Praying

[CocoBrown]

Can someone explain to me the point of praying for things if in life what is to be will be regardless if you pray for it or not. When I pray I pray mostly to thank God for his blessings, wisdom and safety for my friends and family because I don't see the point in praying for things because what is to be will be. Am I wrong?

 

[latteda]

Praying and asking God to do things is how we invite Him to be involved in our lives. It's a way of asking Him to be a part of all that is going on in our lives.

 

[WileyCoyote]

Can someone explain to me the point of praying for things if in life what is to be will be regardless if you pray for it or not. When I pray I pray mostly to thank God for his blessings, wisdom and safety for my friends and family because I don't see the point in praying for things because what is to be will be. Am I wrong?

Most definitely.


"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11)

It's ok to ask God for 'things' as long as they are according to His will and you are not asking for greedy and selfish reasons. Also:

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16)

I like this next verse.

"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not." (James 4:2)

This one says that you have not because you ask not. If you don't pray for something and you don't have it, it isn't because God didn't will it but because you didn't ask. People lust for things, kill for things and have desire for things, but they don't have them because they didn't ask God. Who told you that it may be wrong to ask God for things?

 

[nill]

Prayer and Predestination - really short, really simple, great answer

 

[mina]

I don't think it's wrong to ask God for things. Just to make sure that that's not all we are doing when we are praying.

 

[joyouspirit]

I pray like you do. Giving thanks for the blessings and asking for guidance and protection for my family.

But I have prayers too, that asks for things as you said.

"Ask and you shall receive."

When my prayer is about asking for things, my prayer is somewhat like, to lead me and give me wisdom or discernment if what I am asking will be for my good and in line with His plan for me.

Right now, my prayer is for a job. But prayer without action is nothing. I do my part.

God bless!!!

 

[joyouspirit]

"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not." (James 4:2)

This one says that you have not because you ask not. If you don't pray for something and you don't have it, it isn't because God didn't will it but because you didn't ask. People lust for things, kill for things and have desire for things, but they don't have them because they didn't ask God. Who told you that it may be wrong to ask God for things?

This is what I have been looking for!

Thanks, Wileycoyote!

*jots down the verse*

 

[WileyCoyote]

This is what I have been looking for!

Thanks, Wileycoyote!

*jots down the verse*

No prob. Uh, personal question. Are you from Manila?

 

[IDDQD]

Can someone explain to me the point of praying for things if in life what is to be will be regardless if you pray for it or not. When I pray I pray mostly to thank God for his blessings, wisdom and safety for my friends and family because I don't see the point in praying for things because what is to be will be. Am I wrong?

What you're referring to there stems from predestination views that were dominant during the Puritan times in America. I, personally, think predestination views are full of crap. In my opinion, it contradicts free will and pretty much says that I can be saintly, but if God decides I'm going to Hell anyway, then I'm out of luck.

Granted, when I do pray, I ask for nothing, personally. I just want others to be happy, safe, etc. I make my own happiness. If there's ever a time I do want to ask something of myself in prayer, I probably would, though God already knows my heart well enough that I feel like asking is unnecessary.

 

[CocoBrown]

Thanks for explaining it to me. I just asked because I have been asking for a permanent job for years and I still can't find one so I figure I guess it is not God's will for me to have one right now even though I have being trying soooo hard. I think I'll go back to asking.

 

[WileyCoyote]

Thanks for explaining it to me. I just asked because I have been asking for a permanent job for years and I still can't find one so I figure I guess it is not God's will for me to have one right now even though I have being trying soooo hard. I think I'll go back to asking.

And providing that God instructs us to work, I really don't think He'll leave you unemployed for too much longer considering it was Him who told us to work.

 

[Inkachu]

Praying isn't just for getting what we want, folks. Praying is how we maintain communication, communion, and fellowship with God. Just like a relationship with a friend or spouse; you don't just talk to them when you want something, you talk about your day, you talk about your feelings, you talk about your thoughts, you share your joys, you seek comfort in your sorrows, you ask for advice, etc.

