What is the point of praying?

[frienden thalord]

We are to pray "in his name," which does not mean saying his name at the end of the prayer. The idea of praying in his name means praying in his authority, according to his will, in a manner consistent with his character. That is what "in the name" means to a Hebrew which matters because messiah was a Hebrew. Point is... if we run off a list to God and that isn't His will, He won't grant that no matter what word we close the prayer with. He isn't a genie there to do our bidding, He is God and we serve Him. So prayer would be asking Him what He desires and then waiting on His answer. We can pray for healing, ask Him... but in the end it will come to down to it being His will or not.

That is a hard reality we need to face.

THAT IS THE KEY.................LORD THY WILL BE DONE.............
JESUS TOLD us what things to SEEK for and what NOT TOO
in luke we are given a very specific thing...
ask seek knock..........................SPIRITUAL..........
for HOW much more shall MY Father GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask HIM
knocking is all about the DOOR
SEEKING is all about SEEKING GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.
I mean, why worry over the material................GOD FEEDS sparrows............HE WILL US TOO.
WE must press INTO SEEKING HIM................worry not over the morrow
and worry not over food and clothes...............he clothes the grass
he feeds sparrows
SEEK THE BREAD that perished NOT and be CLOTHED IN THE DURABLE RIGHTEOUS ROBES
of CHRIST..................
I cannot fully express the PEACE in just RESTING in the LORD
and it being all about HIS WILL
for my GOD knows when its time to chasten for our own good
and he knows ALL THINGS......
if we lost all earthen things...................TIS GAIN if its for HIS SAKE
and if we do happen to gain earthen things................DONT HOPE FOR IT
but if we do...............TIS ONLY MEANT to GIVE to thos who lack.
THE PEACE of HIS WILL.........................frees a man and gives us joy.
its all about KNWOING HIM................in all times , even in sufferings
which in HIS TIME, when it has had to work.........the man or woman
who endures will find more the peaceable fruits of righteousness.
MY LORD never told me, I would have peace IN this world
HE said TRIBULATION
but his promise is ..........MY peace , my joy in HIM , would endure it all.
I shall have peace no matter what comes against me
no matter if I lose it all............for my peace is of HIM and my hopes above in heaven.
I just rejoice in the fact a man as wicked as I..............instead of receiving the sentence of death
at my end.........its now HE , his grace has saved me , changed me , molds me
TIS HIS GRACE I must follow and OBEY , or I too will be cast out .
HIS GRACE ALONE IS SUFFICEINT IN ALL THNGS and through all times
and that I am FULLY PERSAUDED .....................

 

[RaymondG]

THAT IS THE KEY.................LORD THY WILL BE DONE.............
JESUS TOLD us what things to SEEK for and what NOT TOO
in luke we are given a very specific thing...
ask seek knock..........................SPIRITUAL..........
for HOW much more shall MY Father GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask HIM
knocking is all about the DOOR
SEEKING is all about SEEKING GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.
I mean, why worry over the material................GOD FEEDS sparrows............HE WILL US TOO.
WE must press INTO SEEKING HIM................worry not over the morrow
and worry not over food and clothes...............he clothes the grass
he feeds sparrows
SEEK THE BREAD that perished NOT and be CLOTHED IN THE DURABLE RIGHTEOUS ROBES
of CHRIST..................
I cannot fully express the PEACE in just RESTING in the LORD
and it being all about HIS WILL
for my GOD knows when its time to chasten for our own good
and he knows ALL THINGS......
if we lost all earthen things...................TIS GAIN if its for HIS SAKE
and if we do happen to gain earthen things................DONT HOPE FOR IT
but if we do...............TIS ONLY MEANT to GIVE to thos who lack.
THE PEACE of HIS WILL.........................frees a man and gives us joy.
its all about KNWOING HIM................in all times , even in sufferings
which in HIS TIME, when it has had to work.........the man or woman
who endures will find more the peaceable fruits of righteousness.
MY LORD never told me, I would have peace IN this world
HE said TRIBULATION
but his promise is ..........MY peace , my joy in HIM , would endure it all.
I shall have peace no matter what comes against me
no matter if I lose it all............for my peace is of HIM and my hopes above in heaven.
I just rejoice in the fact a man as wicked as I..............instead of receiving the sentence of death
at my end.........its now HE , his grace has saved me , changed me , molds me
TIS HIS GRACE I must follow and OBEY , or I too will be cast out .
HIS GRACE ALONE IS SUFFICEINT IN ALL THNGS and through all times
and that I am FULLY PERSAUDED .....................

So do you agree with the OP? no need to pray? What is the purpose of praying for God's will to be done? If we dont pray for the will, would his will not be done? Do you agree with the OP?

