How specific do you need to be with your prayers?

[Rising_Suns]

Lets say I pray for the health of everyone in the world, and then I pray for the health of one person in particular. Now, is that one person more "better off" than any random person in the world because I was specific in my prayer?

Now take this to a smaller level. Lets say I pray for the health of someone who has lung cancer. Then I pray for another person who also has lung cancer. But instead of praying for their health in general, I pray for their lung cancer to go away. Does that specificity make the prayer more powerfull with regards to the lung cancer?

I know it's a dumb question, but it's just been naggin me for a little while now. Thanks guys.

 

[VOW]

To RS:

Prayers are not a magic spell, or incantation that must be recited properly in order for the magic to occur.

Let's say you call your mom. She tells you to stop by the store on the way to her house, and she gives you a list of things to pick up for her.

Is the milk more important because she put that at the top of the list?

After giving you the list, you and Mom chitchat a bit. Then just before she says good-bye, she says, "Oh, yeah, I also need a loaf of bread."

When you walk in the door at Mom's house, will it matter if you give her the loaf of bread first, or the half-gallon of milk?

Just PRAY, RS. It's good for you, it's good for everyone you raise in prayer.


Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[Rising_Suns]

Prayers are not a magic spell, or incantation that must be recited properly in order for the magic to occur.

Thanks VOW but I think I know what prayers are. I was just wondering if there was an specific doctrine related to the dynamics of praying...besides what Jesus gave us directly of course.

 

[VOW]

To RS:

Right now, my head is fuzzed from the Santa Ana winds, a migraine, and migraine medication, so I can't remember my sources. But SOMEBODY said, "Pray unceasingly."

The Jesus Prayer is something I learned about not too long ago. I never have been much of a pray-er, but I found this to be so wonderful. When I'm walking or doing chores or numbing my brain with some mundane task, instead of letting my mind wander, I use the Jesus prayer. Then, as little things around me remind me of people in my life, I ask God to bless them.

(the following sounds stupid, so please disregard if you are so inclined)

It's about a half-mile walk from my work to the Catholic Church where I attend noon services Tuesday through Thursday. I realize I should be preparing my mind and my heart to receive God, and decided it was a good thing to pray the Jesus prayer while I walked.

Some of the things I pass are scribbles that people have made in the sidewalk before the cement dried. One name is a woman I knew indirectly years ago who has a very troubled life. When I pass that name, I ask God to have mercy on her soul. Another name is the same as one of my nephews. So, I ask God to bless him, then I ask God to bless his family, and then I start naming friends, family, and others who are close to me. LOL, by that time, I'm at Church.

It's certainly more productive than singing commercial jingles to myself.


Peace,
~VOW

 

[Rising_Suns]

 

[sklippstein]

Rising Sun.......prayer is has requirements.

1. purity of heart
2. believing in Christ's name
3. According to God's will

These are personal requirements.

The following are general requirements:
1. forgiving spirit
2. simplicity
3. humility and repentance
4. unity of believers
5. tenacity
6. importunity
7. intensity
8. confident expectation
9. without many words
10. unceasingly

I don't think if u are specific with one and not another it would really make much of a difference. (i could be wrong, and I hope someone would show us a scripture if they differ)

Reasons of refused answer:

1. sin
2. selfishness
3. doubt
4. disobedience
5. inhumanity
6. pride

As long as u are praying in God's perfect will w/o ceasing, God hears ur every word and knows the intent of ur heart.

 

[seebs]

That's a really good question. I periodically ask my friends a similar question:

When you pray, what do you expect to happen?

God already knows what's important, and how things are. So... if I pray for health, I am asserting that God *could* heal me... So... Am I implying that He didn't think of it? Is He petty enough to refuse healing unless I beg? Or what's going on here?

I've heard a dozen very interesting answers to this. I think the correct answer is somewhere around the question of free will; it *is* within our authority to change the world somewhat, and thus, it is reasonable for us to ask God to change things.

Your milage may vary; it's a fun thing to think about.

