Does prayer actually work?

[RedPiggy]

Of course, The Bible says that if we have sin in our lives, He won't hear our prayers.

It also says it's the sick that need the doctor. God heard the prayers of the "enslaved" Israelites/Hebrews in Egypt, and the bible itself paints nary a happy picture of they acted during the whole deal (the bible treats this as disloyalty, but if archaeology has anything to say about it, all those big buildings were built with paid labor and yeah, I can see getting a bit frustrated that some guy wants to go on a very long and impoverishing camping trip instead of earning a paycheck -- Moses is as responsible as Ash Ketchum, LOL). Also, one must be careful not to get sucked into the same arguments used in the book of Job by Job's friends, who quote "traditional" explanations of suffering and are shot down rather quickly by God Himself.

It's not about how much faith you have but rather Who your faith is in.

The people of Ninevah or Persia didn't believe in Yahweh ... and God still forgave them/let them get an empire. From what I understand of Job, Job's character is never specified as being Jewish and actually comes from another religious tradition, with the names changed for the sake localizing the story. Jesus healed the Samaritan woman's daughter and the Roman Centurion's servant and you can't argue they worshipped the same God (possibly the Samaritan woman did, I'm not that familiar with Samaritan theology). Peter balked at being told to eat some animals (in a dream about preaching to Romans), and God specifically gets offended that anyone label the creatures He made "unclean".
This is not meant to be overly critical (I've been on Beliefnet all morning, so I might sound a little sharper than I usually would here). I'm merely pointing out that the bible is far more complex, what with being an anthology of multiple books with multiple points being made in only general underlying themes.

 

[MartyMuppets]

I like what you've said Gonzoleaper and RedPiggy. It's spot on.

And I know as a Christian that prayer definitely works. I may not get the answer immediately or sometimes it may not be exactly the answer I was looking for, but I know God is in control and He answers when He's ready with His wisdom.

Like right now I'm trying to set up a connection for Broadband at home. I've given it over to God and I trust that things will work out okay even though I sometimes get a little stresses over it. I can see how things are slowly but surely falling into place and I expect to have access to the forum at home soon.

 

[KermieBaby47]

...prayer definitely works. I may not get the answer immediately or sometimes it may not be exactly the answer I was looking for, but I know God is in control and He answers when He's ready with His wisdom.

Agreed 100%.

This last year and a half has been a very tumultuous time in my life, and in the lives of some of our family members and friends. Through the power of prayer, and being able to talk to not only God, Jesus, and the angels above, but to our friends and family, our situations have been resolved, and our lives are better for it.

We also remember to not just ask for help, love, & guidance, but to always be thankful for what God is doing for everyone and everything all of the time.

Thank you Lord! I love you with all my heart.

Anthony

 

[GonzoLeaper]

We also remember to not just ask for help, love, & guidance, but to always be thankful for what God is doing for everyone and everything all of the time.

Thank you Lord! I love you with all my heart.

Amen, bro.

 

[Beakerfan]

So, I haven't really had the chance to read everyone's responses, but here is where I stand:

I believe prayer is a conversation. It has no "power", because the power is God's. I don't pray just to ask God for things or tell Him my wants and needs - I pray because I desire to have a closer relationship than Him and want Him to know everything I am going through. Sure, He's God. He knows everything. But just like a parent, I can't have a very good relationship with Him if there is no communication.
That said, I believe that God is always listening to our prayers, especially when in groups. However, God has a will and a specific plan for each of us. No matter how hard I prayed, it wasn't in God's will for my friend to beat cancer five months ago. What I didn't know was that it was God's plan for me to meet some really wonderful people and make a really close friend at his memorial service (I had been praying God would bring me a friend several months prior).

 

[MartyMuppets]

That is well said Alex. I agree with all of it.

My deepest condolences for the loss of your friend Alex

But I'm so happy you found the answer to your prayers within the sadness and grief. Truly it is said God works in mysterious ways. Ways that may seem surprising and ironical to us. But all the same His answer is perfectly prepared to provide us with just what we need, when He judges the time right to give it to us.

 

[dwayne1115]

I don't see how I have let this thread slip by me.

Prayer wow something that people take so lightly. I know I have seen people pray out loud before, and then right then they see the work of the Lord. Other times I have seen people fight and pray for something so hard and for so long that it does not even seem like God is there. I would love to study more about prayer i find what some people ask God for is very interesting.

 

[Nick22]

I don't see how I have let this thread slip by me.

Prayer wow something that people take so lightly. I know I have seen people pray out loud before, and then right then they see the work of the Lord. Other times I have seen people fight and pray for something so hard and for so long that it does not even seem like God is there. I would love to study more about prayer i find what some people ask God for is very interesting.

i think God just works in strange ways. He never makes mistakes. just because He doesn't necessarily answer yer prayer the way you think it would be answered, He is answering yer prayer. at least, that's what i believe