 

[Colter]

I am questioning the point to prayer. What is the point to praying for something if it never produces the desired result? Everything I have prayed for for about the last 3 years or so has not happened, or worse the things I have prayed to not happen have happened with more intensity and longer duration. So if it isn't producing the desired result, what is the point?

Prayer isn't about treating God like a Santa Clause, its not about telling God what you need, it's about asking God what his will is for you in life or any given situation. In short payer is a technique for exchanging our will for Gods will. If your prayer is not in accordance with the mandates of prayer then its not working because the answer is NO!

 

[frienden thalord]

So do you agree with the OP? no need to pray? What is the purpose of praying for God's will to be done? If we dont pray for the will, would his will not be done? Do you agree with the OP?

OH not at all..................WHEN I pray and I do...........its LORD give me WISDOM, knowledge
understanding , so I walk as I ought...............
AND MY LORD placed me ONLY in the bible......
I cannot say enough how sweet the sayings of JESUS are and all the HOLY SCRIPS
its like honey to the taste, and as I ate of them.........what a sweet taste and the hunger
for knowing HIM more , increased............
I cant say enough to love His sayings and the words of truth and holiness
HIS WORD , is a lamp unto our feet.....
we often know not what we should pray for.........BUT THE SPRIIT IT KNOWS..............
and CHRIST set the pattern for us in all things...............in how to walk
and how to pray........what to seek and what not to seek
HE is the WAY...............so I will follow the way
and if it costs me everything, the loss of all matieral
even more separation , and even sufferings
even persecutions, even if it cost me my life..............I AM FREE in HIM
and MY HOPE is in the reward .........
SET ALL AFFECTIONS above on HIM.......................Raymond...............it will set a man free.
free from the bondage of sin, free in mind ,
HE knows far greater than I , and what I do know............was revealed by HIS grace alone
and I treasure the riches of HIS grace, HIS WISDOM is my treasure
knowing him is the treasure....................oh that all would seek him with all the heart
and have the peace and joy that aall who do , have............

 

[fide]

Most seem to be missing the point:

IF it doesn't produce the desired results, what is the point of wasting my time praying?

What's the point of speaking with another person, if actually your whole point is not to get to know them, or to make friends with them, but merely to get them to do what you want them to do? If some particular person that you run into every day, only opened his mouth to try to manipulate you into doing him a favor - day after day - what would you think of him? Wouldn't you eventually try to avoid him? Who would want such a conversation, day after day?

On the other hand, suppose some other person came up to you every day, and he just wanted to get to know you better? He asked you questions that showed that he really liked you and cared about you, and wanted good for you. Wouldn't you be more inclined to talk with him, than the other guy who was always "all about him"?

Prayer is meant to be a conversation - talking with God, not at Him; listening to Him, and opening your own heart to hear Him, and getting to know Him - as well as sharing things about you, letting Him come to know you as well as your seeking to know Him better and better. Prayer, in other words, is all about relationship - "becoming friends" so to speak, with God in a relationship that works both ways: talking with Him, and listening to Him.

How do we listen to Him? He speaks to us in Scripture, and He speaks to us in our lives. He is very close to us - to each of us - every day He is nearer than we are to ourselves! We must learn to listen to Him - then we can know how to speak with Him.

Make friends with God. It is OK - it is good - to ask a Friend for help, when we need it.

 

[david.d]

Most seem to be missing the point:

IF it doesn't produce the desired results, what is the point of wasting my time praying?

It is how we speak with God. In my opinion prayer should generally be praising Him and His blessings to us, not asking for things or desires. It should also be us humbling ourselves to God, showing our limited to His limitless. I have wanted to pray for things that once in prayer I couldn't say, because maybe those things weren't God's will. Some of them were very painful and changing. Everytime I pray I shut out the world and let the words come out of me, it's almost like God talking to you and Himself through you. Prayer is a foundational part of faith, I can't imagine faith without prayer.

 

[Goodbook]

What exactly are you praying for?
Or more importantly who are you praying to?
Have you tried praying in tongues? Ask the holy spirit to praythrough you. Or put a request on the prayer forum. The more people pray, the more likely God will answer just ask in faith. Sometimes you need to persist and keep knocking on His door. Is it urgent?

Sometimes prayers are not answered because its ourselves, we have been doubleminded, about God and so Gods not going to answer wishy washy prayers and those whos faith is lukewarm. Another thing is maybe God has already answered and you just dont see it.

Since you havent told us what youve been praying about, we dont know and cant pray for you can we?

 

[rockytopva]

Here is a story about some lady who married a tall, strong, and violent man. He would come and beat up on her regularly. While attending a Smith Wigglesworth revival the evangelist tells the lady how to pray for and be delivered from the man... And then she returns the next night with an incredible story...

