Why not pray for a million dollars?

[URA]

Recently, I posted on a very general forum, not inherently religious, but religious topics were still within the boundaries of what to post. I had interviewed for a job a couple weeks before, and requested prayers that I would hear back soon & be accepted. A truly beautiful pocket of faith opened on a website that rarely sees such a thing...people prayed, shared encouragement, and shared their own prayer requests. That, in & of itself, made sharing my prayer request worth it. And the next day, lo and behold...the job I asked prayers for accepted me!!

So I went back to this website, shared the good news, and a different crowd replied. I told them a group of us prayed yesterday for this job to work out, and it did! The first reply was, "Why didn't you pray for a million dollars?"

There's plenty of ways to respond to that question, to a Christian. But assuming this person wasn't Christian...perhaps had no faith at all (Lord have mercy)...it's a perfectly legitimate question. I told the world, "I prayed for a job, and I got a job--prayer works!" And someone asked, "If it's that easy, why not pray for a million dollars?"

So the advice I'm looking for, is...how do I answer that?

Thanks!

 

[Quentin]

1 John 5:14 says we can have the confidence that no matter what we ask according to his will he will hear us. If it was God's will that you had a million dollars you will get it. If that isn't his will you won't. And that really isn't God's will is it?

 

[Benjamin Müller]

If I can post a short response:

Six days you shall work and the seventh is the rest of the Lord, no servile work shall be done it.

God expects us to work, not get free hand outs.

 

[URA]

1 John 5:14 says we can have the confidence that no matter what we ask according to his will he will hear us. If it was God's will that you had a million dollars you will get it. If that isn't his will you won't. And that really isn't God's will is it?

Suppose they ask this follow-up question.... If it's "his will", and I'll get it, why pray at all?

 

[trophy33]

Because it would not be a Christian way of praying, in this context.

 

[Quentin]

Suppose they ask this follow-up question.... If it's "his will", and I'll get it, why pray at all?

Prayer is communication. It is called prayer because it isn't just any form of communication but a form of worship that is done by a human to his Creator.

There are a lot of reasons to pray. To ask for guidance in life, to ask for wisdom to questions, to find comfort and reassurance, to draw close to the Creator himself. The Bible talks of different types of prayers. One is a prayer of thanksgiving. We can pray out of a heart full of thanks to offer that thanks to God. In fact you should be doing this daily and this should really start a prayer in my opinion. There are prayers of supplication. Sometimes we are under trail or know of others going through trails, and we need support and help, or someone else does. These prayers can have a powerful affect!

There are so many reasons to pray! God should be our closest friend. How can you have a friendship with someone that you never communicated with? Communication is also both ways. In a friendship you don't just talk. It is important to listen as well. We listen to God communicate with us by reading his word in the Bible. It is therefore imperative both to pray to God, and then to read in his word daily! - Psalms 1:1-3.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Recently, I posted on a very general forum, not inherently religious, but religious topics were still within the boundaries of what to post. I had interviewed for a job a couple weeks before, and requested prayers that I would hear back soon & be accepted. A truly beautiful pocket of faith opened on a website that rarely sees such a thing...people prayed, shared encouragement, and shared their own prayer requests. That, in & of itself, made sharing my prayer request worth it. And the next day, lo and behold...the job I asked prayers for accepted me!!

So I went back to this website, shared the good news, and a different crowd replied. I told them a group of us prayed yesterday for this job to work out, and it did! The first reply was, "Why didn't you pray for a million dollars?"

There's plenty of ways to respond to that question, to a Christian. But assuming this person wasn't Christian...perhaps had no faith at all (Lord have mercy)...it's a perfectly legitimate question. I told the world, "I prayed for a job, and I got a job--prayer works!" And someone asked, "If it's that easy, why not pray for a million dollars?"

So the advice I'm looking for, is...how do I answer that?

Thanks!

It is not a matter of can you pray for something. You can pray for anything. The question is can you believe for anything.
I often use the example "can you pray to turn the moon into cheese?" Of course you can pray. But can you believe you have received it?
Forget about the million bucks and the moon. Pray to move a speck of dust just a millimeter. Do it now. Did it work?
The point is this. Faith that works through love availed much. There has to be love to drive the prayer.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Recently, I posted on a very general forum, not inherently religious, but religious topics were still within the boundaries of what to post. I had interviewed for a job a couple weeks before, and requested prayers that I would hear back soon & be accepted. A truly beautiful pocket of faith opened on a website that rarely sees such a thing...people prayed, shared encouragement, and shared their own prayer requests. That, in & of itself, made sharing my prayer request worth it. And the next day, lo and behold...the job I asked prayers for accepted me!!

