Question about praying

[Angela77]

I’ve been watching a lot of Fr. Robert Barron’s YouTube commentaries lately. In one (I can’t remember which) he said that when we pray, we can’t change God’s mind. We shouldn’t try to persuade Him to do something for us because He figures that out Himself. Fr. Barron said that prayer doesn’t help God (He doesn’t need the help)-- instead it helps us. So my question is this: why do we often ask God for things (not necessarily literal things) when we pray? Why do we bother with the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass if we can’t persuade God anyway?

I apologize in advance if I misunderstood what Fr. Barron meant.

Thanks!!

 

[cheese_puff]

I’ve been watching a lot of Fr. Robert Barron’s YouTube commentaries lately. In one (I can’t remember which) he said that when we pray, we can’t change God’s mind. We shouldn’t try to persuade Him to do something for us because He figures that out Himself. Fr. Barron said that prayer doesn’t help God (He doesn’t need the help)-- instead it helps us. So my question is this: why do we often ask God for things (not necessarily literal things) when we pray? Why do we bother with the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass if we can’t persuade God anyway?

I apologize in advance if I misunderstood what Fr. Barron meant.

Thanks!!

We pray to God because he wants us to come to him. To realize we are dependant on him for everything, even our next breath. Asking, is you aknowleging there is nothing you can do without God.

Hope that helps

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

God will either say yes or no. It never hurts to ask.

Remember, Jesus Himself said:

Luke 11:9**:**And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7-11**:**
<< Matthew 7 >>
Douay-Rheims Bible
1 JUDGE not, that you may not be judged, 2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 Any why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye? 4 Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam in thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

6 Give not that which is holy to dogs; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8 For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone? 10 Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent? 11 If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?

It’s stupid not to ask. If it goes along with God’s will, God can do it for you. If he has better things planned, then he won’t. Simple as that. Always ask.

 

[I_Thirst]

We petition God because Jesus taught us the Lord’s Prayer, which has seven petitions.

 

[HelenRose]

I pray for many reasons but mostly I pray to God for the same reason I talk to my children and love to have them talk with me.

 

[DebChris]

I pray for many reasons but mostly I pray to God for the same reason I talk to my children and love to have them talk with me.

God is unchanging. It is we who are changed when we pray. Prayer is “lifting our hearts and minds to God.” It is communication between us and our heavenly Father. When we pray, which is communication, our relationship to God becomes stronger. God desires this relationship with us. It is why He sent His only son into the world, that we might be reconciled. Of our own volition, we cannot reach across the chasm that separates us from God. In prayer, we become more dependent on God and His power working within our lives. As our dependence and trust grows, so does our faith.
A child responds to his/her mother’s touch and voice. It is the mother who first holds the child to herself and the child who seeks nourishment from the mother. When we pray, we respond in faith to the Faith which God has already given us.

 

[JG_91]

Have you considered the possibility of-
In some situations, part of God’s will or the predestination for the person or situation at hand is reliant upon their praying for whatever the need is and requesting or asking about and for it…

He says, " ask and you shall receive", He tells us about the abilities to move mountains if we have the faith of a mustard seed. To me, that sounds as if prayer is much more than our coming to God (I do agree that is probably the most important reason). It is also about our deepening relationship with Him as we grow.

Also, what about people being miraculously healed after others have prayed over them or priests who cast out demons. Those are both reliant upon the relationship of faith and prayer.

You could say, God had already decided this would occur, but if that were the case, why would these events unfold at the exact time or rather during the time of prayer. Maybe, part of God’s free will is dependent upon the reliance and asking of Him. God is good and loves us. He will with hold no good thing. He is our Father. Perhaps, part of the importance of prayer is for us to see His power in work…
Just my humble opinion…

 

[DebChris]

JG said much of what I wanted to say. I was having difficulty coming with the right words, though. I wanted to emphasize the idea of faith the size of a mustard seed. Prayer is our response to God. It is communication which is important in any relationship.

This thought just came to me regarding a parent/child relationship. Parents often need to wait until the child shows in some way his/her readiness before giving him/her a specific gift or information regarding a particular topic. Perhaps God is waiting on us. Are we ready to receive what he has to offer? Do we have the mustard size faith that allows that mountain to be moved? Sometimes in our prayer we express our doubts with the words, “if it be your will.” We know that wherever Jesus went he healed people, was on his way to heal somebody, or had just come from healing somebody. Do we trust God enough to say, “according to your Will.” I accept my healing whether it is miraculous or if God chooses to use doctors to heal me. Does God have something he wants us to learn from the experience or situation in our life? Are we ready to allow God to work through us?