Whats the point of praying

Radrook said:

I just had my high blood pressure medication stolen yesterday evening at approx. 8:30 pm from my apartment just a few hours after I brought it home from the pharmacy and after I dedicated posts here to explaining God's word to others. God did not choose to intervene to prevent the theft. Now I have no access to any medication. Should I pray now?

Click to expand...

If your about to die then YES PRAY NOW if there is a chance you can get help then no leave your prayers until you are sorted. Good luck

Andrewofthetribe said:

If your about to die then YES PRAY NOW if there is a chance you can get help then no leave your prayers until you are sorted. Good luck

Click to expand...

Death to me is relief from persecution.

Radrook said:

I don't really care about death at this juncture. Death to me is relief from persecution. So I guess that even if I feel I am dying I will not ask for an extension. In any case, an intervention to prevent this malicious vandalism theft would have been appreciated. Now I will have to pack up and move since a change of door lock does no good. If it starts again at the new place if I ever get to that new place then I guess it is simply my destiny to be persecuted in this indecent way. I mean, obviously, whoever the thief or thieves might be, they don't NEED my medicine. Prior to this they have stolen approx. 25 music CDS and a bag of groceries and a bag of my clothing I was about to take to the cleaners. I can't take this an longer!

Click to expand...

Where do you live my friend it sounds like you are in the bowels of hell?

Zoii said:

Ive been thinking about this a lot. Im not sure about praying at all. I mean I get told to pray and God will answer my prayers but if he doesn’t its Gods will…..but he’s still listening….. Or im told if I have enough faith, If I truly believe my prayers will be answered…. So Im thinking well wait… when I was in trouble and asked for Gods help …. And something bad happened …does that mean God was…well what…was it just Gods will that I just have to suffer... Or I didn’t ask hard enough or believe..…or was it that God heard but decided he wasn’t going to intervene or couldn’t intervene. So what was the point of praying because if its god will and so…well what is he going to be like…well I was going to let you suffer but since you asked for help then fine…I will.


And then I get angry when people say they will pray for me or I hear lots will pray for me …and I get frustrated because its like…well what are you all telling me – If I ask God and he says no then..Ok he says no but then maybe if you pray for me or ask…or lots pray for me…then maybe he’ll change his mind and be like..Ok well when Zoii asked I wasn’t going to but since all u lot asked….. Why does lots praying make a difference – If its gods will then not even one person asking will change it so why would two or three etc.

I know this sounds maybe disrespectful but im not meaning to be….

Click to expand...

I completely relate. There is no point in praying IMO. You end up having to rationalize the perceived outcome anyway.

briefly

Andrewofthetribe said:

Where do you live my friend it sounds like you are in the bowels of hell?

Click to expand...

That's exactly how I feel-in the bowels of hell. I live in Pennsylvania.

Is there no Christian spirit where you live? Seek out other Christians in your area, you will know them by their fruits, join hands with your brothers and sisters and rejoice our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ

Andrewofthetribe said:

Is there no Christian spirit where you live? Seek out other Christians in your area, you will know them by their fruits, join hands with your brothers and sisters and rejoice our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ

Click to expand...

If indeed there is I haven't detected it yet in reference to me in a sufficiently significant way.

Radrook said:

I have sought out other Christians in my area. I began attending the Catholic Church. Went to Mass and was invited to a Bible study. During the Bible study I was insulted three times and the last insult was so severe that I had to get up and leave. I attended the Quaker meeting three times and the last time a Quaker began honing in on my ethnicity so I got up and left. Then I recently went to the synagogue and was almost attacked by a suspicious Jew and his gentile guard. I once went to the Amish and they reacted negatively as well. A JW came to my door some time ago and I told him I had once been a JW and he said that I must be hiding some sin. So I decided to desist for a while after the Jewish incident and this happens. So yes I do not mind dying one bit and maybe it is for the best.

Click to expand...

What would be the point of your life if you were to give up now ?

Andrewofthetribe said:

What would be the point of your life if you were to give up now ?

