Why do we pray?

[SkyWriting]

God "works in mysterious ways" - Just for your information, for an atheist, that phrase means - I have no answers to difficult questions and even through evidence seems to point to the opposite of what I believe I want to continue believing anyway because it makes me feel good so I'll mentally just gloss over it.

Or God does not with to tick you off by letting you know He answers one prayer, but not another.
Or perhaps that is not the case and He answers all prayers.
Likely your brain would pop if He let you in on the process.
What if it's infinitely more complex than you can comprehend?

 

[asherahSamaria]

Or God does not with to tick you off by letting you know He answers one prayer, but not another.
Or perhaps that is not the case and He answers all prayers.
Likely your brain would pop if He let you in on the process.
What if it's infinitely more complex than you can comprehend?

Or what if it's really a tribe of flying pink pixies in charge. Wild speculation can be fun - but is ultimately pointless.

 

[SkyWriting]

Or what if it's really a tribe of flying pink pixies in charge. Wild speculation can be fun - but is ultimately pointless.

Sure. One needs to test their own faith. Not that of others.

 

[Mark51]

Jehovah God requirements regarding prayer requires that we must lead lives in harmony with our prayers. Our course of action must please Him; otherwise, we cannot expect Him to consider our petitions and supplications with favor.

This is an aspect of prayer that is overlooked by most of those in Christendom, even as it was overlooked by the apostate Israelites in Isaiah’s day. That is why God had his prophet represent Him. See Isaiah 1:15-17. If those Israelites wanted God’s favor, they had to act in a way that pleased him. As has well been said: “If you would have God hear you when you pray, you must hear Him when He speaks.”

In fact, God repeatedly found it necessary to remind his people Israel of these truths. Read Proverbs 28:9; 15:29. Because of this situation, Jeremiah mourned: “You [Jehovah] have blocked approach to yourself with a cloud mass, that prayer may not pass through.” (Lamentations 3:44) Truly, the warning that Micah was inspired to give was fulfilled: “They will call to Jehovah for aid, but he will not answer them. And he will conceal his face from them in that time, according as they committed badness in their dealings.”-Micah 3:4; Proverbs 1:28-32. Consider Genesis 27:41; chapters 32, 33; 2 Samuel 15:31-37; 17:1-14; 18:6-8; Nehemiah 4:9, 16.

For our prayers to be heard by God, not only must we be morally and spiritually clean but we must also prove the sincerity of our prayers by working at what we pray for. Prayer alone is not a substitute for honest, intelligent effort. Jehovah will not do for us what we can do for ourselves by earnestly applying the counsel of his Word and following the guidance of his holy spirit. We should be willing to do all we can in this regard so that he will have a basis for answering our prayers. Thus, we ‘should not be asking for more than we are willing to work for,’ as someone has well put it.

Some may be asked: “Why pray if we have to work at what we pray for?” We should pray for at least two good reasons. First, by our prayers we acknowledge that all good things come from God. He is the Giver of every good and perfect present. (Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:16, 17; James 1:17) Second, whether our efforts are successful or not depends upon Jehovah’s blessing. Read at Psalm 127:1. Making the same point are these words of the apostle Paul at 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7.
Jesus also counseled us to ask his heavenly Father for His holy spirit. As Jesus assures us, God is more willing to give us the holy spirit than earthly parents are to give good things to their children. (Luke 11:13) But we cannot expect Jehovah God to impart his holy spirit to us miraculously, without any effort on our part. We must do everything we can to receive holy spirit. In addition to praying for it, we need to feed diligently on God’s Word. He does not give his holy spirit apart from his Word, and we cannot hope to receive holy spirit if we ignore the earthly channel Jehovah is using today, “the faithful and discreet slave.”-Matthew 24:45-47.

In the final analysis, it is knowledge of God’s will that governs the contents of a person’s prayers, for the supplicant must realize that, if his request is to be granted, it must please God. Knowing that the wicked and those disregarding God’s Word have no favor with Him, the supplicant obviously cannot request that which runs counter to righteousness and to God’s revealed will, including the teachings of God’s Son and his inspired disciples. (John 15:7, 16) Thus, statements regarding the asking of “anything” (John 16:23) are not to be taken out of context. “Anything” clearly does not embrace things the individual knows, or has reason to believe, are not pleasing to God. See 1John 5:14; compare James 4:15.

