Why don't prayer work as intented?

[Komnenos]

I almost never pray for myself. I mostly ask God to have mercy on me and all of his creation. I never ask for material gain or for others to have material gain. Whatever problems we have God wills us to have. Some people turn to sin (I.E. Drugs and Alcohol etc.) to try to solve their problems. They do not work . Having faith and asking for God's mercy sustain me through my problems. In Christ,

Komnenos

 

[Bellicus]

I almost never pray for myself. I mostly ask God to have mercy on me and all of his creation. I never ask for material gain or for others to have material gain. Whatever problems we have God wills us to have. Some people turn to sin (I.E. Drugs and Alcohol etc.) to try to solve their problems. They do not work . Having faith and asking for God's mercy sustain me through my problems. In Christ,

Komnenos

Sometimes I feel that things like sex and drinking make me feel better, or to just stop thinking of christianity, I do get some kind of peace from that. But it is not long lasting. With christianity i often feel very tensed and nervous and irritated and some times I really feel all the way out of my mind, even if there is moments with peace and joy. So I tend to change from one thing to another, and not really knowing what to do. I can't imagine this being Gods will, and I can't see anything that could really solve it either.

 

[Komnenos]

Sometimes I feel that things like sex and drinking make me feel better, or to just stop thinking of christianity, I do get some kind of peace from that. But it is not long lasting. With christianity i often feel very tensed and nervous and irritated and some times I really feel all the way out of my mind, even if there is moments with peace and joy. So I tend to change from one thing to another, and not really knowing what to do. I can't imagine this being Gods will, and I can't see anything that could really solve it either.

Sex and Alcohol are worldly pleasures and DO NOT help in the long run. We do not know what God wills for us, apart from our salvation. Try preying the Jesus prayer " Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Or just try preying "Lord have mercy" many times. This always helps me. Sometimes we are called to be fools and suffer for Christ. In the end, our faith will see us through. I also suggest (If it doesn't seem pushy) to attend an Orthodox service and talk to the Preist about what you are feeling. In the Lord,
Komnenos

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

I also suggest (If it doesn't seem pushy) to attend an Orthodox service and talk to the Preist about what you are feeling.

Not pushy at all! Especially since only Orthodox and RCC are the only ones who claim to have the only COMPLETE way to God. I would expect you to say nothing less.

Prayer is relationship. It's communication. It's life giving. It's not something to be tried and found wanting. If prayer is simply a means to an end -- a way for us to get stuff from God -- then we've missed the point totally!

Go Cards!

 

[ticker]

Hi ticker, why arent you working?

I am so disagreeable that I have to say that
someone I know got ill, and if they hadnt
they wouldnt have gone to the doctor and
found out they needed surgury for something
entirely different.
(JUst messing with you ticker)

No worries. I didn't even get it.

EDIT:Ok...now I know what you mean (10 hrs later).

And yeah, an illness could definitely be a "blessing in disguise" (...something good coming out of it). But I just meant to say that God doesn't cause us (in blessing us) to be ill.

Always?

Because God is in control, I can see how He indeed allows certain problems to keep happening (...so He can be at work in them).

So there is no such thing as bondage?
Or is bondage something that God authors?

...not sure exactly what kind of bondage you mean. But does God allow satan to operate? I'd say yes...(so that we move toward the Spirit and away from the flesh).

His glory is all that matters indeed.

Indeed.

 

[sunlover1]

I almost never pray for myself.

I do. Seems like everyday I'm saying, "HELP me Father"
But then again, I am a big baby, not to mention a weaker vessel

1 Chronicles 4:10
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request

I prayed similar to that one time too.

I mostly ask God to have mercy on me and all of his creation.

Good plan, me too !

Whatever problems we have God wills us to have.

A friend of mine was addicted to crack and ended up raping and
beating a woman. I thought that it was the guys will that caused
him to do such a thing.
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Sometimes I feel that things like sex and drinking make me feel better, or to just stop thinking of christianity, I do get some kind of peace from that.

