praying?

[plainsong9]

Is there a right and wrong way to pray?

Is it ok to pray and ask God for things or to do things?

Does God already know what we need or want?

Should we just pray for God to do as He wants and to help us with it?

The bible says that Jesus prayed in Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Jesus asked for what he wanted if God was willing, but only if it was God's will.

But then it also says somewhere that anything we ask for will be given to us.

What about prayers that are not answered, and for things that are needed, such as a job, or even healing from sickness?

Why are some prayers answered and some not?

Sorry for all the questions...

 

[David Sylvian]

Is there a right and wrong way to pray?

Is it ok to pray and ask God for things or to do things?

Does God already know what we need or want?

Should we just pray for God to do as He wants and to help us with it?

The bible says that Jesus prayed in Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Jesus asked for what he wanted if God was willing, but only if it was God's will.

But then it also says somewhere that anything we ask for will be given to us.

What about prayers that are not answered, and for things that are needed, such as a job, or even healing from sickness?

Why are some prayers answered and some not?

Sorry for all the questions...

What about asking if you can win the lottery? You must think of God's will, and in that way do your prayers get answered.

What God wants for you is beyond your own knowledge. It is good.

Look for questions you know God will be pleased to answer, avoid prayers inspired by motives of greed. It is not that God does not want to give you everything, far beyond even what your wildest imagination can dream. It is that people do not know what is best for their own selves.

The good from Heaven is far more then the good from earth, as Heaven is higher then earth.

You can not know what that good is until it is given. And there will always be higher good then that. God always knows what the higher good is and will gladly continue to lead you to higher and higher good.

 

[Bible2]

plainsong9 said in post 1:

Is there a right and wrong way to pray?

When one of Jesus' disciples asked him how to pray, he told all his disciples to pray what believers call the Lord's prayer (Luke 11:1-4, Matthew 6:9-13). So believers should pray the Lord's prayer, every day, and learn to concentrate on everything it says. It's the perfect model prayer, from which any further, more specific prayers can follow. And there's no need to get long-winded or repetitious (Matthew 6:7-13, Ecclesiastes 5:2). It's better to pray a short prayer with faith than a long prayer with doubting (James 1:6-8).

In order for believers' prayers to be heard, and answered, they must not "ask amiss, that they may consume it upon their lusts" (James 4:3). Before believers pray, they must make sure that they've repented from all their sins (Hebrews 10:26-29), and done all that they can to make reparations to and peace with everyone whom they've ever wronged (Matthew 5:23-26, Romans 12:18, Acts 24:16, Hebrews 12:14). And they must make sure that they've completely forgiven everyone who has ever wronged them (Matthew 6:15). And when they pray for something, they must pray for it with an unwavering faith (James 1:6-8) and an unwavering perseverance (Luke 18:1-8). And they must actually be obeying God in their lives (1 John 3:22). And what they ask for must be according to God's will (1 John 5:14). They must be willing to put aside their own will, and seek God's will in all things (Luke 22:42, Matthew 6:10; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Deuteronomy 3:25-26).

Also, believers should give thanks (Philippians 4:6-7). And they should pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalms 122:6). And they should pray for all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). And they should pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38). Believers should also pray that they might be accounted worthy to escape the future tribulation (Luke 21:36), and that their flight (from the future Antichrist) won't be in the winter (Mark 13:18). And believers who have received the gift of tongues should pray for the separate gift of the interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 14:13).

 

[insurchoftruth]

The greatest pleasure for the Greatest, is to be recognized as the Greatest, by the worship of his creation, the lesser. We worship God for who he is as a person, his character, nature and attributes. We praise God, for the great things he does.

It is called a sacrifice of praise, because you leave your things, and go and do God's things, worshipping him. God does not exist for us, but we exist for him.


