This is the OP here. I do not think of God as Santa. Firstly, I do not drive, so never asked for a car, but I do know of people who sorely needed cars to get to work where there was no public transportation. People have all sorts of needs from healing, to material things, to money to save their homes from foreclosure etc. God doesn't limit you as to what you can pray for.

I understand that God does not agree to all of our prayers, and I alluded to that. I said not all of my prayers are answered, I don't expect them to all be answered to my satisfaction. I also stated you can ask for this or something better. I no longer plead with God for anything. I thank him for what I need or want. It oftentimes shows up.

I cannot understand how anyone over the age of 6 could think there is a God who gives you what you want if you pray in the right way. What is your theory to explain the Holocaust or SIDS? Did those people just not pray right?

Unfortunately, something horrific and inexplicable will eventually happen to someone you know or care about enough that you can’t blame them for their fate. I fear this will really ruin your world if you don’t adjust your conception of the universe first.

Hi OP. I'm an interfaith minister. I won't presume to know your faith path, but I did want to jump in and share what I've learned about prayer. First, I don't believe God (Source Energy, Spirit, Creator, Jesus,....whatever name you chose) wants or needs to be worshiped. That's kind of an outdated, fear-based response to God. What God does want is for us to communicate with him/her. Prayer works when we align our intention with God's will. What you describe is a kind of affirmative prayer - Thanking God in advance for answered prayers. It can definitely be a very powerful, positive way to pray. After all, we do co-create with God. Our thoughts create our reality in so many ways. BUT, we need to be careful about treating God as a genie who exists to grant wishes. Remember, that your answered prayers affect everyone around you. For example, if I pray that my husband gets a job he has interviewed for, someone else is not getting that job. When we pray, we should focus on asking God to show us how to get the things that lead to the highest and best. Not necessarily for what we want in the moment.

I would encourage you to continue to pray, but treat it less like pleading with God and more like having a conversation with your Creator. Ask questions and spend time listening for answers. Remember that we live in a responsive universe. God really does want the very best for you. But you have to be willing to listen and to act in accordance with the information you receive.

Often His answer is no.

I think you're missing the core problem with your perspective, which is the assumption that whatever you desire is the "right" thing to happen. You are substituting your judgment for God's about the course things should take. Gratitude for what God has given you can certainly change your outlook on life, but it's not a tool to manipulate God into giving you what you want.

I have found that when the answer to a prayer is "no", that someone is actually doing me a favor.

You should understand that God DOES answer your prayers. They just might not be what you think is the answer. He may have a different plan for you that you don't yet realize.

And I'm religious and VERY faithful and believe in prayer - but seriously. Praying for a car? That is not a prayer. That's like what the other pp said - that's thinking of God as Santa.

When I pray for someone's health, or peace, or help to get through a tough time - sometimes the health doesn't get better, or the tough times don't subside. But I have faith that He heard me and is answering my prayers - just not in the way that I thought. And I may never find out why (or I may months or years later) but that's what faith is all about to me.

Others may think differently, but OP, at least understand that God isn't Santa and can't make you rich, give you cars, or buy you houses.

This is why we pray "thy will be done." And pray for your desires to be in line with His will

These people really frighten me.

OP's thinking is beyond gross.

Anonymous wrote:I spent years praying, crying and pleading for God to answer a number of my prayers throughout the years, yet seldom were they ever answered. I became disappointed and even a bit bitter with God. On another note, I remember hearing a number of times that God liked to be praised and worshipped, and he responded to this which seemed a bit odd to me. Why would God be so vain? Why did he need us to worship him, as he already knew how powerful he was? This really puzzled me until one day I was given the answer.

The praise and worship weren't for God, this was for us. When we are praying while crying and pleading, we are evidencing little to no faith. If we want a certain outcome we need to begin thanking and praising God for our desired outcome having been done. For instance, "Thank you God for blessing me now! Thank you God for my new blue, Chevy! Thank you God for healing Susan etc._ I would say these things continually throughout the day. Once I made this change my life totally changed! No I have not gotten everything, but I get a whole lot more now. This applies to sickness, material things, praying for others, jobs etc. You can also add, "Thank you for this or something better!" to your request.

This sounds like a dog training technique.

Have you considered that sometimes His answer to you might be "No"?

You know there's a different conclusion you could reach, right?

This sounds like you think of God as Santa, which is a problem.

I spent years praying, crying and pleading for God to answer a number of my prayers throughout the years, yet seldom were they ever answered. I became disappointed and even a bit bitter with God. On another note, I remember hearing a number of times that God liked to be praised and worshipped, and he responded to this which seemed a bit odd to me. Why would God be so vain? Why did he need us to worship him, as he already knew how powerful he was? This really puzzled me until one day I was given the answer.

The praise and worship weren't for God, this was for us. When we are praying while crying and pleading, we are evidencing little to no faith. If we want a certain outcome we need to begin thanking and praising God for our desired outcome having been done. For instance, "Thank you God for blessing me now! Thank you God for my new blue, Chevy! Thank you God for healing Susan etc._ I would say these things continually throughout the day. Once I made this change my life totally changed! No I have not gotten everything, but I get a whole lot more now. This applies to sickness, material things, praying for others, jobs etc. You can also add, "Thank you for this or something better!" to your request.