Praying helps you get things off your chest. Praying helps you clear your mind when you're upset or confused. Praying relieves stress and anger. It helps you regain focus and perspective. The Bible says the Lord inhabits praise (which forever amazes me); that means that if you praise Him in prayer, He is THERE. The Bible says to give thanks in everything, even in trials; this can help you focus on Him instead of your burdens, which can completely reshape your perspective.

Prayer is something a Christian shouldn't be able to live without doing daily. I can't imagine NOT talking to God. And when you don't know what to say, or how to say it, just be quiet before Him..."be still (be silent) and know that I am God"...and the Spirit can intercede for you when you can't find words to pray.

And He LOVES you. He WANTS to hear from you. We aren't the only ones involved when we pray! It's a two-way interaction!

 

[joyouspirit]

Thanks for explaining it to me. I just asked because I have been asking for a permanent job for years and I still can't find one so I figure I guess it is not God's will for me to have one right now even though I have being trying soooo hard. I think I'll go back to asking.

Well, we are on the same boat.

Did it cross your mind if the kind of job you are in maybe is not the one He wants for you? Maybe you can also ask about this?

God bless!!!

 

[willard3]

Praying isn't asking to change God's will, it's asking that we have the vision and fortitude to see God's will and accept it.

 

[Inkachu]

There is plenty to suggest, though, that when a Christian prays, God can change His mind about something. Check out the story of Abraham praying for God to spare the people of Sodom. He actually bargained with God; pretty freakin' amazing, if you ask me. What about all those who prayed for dead/dying people when Jesus was on earth? They could've said "Well, they're dying, must be God's will, we'd better accept it." Jesus often said "Your FAITH has healed you"...don't always apathetically accept everything. It's OK and it's good to hope and ask for a CHANGE.

 

[Tamara224]

Praying isn't just for getting what we want, folks. Praying is how we maintain communication, communion, and fellowship with God. Just like a relationship with a friend or spouse; you don't just talk to them when you want something, you talk about your day, you talk about your feelings, you talk about your thoughts, you share your joys, you seek comfort in your sorrows, you ask for advice, etc.

Praying helps you get things off your chest. Praying helps you clear your mind when you're upset or confused. Praying relieves stress and anger. It helps you regain focus and perspective. The Bible says the Lord inhabits praise (which forever amazes me); that means that if you praise Him in prayer, He is THERE. The Bible says to give thanks in everything, even in trials; this can help you focus on Him instead of your burdens, which can completely reshape your perspective.

Prayer is something a Christian shouldn't be able to live without doing daily. I can't imagine NOT talking to God. And when you don't know what to say, or how to say it, just be quiet before Him..."be still (be silent) and know that I am God"...and the Spirit can intercede for you when you can't find words to pray.

And He LOVES you. He WANTS to hear from you. We aren't the only ones involved when we pray! It's a two-way interaction!

QFT


And another verse to add to what others have said:

16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

 

[Inkachu]

QFT


And another verse to add to what others have said:

16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Right on

 

[SCKeith803]

What you're referring to there stems from predestination views that were dominant during the Puritan times in America. I, personally, think predestination views are full of crap. In my opinion, it contradicts free will and pretty much says that I can be saintly, but if God decides I'm going to Hell anyway, then I'm out of luck.

Granted, when I do pray, I ask for nothing, personally. I just want others to be happy, safe, etc. I make my own happiness. If there's ever a time I do want to ask something of myself in prayer, I probably would, though God already knows my heart well enough that I feel like asking is unnecessary.

There is is a difference between predestination and predetermination

predestination means knowing the outcome before it happens..predetermination is to choose the outcome before it happens

 

[IDDQD]

There is is a difference between predestination and predetermination

predestination means knowing the outcome before it happens..predetermination is to choose the outcome before it happens

The dictionary is amused at your pathetic attempt to bastardize the definition of one of the words to make it look like something completely different from the other.

 

[Inkachu]

"Predestination" means to purpose or will something to happen beforehand.

Knowing something before it happens is called lots of things: foresight, clairvoyance, fortune-telling, but not "predestination".

If you're referring to God's being all-knowing, that's omniscience.