Acceptable prayer must be made to the right person: Jehovah God; on right matters, those in harmony with God’s declared purposes; in the right manner, through God’s appointed way, Christ Jesus; and with a right motive and a clean heart. (Compare James 4:3-6.) Along with all of this, there is need for persistence. Jesus said to “keep on asking, seeking, and knocking,“ not giving up. (Luke 11:5-10; 18:1-7) The seeming delay on God’s part in answering some prayers is not due to any inability nor to a lack of willingness, as the Scriptures make clear. (Matthew 7:9-11; James 1:5, 17) In some cases the answer must await God’s “timetable.” (Luke 18:7; 1 Peter 5:6; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 6:9-11) Primarily, however, it is evident that God allows his petitioners to demonstrate the depth of their concern, the intensity of their desire, the genuineness of their motive. (Psalms 55:17; 88:1, 13; Romans 1:9-11) At times they must be like Jacob in his wrestling a long time in order to obtain a blessing.-Genesis 32:24-26.

 

[AHH who-stole-my-name]

I will not speak to what we know biblical on this, but I find that quiet time is also a time for reflection and prayer is so much akin to meditation it isn't even funny.

Religious people can say it's a conduit to God and the non religious people can say it's something else. What really matters is what matters to you. If it's prayer then you are talking to God. If it isn't then you are talking to yourself, but in both cases, according to you, you are talking to your highest power.

I really don't care what others feel about it because it is my time to be with myself and my thoughts. It is my own time and If I open up myself to God that is my concern. If nothing speaks back then I wasn't ready for the answers I needed and I will try later.

I've found that more people than you might think pray at certain times and seem to think that once they do God is obligated to answer. If he doesn't then that's proof that he doesn't exist. Neither you or God is obligated to answer anything, but I would think it would behoove anyone gaining any incite from either prayer or meditation to consider utilizing what you've gained, because inaction will surly guarantee no result.

 

[frdpwr427]

Hi everyone, new member here. I joined because I have been struggling with a thought recently and wanted to see what others thought.

I often find myself asking God for non-spiritual things, as I imagine a lot of people do; financial or job security, good decision on a big purchase, healing, etc. recently, I have been wondering if it makes any difference.

I'm convinced of the need to pray for spiritual development but even the Bible says that that's all we need to ask for "and all these things shall be added unto you." God knows me and my future and always has even before I was born. If He truly loves me (which He does) then He will do whatever is best for me and my family in the big picture. If that's not in line with what I see as good in my nearsighted vision, God won't grant me my request. What would be the point of specific prayer then? Should I simply ask God to do what's best? Could I possibly change God's mind about whether someone receiving healing or passing on? Getting a promotion or not? Moving or not? Any thoughts are appreciated.

I see pray as a conversation with my creator. If you learn to quit your mind and listen you can learn to here his messages to you. Talk with God about anything and everything going on in your life he may already know but he loves to here from his children and wants to help you. however sometimes to help you he gives you struggles so that you can learn and grow. Pray during times of struggles not just to get throw them but that you learn the listens that he wants you to learn.

There is nothing wrong with praying for the things you want. think of it like talking with a parent about the things you want. God is our Father he wants you to be happy and to communicate with him.

 

[Crowns&Laurels]

Yet, you can look up the threads that most of those christians make and you'll find more than one asking for prayers because "my husband lost his job and we're really struggling financially" or "my aunt is really sick and in the hospital and needs your prayers". The same people who tell you god doesn't grant wishes ask for stuff from god all the time.

'Asking for stuff', as in asking God to just give you something or just miracle you what you want. That is not how Christians pray.
Instead of a pumpkin, you get a seed. It's a process.

Apparently, you never tried going any further into what Christianity is about because it just wouldn't do your preconceived biases any justice. You just want to believe praying is an 'illusion' because nothing less then getting exactly what you demand will suffice.
Which is all the more reason to not give it to you, honestly.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

...But I have been told there were studies done, in which prayed-for people did better ...

There were indeed. A meta-analysis of studies of intercessory prayer found no significant results overall to support its efficacy. As usual in scientific studies of this type (e.g. paranormal or supernatural), the better the experimental design and implementation (controls, blinding, analysis), the smaller the effects found.

