What to tell non-believers about praying?

[Lightsped]

How can I, as a believer, convince someone that isn't sure of what he/she believes that prayer works?

A friend of mine's dad is 82 years old and may have cancer. I was speaking to him about how important it is to pray for his dad, but he countered with something like "I don't think praying works, because everytime I have ever prayed for something in the past, it has never worked."

This person seems to not have a very strong faith. Using everyday language/examples how can I convince him to pray and the benefits of praying?

I have told him how to pray, he just doesn't think it works....

 

[goldenviolet]

maybe you can pray for him out loud? xo dee

 

[gladtobesaved]

maybe you can pray for him out loud?

Yes. Also be with him as u pray out loud.

 

[salida]

God hears but the answer will be Gods will not our will. And the answer will be yes, no or wait.

 

[Lightsped]

Well, this particular person isn't sure praying works. How can I "prove" or convince him otherwise. He is the type of person who wants real world results or evidence.

 

[gladtobesaved]

Well, this particular person isn't sure praying works. How can I "prove" or convince him otherwise. He is the type of person who wants real world results or evidence.

Lightsped,I take it this person is an unbeliever. Answers to prayer can be
seen by faith only.

 

[FallenPaladin]

Tell the person prayer is not about getting what you want so much as God making you okay with what he wants. Ask your friend to pray the Lord's Prayer with you and wait a couple days to see if it works for them or not.

 

[goldenviolet]

Well, this particular person isn't sure praying works. How can I "prove" or convince him otherwise. He is the type of person who wants real world results or evidence.

my suggestion of praying outloud was so you can be an example. alot of people appreciate being prayed over. but it's not just the comfort'; it's the example we lead. the fallow up, rather the prayer was "answered" or not, is that we show them how to respond and lead them by example. a "no" answer to prayer, and why i'm using " " the quote marks, is not really an unanswered prayer. no matter what happends the Lord is with us. maybe the answer will be "no"; but because of you praying with him, he'll give his heart to Jesus before he dies. maybe the mission is to show them both that they can pray. whatever the Lord's will is; it is to bless us. to bless others. pray for courage. you may have to step outside your comfort zone and wear your heart on your sleave. bless your heart! you are in my prayers. xo dee

 

[cherishedmemories]

Sometimes God answers our prayers in a way we might not realize. God may have answered his prayers but not in the way he thought he did.

God gave us all free will. If he is not ready to accept God is his life, you can not make him. My advice to you would to be to pray for him.

 

[`Raine]

I think sometimes people get confused by thinking prayer obligates God to give us the answer we want, on our timetable, and then say it didn't "work" when we don't get that. Your friend seems to have taken this view.

Prayer requires faith and, by definition, faith is hard to give objective proof for. You could possibly show him some of the studies that show prayer having a positive effect on both recovery rates and the mental well-being of the one praying. Maybe present it as a mental relief and comfort measure, even if it really doesn't work.

 

[heron]

This is not something you'd say to the friend, but the father is 82. He has lived out a normal life span in this generation...even though we all know someone who has lived ten or twenty years longer. Your friend might be thinking realistically, that there is not much sense in hoping for a miraculous healing when the father will not have many quality years after that.

But you can pray that the father will not be in pain... will not suffer through multiple surgeries and expenses. That he will feel his house is in order and his children are in a good place. That he is loved. That others in the family feel loved. After that, pray that the cancer does not overcome him.

Healing is important, but having life all tidy and flawless is not everything. The father probably values his children and his legacy, more than his health.

I am not saying that prayer for healing should be ignored. But see if your friend is saying more than he can verbalize... that the healing is not the most important thing to his family. Maybe some relational repairs are a priority. Or just the expression of love and appreciation.

The father might even feel like he is content with his life, and has nothing more he wants to accomplish. But at least he could live out the rest of his days without pain or grief -- that would be nice. And everyone could draw together through this, with fresh perspective.

 

[Auburn88]

How can I, as a believer, convince someone that isn't sure of what he/she believes that prayer works?