 

[Hoonbaba]

Originally posted by Rising_Suns
Lets say I pray for the health of everyone in the world, and then I pray for the health of one person in particular. Now, is that one person more "better off" than any random person in the world because I was specific in my prayer?

Now take this to a smaller level. Lets say I pray for the health of someone who has lung cancer. Then I pray for another person who also has lung cancer. But instead of praying for their health in general, I pray for their lung cancer to go away. Does that specificity make the prayer more powerfull with regards to the lung cancer?

I know it's a dumb question, but it's just been naggin me for a little while now. Thanks guys.

Rising Suns,

Actually, I think that's a GREAT question! =)

In anycase, I honestly don't think specific prayers are 'better' than non specific prayers. But again, I think it's also important to pray a specific prayer. heh I guess I contradicted myself

In anycase, the prayer itself doesn't bring about some miracle, but rather God himself does the miracle, so I think it's clear that God can answer the prayer, but he may not necessarily answer the prayer.

By the way, if you're interested in praying for sick people, I highly encourage you to read Francis MacNutt's books on "Healing" or "Power to Heal", etc.

If I remember correctly, he addresses that question you asked too! =)

God bless!

 

[Rising_Suns]

By the way, if you're interested in praying for sick people, I highly encourage you to read Francis MacNutt's books on "Healing" or "Power to Heal", etc.

If I remember correctly, he addresses that question you asked too! =)

I've read two of his books; "Healing" and "Deliverence from evil spirits"...i guess i missed this point.

 

[Hoonbaba]

Originally posted by Rising_Suns
I've read two of his books; "Healing" and "Deliverence from evil spirits"...i guess i missed this point.

Wow! How do you like the books?? Great stuff right? =)

By the way, here's an interesting link:

http://www.christianhealingmin.org/healingarticles.htm

God bless!

-Jason

 

[Rising_Suns]

I really enjoyed Deliverence from Evil Spirits. He is one of the leaders in the field, and I found his experiences with excorcisms very interesting to say the least. It's extremely hard not to believe in demons if you have been experienced what he has experienced.

P.S. thanks for the link!

 

[Hoonbaba]

Originally posted by Rising_Suns
I really enjoyed Deliverence from Evil Spirits. He is one of the leaders in the field, and I found his experiences with excorcisms very interesting to say the least. It's extremely hard not to believe in demons if you have been experienced what he has experienced.

P.S. thanks for the link!

Oh also...[heh, the 'charismatic' side of me is starting to come out =P]

MacNutt was a good friend of John Wimber. He's known for starting the Vineyard Christian Fellowship. He's a protestant, but him and MacNutt worked together a few times. Also, Jack Deere too! (he has a great book titled, "Surprised by the Power of the Spirit", it's a fun and encouraging read!) =)

Wimber wrote a book titled, "Power Evangelism" (Power Healing is also a good one). And I think it's the most biblical means to 'evangelism'. Basically power evangelism places the miraculous ministry of the Holy Spirit back into the gospel (just like when Jesus 'sends out the twelve' in Matt 10)

I know this may sound controversial to some extent, but according to the Bible, not only is baptism tied into preaching the gospel (Matt 28:19, Acts 2:38). The miraculous is also tied into the gospel mesage! (1 Cor 2:1-5, 1 Thess 1:5, Heb 2:3-4)

Also, Paul claims that he fully preached the gospel by signs and wonders (Rom 15:19)

Also compare 1 Cor 4:20 with Matt 12:28 and Luke 11:20

I remember reading how some secular scholar of Roman history claimed that Christianity flourished because the Christians were constantly performing miracles as if they were saying, "My God can fix you real good"

Back in the day, miracles were the 'norm'. But these days, many have pushed the Holy Spirit aside (particularly protestants). But God's changing that =)

Christians are starting to realize that faith without works is dead (James 2:24). Some say that faith demands taking risks, otherwise it's a 'dead' faith =)

Just thought I'd share that =)

God bless!

-Jason
P.S. Wimber once said: Here's how I spell faith: R.I.S.K. =)