I don't understand asking for prayer. Why does God need prayer?

[Anonymous]

For example, praying that someone recovers from something tragic - and asking for prayers. Is God not all-knowing? Does God not already know of the situation people are praying about? Would prayer change God's mind about intervening? Why would a God *need* prayer to change a circumstance? Does God need the prayers of people - and if so, why? Is God's default status not compassionate, or do people pray so that an unknid God shows compassion and mercy?

I don't understand it.

I understand prayer as a form of meditation, and the benefit that it can do for someone to calm their own mind or to "center" their stress and anxiety. But I don't understand prayer to a God to intercede. Can someone explain this to me?

[Anonymous]

It's the equivalent of leaving a voicemail to someone you don't know, to ask for stuff they might not be able to give, or share some news they might not be able to hear.

[Anonymous]

God doesn't need it but probably wants humans to feel connected and heard and hopeful. Other theory is that it feeds God's narcissism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the equivalent of leaving a voicemail to someone you don't know, to ask for stuff they might not be able to give, or share some news they might not be able to hear.

But if God is all-knowing, why do they need the voicemail to be informed/asked?

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why going to church or praying at church is so important if they hear prayers from your bed. Why so performative?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the equivalent of leaving a voicemail to someone you don't know, to ask for stuff they might not be able to give, or share some news they might not be able to hear.

But if God is all-knowing, why do they need the voicemail to be informed/asked?

I asked the same answer as you in google. You can easily do it and get your answers.

[Anonymous]

People that believe in God, talk to God. So when you are asking for prayers, you are asking a friend who you know to talk to God to mention whatever it is you want prayers for. Maybe if God hears the request from enough people, it will happen.

From your perspective, you are trying to apply logic to faith. It can't be done. You just have to believe.

[Anonymous]

God doesn't need anything from you. It's the other way around. You pray because praying helps you.

[Anonymous]

Good questions.
And my personal answer from a non theologian perspective—but from the perspective of a Bible-believing Christian is that we pray because that is how God instructs us (through scripture) to communicate with him in order to receive guidance, gifts, and grace.
As a Christian, we pray to express our thanks, our worship/adoration for the creator of all things, our wants, our love, our needs—to ask for forgiveness and guidance, to demonstrate reverence and our desire to be obedient, even when we fall short—which we always do.

We do this because Jesus demonstrated this when he prayed for all of these things for all of these purposes, and our desire is to know and be close to God. Jesus taught that we do this by turning to him in prayer because if we bring him our gratitude and needs, he will “make our paths straight” through revelation in many forms.
Essentially, it’s meditation with meaning and significance. It focuses our hearts on what is important (seeking and knowing Gods will, putting our trust and faith in the creator and asking him to forgive our wickedness and guide our journey toward making the world he created a more loving existence until we join him in heaven for all eternity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People that believe in God, talk to God. So when you are asking for prayers, you are asking a friend who you know to talk to God to mention whatever it is you want prayers for. Maybe if God hears the request from enough people, it will happen.

From your perspective, you are trying to apply logic to faith. It can't be done. You just have to believe.

But why? Does not understand the value or need in helping the thing in need, unless enough people pray about something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the equivalent of leaving a voicemail to someone you don't know, to ask for stuff they might not be able to give, or share some news they might not be able to hear.

But if God is all-knowing, why do they need the voicemail to be informed/asked?

It's the human brain applying social networking to divine matters. They think they can get a better spot in the queue by praying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good questions.
And my personal answer from a non theologian perspective—but from the perspective of a Bible-believing Christian is that we pray because that is how God instructs us (through scripture) to communicate with him in order to receive guidance, gifts, and grace.
As a Christian, we pray to express our thanks, our worship/adoration for the creator of all things, our wants, our love, our needs—to ask for forgiveness and guidance, to demonstrate reverence and our desire to be obedient, even when we fall short—which we always do.

We do this because Jesus demonstrated this when he prayed for all of these things for all of these purposes, and our desire is to know and be close to God. Jesus taught that we do this by turning to him in prayer because if we bring him our gratitude and needs, he will “make our paths straight” through revelation in many forms.
Essentially, it’s meditation with meaning and significance. It focuses our hearts on what is important (seeking and knowing Gods will, putting our trust and faith in the creator and asking him to forgive our wickedness and guide our journey toward making the world he created a more loving existence until we join him in heaven for all eternity.

Atheist here. Thank you. This is lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the equivalent of leaving a voicemail to someone you don't know, to ask for stuff they might not be able to give, or share some news they might not be able to hear.

If you've to tell God, he is unlikely to have power to grant your wish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God doesn't need anything from you. It's the other way around. You pray because praying helps you.

This^. Its a placebo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why going to church or praying at church is so important if they hear prayers from your bed. Why so performative?

Idk rituals of other religions but in mine, you do ablution and wear clean clothes so good hygiene.

You do parts of prayer sitting, standing, putting head on floor and kneeling for several times so light exercise.

You do recitation by heart so some mental agility.

You often do it with others at the mosque so walking and social connection.

That being said, I too wonder if God doesn't get anything, why the drill?