Should we downplay prayer?

[1Lord1Faith]

I don’t see it as particularly selfish for a person to be happy that God granted their prayer. So what if it was a prayer for economic gain? The vast majority of us wouldn’t turn down economic gain if God sent it to us, whether or not we had prayed for it.

Prosperity Gospel??

It’s unfortunate also that people who see this immediately start in with “So why didn’t God go help a child with cancer instead of granting that person’s prayer which in my opinion was totally self-serving”

These people are assuming God grants money prayers. I personally don’t believe that God does that. I don’t recall Jesus ever doing that.

or to challenge their neighbors not to be jealous of them.

This is just too far into the weeds. God is not a divider.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

No Faith. Prayers would never get answered

Since when do faithless people pray? Prayer implies some sort of faith, unless it is forced or for show.

 

[EndTimes]

Since when do faithless people pray? Prayer implies some sort of faith, unless it is forced or for show

Not exactly… Anyone can mouth a prayer…

Consider this teaching - which directly speaks to Faith - and the lack of it - wrt Prayer

1. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Faith isn’t some sort of magical power to override God. If it were, we’d expect life to be quite different.

Ultimately, God’s will be done, not my will, despite how much faith I have in God.

According to what I think you are saying, Jesus did not have enough faith in the Father when he prayed for the Passion to pass by him. Because…it didn’t pass him by, despite his prayer that he wanted it to.

 

[OurLadyofSorrows]

No Faith. Prayers would never get answered

God doesnt just answer prayers of those with faith the way they want prayers answered. We must remember the will of God comes before our will.
In the Bible God states even the tiniest kernal of faith is treasured and crucial. Even doubt.

We dont get what we want. We get what God wants.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

These people are assuming God grants money prayers. I personally don’t believe that God does that.

God isn’t limited by your personal belief, or anyone else’s. If he wants to give someone economic gain or success, he’ll do that. If he doesn’t want to, he won’t.
(Often God doesn’t give us things that he knows are not good for us, or don’t convey the lesson he wants us to learn or the challenge he wants us to face, which might not be the same lesson or challenge he’s giving to the guy next door.)

As for your comment about God not being a “divider”, God challenges us every day to not be jealous that our neighbors might have more. Whether that’s more money, more good looks, more success at work or relationships, etc. You seem to have a very narrow, odd idea of what you think God does and doesn’t do. The simple fact is that he has many things in his plan that probably neither you nor I can fully understand.

Sorry, but I’m not going to subscribe to a limited view of God because you have an unusual (to me), limited idea of how God behaves.

 

[EndTimes]

God doesnt just answer prayers of those with faith the way they want prayers answered.

Sometimes yes… and sometimes not in the way … and sometimes simply No.
And, Yes, God does want of us to Ask/Petition Him…
And sometimes God is not going to answer petitions - even of those with the Greatest of Faith

Praise, ThanksGiving, Sorrow, Petition - are forms of Prayer.
Even Speaking and Asking Question to God … Exists…

Petition? should have this caveat:

As per Jesus re: Asking the Father to take away his Passion

"…But not as I will, Father, but as you Will"… -

 

[EndTimes]

Faith isn’t some sort of magical power to override God.

Of course Faith is nothing of that sort.
Everyone with Faith Knows that from God.

 

[Katie777]

Just keep praying for yourself and others. God loves you…

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[po18guy]

The amputation argument is a red herring - invented by individuals with no understanding of what they criticize. If “I” do something like that, I am considered ignorant. What are they? You decide.

Lower animals regenerate so as to survive. Humans, made in the image and likeness of God, have family and other loved ones to care for them. Amputation becomes part of the cross which they must bear in this life. As to regeneration, I don’t see atheists doing any better.

You will hear many such ‘arguments’ throughout life - they are offered b people who believe less than you do and want you to believe less along with them. Misery loves company, apparently.

Like the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz, pay no attention to them! Actually, you can pray - for them.

 

[SPBlitz]

I struggle to believe that its really god involved in any of the smaller things we pray for.

CS Lewis discusses the efficacy of prayer in the appendix of his book Miracles:
“The event certainly has been decided—in a sense it was decided ‘before all worlds’. But one of the things taken into account in deciding it, and therefore one of the things that really cause it to happen, may be this very prayer that we are now offering.”

God does answer our prayers, it’s just the answer rarely needs to be a huge miracle. Often times the solution comes about through natural means, but God set up those natural means, and the chain of events that led to them, all the way back at the Big Bang. and your prayer was one of the things that God took into account when setting up the chain of events, “before all worlds”.

 

[Beryllos]

Look at how often Jesus prayed. A lot! No, we should not downplay prayer.

Thinking about the grateful lottery winner… I’ve heard that many lottery winners end up broke and unhappy. For most people, perhaps it is a blessing not to win. On the other hand, for a lottery winner who is not attached to the money, and uses it to bring about good, it may be a blessing.

 

[Dan_Defender]

And when people saw that God had done such a miracle in my life, they’d watch me more closely and see and hear all the stupid things I do and say that are not in alignment with my beliefs – and that could actually turn people AWAY from God instead of towards Him.

And yet, what good might come form it? how many people may be converted/glorify God? In the miracle of Calanda the king of Spain himself bowed and kissed the leg and gave glory to God. People all over Spain gave glory to God!

 

[Gertabelle]

Gertabelle:

And when people saw that God had done such a miracle in my life, they’d watch me more closely and see and hear all the stupid things I do and say that are not in alignment with my beliefs – and that could actually turn people AWAY from God instead of towards Him.

And yet, what good might come form it? how many people may be converted/glorify God? In the miracle of Calanda the king of Spain himself bowed and kissed the leg and gave glory to God. People all over Spain gave glory to God!

God alone knows the hearts and minds of those nearby when He grants a miracle. He knows when people are ready to choose based on a miracle, and when people would only be confused and even lost by it.

These sorts of miracles are extremely rare for a reason!

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

By definition, miracles are rare events.

We definitely should petition God and He wants us too.

But we’re alao in relationship with Him, and we pray to talk to Him.

We simply don’t know why some people get the life changing miracle and others don’t. My general sense is that miracles carry a certain obligation on the recipient—to share the blessing the miracle brought.

 

[Servant31]

We need to pray more not less. Prayer is an absolutely fundamental part of faith. We don’t always know everything, and prayer is our connection to God.

I hear sometimes…”I prayed for x and it didn’t happen, therefore Y conclusion.” To me that’s not really a sensical argument. I threw a ball and it landed other than where I wanted…therefore gravity doesn’t exist…

I think prayer is how we get closer to God. How we become better. If there is no prayer we are really really in trouble.

 

[Convert3]

Pray to give thanks for all the blessings we have, not to ask for more. Pray for guidance in your life that you may bring Glory to God. Pray for forgiveness so you may be free of sin to be closer to God. Pray for those in need of comfort, to provide food for the hungry, to protect the weak and vulnerable. Pray for wisdom to seek God’s will.