Click to expand...

I am not giving up. Giving up would mean to self terminate and I am not about to do that.

Zoii said:

Ive been thinking about this a lot. Im not sure about praying at all. I mean I get told to pray and God will answer my prayers but if he doesn’t its Gods will…..but he’s still listening….. Or im told if I have enough faith, If I truly believe my prayers will be answered…. So Im thinking well wait… when I was in trouble and asked for Gods help …. And something bad happened …does that mean God was…well what…was it just Gods will that I just have to suffer... Or I didn’t ask hard enough or believe..…or was it that God heard but decided he wasn’t going to intervene or couldn’t intervene. So what was the point of praying because if its god will and so…well what is he going to be like…well I was going to let you suffer but since you asked for help then fine…I will.

Click to expand...

God has heard all your past prayers as well as your future prayers. He heard them before He formed the world and He arranged for your life at that time. All your prayers were answered. The purpose of prayer is that it pleases God, and it helps you see/feel that His plans for your are correct. The only "work" for you is to practice trust in God. He heard all your past and future prayers and answered them. See Answered Prayer below.

Radrook said:

I am not giving up. Giving up would mean to self terminate and I am not about to do that.
However, neither am I not too keen of 15 or 17 more years of this constant harassment.

Click to expand...

Humble yourself on to your knees my friend and place your forehead on the floor, do this alone, in secret, let your soul praise the Lord and beg to become his servant, hopefully the Lord Jesus will hear your cries and wash you with his Holy Spirit.

Andrewofthetribe said:

Humble yourself on to your knees my friend and place your forehead on the floor, do this alone, in secret, let your soul praise the Lord and beg to become his servant, hopefully the Lord Jesus will hear your cries and wash you with his Holy Spirit.

Click to expand...

Now you have become my judge!
My faith in Jesus' sacrifice is the only washing I need. Furthermore, I live a life of a veritable monk. The only thing missing is the monastery and the monk attire and maybe shaving the back of my head. So what is he going to wash? My pate?

Zoii said:

Ive been thinking about this a lot. Im not sure about praying at all. I mean I get told to pray and God will answer my prayers but if he doesn’t its Gods will…..but he’s still listening….. Or im told if I have enough faith, If I truly believe my prayers will be answered…. So Im thinking well wait… when I was in trouble and asked for Gods help …. And something bad happened …does that mean God was…well what…was it just Gods will that I just have to suffer... Or I didn’t ask hard enough or believe..…or was it that God heard but decided he wasn’t going to intervene or couldn’t intervene. So what was the point of praying because if its god will and so…well what is he going to be like…well I was going to let you suffer but since you asked for help then fine…I will.


And then I get angry when people say they will pray for me or I hear lots will pray for me …and I get frustrated because its like…well what are you all telling me – If I ask God and he says no then..Ok he says no but then maybe if you pray for me or ask…or lots pray for me…then maybe he’ll change his mind and be like..Ok well when Zoii asked I wasn’t going to but since all u lot asked….. Why does lots praying make a difference – If its gods will then not even one person asking will change it so why would two or three etc.

I know this sounds maybe disrespectful but im not meaning to be….

Click to expand...

Prayer aligns us and humbles us as we seek God's will. God is not our personal genie. We don't come into his presence with a list of demands. We are in the presence of the Sovereign King of the Universe who has the right and authority to cast us out of his presence. Yet, he says "Welcome, come to me, you who are weary." He does not promise that he will grant all our list of demands. He promises to listen and grant us rest from our strife. In his love he grants peace.

Over the past few years I have had five immediate family members die from cancer or incurable disease. God chose to bring each person to heaven rather than heal. He said no to my list of demands in prayer, yet he granted deep peace and an empathy I never had before.
In 2011, I was laid-off and it wasn't until 2015 that I was granted a full-time job again. God didn't immediately grant my plea for a full-time job, but he provided what was needed and he used the time to show me he never leaves nor forsake his child whom he adopted.

