Prayer and miracles

[triumphguy]

When I was a kid I believed that if I prayed God would answer my prayer.

When my prayer was not answered I then believed that I hadn’t prayed hard enough or worthily enough. Therefore I should pray harder, or more efficaciously.

Later I believed that miracles were just fantasy stories told to the credulous because they didn’t have the intellect to make a leap of faith otherwise. Therefore one should not pray for miracles.

Later I believed that miracles were actually an obstacle to faith, and that true faith requires a leap into the dark. Therefore one should not pray for miracles.

Now I believe that God answers our prayers and even provides miracles, but on His time an His agenda, and we may not even notice them unless we ourselves have changed (hearts of stone to hearts of flesh… that kind of thing).

For example: The miracle in praying for a cure to sickness may not be the physical curing of the sick person, but a curing of the spirit of the sick person whereby they use the suffering to participate in the passion of Christ for the good of the world.

What do you say?

 

[Safia]

For example: The miracle in praying for a cure to sickness may not be the physical curing of the sick person, but a curing of the spirit of the sick person whereby they use the suffering to participate in the passion of Christ for the good of the world.

What do you say?

Yes, absolutely.

We pray to acquire the heart and mind of God, and once we acquire, we understand why and how He allows and wills things as He does, and we rejoice purely in the state of the world.

 

[triumphguy]

The is question is timely for me because as a family we’re praying for healing for my children’s grandpa (he has stage four cancer), but he’s not getting better. They are now asking about prayer and its power, because they just want to see their grandpa get better.

 

[Safia]

The is question is timely for me because as a family we’re praying for healing for my children’s grandpa (he has stage four cancer), but he’s not getting better. They are now asking about prayer and its power, because they just want to see their grandpa get better.

Ah, yes. I’d start with explaining that death is inherently the most beautiful thing that happens to the human person – it is not an end, but a transition to greatness, and that rather than basing our prayer on a particular end (health), we ought to base it on a universal end (God’s will). Explain that, as long as their hearts are open, God will be present to them, and that they have to trust that absolutely everything in the world – every motion of the leaves, even – happens because He wills or allows it.

Tell them also that we are important to God, and that God doesn’t do particular things unless or until we pray for them – He allows us to cooperate in providence. Just because things don’t happen the way we want them doesn’t mean that He doesn’t hear us. Quite the opposite.

Prayers!

 

[maltmom]

I believe in miracles. I’ve seen them.

I also believe that God answers our prayers in different ways.
Yes
No
Wait for my timing. Which may end up being either yes or no.

I’m praying for your family.

 

[MarkEzraB]

I agree also but it doesn’t make any easier to explain to children I know cause I asked the same question when my last grandmother died when I was five

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

That’s a hard one. Especially for the young. The Miracle may not be that Grandfather gets well and lives, but that the remanding of his life be with Love. A freedom of pain. That all remember him as he looks into each and every eye of his Love ones that he will be with them forever, And that his soul pass on into Heaven. That is the Miracle for all to keep close to their Heart.

 

[cmscms]

I also am of the opinion that it is next to impossible to explain death in a satisfactory way to a child. After all, they just want the person to live. But it would be a good time to explain that Jesus calls us and rewards us for a life well lived (without making them feel guilty for every time they fall). I also think it is a time to show kids their feelings are OK rather than to try to cheer them up when they grieve.

However, as for death, last year my dad and my best friend both died within a two months period. NEVER in my wildest dreams would I have thought that was the time God would show me exactly how kind He is. Long story, but everything happened in such a way that there can never be a doubt in my mind God was looking out for me.

So yes, praying for God’s will is the best

CM

 

[fred_conty]

CMCCMS, quit good.

I heard of one family explaining to their grandchildren why grandpa might not return to them. Because grandpa has been with us long enough and now Jesus wants to be with him and we have to share.

Just a parent.