God outside of Time, is prayer?

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BlackBeard54

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I was listening to an EWTN podcast one day, and the caller asked for the host to pray for something (doesn’t matter what right now). The host felt that the request was important enough to invite the audience to pray for this intention as well. The request was worthy and obviously heart-felt enough by the caller and the host, and I felt moved to join my prayer to theirs. This was with the realization that the recorded request and prayer took place weeks before.

Which brought me to this thought: Since God is outside Time, a state which I think applies to Mary and the Saints also, wouldn’t my prayer be just as efficacious as if I had joined them “live”? In other words, if the sincere intention is there to add my prayer to that of others for a sick child, does it matter to God (since he is outside Time) that two weeks separate my prayer to that of the others?

And, by extension, doesn’t that mean that all the prayers of all the people listening and responding to that recorded request (even if it may be months after it was recorded) are joined as if they were praying at the same time? For God, isn’t it the intention, and not the when. that matters?

Just think how powerful that is, especially in this age of almost everything being preserved in that vast cloud of the Internet. All people, wherever and WHENever they may be, who are moved to pray for someone based on what they are listening to, having their prayers joined together outside of Time. What a joyful noise that must make onto Our Lord!

Or am I completely out to lunch one this? Thoughts please, and if anyone has any references that apply to this I’d appreciate them!

God’s Blessings on all of you!
 
I think this would be a great thread in the philosophy section of Apologetics.

That said, I think the concept of time differs to most people. Does time even exist from God’s perspective? He surely isn’t bound by it. Perhpas time only exists from our viewpoint.

One good food for thought here is, would God grant you something today that you will pray for tomorrow? Or is it that God is all-good and all-knowing that He knows what you need even before you pray for it?

From what I know about God and time is that God does not travel in time, but rather He is present at every point of time. The confusing part for me here is how does this relate to us within our perspective in time. If God is present in the future as he is in the past, does praying for something in the future for something in the past as good as praying for something in the moment?

Now, regarding the program, even if its recorded in the past there is nothing wrong with praying for someone even if its far off in the future. They may still be in the same state or still suffering some after effect. But regardless, its always a good idea to pray for someone not only at their time of need but everyday of their lives.
 
I think you are correct. We can pray for something that has already happened and it still “counts.”

God is “outside of time” meaning that He is simultaneously in the past, present, and future. He does not live “moment to moment” like we do. He is in all three, eternity, all at once. He does not “foresee” the future, but “sees” the future as we see the present moment. 🙂
 
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