Do we pray wrongly?

[memoriesbymichelle]

I know we are human and God gives us grace no matter what.

I was studying this morning of the dream God gave to Solomon. He came to him in a dream and asked him "what do you want me to give you?" (paraphrasing) and Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment to lead the people. And because God was pleased that he asked for that instead of asking for long life for himself or riches, He gave them those things also. The lesson was asking God for specific things.

So it caused me to think...maybe some of our prayers are not being answered because we are not asking for the right things. Like for example, I want to pay my mountain of debt off. I keep praying for God to help me pay my bills off. Maybe I should be asking for wisdom to manage my money instead? IDK it's just a thought.

Do you think that is why some of our prayers go unanswered? Or maybe we don't "believe" they will be answered which is another requirement that we "believe" what we are asking for will be done.

Thoughts?

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

I know we are human and God gives us grace no matter what.

I was studying this morning of the dream God gave to Solomon. He came to him in a dream and asked him "what do you want me to give you?" (paraphrasing) and Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment to lead the people. And because God was pleased that he asked for that instead of asking for long life for himself or riches, He gave them those things also. The lesson was asking God for specific things.

So it caused me to think...maybe some of our prayers are not being answered because we are not asking for the right things. Like for example, I want to pay my mountain of debt off. I keep praying for God to help me pay my bills off. Maybe I should be asking for wisdom to manage my money instead? IDK it's just a thought.

Do you think that is why some of our prayers go unanswered? Or maybe we don't "believe" they will be answered which is another requirement that we "believe" what we are asking for will be done.

Thoughts?

Hey Michelle. Ive contemplated this particular issue extensively in my own life. From researching scripture and from coming to know God more personally as years have gone by...ive concluded the following :

a. My prayers need to be inline with Gods heartbeat .
b. They need to be more Kingdom directed.
c. They must not even come close to violating scripture.
d. They need to be heartfelt and very direct.
e. They need to be a part of my prayer time along with praise, worship, thanksgiving, etc...
f. They need to be infused with faith that God is able, and, that I will be content with whatever the outcome is whether i understand it or not .

 

[dayhiker]

Well, James says we don't get our prayers answered because we ask amiss.

But the biggest thing is that the old be productive and your wages will go up just isn't true for most people these days. Productivity is way up over the last 20 years, but 80% of peoples wages are close to the same if not smaller. Even minimum wage is way below where it would be of it was tied to inflation.

Companies are the more profitable now than they have ever been. However they aren't passing the profits down to the people who make the goods. Only the CEOs and CFOs type are making more money. And they are making a whole lot more money, salaries are up, benefits are up, retirement is up.

So the system is shafting the man on the street and the news media just isn't tell them. They say get a better education, but a better education means most are poorer as they will borrow 10s of thousands of dollars to get an education and most don't get better jobs from their education.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I am thankful that my son has a full scholarship and now will get extra help from the military so he won't have any student loans. He's in his second year and I'm so proud of him for not taking any loans. I only wish he did not opt for a car payment, but hopefully he will pay it off early.

 

[dayhiker]

Ya, for all you were worried about Michelle, he has made some good decisions.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I know right? Now I have one more teenager to live thru (hopefully). He will be 16 in November. So about 5 more years and MAYBE I can relax.
Although my older one tells me he wants to move out by the time he's 20, and get married at 21 (he has no girlfriend at the moment) YIKES! I am just hoping to talk him into staying until he finishes AIT next summer. His BD is in March. I don't see the point of paying for an apt that you won't even be in for 2 months. Not sure what he will say, but it would save him a few months of rent anyway. Not a huge deal if he doesn't. But I don't think he has considered ALL the stuff he needs to move out, like a COUCH, TV, DISHES ETC ETC ETC. He is saving his money. He has decided that he would like to have 5G before he moves and has a friend whose dad is in finance to help him make his money grow better when he reaches that goal.

