions you should pray that the Lord will get you through those tough situations based upon bad decisions. That is how you should be praying in those circumstances.

yuppers said:

I have a question that I want your input on. What does prayer actually do? Does prayer actually change things in the physical realm of this plant? Situations on earth depend on people, and people have free wills. If I pray about someone or something it would depend on someone else making a choice. People can make bad decisions and then the prayer doesn't really work. How would God answer a prayer?

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Prayer is a way to worship God that costs you something. In and of itself, it is a part of the battle to draw closer to God as well as that the Lord's will be done on earth. It is also a way to communicate with him, to talk about what you want to talk about and to hear from him if he chooses to convey something. It is a way to show reverence to God. Anything you do with a good heart for the Lord pleases him and also will reap reward eventually.

It is a reverent way to ask God to do something for you or another. It will move his heart if you don't have anything outstanding hindering your prayers, and as a result you have participating in changing the universe. How he answers is up to him, but at least the fact you took the time, made the effort, and it was to him will be rewarded.

You are very sharp to have recognized prayer that involves another person's will is not the same as (for example) praying for yourself. IMO it affects the power of your prayer. For example a parent's prayer for their underage children is very powerful. If both the parent and child are in agreement in their heart that the parent is in charge even though the child is 30 years old, it is still powerful. If the child has moved out, ignores his or her parent's wisdom, and does as he pleases, then the power of the parent's prayer is much less.

This all has to do with acknowledging God, because all authority comes from God. Coming under someone's spiritual authority forms a relationship that includes God. In fact, not even considering a parent's will or prayer, if the child is obedient to their parent, God's favor will rest on the child. This is also true for obeying the legitimate spiritual authority of a pastor. If a pastor is in such a condition that he should be ejected from that local church, God's hand moves for people obedient to that pastor more powerfully than for those that try to do it themselves.

Having said all that, we are commanded to pray for God's will to be done regardless of the will of who we are praying for. It is God's power that is at work when we pray for a nation's sadistic leader to know the love of God, even if that leader has a heart of rejection for the Lord.

yuppers said:

Also, would God provide less then ideal life circumstances because you forgot to pray about something?

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The Lord himself may or may not do something different. However, the power of your participation is less. It matters. The rewards of those prayed for go to those who are prayed for.

Prayer changes you. Whether through faith to trust God for results, or through attitudes in how you affect others and the environment, you change the world.

yuppers said:

I have a question that I want your input on. What does prayer actually do? Does prayer actually change things in the physical realm of this plant? Situations on earth depend on people, and people have free wills. If I pray about someone or something it would depend on someone else making a choice. People can make bad decisions and then the prayer doesn't really work. How would God answer a prayer?

Also, would God provide less then ideal life circumstances because you forgot to pray about something?

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What prayer does is dependent upon several things.

1. Who is praying -

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. <---> John 9:31

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: <---> Psalm 88:18

2. What we are praying for -

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: <---> 1st John 5:14

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. <---> Job 35:13

3. To whom we are praying -

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. <---> Matthew 6:9

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. <---> Jeremiah 29:12

4. The timing of our prayer -

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. <---> Mark 11:25

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. <---> Psalm 32:6

5. And the manner in which we pray -

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.
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.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. <---> Matthew 6:5-8

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. <---> Matthew 14:23

God can override the will of man.

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. <---> Proverbs 21:1

So we should ( As Paul exhorted) pray -

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. <---> 1st Timothy 2:1+2

If we neglect to pray, it wouldn't be God who was responsible for our 'less than ideal life circumstances'.

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

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. <---> John 16:24

May The Lord Be Magnified !

wm

Hi yuppers..

Your post reminded me of the verse - confess your faults one to another and pray that you will be healed. the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. james 5:16

Note...God hears the prayers of the righteous, not the wicked. PSalm 34:17, and 1 Peter 5:5

When we pray in Jesus name, Jesus has an army of angels acting on his behalf. These heavenly beings work 24/7 delivering messages and protecting us from harm. humans have free will but angels dont, they are servants of the Lord.

Fallen angels or demons on the other hand are servants of satan. Prayer changes things in the spiritual realm that we cant see. Heavenly beings have the power to do things, I cant really explain it, but when elijah prayed that it would rain it was answered.

When we petition God its like He will answer our prayer when its according to His will. Prayer brings us closer to Him. If we dont know what to pray the holy spirit intercedes for us. Intercessory prayer is often called standing in the gap for someone.
Remember when abraham was talking with God over his not destroying sodom and gomorrah if there were at least 10 righteous people living there.
It got destroyed anyway but the angels rescued abrahams nephew Lot.

yuppers said:

I have a question that I want your input on. What does prayer actually do? Does prayer actually change things in the physical realm of this plant? Situations on earth depend on people, and people have free wills. If I pray about someone or something it would depend on someone else making a choice. People can make bad decisions and then the prayer doesn't really work. How would God answer a prayer?

Also, would God provide less then ideal life circumstances because you forgot to pray about something?

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God has the Power to open the minds and hearts of anyone you pray about, including your self. Yes, prayer can manifest in the physical realm and he does this through miracles in peoples lives. If we turn away from God, sometimes he will provide less then ideal life circumstances to occur to get your attention. Once you turn back, he always blesses you for it and changes your life circumstances. Just like a parent does.

We've all heard prayer is "talking with GOD".
When younger your parents did their best to help you speak and where ecstatic when you babbled your first word.
But that is just the first part, certainly if we stay there (in that young state) we wouldn't get too far in life.
Later we not only have to speak but learn the power and biggest part of communication is "listening".
"Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to get angry"
James 1:19

So, the real power of prayer comes from listening and not too much talking and asking.

The miracles of healing and provision and blessing I've seen have come from "hearing the voice of GOD and doing it."
Luke 11:28

-eric