So I went back to this website, shared the good news, and a different crowd replied. I told them a group of us prayed yesterday for this job to work out, and it did! The first reply was, "Why didn't you pray for a million dollars?"

There's plenty of ways to respond to that question, to a Christian. But assuming this person wasn't Christian...perhaps had no faith at all (Lord have mercy)...it's a perfectly legitimate question. I told the world, "I prayed for a job, and I got a job--prayer works!" And someone asked, "If it's that easy, why not pray for a million dollars?"

So the advice I'm looking for, is...how do I answer that?

Thanks!

Answer: Go for it, let me know how it works out.

 

[joymercy]

Jesus gave us an example of how we are to pray when he gave us the Lords prayer, which states, "thy will be done."

His will. Not yours.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Jesus gave us an example of how we are to pray when he gave us the Lords prayer, which states, "thy will be done."

His will. Not yours.

And to complete that statement, He said "thy will be done > in heaven so also on earth."

Matthew 6:10 KJV
10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 

[public hermit]

I'm with the "Thy will be done" crowd. I think we should always pray for what seems best whether it be securing a job or praying for another's health. But the constant qualification is "Thy will be done." In what circumstances would I pray for a million dollars? If it's personal greed, then why even try. If I get it, and the passion of greed kicks in, then it's not a blessing to me or anyone else. If my motives are truly different, I get it, and the gift of generosity kicks in, wonderful! We pray in a context and according to our desire for good. It would have to be a unique context for me to pray for that kind of money, and I wouldn't do it unless I was certain my desires in praying were commensurate with the divine will.

 

[Blade]

Recently, I posted on a very general forum, not inherently religious, but religious topics were still within the boundaries of what to post. I had interviewed for a job a couple weeks before, and requested prayers that I would hear back soon & be accepted. A truly beautiful pocket of faith opened on a website that rarely sees such a thing...people prayed, shared encouragement, and shared their own prayer requests. That, in & of itself, made sharing my prayer request worth it. And the next day, lo and behold...the job I asked prayers for accepted me!!

So I went back to this website, shared the good news, and a different crowd replied. I told them a group of us prayed yesterday for this job to work out, and it did! The first reply was, "Why didn't you pray for a million dollars?"

There's plenty of ways to respond to that question, to a Christian. But assuming this person wasn't Christian...perhaps had no faith at all (Lord have mercy)...it's a perfectly legitimate question. I told the world, "I prayed for a job, and I got a job--prayer works!" And someone asked, "If it's that easy, why not pray for a million dollars?"

So the advice I'm looking for, is...how do I answer that?

Thanks!

We can see just here yet it is through out the body of Christ they do not know the Fathers will. If something does not happen like we would like it to turn out be it receiving money or you name it healing then "it was not Gods will for me to have it". They do not look to trust in Gods will aka Him. See that book is Gods will. If He already spoke it then it is already yours. What so ever you desire when you pray believe you receive it you shall have it..what ever you ask the Father in my name He will do it. Delight your self in the lord He will give you the desires of your heart. But lets keep reading the next verse Psa "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.". Now this is what GOD said what GOD already spoke. To then question it is doubt and He told us if we doubt were like a ship tossed back and forth and let not that man think he will get anything from the lord.

The flip side says if we know He hear us then we know we have the petitions/prayers we asked for. Doubt was the only thing that stopped Christ from healing them and could only lay hands a few and teach. See He said you have not because you ask not or your asking wrong. So for me to ask for a million dollars is foolish and will never happen its just something personal that is what "asking wrong" means. Like say I need a way to work but have nothing no way to get there so I pray for a way to work but for a NEW CAR! That will never be answered. Now asking for a way a car.. then someone says "hey I forgot I have this car not really good but runs.. its yours " or says " man you can have it cheap".

So for me to not know His will is to not know His word. Its amazing to read what ever you ask the Father in my name He will give it to you. To just hear back from others "what Jesus really meant was" "that was not for us today just the 12". Heres on oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE this praise you Father.. one of so many. Lived in Washington Spokane and was going to go to Christian School in Oklahoma which I was told was great for Music. I knew no one in Oklahoma and I thought just take a buss but I had this thought to go say good by to a old very dear woman of God. Well she just happen to know two others going to the same state...wow right what are the odds but gets far better. So as we 3 were just getting into Oklahoma the driver knew I was going blind no place to stay no job lol.,. I was 20 going blindly by faith and the drive said she knew someone that went to Oral Roberts UNIV I might be able to stay with but she had no clue where it was and there was no such thing as CELL PHONES.