Song of Songs, Psalm 100, Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 148, Psalm 119:164, 2 Timothy 2:20,21, Psalm 113:3, Psalm 27:6, Psalm 29:1, 2, Isaiah 6:1-4, 42:8,10,12, 43:6,7,21, 66:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, 10:31, 1 Chronicles 23:5,30, Acts 12:23, Romans 1:21, 12:1, Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 1:6, 4:8-11, 5:10-14, 7:11,12, 19:1-10,16, 20:6, 22:8,9, Psalm 66:1-4, Exodus 34:8, 14:16,17, Hebrews 2:10, 13:15,21, 2 Kings 17:36, Psalm 150:2, I Chronicles 23:5, 30, II Chronicles 5:12-14, 7:3, 29:25-30, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 22:27,28,29 Ephesians 1:12,

 

[Peripatetic]

No need to be sorry for all the questions. In fact, they show a great deal of wisdom that you already have! When thinking about God's will and how it affects answered prayer, it helps to think about about ourselves as parents. If my kids ask for something, I genuinely want them to be happy, and their requests certainly influence what my wife and I give them! However, we have to use maturity and judgement to make sure that we don't allow them to do or have something that isn't good for them.

Now, consider that God has perfect wisdom and judgement, and can also see into the future. He knows that what's "best" for us isn't necessarily what makes us happy right now. So that job situation may seem to go unanswered, but I should trust that it is beneficial in some way that I may not understand - though often times it makes sense later when I look back. Any adversity (including sickness) can be an important part of life's journey.

 

[plainsong9]

Peripatetic, what you said makes sense...
Thank you.
If we pray to get a certain job offer and then we don't get it, that doesn't mean our prayers were bad or that we are bad, it just means that God has a reason for not giving it to us, even if what we want isn't exactly bad, God knows how it will end up and we do not, so it is probably for a good reason that we do not know. As I learned from the book of Job, there are things beyond our understanding....

Unfortunately I tend to over think things a lot and as soon as I think I understand something I'll start to think about it and have different thoughts and then wonder what I really think, lol...

 

[1watchman]

If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, then make Him Lord of your life and walk with Him in communion. That will solve a multitude of problems. Look up always!

 

[cerette]

God encourages us to come to Him in prayer; to tell Him our wishes and hopes and our fears etc. He wants you to talk to Him. Go to Him as a child goes to her parent sharing whatever is on her mind.
Yes God already knows our needs and wishes, but He still wants us to come to Him in prayer. We should always pray that God's will be done. So even if you wish to have a new car, and you pray that you get one but also pray that God's will be done, then you can be sure that you will get what you asked for, whether it is a new car or not. If it is God's will that you get a car, you'll get it. If it is God's will that you don't get a car, you won't get one. Yet, your prayer for a "new car and God's will to be done" has been fulfilled. As Christians we are to be willing and ready to accept whatever God gives (or "doesn't give").
We don't know why we don't always get the answers we are hoping for (a new job, healing, etc) but we do know that all things work together for the best.

 

[johenah1633]

Is there a right and wrong way to pray?


But then it also says somewhere that anything we ask for will be given to us.

What about prayers that are not answered, and for things that are needed, such as a job, or even healing from sickness?

Why are some prayers answered and some not?

Sorry for all the questions...

Don't apologize silly. First, The bible says God will bring about a desire of ours when it lines up with his will (1 john 5:14, john 13:14, john 15:7).



Secondly, no one knows why some prayers go unanswered or are not answered the way we expect. On another note, what we can do is analyze and read what God says to have better understanding of our situations. We could offer up reasons or ideas for why someone didn't recieve healing or come to realize their dream or recieve freedom from their bondage but the whole scope of our situation is beyond our understanding. This isn't to say that prayer doesn't give us clarity (proverbs 3:5-6, james 1:5, matthew 7:6-12) it's actually quite the opposite.


Prayer is essential and something we should invest alot of time into (i'm working on it myself..). It has endless benefits and helps us to trust in God and be at peace. God wants you to talk to him

Acts 17:27+28, philipians 4:4-7