Confidence in prayer...can someone explain please?

[berniemcken]

I have been praying more and more after asking Saint Paul to intercede for me and help me ‘pray unceasingly.’ I am a stay at home mother, so the ability to pray and work is important. The Lord is on my mind more and more and I also get inspirations from the Holy Spirit to pray for causes and people. I love doing His work this way. It is a wonderful grace and I thank God for it. I desire to keep going deeper.

I have recently turned my attention on little Alfie Evans and his family. I asked for the grace to pray all night and when I was sleeping I was able to do so (at least I was aware of it at this mess in the night—Hail Marys are what I prayed). The more I pray for the little one Alfie, the more I love him. (I am consecrated to the Blessed Mother via St Louis de Montfort method)

Anyway, I am praying for his healing and transfer to a hospital in Italy that wants him to live. I want to be confident that my prayer will be granted, but I also don’t want to presume I know the outcome.

How does one balance this? Blessed Solanus Casey said that ‘confidence is the soul of prayer.’ I believe God is good, that He hears my prayers, that He loves me and those I pray for. Is there more? Can I be confident that Alfie will live and go to Italy?

Imaculee said she prayed and envisioned her deliverance from hiding. She prayed and envisioned her working for the UN.

Jesus told us to have enough faith to move mountains.

Someone help me.

Thank you.

Bernadette

 

[Roseeurekacross]

We must pray and always add God’s will be done.

The outcome according to Gods will

 

[Mary888]

God hears our prayers but He is also is… God. He has a plan and knows everything. Do not give in to the temptation of losing hope in prayer if what you pray for does not happen or does not happen exactly as you requested it to happen.
What I think happens during prayer is this - we put this matter to the attention of God. Of course He knows about it beforehand, but our prayers are an insistence for Him to look at it again - the devil may interrupt us here with the temptation that we are not respecting God enough, interfering with His plan, distrusting Him etc; BUT God told us to pray to Him and ask, so praying for something to God can never be wrong even if we pray for something bad - of course God won’t make it happen and should that bad thing actually happen we will get the appropriate amount of guilt and fear for the bad wish we made. So praying is putting God first into the matter we pray for.
So keep doing it. It looks as if it is working for you. Expect some bad feelings and temptations to come your way, disruption during prayers etc. They are nothing but temptations from the devil. Every nasty feeling during praying shows that you are getting closer to God, necessarily to getting what you want, but closer to Him. So the devil attacks so don’t stop and ignore the enemy because he is irrelevant. God matters.
God bless.

 

[njlisa]

Let’s remember how our Lord prayed
during his Agony in the Garden.

He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer,
saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup
pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”
(Matthew 26:39)

Think of it. Jesus could have asked His Father
for anything. Still, he bowed to the will of the
Father to accept death on the Cross. God hears
our prayers but he does not always give us
the answer we want.

And just to give you some context, I spend a lot
of time on the prayer forum. So I, like you,
feel a calling to pray for others.

I hope that helps. God bless you.

 

[Seagull]

I read that we should just pray “ Thy will be done “
Over and over and over and over - till it sinks in

There was someone at work , a few days ago. frustrated with God.
I asked a few questions…and basically he admitted -
that he prayed for something to happen - for years -
it finally happened -
Now he knows he was praying amiss -
Now he finds himself in even more - hot water.

So “ Thy will be done “ -
It’s a tremendously passive state -
But it’s a all accepting state -
that allows God, to do what he wants -

You may have to suffer…that could very well be his will.
You do - have to take that into account also -
Then you suffer…contentedly…because it’s His will.

Etc

 

[LittleFlower378]

Having confidence in prayer means you have strong trust in God and that he will answer your prayer, even if it be not the way we would like it or think it, although sometimes it may be. Our ways are not God’s ways.

 

[Dan_Defender]

‘O Lord, we ask for a boundless confidence and trust in Your divine mercy, and the courage to accept the crosses and sufferings which bring immense goodness to our souls and that of Your Church.
Help us to love You with a pure and contrite heart, and to humble ourselves beneath Your cross, as we climb the mountain of holiness, carrying our cross that leads to heavenly glory.
May we receive You with great faith and love in Holy Communion, and allow You to act in us, as You desire, for Your greater glory.
O Jesus, most adorable heart and eternal fountain of Divine Love, may our prayer find favor before the Divine Majesty of Your Heavenly Father. Amen.’ - Padre Pio Prayer