At the same time we were talking about that the car behind us the man keeps pointing up. We pull over to this "INFO" stand and he right behind gets out comes over .. wow praise GOD glory to Jesus.. says "didn't you see me pointing up? Yesss we answered. His words and I quote "the lord told me you do not know how to get to Oral Roberts univ and I am to show you the way". Man it happened to me and still blows me away. That was not it. At some point I went back to Washington but didn't unpack I felt I was going somewhere so I never unpacked. A friend told me God told her something about me. So I told her tell a friend and put it in a note and hide it. LOL not sure why I said that anyway then the Pastor came said they were moving to LA and wanted me to come with them so I said pray about it first so I went to sue and she told me the note was under her bed. See guys lived upstairs girls down stairs it was by the Collage.. all went to collage. So I got there after Church looked under her bed and it said "Danny will go with the Pastor to La". The lord told her this not them.

Its like in LA working walking far I needed a way but just walked. I had a dream I was riding this Yamaha 185. One day not long after the dream I see just this tire behind this garage.. you could not see anything else so I asked the man if he wanted to sell it he told me it was there for long time just take it. Had it cleaned up and take a guess what it was "Yamaha 185".

I am no one.. this is nothing..meaning there are far more oh awesome things He has does in my life. I have always just read His word and believed no mater what I SEE happening in others lifes. He said.. I believe.. not hoping it will might happen but knowing it already did. To pray ask for something He told you to believe you already received it. Its called faith just like your Father you call those things that be not as though they were. If its things for ME ME ME I I I.. it wont happen. A preacher needed allot of money two angels showed up.. just said "we are waiting for the command. We do NOT EVER can NEVER command angels they do what GOD said.. hello His word? So the preacher at first had no clue what they meant then it hit me.. he read some verse that GOD said.. and they vanished. A week later this man comes in just drops hard this bag full of money said to him "I do not like you but GOD told me to give this to you". The money? It was exactly the amount he needed no more no less not for him at all but the people that church.

Now I understand I am casting allot of pearls here. I shouldn't have said so much. Don't believe a word I say.. you pray you seek you find what HE said in HIS word. You ask Him He will always back up what He says by His word.. why some say "I need scripture for that". So for me to ask for a million will never happen.. has nothing to do with faith. If you just believe every one of your needs He will meet.. start believing for small things so if it does not happen your faith is not crushed... to hear God tell you.. a you don't have it because you didn't ask or your asking wrong. NOT ONCE did He say "sorry no my will". What did God tell someone "you could have asked me for ANYTHING! So forgive me but shows we do not know our Father.. but praise GOD HE KNOWS US

 

[TheLastGeek]

Recently, I posted on a very general forum, not inherently religious, but religious topics were still within the boundaries of what to post. I had interviewed for a job a couple weeks before, and requested prayers that I would hear back soon & be accepted. A truly beautiful pocket of faith opened on a website that rarely sees such a thing...people prayed, shared encouragement, and shared their own prayer requests. That, in & of itself, made sharing my prayer request worth it. And the next day, lo and behold...the job I asked prayers for accepted me!!

So I went back to this website, shared the good news, and a different crowd replied. I told them a group of us prayed yesterday for this job to work out, and it did! The first reply was, "Why didn't you pray for a million dollars?"

There's plenty of ways to respond to that question, to a Christian. But assuming this person wasn't Christian...perhaps had no faith at all (Lord have mercy)...it's a perfectly legitimate question. I told the world, "I prayed for a job, and I got a job--prayer works!" And someone asked, "If it's that easy, why not pray for a million dollars?"

So the advice I'm looking for, is...how do I answer that?

Thanks!

Your prayer wasn't selfish and vapid. A job is an honorable thing. A chance to work, to be productive, to use your time and skills to provide something to society, and to be compensated fairly for it. It's not comparable to asking for an excessive amount of money that you haven't earned and don't need. The question is incredibly juvenile. I might reply with, "I wanted and needed a job. Why would I pray for a million dollars?" Make them defend their asinine question.

 

[Agra man]

I would likely respond maybe he doesn't trust me with that kind of money. say we get a million dollars how many of us who have never had that kind of money before would have the restraint to use it as God wants us to not for ouselves.