 

[381465]

Sorry. Adult onset undiagnosed ADD here.
Long prior posts not read.

Do you just pray for what you want?
Is what you want in his will?
Do you tell Him thank you and I love you when you pray?

I understand what you're saying and I am NOT coming at you from spiritual high ground.

I look at God as the ultimate parent.
I am an average Dad on my best day, but I'll say no to a lot of requests, maybe to some and yes sometimes.
My kids are awesome. They know I love them and I know they love me, but an unsolicited "I love you" lights me up.

I doubt this is you, but I know some who view God as the genie in a bottle.

Hope get things worked out.

 

[rockytopva]

2 There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. - Luke 18

Notes....

1. It was not the will of the judge to do anything at all for this woman.
2. The judge wanted nothing to do with this woman and was eager to get her off his back..
3. Assuredly... The judge did not care to avenge her adversaries and had no interest in her case

But....

She kept coming back!
Kept coming back!
Kept coming back!

After a while she wearied the judge and he gave her what she had need of. This is the same way with God the Father. There may be cares and issues in our life that he appears to care nothing about. It also may appear our requests are outside his will. But like the widow in the story there is hope that if we cry unto God the Father in Jesus name, and stay daily in prayer and faith, that we will see our requests made. If we do like the widow in the story... And keep coming back.. Keep coming back... Keep coming back! There is great hope in prayer!

Faith is a battle!
Faith is a fight!

 

[JackRT]

I wonder the same thing, because of God knows and controls everything, then why pray like it will change his mind? So then why pray to begin with?

Charles Templeton wrote in “Farewell to God” --- According to Christian theology, God is omniscient and exists apart from time. Being omniscient he knows the end from the beginning. But if true, would this not mean that all temporal life is predetermined? If God knows the end from the beginning then nothing is subject to change --- otherwise it would not have been known from the beginning. This being so, prayer cannot possibly change anything and there is no point to it. Apart from its function as worship, prayer is based on the premise that God can be talked into running the universe according to the wishes of a devout person on his knees. But, again, try to imagine the chaos if every devout person's prayers were answered! Belief in the efficacy of prayer is a form of self-delusion. Our real prayers are not what we say while on our knees --- the facile words whispered during a prayer. They are the aspirations, attitudes, and desires that motivate our daily lives. It is easy to prime the pump and have the words gush forth in a torrent of pious phrases but the proof of what we really want, regardless of what we say we want, is evident in the way we live.

 

[rockytopva]

RW Schambach explaining that unbelief...

1. Unbelief does not exist in the casino
2. Unbelief does not exist at the dog track
3. Unbelief does not exist with the lottery player

They keep coming back!
Keep coming back!
Keep coming back!

Unbelief exists in the church!

 

[Kit Sigmon]

I am questioning the point to prayer. What is the point to praying for something if it never produces the desired result? Everything I have prayed for for about the last 3 years or so has not happened, or worse the things I have prayed to not happen have happened with more intensity and longer duration. So if it isn't producing the desired result, what is the point?

Many of my prayers took decades before they were answered, I often doubted and or grew tired of waiting because I wanted what I wanted "right then and there" not years upon years down the road.

The Lord works in each of us, I believe the point to praying isn't just to make us happy by granting us everything we pray for--it's to teach us to be obedient... The Lord says we are to pray- Philippians 4:4-7, we are to be obedient...1 Samuel 15:22.

The Lord didn't guarantee every one of our prayers would be instantly granted and in the way we want.
Paul prayed three times for that "thorn in his flesh" to be removed but the Lord didn't remove it while Paul lived upon this earth.
The Lord heard Paul's prayers and answered with: "My grace is sufficient"...I believe that reply is often given.
Many of us don't like to hear/or accept it...that was true of me.
Paul's "thorn in the flesh" wasn't taken away, Paul was given grace to endure that "thorn" for the rest of his natural life.

Another thing that praying does is keep us in relationship/communication with God, it's a way of honoring Him and showing dependence on Him...abiding in Him...acting in faith, being obedient to the ONE who made it possible for us to be saved after all we are His children. Each of us sought Jesus for salvation, accepted Him as Lord and Savior...by doing that we are to align ourselves with Him and with the Word of God. Praying shows we are His and through prayer we to are
being changed inwardly as we continue to be submitted to the Lord.
Prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Word of God says that He who began a good work in us will see it through to completion...Philippians 1:6.
In order for us to grow/mature in the faith we will experience unpleasantness...trials, hardships, no's, we will told to wait... you do know about the fruit of the Spirit?
How do you think you gain patience? God don't snap his finger and patience is granted...patience is developed...those unpleasantnesses? what is to result from that is patience, kindness, goodness, peace, joy, agape etc.
I believe the most valuable be that of patience/long-suffering...cause if you possess them you will be a well-rooted believer who's abundant in fruit.
'Cause how we respond to being told no, or wait or my grace is sufficient (by the Lord) reveals something about our spiritual maturity an or lack of it.
I know this because that was me and so many others who have shared their stories with me over the years.