 

[toLiJC]

the purpose in the faith is that the unsaved humans be saved by being provided with abundant and everlasting lives in the true God and Jesus, that is why the prayers should be concentrated on the overall salvation, while the rest is God's work

Matthew 6:7-8 "when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do(note: the right translation is "as the pharisees do", because the heathen people are not believers and do not pray): 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 6:31-34 "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom(i.e. the love) of God, and his righteousness(i.e. and the perfection of His love); and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.",

1 Timothy 2:1-6 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks(i.e. blessings), be made for all men(i.e. for all humans); For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty(i.e. in all goodness and earnestness). For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men(i.e. all humans/souls) to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth(i.e. and to become good/righteous). For there is one God, and one mediator(also: and one Lord) between God and men, the man(i.e. the ensouled being) Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

Blessings

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

MARK 11:24 NKJ
24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you
pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

 

[MorkandMindy]

Often the question isn't what you want to have or do but what the overall aim is.



I avoid borrowing, but I wouldn't like to think what my credit rating in the US would be. A car loan can be an excellent way to improve it, if paid back in time, or always a week early I guess. But I would suggest not taking another loan until it comes to buying a house / condo / apartment or other residence.

 

[MorkandMindy]

As for the details:



TV - use a PC and internet instead and get exactly what you want when you want it instead of wasting hours watching whatever garbage is on. The news is more often wrong than right so why watch it?

I watch music videos by favourite music groups and a film some Saturdays, and of course play some computer games when stressed out and find out things. The 22 inch screen acts as three kindles side by side in two rows; 6 in total when needed.



The time I saved by not watching TV I spend on CF which is more engaging, and I also worked some extra hours for money and finally spent some of it going to London Tues Wed Thurs and took my son and we saw things I never thought I would see and things I never imagined existed.


Sofa - only if you want to become a couch potato


Price - Valencia Park (jn 202 E. Van Buren St., just N of Tovrea Castle) has some very reasonable apartments, don't waste money, rent a small one and keep very little in it, get an upstairs one for security and privacy, arrange days and hours to visit Michelle. Make the effort, keep your life together.


By way of explanation about space. My sister has a house that's over 3,000 square feet, and a total mess full of stuff. My house here is 1,150 square feet and she really likes it. A lot less stuff in it. And she has 5 TVs if I recall, we have 1 good computer per person.


Dishes - one bowl, one spoon.

Oh I forgot about the candle lit dinner. OK, candlesticks and holders, two plates, two dishes, two bowls two mugs, two glasses, two of each item of cutlery. two napkins, one frying pan one sauce pan one larger pot, two pyrex microwavable bowls, one microwave oven one normal fan oven a couple of rings, one fridge one freezer or a large combined one. Washing machine. Does anyone really need a drier in Arizona? I have a drying rack, I often put it in the bath or outdoors.

Two chairs, one table, two computer chairs, two single beds (one kept on edge somewhere). The PC also makes music. Forget quantity, think quality - the Harmon Kardon Sound Sticks III looks and sounds great. What can a 42 inch TV do that a 22 inch PC display can't do? They both have the same resolution, but the PC does lots and lots of things, the TV just helps you vegetate.

 

[toLiJC]

MARK 11:24 NKJ
24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you
pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

is it right that someone say in the prayer(e.g.): "God, kill Your Saints and Prophets"?!, here is how not each prayer may be right

Blessings

 

[Yahu]

I know we are human and God gives us grace no matter what.

I was studying this morning of the dream God gave to Solomon. He came to him in a dream and asked him "what do you want me to give you?" (paraphrasing) and Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment to lead the people. And because God was pleased that he asked for that instead of asking for long life for himself or riches, He gave them those things also. The lesson was asking God for specific things.

So it caused me to think...maybe some of our prayers are not being answered because we are not asking for the right things. Like for example, I want to pay my mountain of debt off. I keep praying for God to help me pay my bills off. Maybe I should be asking for wisdom to manage my money instead? IDK it's just a thought.

Do you think that is why some of our prayers go unanswered? Or maybe we don't "believe" they will be answered which is another requirement that we "believe" what we are asking for will be done.