It seems to me that, science apart, one can make a reasonable personal assessment of whether praying for material things (as per the OP) is significantly effective, by imagining what the world would look like if that sort of prayer was significantly effective, and comparing that with the world we actually do see. From where I stand, the world looks just as I'd expect if praying for material things was not significantly effective.

 

[Ana the Ist]

'Asking for stuff', as in asking God to just give you something or just miracle you what you want. That is not how Christians pray.
Instead of a pumpkin, you get a seed. It's a process.

Apparently, you never tried going any further into what Christianity is about because it just wouldn't do your preconceived biases any justice. You just want to believe praying is an 'illusion' because nothing less then getting exactly what you demand will suffice.
Which is all the more reason to not give it to you, honestly.

Lol look...try not to take this so personally...

There's christians all over this site right now asking god to miracle away their cancer, wake their mom from a coma, fix the brain damage from the car accident, etc. I don't see a lot of "seed planting" or whatever nonsense you've convinced yourself prayer is about in any of those requests. What exactly is the halfway point between "not dying of cancer" and "dying of cancer"? Living with cancer?

People ask god for stuff whole cloth all the time. They do it and christians like yourself never jump in to say "god isn't a magical wish granter...don't you understand prayer?"

That's the canned response you save for atheists who point out the hypocrisy of the whole matter.

 

[com7fy8]

It seems to me that, science apart, one can make a reasonable personal assessment of whether praying for material things (as per the OP) is significantly effective,

I would be interested in knowing who is doing the praying. A person who only wants to use God "might" not get the results that someone obeying God would get.

And often the results are not what I might wish for, but what I discover of how to stay in peace with God and how to love and care for others, instead of only trying to use people to solve my troubles. So, there can be this correction which is the answer I get So, if your scientific studies did not reveal this . . . I'm curious who set up the study and who they chose to use as subjects.

How do you measure who is truly obeying God? "Have fun." I don't thing there is a scientific way to measure this. But unselfish motives can help. And then an unselfish person, I believe, is not going to be only or mainly about getting miracles of convenience.

People ask god for stuff whole cloth all the time. They do it and christians like yourself never jump in to say "god isn't a magical wish granter...don't you understand prayer?"

That's the canned response you save for atheists who point out the hypocrisy of the whole matter.

If I don't know someone personally, I am not likely to tell the person if their prayer request is for real or not. Also, in certain forums, we are not allowed to accuse or criticize people So, even if we rightly can tell someone is praying out of selfishness of not being truly given to God, but only trying to use Him . . . we're not allowed by the rules, here, to directly accuse or criticize the person . . . if I understand the forum rules correctly.

But I can benefit from your comment, by remembering not to try to only use God for things I want

So - - - - - there "might" be more to this, than some quick-fix conclusion. I think it is good to get to know someone personally, and spend time with the person, in order to really be able to help someone.

I have been one to first just criticize; now I find it is better and real in love to confront what is really wrong, but with hope for the person and investing myself as ready to stay with and help the person, or help to correct the person so the person becomes loving and caring about others as much as oneself.

I have a friend who can criticize herself, and stay busy with this. I offered how we need to pray and get real correction, not only criticize our own selves. And if there is something we messed up for ourselves, now we can care about others and not stay stuck in getting down on ourselves.

Our selfish stuff can get us our messes, but now we can do some caring for others. And prayer is for helping me to get real with God so I am caring about any and all people and not only about my own self and things. And this helps me to get stronger so my own things can't have power over me; and with this a lot of problems just get lost with the dumb things they might have taken out of my way

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

I would be interested in knowing who is doing the praying. A person who only wants to use God "might" not get the results that someone obeying God would get.

And often the results are not what I might wish for, but what I discover of how to stay in peace with God and how to love and care for others, instead of only trying to use people to solve my troubles. So, there can be this correction which is the answer I get So, if your scientific studies did not reveal this . . . I'm curious who set up the study and who they chose to use as subjects.

The study I linked was a meta-analysis of many studies. For details of studies, Google or Wikipedia are good places to start.

These sorts of studies are always liable to the 'No True Scotsman' fallacy - in this case, "if it doesn't work, you're not doing it right". Ideally, one tries to arrange it so that all participating believers agree beforehand that there's no reason the methodology should not produce the results they expect.