I Know exactly what you mean! I had "anxiety disorder" so I was a basket
case and felt out of control. Then, for a minute, I backslid, stopped listening
to God at all, walked according to the lusts of the flesh and right into
the wishes of the enemy I suppose.
During that moment in time that I was not walking with God, NO MORE
panic attacks. I could drive my car to the tanner, to the bar, to other
cities etc.
When I came back to my senses...darn anxiety came back.
I figured it was the devil messing with me so I'd stay put and
keep quiet, rather than get out there and love on folks.
But according to the others in this thread, I guess it's God's
desire for me,.. all part of some bigger plan must be.

But it is not long lasting. With christianity i often feel very tensed and nervous and irritated and some times I really feel all the way out of my mind, even if there is moments with peace and joy. So I tend to change from one thing to another, and not really knowing what to do. I can't imagine this being Gods will, and I can't see anything that could really solve it either

I tell you what's been working for me.
One thing is to just spend a lot of time WITH the Father.
In His presence IS fullness of joy.
After I've been with God, I feel like a completely different
person, I speak differently, my outlook is changed...
And He touches me in my sore spots too, with healing.

No worries. I didn't even get it.

EDIT:Ok...now I know what you mean (10 hrs later).

And yeah, an illness could definitely be a "blessing in disguise" (...something good coming out of it). But I just meant to say that God doesn't cause us (by blessing us) to be ill.

I know.. I was just playing ticker. Makes sense to me.

Because God is in control, I can see how He indeed allows certain problems to keep happening (...so He can be at work in them).

I know that I sure dont bail my kids out of trouble each time they
hit a bump in the road. THey'd never mature that way.
God knows what's best for me, He knows what will make me
happy. Past experience has shown that I do NOT know what will
bring me happiness. And yes, I do believe He desires His children
to be happy and blessed that we might be effective.

 

[Thekla]

I Know exactly what you mean! I had "anxiety disorder" so I was a basket
case and felt out of control. Then, for a minute, I backslid, stopped listening
to God at all, walked according to the lusts of the flesh and right into
the wishes of the enemy I suppose.
During that moment in time that I was not walking with God, NO MORE
panic attacks. I could drive my car to the tanner, to the bar, to other
cities etc.
When I came back to my senses...darn anxiety came back.
I figured it was the devil messing with me so I'd stay put and
keep quiet, rather than get out there and love on folks.
But according to the others in this thread, I guess it's God's
desire for me,.. all part of some bigger plan must be.

nah, God allows us to be "attacked" -- its in the struggle that we "grow up" spiritually. Thats what I mean that everything He wills, and everything He 'permits' is for salvation. Like the nun I spoke of said, either for our salvation or for the salvation of someone around us.

 

[MamaZ]

Sometimes I feel that things like sex and drinking make me feel better, or to just stop thinking of christianity, I do get some kind of peace from that. But it is not long lasting. With christianity i often feel very tensed and nervous and irritated and some times I really feel all the way out of my mind, even if there is moments with peace and joy. So I tend to change from one thing to another, and not really knowing what to do. I can't imagine this being Gods will, and I can't see anything that could really solve it either.

Well one must be born again. Therefore letting Christ rule in your heart. Delighting yourself in the Lord.. Taking God at His word and walking by faith and not by sight. Walking above the circumstances instead of letting the cirucmstances walk on you.

 

[Komnenos]

A friend of mine was addicted to crack and ended up raping and
beating a woman. I thought that it was the guys will that caused
him to do such a thing.
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Your friend failed in his spiritual test. It was his will to stay addicted and not to overcome his addiction. He made Drugs and sin his God and when that happens, bad things do happen, even to the best of people.

 

[MamaZ]

These panic attacks are fear. Sometimes from our chemicals in our brain and sometimes from the enemy. For God has not given us a Spirit of Fear.. So what we must do to overcome this fear is to learn of Gods Perfect love for us. For this will drive fear far far from us.. I too have suffered much in life with what you are descibing.. But Gods perfect love for me has driven out the fear in my life. When these attacks hit me I just put on eyes and speak the word of God and the fear takes tale and runs..