If they're not saved, then prayer doesn't "work". God doesn't hear their prayers, unless it's a prayer of repentence.

A friend of mine's dad is 82 years old and may have cancer. I was speaking to him about how important it is to pray for his dad, but he countered with something like "I don't think praying works, because everytime I have ever prayed for something in the past, it has never worked."

How are you defining "work"? If you believe that God is some cosmic genie that grants all our wishes, then you've completely misunderstood the point of prayer. The point of prayer isn't to bend God's will to ours, but for us to know and align ourselves with God's will.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Lightsped. God has given us free will, we can come to God any time we want, God will not force us. I don`t see what you can tell a non-believer to believe. Jesus died for all, tell Jesus and ask for help. I cannot see any other way, but to pray for them, and God will know what they really think. It will never be wrong to ask the Lord to open a non-believer`s eyes. Just take it to God in prayer, Lightsped. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[GaryP]

It is not your job to convince anyone. Go into your closet and pray for his father
in secret. This is about you, not the son.

 

[BoyRescue]

How can I, as a believer, convince someone that isn't sure of what he/she believes that prayer works?

A friend of mine's dad is 82 years old and may have cancer. I was speaking to him about how important it is to pray for his dad, but he countered with something like "I don't think praying works, because everytime I have ever prayed for something in the past, it has never worked."

This person seems to not have a very strong faith. Using everyday language/examples how can I convince him to pray and the benefits of praying?

I have told him how to pray, he just doesn't think it works....

One word: P.U.S.H. - Pray Until Something Happens

First of all, your motive should not be to convince someone that prayers work. But to be a vessel, to be the Repairer of the Breach....get on your knees and seek God's face. Pray for God to do something mighty for His Glory! And God's Word promises that NONE of his word shall come back void until it has completed what it has been called to do.

 

[Auburn88]

One word: P.U.S.H. - Pray Until Something Happens

What if it's God's will that nothing happen? What if it's God's will that something you don't want to happen, happen?

 

[BoyRescue]

What if it's God's will that nothing happen? What if it's God's will that something you don't want to happen, happen?

Generally speaking, when people don't know God's will it's because they don't know His Word. What is God's will? Is it God's will to heal the sick? Is it God's will for everyone to repent? Is it God's will to save the lost? Of course it's God's will.

When you align the word of God in prayer it aligns it into the will of God. It's a matter of your faith that moves God. For without faith it is impossible to please God.

 

[Auburn88]

Generally speaking, when people don't know God's will it's because they don't know His Word. What is God's will? Is it God's will to heal the sick? Is it God's will for everyone to repent? Is it God's will to save the lost? Of course it's God's will.

No, it isn't always God's will to heal the sick. It's God's will that all men repent, but the Bible tells us that not all men will repent.

When you align the word of God in prayer it aligns it into the will of God. It's a matter of your faith that moves God. For without faith it is impossible to please God.

Oh, so you're a member of the name it and claim it crowd, eh?

 

[BoyRescue]

No, it isn't always God's will to heal the sick. It's God's will that all men repent, but the Bible tells us that not all men will repent.



Oh, so you're a member of the name it and claim it crowd, eh?

If it isn't always God's will to heal the sick then why does the Bible say, by his wounds we are healed? Did Jesus die on the cross to only heal some people and not all people? Was their anyone that Jesus did not heal during his ministry? Of course not. He healed all people that came to Him in faith. It is God's will to heal ALL people, but God's power to move depends on people's faith.

Like you said God's will is for all men to repent, but the Bible says not all will repent. This does not invalidate God's will that He wants all people to repent. Likewise with healing. God wants all people to be healed, but not everyone will be healed because their lack of faith.

The bible says, we receive not because we ask not. If I don't ask, how will I receive? So I must ask.

 

[Peripatetic]

Prayer isn't something you can prove. I typically tell a few stories of how it has helped in my life (both in terms of outcomes and in providing a sense of peace).