I can tell you that I did cry out and I did find myself in the depth of the valley of death. But, even there, in my deepest despair, God was with me. He heard my screams of anguish as my soul was crushed. He held me close as he said no to healing and no to a full-time job. He granted me those moments of peace. As C H Spurgeon said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that tosses me onto the Rock of Ages."
Life is hard. The path of the cross is filled with suffering and sorrow. Yet, in the present moment, even as you read these words, God is kindly holding you close.
The place where heaven and earth meet in reality is in the now. The past is past. The future may never come. But, at this moment, God meets with us and wraps his arms around us in love.
Walk in step with the Spirit of God in the now. It's the best place to be.
Keep looking up. The Son is still shining!
Peace be with you.

Praise the Lord for the post above thank you for sharing and giving me hope

Zoii said:

Do u think if your prayer wasnt answered n so something bad happened to you, that maybe its just punishment from God? That he wanted you to have something terrible happen?

Click to expand...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
(James 1:2-4)

God does discipline us, but He also allows suffering and various trials to happen to us to produce perseverance, and steadfastness, for the sake of our sanctification and His glory.

Faith and prayer... Without works... Are dead...

1. Pray
2. Go out on faith
3. Return to step one

Here is the story of the Saint of these Virginia mountains, who had the ultimate prayer life...

Zoii said:

Ive been thinking about this a lot. Im not sure about praying at all. I mean I get told to pray and God will answer my prayers but if he doesn’t its Gods will…..but he’s still listening….. Or im told if I have enough faith, If I truly believe my prayers will be answered…. So Im thinking well wait… when I was in trouble and asked for Gods help …. And something bad happened …does that mean God was…well what…was it just Gods will that I just have to suffer... Or I didn’t ask hard enough or believe..…or was it that God heard but decided he wasn’t going to intervene or couldn’t intervene. So what was the point of praying because if its god will and so…well what is he going to be like…well I was going to let you suffer but since you asked for help then fine…I will.


And then I get angry when people say they will pray for me or I hear lots will pray for me …and I get frustrated because its like…well what are you all telling me – If I ask God and he says no then..Ok he says no but then maybe if you pray for me or ask…or lots pray for me…then maybe he’ll change his mind and be like..Ok well when Zoii asked I wasn’t going to but since all u lot asked….. Why does lots praying make a difference – If its gods will then not even one person asking will change it so why would two or three etc.

I know this sounds maybe disrespectful but im not meaning to be….

Click to expand...

God acts according to His will, but His will may be to work through your prayer, without which the thing you ask for would not happen.

It's like you're about to turn on a kettle to boil some water, but you tell yourself "what's the point, when according to God's will the water should boil anyway?" Well... no, you still have to turn the kettle on.

rockytopva said:

Faith and prayer... Without works... Are dead...

1. Pray
2. Go out on faith
3. Return to step one

Here is the story of the Saint of these Virginia mountains, who had the ultimate prayer life...

Click to expand...

Robert Sheffey described by George Clark Rankin...

I passed my examinations and that year I was sent to the Wytheville Station and Circuit. That was adjoining my former charge. We reached the old parsonage on the pike just out of Wytheville as Rev. B. W. S. Bishop moved out. Charley Bishop was then a little tow-headed boy. He is now the learned Regent of Southwestern University. The parsonage was an old two-and-a-half-story structure with nine rooms and it looked a little like Hawthorne's house with the seven gables. It was the lonesomest-looking old house I ever saw. There was no one there to meet us, for we had not notified anybody of the time we would arrive.

Think of taking a young bride to that sort of a mansion! But she was brave and showed no sign of disappointment. That first night we felt like two whortleberries in a Virginia tobacco wagonbed. We had room and to spare, but it was scantily furnished with specimens as antique as those in Noah's ark. But in a week or so we were invited out to spend the day with a good family, and when we went back we found the doors fastened just as we had left them, but when we entered a bedroom was elegantly furnished with everything modern and the parlor was in fine shape. The ladies had been there and done the work. How much does the preacher owe to the good women of the Church!

