Just how effective is prayer?

[Art321]

I recently had this thought about just how effective can prayer be overall. Can someone’s prayers be more effective if that person has a lot of grace? Or would it be just the same as for a real bad sinner’s prayers?

Thoughts??

 

[Trishie]

Well, King David committed adultery and had his partner-in-sin’s husband murdered…but consider the psalms, and that David is ancestor of Jesus’ human body…and I think this psalm of David’s might answer your question somewhat?

“Have mercy on me, O God in Your goodness,
in Your great tenderness, wipe away my faults;
wash me clean of my guilt,
purify me from my sin.

For I am well aware of my faults,
I have my sin constantly in mind,
having sinned against none other than You,
having done what You regard as wrong.

You are just when You pass sentence on me,
blameless when You give judgement.
You know I was born guilty,
a sinner from the moment of conception.

Yet since You love sincerity of heart,
teach me the secrets of wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop until I am clean;
wash me until I am whiter than snow.

Instil some joy and gladness into me,
let the bones You have rushed rejoice again.
Hide Your face from me sins,
wipe out all my guilt.

Be my saviour again, renew my joy,
keep my spirit steady and willing;
and I shall teach transgressors the way to You,
and sinners will return.

Save me from death, God my saviour,
and my tongue will acclaim Your righteousness;
Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will speak out Your praise.

Sacrifice gives You no pleasure,
were I to offer holocaust, You would not have it.
My sacrifice is this broken spirit,
You will not scorn this crushed and broken heart.” (Psalm 51)

 

[Trishie]

“I live in a high and holy place, but I am also with the contrite and humbled spirit, to give the humble new life…I will heal and console him.” says the Lord God.” [Isaiah 57:15, 18]

“If the greatest sinner should repent at the moment of his death, and draw his last breath in an act of love, neither the many graces he had abused, nor the multiplied crimes he had committed, would stand in his way. Our Lord would see nothing, count nothing, but the sinner’s last prayer, and without delay He would receive him into the arms of His mercy.” (Saint Therese of Lisieux)

“As I live, says the Lord God, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but rather in the wicked man’s conversion, that he may live.” [Ezekiel 33:11]

“Do not gloat over me, my enemy: though I have fallen, I shall rise; though I live in darkness, God is my light. I must suffer the anger of God, for I have sinned against Him, until He takes up my cause and rights my wrongs; He will bring me out into the light and I shall rejoice to see the rightness of His ways.” [Micah 7:8-9]

“Walk with simplicity in the way of the Lord and do not torment your spirit. Learn to hate your faults but to hate them calmly.” (Saint Padre Pio)

“Heaven is filled with converted sinners of all kinds, and there is room for more” (St. Joseph Cafaso)

 

[Trishie]

“Since God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up to benefit us all, we may be certain that He will not refuse anything He can give…He not only died for us—He rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand He…pleads for us.” [Romans 8:32]

“Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” [Psalm 43:1] “I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart…I shall put my spirit in you…You shall be my people and I shall be your God.” [Ezekiel 36:25-26, 29] “I will smelt away your dross in the furnace; I will remove all your base metal from you.” [Isaiah 1:25]

“If we say we have no sin in us, we are deceiving ourselves…but if we acknowledge our sins, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us from everything that is wrong.” [1John 1:8-10] “Jesus Christ…is the sacrifice that takes our sins away, and not only ours, but the whole world.” [1John 2:1-2]

I think really that the scriptures answer your question, and God says in scripture
“A humble and contrite heart I will not spurn.” (Psalm 51) God will not reject the prayer of the sinner

Jesus says, “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7

 

[Art321]

Thank you, Trishie for your wonderful responses!

 

[scottwesner]

Hi Art321, Am I right in thinking you are asking that are both prayers equally effective? I would say yes if the bad sinner recognizes their sin like the tax collector at the temple asking for the Lord’s mercy. James says something in his Epistle about The effectual prayer of a righteous person availing much.Just my own thought but I think God hears any prayer that is honest from the heart that is truly repentant of sin and seeking God’s guidance. Remember I am still coming from a Protestant perspective and am not read up on Catholic prayer practices. Although I have read many Saints quotes on prayer and agree with them. Scott

 

[Moscati]

St. James says “the fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (my words). That’s why we ask the saints to intercede for us.

Of course, God can (and often does) hear and answer anyone’s prayers, including ‘real bad sinners’ .

 

[Art321]

Hi Art321, Am I right in thinking you are asking that are both prayers equally effective?

Yes, that is what i am asking.

I would say yes if the bad sinner recognizes their sin like the tax collector at the temple asking for the Lord’s mercy. James says something in his Epistle about The effectual prayer of a righteous person availing much.Just my own thought but I think God hears any prayer that is honest from the heart that is truly repentant of sin and seeking God’s guidance. Remember I am still coming from a Protestant perspective and am not read up on Catholic prayer practices. Although I have read many Saints quotes on prayer and agree with them. Scott

Thank you for response.

 

[Art321]

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

 

[dbmus]

I know this is not what you’re asking but…remember the whole purpose of prayer is to change us not to change God. So the “effectiveness” of prayer might be something totally different! Just a thought…

I think God listens and hears all prayers, possibly most especially those coming from the poor, weak, marginalized and “sinners”.

 

[Art321]

I know this is not what you’re asking but…remember the whole purpose of prayer is to change us not to change God. So the “effectiveness” of prayer might be something totally different! Just a thought…

I think God listens and hears all prayers, possibly most especially those coming from the poor, weak, marginalized and “sinners”.

Thank you for your insight on this.