questions about prayer....

[juansdec]

I was wondering, how do we know when God answers our prayers? Is it something we will see or just know?

I just recently came back to the Catholic Church so I still don’t understand prayer too well.

I was in one of those pentecostal-name it, claim it/word of faith churches before I came home to the Catholic church.

So on that note, can someone expalin to me here what the character of God is like? I mean, I know he’s not a Genie or a vending machine.

Thanks…

 

[RC1947]

God always hears your prayers and answers them, though sometimes that answer is not what we wanted. Sometimes He says “No.” If you have in your heart and mind that you want to do the will of God in all things, then He will answer your prayers in the way that is best for your soul.

Your second question regarding God’s character is very big, indeed, and to answer it you would do the best thing by getting a copy of the Catholic Catechism and start reading it it from the beginning. In short, The Triune God is Eternal, All-Good, All-Knowing, All-Present, Almighty, All-Wise, All-Holy and All-Just, and Infinitely Merciful.

I hope this is helpful.

Pat

 

[Claire_from_DE]

God told St. Faustina to meditate on His attributes, His characteristics. She found that the greatest one was His mercy, which is unmerited love. Meaning that He loves us even though we don’t deserve it.

God is not fair! He’s way better than that; He’s merciful.

He wants our friendship. Prayer is spending time with Him, talking to Him heart to heart, working on our friendship with Him, telling Him our problems and what we enjoy about our life. My friend invites Him along when she goes horseback riding!

Now about prayers being answered… If we have confidence that God likes us and loves us, we know that He wants what is really best for us. We put our needs and our wants before Him and trust Him to give us what we ask for how and when it is best for us.

Once I read a suggestion to cut out some egg-shaped pieces of paper. When you ask God for something write it on the paper and put it in your bible for safekeeping. Then a year or so later look at the papers and see which prayers have ‘hatched’. Sometimes we forget how many of our prayers God has answered. Or we may see that God answered that prayer in a totally unexpected way.

 

[vince2paul]

This is quite similar with the poster above.

A few years ago, I received a great advice to keep a prayer journal, where I jot down what I pray. It is simply because God might not answer our prayer straight away. He answers it in His time. So it will be helpful if we have the list, so that we will know His answer and we might see His great plan that we might not be able to see when we pray.

 

[jesuspsr]

Mathew 7.7
7 'Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
8 Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened.

I like the old saying that goes; With faith you can move mountians, but that dousent mean you don’t have to bring a shovel with you.

Years ago when I needed some money to live on my own, I prayed that I would make it. God did not give me the money, instead he gave me three jobs to make ends meet. That’s how God works for me in prayer.
God bless

jesus g