Power of prayer?

[Anonymous]

I pray often - both formal prayer and quiet contemplation. I've gotten more spiritual as I've aged and I know it helped enormously when I lost my father this year. My grief doesn't have the sting that my siblings carry. I just think I processed it differently through prayer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to pray every day. It didn’t work.

When a wicked person prays, sometimes God turns a deaf ear.

People who have turned their backs on God and scoffed at him should not expect God to hear their prayers, let alone answer them.

[Re: David’s enemies:] They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them. (Ps. 18:41)

Sometimes God answers “no” to a believer’s specific prayer.

Sometimes God answers “not yet” to a believer’s specific prayer.

While one prayer is enough sometimes, it is also the case that God wants us to be persistent in our appeals and wait on him.

God does not encourage us to pray so he can stay informed of our latest wishes. He already knows our desires before we disclose them.

God tells us to pray because prayer is integral to our communion with him. It positions us to experience true contentment.

Prayer turns our attention from ourselves to God. It gives us the opportunity to worship him humbly, align with him morally, convey gratitude for his blessings, and express faith in his goodness.

[Anonymous]

I pray often. It calms me when I need calm. It recharges me when I need to be recharged. It can bring clarity to a decision.

IMO, that is how prayer works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to pray every day. It didn’t work.

How do you know? Maybe you just haven’t seen how yet…

[Anonymous]

Prayers always works. It just may not work the way you believe it should. The important thing to remember about prayer is that it changes you, not God (Goddess, Source Energy, ….). Prayer is about bringing you closer to your source, however you define that. It’s simple communication.

Can it help you manifest and/or attract the things you want in your life? Absolutely. Anytime you focus your attention on something, you are moving towards receiving. But God (or whatever name you use for your higher source) is not a genie in a bottle. And prayer doesn’t work that way. Prayer/meditation changes you. It changes your heart, your intentions, your goals. Thoughts are powerful- everything created started with a thought. And thoughts are prayers. Through prayer and meditation we often gain the clarity to change the situation ourselves.

Just my thoughts on prayer. 💚

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

I think prayer can work to help get people to focus on things they want to achieve as a form of motivation, but there's no supernatural response.

How can you know this? It’s your opinion and that’s valid, but not a fact or opinion for everyone else in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No.

I think prayer can work to help get people to focus on things they want to achieve as a form of motivation, but there's no supernatural response.

How can you know this? It’s your opinion and that’s valid, but not a fact or opinion for everyone else in the world.

DP. Did the word “think” not make it clear this is an opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to pray every day. It didn’t work.

When a wicked person prays, sometimes God turns a deaf ear.

People who have turned their backs on God and scoffed at him should not expect God to hear their prayers, let alone answer them.

[Re: David’s enemies:] They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them. (Ps. 18:41)

Sometimes God answers “no” to a believer’s specific prayer.

Sometimes God answers “not yet” to a believer’s specific prayer.

While one prayer is enough sometimes, it is also the case that God wants us to be persistent in our appeals and wait on him.

God does not encourage us to pray so he can stay informed of our latest wishes. He already knows our desires before we disclose them.

God tells us to pray because prayer is integral to our communion with him. It positions us to experience true contentment.

Prayer turns our attention from ourselves to God. It gives us the opportunity to worship him humbly, align with him morally, convey gratitude for his blessings, and express faith in his goodness.

The above is all pp's opinion or according to what pp was taught. It's bothersome to hear people making declarations about something that is not proven and can't be.

Prayer makes you feel good? Fine. Leave it at that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No.

I think prayer can work to help get people to focus on things they want to achieve as a form of motivation, but there's no supernatural response.

How can you know this? It’s your opinion and that’s valid, but not a fact or opinion for everyone else in the world.

DP. Did the word “think” not make it clear this is an opinion?

+1 I "think" pp knew this but wanted to criticize you for expressing a view they did not agree with

[Anonymous]

When a wicked person prays, sometimes God turns a deaf ear.

You could not possibly be more wrong. You have a really jaded, sad view of what you call God. Let me guess….evangelical? God, the collective, creative consciousness of all that is, was, and ever will be, hears ALL prayer. We are a part of that consciousness and despite what you have been brainwashed to believe, nothing can separate that. How do I know this to be true? I listen.

/Minister who hates hypocritical, exclusionary “Christian’s’.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pray often. I don't believe in the power of it changing a bad situation into better like a miracle (I am Catholic). But I firmly believe it can give you guidance, clarity and calm in very dark times. So while it couldn't save my mother from dying of cancer it gave me the ability to forge ahead.

I love my patron saints. And Joseph is the bomb. He took in Mary and protected her and Jesus. When in need I go to him while Mary is always by my side.

How does that all work with the rule not to worship false idols? Aren't you supposed to pray to God if you believe in God?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so bad off lately my prayers come across as pleas and I feel bad about that.

At times I have also felt this way.

But, I will always continue to pray. Sometimes a little Pay it forward gesture keeps me feeling gratitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so bad off lately my prayers come across as pleas and I feel bad about that.

There is nothing wrong with pleading with God. Christ did it in the garden before he was murdered. But, remember- you have sacred worth. You don’t need to beg for anything. 💚

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When a wicked person prays, sometimes God turns a deaf ear.

You could not possibly be more wrong. You have a really jaded, sad view of what you call God. Let me guess….evangelical? God, the collective, creative consciousness of all that is, was, and ever will be, hears ALL prayer. We are a part of that consciousness and despite what you have been brainwashed to believe, nothing can separate that. How do I know this to be true? I listen.

/Minister who hates hypocritical, exclusionary “Christian’s’.

I didn’t say God didn’t hear the prayer, I said he will turn a deaf ear to the prayers of evil people or people who pray for bad things to happen. A bad person might pray for a bad thing, and God will not consider that evil person’s prayer.

If a person prays that they want someone they are mad at or dislike to die, God says ok, let me get right on that? It might make that happen for you?

What about Putin, who probably prays for victory in Ukraine? God hears him but doesn’t entertain that junk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When a wicked person prays, sometimes God turns a deaf ear.

You could not possibly be more wrong. You have a really jaded, sad view of what you call God. Let me guess….evangelical? God, the collective, creative consciousness of all that is, was, and ever will be, hears ALL prayer. We are a part of that consciousness and despite what you have been brainwashed to believe, nothing can separate that. How do I know this to be true? I listen.

/Minister who hates hypocritical, exclusionary “Christian’s’.

Also, if you have hate in your heart for anyone, you aren’t a minister.