Me I am a simple person I don't want a buig house or a lot of things just a simple life with a community to be with but I do have the issue of being way to generous with my money so odds are I am not mature enough for that kind of money.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

So since we are to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we have to ask:
What is His will in heaven? That is what we should pray for on earth.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I would likely respond maybe he doesn't trust me with that kind of money. say we get a million dollars how many of us who have never had that kind of money before would have the restraint to use it as God wants us to not for ouselves.

Me I am a simple person I don't want a buig house or a lot of things just a simple life with a community to be with but I do have the issue of being way to generous with my money so odds are I am not mature enough for that kind of money.

Good point. I am not sure many of us are. I have seen people come into a lot of money only to be broke or even in debt a year later. Some are even destroyed by it because they cannot control their passions. They end up in booze or drugs or some other destructive lifestyle choice.
Lord save us from ourselves.

 

[Agra man]

So since we are to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we have to ask:
What is His will in heaven? That is what we should pray for on earth.

To know his will heaven one only has to be kingdom minded

Good point. I am not sure many of us are. I have seen people come into a lot of money only to be broke or even in debt a year later. Some are even destroyed by it because they cannot control their passions. They end up in booze or drugs or some other destructive lifestyle choice.
Lord save us from ourselves.

Money has power that is clearly seen in our world it can be a tool for good or bad but the amount of it is something that changes people.

Whether they have a lot or they are struggling to make ends meet it has the ability to change you. And if I am being honest once the economy crashes which it will people are going to show just how much power money has over us all.

But you know how Jesus multiplied the fish and bread and feed all those people with way to much leftover? this is his example and his answer to that faith is going to be the new currency.

 

[biblelesson]

Recently, I posted on a very general forum, not inherently religious, but religious topics were still within the boundaries of what to post. I had interviewed for a job a couple weeks before, and requested prayers that I would hear back soon & be accepted. A truly beautiful pocket of faith opened on a website that rarely sees such a thing...people prayed, shared encouragement, and shared their own prayer requests. That, in & of itself, made sharing my prayer request worth it. And the next day, lo and behold...the job I asked prayers for accepted me!!

So I went back to this website, shared the good news, and a different crowd replied. I told them a group of us prayed yesterday for this job to work out, and it did! The first reply was, "Why didn't you pray for a million dollars?"

There's plenty of ways to respond to that question, to a Christian. But assuming this person wasn't Christian...perhaps had no faith at all (Lord have mercy)...it's a perfectly legitimate question. I told the world, "I prayed for a job, and I got a job--prayer works!" And someone asked, "If it's that easy, why not pray for a million dollars?"

So the advice I'm looking for, is...how do I answer that?

Thanks!

I read others response about asking for a million dollars, and they will probably be shocked at my answer.

But let me first tell you about my experience. I had to travel out of town to take care of a family member who was sick. Other family who I had not seen in years loved going to the casino. That was my time with them because I enjoyed being around family who I had not seen for years. So I enjoyed going with them.

One day, I clearly remember, I was in the Spirit, as I had been praying a lot and reading my Bible that week; I went to the casino in the Spirit. This day I did not want to leave the casino when my family said it was time to go. So they left me. And what happened next is a testament of the power of walking in the Spirit. I was directed to a machine to play. I clearly knew the Spirit was telling me to play that machine. After about 20 minutes in, I hit a major jackpot well over $10,000 dollars.

Now I can tell you this was not luck, I was led.

People will tell you God will not bless you with finances, but yes He will. He owns all things, and that includes money, and He wants to bless you - if only you believe.

You are permitted to believe what God Has said, believe and you will receive to include money also!

Ask for your millions!

 

[Sketcher]

I told the world, "I prayed for a job, and I got a job--prayer works!" And someone asked, "If it's that easy, why not pray for a million dollars?"

So the advice I'm looking for, is...how do I answer that?

Taxes.

 

[biblelesson]

If I can post a short response:

Six days you shall work and the seventh is the rest of the Lord, no servile work shall be done it.

God expects us to work, not get free hand outs.

You are quoting the Old Testament under the old laws of Moses. We are no longer under the law. We have liberty in Christ Jesus who shed His blood for us on the cross for forgiveness of sins. If we live by the law, we will die by the law, and no man can keep the law, so those that try and keep it will are sealing their fate. Because they deny the Lord Jesus who redeemed us from the curse of the law!

We are under a new covenant, a new contract!