 

[MamaZ]

Your friend failed in his spiritual test. It was his will to stay addicted and not to overcome his addiction. He made Drugs and sin his God and when that happens, bad things do happen, even to the best of people.

Sorry friend but it is not Gods will for any bad to happen for God is Love.. Perfect love at that. But we live in a fallen world and are surrounded by fallen men and women who act out of their sinfullness.. This is not Gods will.

 

[Komnenos]

Sorry friend but it is not Gods will for any bad to happen for God is Love.. Perfect love at that. But we live in a fallen world and are surrounded by fallen men and women who act out of their sinfullness.. This is not Gods will.

Yes, I know. The person in question replaced God with drugs and sin. I never said it was God's will that he did it. He failed in his spiritual test. He chose worldly pleasures over God.

 

[MamaZ]

Yes, I know. The person in question replaced God with drugs and sin. I never said it was God's will that he did it. He failed in his spiritual test. He chose worldly pleasures over God.

He sinned as sinners do. If He did not have the power of Christ in him with a regenerated heart then this man had no power to overcome sin in his life..

 

[Dorothea]

Anyone saying: Whatever you pray about you will get, is clearly not being honest, even if this is what the bible say. And still taking into consideration things like lacking faith and maybe just asking the wrong thing, or not having the patience to wait for the answer, one can still say without feeling dishonest: Prayer just don't work like it should, and people saying they get answers is really so few that they almost disapear in the masses of people that never get any answer. Still there is really a lot of christians suffering from things they theoretically could be free from, but never see any solution to.

So there is basically just two answers:
1: God does not exist, so therefore he cannot answer prayers
2: God exist, but he don't answer prayers even if he say he do, for reasons unknown.

There is a way to pray. And God answers all our prayers, but they aren't always the answers we were hoping for because it wasn't right for ourselves or our lives, and one must accept the outcome as that was what was right for you in whatever circumstance you were in at the time or still are. God answers your prayers by knowing you and what is best for you. He's not a Daddy Warbucks who gives you anything you want out of selfisness or whatever it is. You pray for God's will, not your own to lead you forward in this life because your will (mine and everyone's) leads to a dead end.

 

[Dorothea]

So when I ask God for my child to get a better apetite, and start eating his food, then I use the wrong motives? And how about me asking for getting well from my mentall illness, so I can do something else then just sitting inside all day feeling terrible, is this the wrong motives? I talked to a blind girl once, she asked God to give her vision, is it wrong motives that she wants to see?

You need to trust in God that he has a plan for you and your child. My child has a small brain tumor attached to his brainstem. I ask for God's healing if it's in His will to do so. God knows what is best for us. Going through struggles and hardships must be looked upon as virtuous and redemptive because we aree then one with Christ and all the suffering He went through. This does not mean, however, that you should stop praying for your child or whatever ails you. I hope what I said makes sense.

 

[sunlover1]

nah, God allows us to be "attacked" -- its in the struggle that we "grow up" spiritually. Thats what I mean that everything He wills, and everything He 'permits' is for salvation. Like the nun I spoke of said, either for our salvation or for the salvation of someone around us.

Hi thekla, hope you're having a great week,
the weather here has been heavenly. I even
got some color. Woo Hoooo! Feels so good.

Here's what I understand at this time.
There is nothing that happens in this world that God does not have
knowledge of. We are called to fight against the powers of darkness.
Not make them our bedfellows. We just need to know when to fight
and when we're being disciplined.

He's already given us all of the weapons, all of the power and all
of the knowledge to know what to do. But I dont believe that He
sics the devil on me (willing it) but that He's warned me that there
is a thief and he's going to try to kill, it's who he is, it's his nature.
Jesus gave me that idea.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 † The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Jesus didnt say that He SENDS the thief to kill
steal and destroy us.
Because the thief doenst come to make a wee bit of trouble.
He comes not BUT to kill, steal and destroy.
Jesus came that they might have life, and that more abundantly.