 

[Jack Isaacks]

I am questioning the point to prayer. What is the point to praying for something if it never produces the desired result? Everything I have prayed for for about the last 3 years or so has not happened, or worse the things I have prayed to not happen have happened with more intensity and longer duration. So if it isn't producing the desired result, what is the point?

If you're thinking the point of prayer is to get what you can out of God, then you're missing the point of prayer.

I'll give you a hint: Do you talk to your friends about what you think you should get out of them?

Glory to Jesus Christ!

 

[PanDeVida]

I am questioning the point to prayer. What is the point to praying for something if it never produces the desired result? Everything I have prayed for for about the last 3 years or so has not happened, or worse the things I have prayed to not happen have happened with more intensity and longer duration. So if it isn't producing the desired result, what is the point?

Jesus Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane also prayed 3 times to His Fathers, that His Cup of Death would pass HIM by. Our Lord's Prayer to His Father, was not answered. (The reason the Father did not answer Jesus His SON, because something better The Father had in mind with His NO answer to Jesus, and that was, for Our Salvation)

Questioning, do not let the devil to tempt you to give up in Prayer!

Luke 11:
5And he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and shall say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves, 6Because a friend of mine is come off his journey to me, and I have not what to set before him. 7And he from within should answer, and say: Trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he will rise, and give him as many as he needeth.

9And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. 10For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. 11And which of you, if he ask his father bread, will he give him a stone? or a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he reach him a scorpion? 13If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him?

 

[QuikSand]

To let you know
that what you desire of God is not acceptable to Him.

I will tell you this to help you.

From now on make a lists of everything you
ask of God that requires the movement of God to grant you what you ask of Him.

If it happens then you know you are there.
If if don't then you know you are not there.

Then find out why you were not there.
And correct it.

 

[zippy2006]

Belief in the efficacy of prayer is a form of self-delusion.

As usual, your beliefs are directly contrary to scripture and Christianity.

• "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7; Cf. Luke 11:9).
• "Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:9-11; Cf. Luke 11:11-13).
• "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation'" (Luke 11:2-4; Cf. Matthew 6:9-13).
  
• And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. (Luke 11:5-8)
  
• And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’ For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. (Luke 18:1-8)

 

[pshun2404]

Praying is not a revolving door credit card/catalog request system! It is a chance to commune. Yes we can express our needs and wants and if they are accord with His will we will receive that for which we ask and sometimes He even may allow something not specifically covered there but that is His choice for He knows the end from the beginning, so trust Him.

 

[rockytopva]

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

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

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

In prayer make sure you...

1. Ask in Jesus name
2. Believe for the petitions you are asking him for
3. Act as though your prayers are being answered
4. Persevere when it all looks dark
5. Praise God for your answer and give thanks

 

[Deadworm]

Questioning Brother: "I am questioning the point to prayer. What is the point to praying for something if it never produces the desired result?"

First, you seem to equate prayer with petitions. Read Quaker Richard Foster's magisterial book "Prayer" and you will learn the 22 different types prayer. How many of these 22 types have you mastered? You do realize that the point of prayer is to establish and deepen your intimate relationship with God, not to get what you want?

Second, you seem to assume that you have an adequate grasp of the principles of effective petitionary prayer. What is your understanding of these many principles? Are you humble enough to acknowledge that you have not sufficiently mastered the art of prayer? For example, have you learned how to "pray in the Spirit" as Paul commands (Ephesians 6:18)?" Have you mastered healthy ways to doubt or do your prayers fail because you fit the category of the double-minded Christian that Jesus' brother talks about :"The doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:8).."

Third, have you read my thread "The Right Prayer Partner" in the "Praise" section of this forum, where I document several examples of how prayers can chronically fail until the right prayer warrior is found to get the job done? In that thread I discuss why some succeed in prayer, when others fail.

ChrystalDragon: "I wonder the same thing, because of God knows and controls everything, then why pray like it will change his mind? So then why pray to begin with?"

The God of the OT often changes His mind and expresses regret for what happens. He also allows Himself to be talked out of His plans and alters His plans to accommodate human intercession. Nor does God control everything that happens. He does not micro-manage the universe and its laws: "All are victims of time and chance (Ecclesiastes 9:11)." Christians typically have a false concept of divine omniscience and how it governs what happens in the world.