Thoughts?

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Yes, it would be better to ask for wisdom in being a better steward then asking for Yah to pay off your debts. He isn't Santa Claus.

Too many christian prayers are just a form of witchcraft. They ask/demand things be given to them that Yah won't give like control over another person's life issues. Other spirits will hear that and try to be as god in your life in effect turning wrong prayer into witchcraft.

One prayer He always promises to answer is a prayer for greater wisdom.

Our prayer should be guided by the Holy Spirit within us. That is the purpose of tongues in your prayer closet to pray through you without you messing it up.

 

[mjmcmillan]

But I don't think he has considered ALL the stuff he needs to move out, like a COUCH, TV, DISHES ETC ETC ETC. He is saving his money. He has decided that he would like to have 5G before he moves and has a friend whose dad is in finance to help him make his money grow better when he reaches that goal.

Gee, do you think I should, er--- tell her????

A couch, a TV and so on are nice to have, but you can get by. Further, if you absolutely have to have these things, Goodwill sells stuff for pennies on the dollar compared to what you would pay elsewhere. I have a TV right now that cost me 5 dollars, works great. A decent sofa can be had for less than 100, and a table and a couple of chairs don't cost that much-- if you can be satisfied with "good enough for now" when you're getting your first place. Dishes to eat off of and cookware to cook in-- same thing, Goodwill sells perfectly good stuff on the cheap. Computer hardware is a trifle harder to come by, you may have to spend a little on that.

But, don't take my word for it. I'm just a 6th generation Scotsman/American who still has some of the "cheap" left in him, and sometimes sleeps in a van at a rest area. You can get by on surprisingly little when the need arises.

For the first apartment-- a cheap TV that works, a table to eat off of and chairs to sit in, a halfway decent bed (here's one thing that spending money might be justified, a bad bed can be murder to a night's sleep) and a set of drawers (Goodwill again, you'd be surprised how good some of this second-hand stuff really is) and you can get by for a little while.

Edit: Add-on; I work in a field where getting by on little is the rule rather than the exception. I'm something of an exception in that I go home after a trip. Many of the people in this job stay out for three months at a time, living in their vehicles. The laptop computer with some sort of wifi connection, an air mattress, some way to make heat in winter and cooling in the summer-- and you're set to live in a metal box on wheels. It really doesn't take much, only what you're willing to get by on.

 

[blackribbon]

I don't think we can pray "wrong".

Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

But it is important to realize that if you don't get what you asked for that doesn't mean your prayer wasn't answered...it might just be the answer was "not now" or "no, that isn't what is best for you"

My kids ask for many things...some are frivilous but that doesn't meant I don't listen. I listens and the answers can range from yes - to not right now - no, not ever. And sometimes I even grant requests that are silly and frivilous just out of love and because they bothered to ask. Even more importantly, I would never ignore a request that was about a basic need. God loves so much more than we can love our own children, I kind of suspect that this is how God looks at our prayers.

Prayer is supposed to be a conversation with God, a time to tell Him what is going on in your life and let Him know what you find important...even if He already knows. There are many things in my kids lives that I know about...hurts and joys that I recognize even without them opening their mouths...but I value when they do open their mouths and just share their lives with me. God wants us to love Him enough to voluntarily share our lives with Him.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

This past week my step daughter popped into town unexpectantly. She is on her way back to OK and doesn't really have a plan. She's an alcoholic and says that she's so addicted that if she doesn't drink she will die!
She says this is the first time in her life that she can remember God being silent. Personally, I think He tries to get her attention but she is medicated and not listening. She says she doesn't read the bible lately, because she feels convicted. (I think God is speaking thru His word).
She has no real plan and always hopes to depend on others. She wants to receive grace from everyone, but will not give it to her sister, who she says acts like she has the perfect life when she doesn't. Why that is her problem, IDK.
God wants a relationship with Him where we absolutely know we can count on Him. So I do believe we can pray for the wrong "things" and we are better off IMO, asking Him to show us the way we should walk.