Concrete thinkers would say certainly not. How could it possibly work? But there are those of us who pray every day and will insist that it truly does work. How exactly does it work, I do not know, but I do know that it indeed does work.
I feel fairly certain that thoughts are very powerful. (Don’t take that to mean like in a weird creepy sci-fi “firestarter” type of way, but I mean in a personal way) Prayer has a lot to do with thoughts I think - at least in Catholic terms, prayers are more than just thoughts but a practice of mortification and formation of one’s conscience… as Jim and metzerboy were saying here- that’s pretty darn powerful in and of itself.
Hypnotists understand how powerful thoughts are. We hear of “the power of suggestion”… so how would prayer be any different when we suggest or even know God hears us? Magicians know how to say things to lead/mislead the one’s he sets out to mystify and entertain. Psychology also uses cognitive behavioral therapy to introduce thought patterns that will therein try and influence a change in behavior. In schools we just don’t have teachers hap hazardly throwing out random facts- but are presented in ways where the capacity for learning and retaining and using that information is enhanced. (an organization of thoughts)
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In our own quiet personal selves what we think has power over us... to despair or to hope. I have heard that people are only as good as their idols- meaning, if they don't see anything higher in this life other than their idol who happens to be an immoral person, that is all the father they will ascribe themselves to emulate- so yeah, thought is powerful. What one thinks is telling. Whole cultures are formed on collective thoughts 'ok'ed and accepted- even* if* they are heinous ideals they uphold. It can take ONE person to introduce a new thought for good or for bad. This is also why Scripture touts us to guard our tongues and also why its very important we think about good things said in Philippians 4:"8 ....
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-
-think about such things.”
It is also said that from the heart the mouth speaks. Luke 6:35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
How do you get your heart full of good then?? You PRAY! You meditate on God. Strive and seek to find God.
Prayer though is more than just thought, but it is thought plus the exercise of hope faith and love. Its more powerful. Its trans-formative. No man is an island. A transformed soul filled with the Holy Spirit is an overflowing cup, bound to effect those around them.
We are told to pray whether or not we feel like it, or even if we believe in it, and especially when tough times with their temptations to despair storm about us. Prayers are not always answered though. And its a real temptation to say that prayer doesn’t work when something we had been praying for never manifests. We don’t know the reasons. I’ve also heard people preach to be specific with prayers- like, really specific, but my thoughts on that is the saying “be careful what you wish/pray for, you might just get it!”
lol. … I think.
Proverbs 4:23
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
^ Prayer is what regulates that.