The circuit was a large one, comprising seventeen appointments. They were practically scattered all over the county. I preached every other day, and never less than twice and generally three times on Sunday.

I had associated with me that year a young collegemate, Rev. W. B. Stradley. He was a bright, popular fellow, and we managed to give Wytheville regular Sunday preaching. Stradley became a great preacher and died a few years ago while pastor of Trinity Church, Atlanta, Georgia. We were true yokefellows and did a great work on that charge, held fine revivals and had large ingatherings.

The famous Cripple Creek Campground was on that work. They have kept up campmeetings there for more than a hundred years. It is still the great rallying point for the Methodists of all that section. I have never heard such singing and preaching and shouting anywhere else in my life. I met the Rev. John Boring there and heard him preach. He was a well-known preacher in the conference; original, peculiar, strikingly odd, but a great revival preacher.

One morning in the beginning of the service he was to preach and he called the people to prayer. He prayed loud and long and told the Lord just what sort of a meeting we were expecting and really exhorted the people as to their conduct on the grounds. Among other things, he said we wanted no horse- trading and then related that just before kneeling he had seen a man just outside the encampment looking into the mouth of a horse and he made such a peculiar sound as he described the incident that I lifted up my head to look at him, and he was holding his mouth open with his hands just as the man had done in looking into the horse's mouth! But he was a man of power and wrought well for the Church and for humanity.

The rarest character I ever met in my life I met at that campmeeting in the person of Rev. Robert Sheffy, known as "Bob" Sheffy. He was recognized all over Southwest Virginia as the most eccentric preacher of that country. He was a local preacher; crude, illiterate, queer and the oddest specimen known among preachers. But he was saintly in his life, devout in his experience and a man of unbounded faith. He wandered hither and thither over that section attending meetings, holding revivals and living among the people. He was great in prayer, and Cripple Creek campground was not complete without "Bob" Sheffy. They wanted him there to pray and work in the altar.

He was wonderful with penitents. And he was great in following up the sermon with his exhortations and appeals. He would sometimes spend nearly the whole night in the straw with mourners; and now and then if the meeting lagged he would go out on the mountain and spend the entire night in prayer, and the next morning he would come rushing into the service with his face all aglow shouting at the top of his voice. And then the meeting always broke loose with a floodtide.

He could say the oddest things, hold the most unique interviews with God, break forth in the most unexpected spasms of praise, use the homeliest illustrations, do the funniest things and go through with the most grotesque performances of any man born of woman.

It was just "Bob" Sheffy, and nobody thought anything of what he did and said, except to let him have his own way and do exactly as he pleased. In anybody else it would not have been tolerated for a moment. In fact, he acted more like a crazy man than otherwise, but he was wonderful in a meeting. He would stir the people, crowd the mourner's bench with crying penitents and have genuine conversions by the score. I doubt if any man in all that conference has as many souls to his credit in the Lamb's Book of Life as old "Bob" Sheffy.

Here is a story of a lady who went against the will and got her request...

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, 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.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

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. I must say also... It is not the will of God for a revival to occur. If no one has interest in prayer a revival will never come to town... However... If we do like the widow in the story... And keep coming back.. Keep coming back... Keep coming back! There is great hope for revival! And whatever else you have in need of prayer!

rockytopva said:

Here is a story of a lady who went against the will and got her request...

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, 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.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

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. I must say also... It is not the will of God for a revival to occur. If no one has interest in prayer a revival will never come to town... However... If we do like the widow in the story... And keep coming back.. Keep coming back... Keep coming back! There is great hope for revival! And whatever else you have in need of prayer!

Click to expand...

I agree that God may work through continuous, perseverant and repeated prayer, but I'm not sure the parable is directly transferable in that these prayers are truly 'against God's will'. If they are against God's will, they aren't really the best for us, as God wills what is best for us. We probably agree with each other, just checking.