Am I praying wrong?

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Nelka

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I think about the parable of the unjust judge and what St Augustine said:

Our divine Redeemer adds, this, to shew that faith must necessarily accompany our prayers. For whosoever prays for what he does not believe he shall obtain, will pray in vain; let us, therefore, entreat the Father of mercies to grant us the grace of prayer, and firmness in faith; for faith produces prayer, and prayer produces firmness of faith.

So do I not believe I will gain what I wish to pray? Am I just hoping? I’m not asking for something difficult like someone’s conversion?

Thanks.
 
Our GOD in Perfect Justice has THREE Options to ALL of our prayers; which ought to END WITH: … “THY Will Lord be done.” [from the Our Father]

God can say:

Yes

NO

Or NOT Now

Further our prayers MAY be answered in a manner unexpected; perhaps even undesired by US; and God answers in a manner that is BEST for each of us in life;s current circumstances. AMEN!

And YES we ought to pray is faith.

God Bless you,
Patrick
 
Nelka said:
So do I not believe I will gain what I wish to pray?
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Only you know that. But, if that is true, that’s why God gives us intercessors. The prayer of a just man is very efficacious. Do you know any prayer warriors? Or do you have picked a patron saint?
 
I still don’t know what you are talking about, but I will tell you that going to Adoration and listening to the Lord, instead of asking for things is very helpful to attain peace in your heart.
 
Prayer does not make things worse.
You are getting more and more worked up.
Pray for peace.
Rinse repeat.
Ask God to bring His will to fruition soon.
Don’t mention specifics.
 
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If I understand your question correctly:
I think St. Augustine was maybe referring to people who go through the motions of prayer?
I mean, some times we petition the Lord, and it’s for the Big Stuff, like a conversion of a hardened sinner, or a cure for a serious disease. And praying over long time periods can wear us out, sometimes we hit the wall, sometimes we rage and demand “WHY?” And our faith wavers because we are weak and little.
When that time comes, bring it to the Lord, He already knows you’re slipping, spiritually, just go right up to him and say, “I’m not even sure I believe in You, God. Or trust Your promises. But show me the way.”
Then sit down, relax, let Him speak to you and through you.
Maybe you get a consolation right away. Maybe you don’t. But it’s way healthier to be authentic with God (who knows what you’re going through already), than to turn yourself inside out trying to “work up” a feeling of belief.
Go on praying and striving to walk with Him. There will be tears and that’s okay.
Find some good spiritual authors who have been down the road of suffering and come out the other side stronger (even if they never saw the fruits of their prayers).
:pray:t2:For you
 
I’ve often read in different threads here at caf that there really is no wrong way to pray. I take this to heart and I always find consolation, peace from praying. I don’t really petition the divinity or do I? This body was recently diagnosed with Lung cancer that had also moved to the brain. The prayers I recited before the diagnosis for several years now are the same as after the diagnosis. In the a.m. upon waking is the “our father”, “thy will be done”, “allow me to decrease that you may increase”,’
" thank you". Well maybe these are all petitions, I don’t know for sure. I simply believe that I’m not praying wrong, and whether the cancer takes this body or not the spirit will survive. As an aside these prayers are thought of/recited often throughout the day as I think of them. These simple prayers for me have been and continue to be transformative in ways I never would have imagined 5, 3, even 1 year ago. Hope this wasn’t too far off topic, if it was that.
 
There are plenty of methods no how to hear gods voice.

Mark victner has a teaching how to hear the voice of God

It works for a lot of people
 
You haven’t told us how you are praying but if you are praying – it cannot be wrong. God can deal with the fumbling we experience when trying to live out this journey of faith. Don’t worry, hoping is enough for Him if you’ve at least attempted to lay the request at His feet.

Be at peace.
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Nelka said:
I’m not asking for something difficult like someone’s conversion?
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Nothing is difficult for God but He will not break someone’s free will to gain a conversion.
 
Dear Nelka, it may feel like your praying is making things worse.
I suspect it would be getting worse regardless, even if you weren’t praying.
Things kept getting harder for Jesus and His Mother also
If you are praying for other people and they lack to will to accept the graces God offers,
God cannot force them to change because of the gift of free will.

Are you doing something wrong?
That’s difficult to respond to over the internet because there is no way we can observe each other to see if there is any way to interact better, or to respond in a more healthy way to others in our lives, or to more wisely face situations that cause us pain

I do know that many of us who see another person’s sadness and difficulty really yearn to help, but have so little we can actually do.
A priest I knew used to speak of this suffering in seeing others’ suffering yet be unable to help as we would wish, as “the cross of awareness”. It’s a hard cross to carry, knowing others are suffering.

I know it sometimes seems that troubles piles on troubles, and things never improve but keep getting worse, but we do see things on the wrong side of the tapestry, the knots and perhaps the untidiness, whilst on the other side we cant see the Lord is weaving a marvelous image.
Please continue to pray, if for another person to change, even more so that we ourselves grow
 
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We can pray, but God doesn’t always answer the way we think He should. God knows all and knows what is best for us. Even if things don’t turn out the way we want, we need to trust Him, let Him take the wheel.

Bless you on your journey :pray:t3:
 
If my prayers aren’t working for me then does that mean they aren’t working for the conversion of sinners and the Holy souls in Purgatory whom I pray for?

If not should I just send all my intentions that way from now on?

😧
 
@Nelka,
If you mean by “my prayers aren’t working for me” that you aren’t getting the answer you want in the time you want than you need to adjust your thinking. God will not give us whatever we want, whenever we want it. He has his own purposes and timing towards those purposes.

Your prayers will not go unheard so continue to pray for your intentions but you must have patience. Sometimes we are tested in our wants and needs, through the struggles and waiting God can transform us rather than the situation.

You sound ready to give up, typing “should I just send all my intentions that way from now on?” Perseverance is a great virtue so don’t give up. Pray for souls, pray for conversions, and yes…pray for your own intentions.

God hears all.
 
there is no right or wrong way to pray,

there might be things that wont be answered because what ever it is one is praying for isn’t what God wants for an individual. But that is about it.
 
@Nelka,
Persevere in your prayer, despite your difficulties. Times of darkness are a natural part of the spiritual journey.

One thing that helps me is to make myself come up with something to thank God for, even when I’m not really feeling thankful - thank you for the sun rising today, thank you that I have a computer, anything. Although it may seem that God is not listening, that God does not care, He is still providing for us each and every moment.
 
Beautiful written responses in this thread, thank you everyone, hope this perspective may be helpful in some way. 🙂

 
Know my friend that God answers ALL prayers, BUT

God can say Yes [& can be different than what we asked for[

God can say No

God can say not now

Prayers for others betterment are always answered yes in some form

Prayers to grow closer to God are always answered yes so long as we are sincerely seeking to do so

We ought to have faith that God will do WHAT HE knows is best for us, and answer our prayers accordingly

Pray very much
God Bless you,
Patrick
 
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