And I know that Abba does discipline His kids.
That is because He loves us so much, and it helps
us to learn. I discipline my kids as well. But sometimes
they totally disregard my voice and then they
hurt themselves. I hurt when they do, wishing
they'd only listened to me. So I continue to tell
them of my experiences, hoping they'll learn the
easy way. ( A wise man 'heareth' and increases
learning ) I am SO proud of them when they make
those right choices, and so sad when they dont,
because sin always brings pain and death.

I believe that we have choices to make, that those choices
directly affect our health, our state of mind, and our
effectiveness in working for God's kingdom.

I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing: therefore choose life

I dont compare myself with Job or with Paul,
but there are times when Father tells me
that His grace must suffice. And..
It DOES!

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

It has been attributed to C. S. Lewis: "I don't pray so that I might change God's mind. I pray so that God might change mine."

Prayer is relational.

Go Cards!

 

[sunlover1]

It has been attributed to C. S. Lewis: "I don't pray so that I might change God's mind. I pray so that God might change mine."

Prayer is relational.

Go Cards!

Amen.
And that's exactly it !
We need to let Him change our minds,
so that our desires match up with His
desires for us.

 

[Thekla]

Hi thekla, hope you're having a great week,
the weather here has been heavenly. I even
got some color. Woo Hoooo! Feels so good.

Here's what I understand at this time.
There is nothing that happens in this world that God does not have
knowledge of. We are called to fight against the powers of darkness.
Not make them our bedfellows. We just need to know when to fight
and when we're being disciplined.

He's already given us all of the weapons, all of the power and all
of the knowledge to know what to do. But I dont believe that He
sics the devil on me (willing it) but that He's warned me that there
is a thief and he's going to try to kill, it's who he is, it's his nature.
Jesus gave me that idea.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 † The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Jesus didnt say that He SENDS the thief to kill
steal and destroy us.
Because the thief doenst come to make a wee bit of trouble.
He comes not BUT to kill, steal and destroy.
Jesus came that they might have life, and that more abundantly.

And I know that Abba does discipline His kids.
That is because He loves us so much, and it helps
us to learn. I discipline my kids as well. But sometimes
they totally disregard my voice and then they
hurt themselves. I hurt when they do, wishing
they'd only listened to me. So I continue to tell
them of my experiences, hoping they'll learn the
easy way. ( A wise man 'heareth' and increases
learning ) I am SO proud of them when they make
those right choices, and so sad when they dont,
because sin always brings pain and death.

I believe that we have choices to make, that those choices
directly affect our health, our state of mind, and our
effectiveness in working for God's kingdom.

I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing: therefore choose life

I dont compare myself with Job or with Paul,
but there are times when Father tells me
that His grace must suffice. And..
It DOES!

I think we're saying the same thing in different ways

God is sovereign. Could He have "taken away" all our difficulties ? Sure. But what He desires is our salvation. My husband's and son's conditions aren't punishments from God. In fact, both conditions have a strong genetic component; they were both born in a fallen world. Can God heal them both ? Yup. Did He ... no, but He's provided them with the strength, the ability, to go on - in Him, through Him. And when they've met their limit, some of the burden has been lifted. And for me, too. But ultimately, everything is for salvation, and I'll trust God with whatever He permits -- doesn't mean its easy, but in Him, it can be fruitful/good for its purpose/xristos.

Glory be to Jesus Christ !

 

[Carey]

It has been attributed to C. S. Lewis: "I don't pray so that I might change God's mind. I pray so that God might change mine."

Prayer is relational.

Go Cards!

I think that is my new favorite quote.

I praise ( thanking God )more than pray ( requesting of God ). Because I already know if I am praying for the right stuff the prayer is already answered in Gods time not mine.