What is the purpose of praying multiple times to God?.

[New_Year_SMS]

It is usually asserted that if we pray for an intention multiple times to God, He will hear our cries more. But this strikes, to me as of now, as an absurdity.

It is generally accepted that God does not change His mind. Therefore, if we pray multiple times for an intention that God has deemed as “no” or “later”, what purpose would that serve if one were to continue accumulating the number of prayers? Isn’t the prayers said therefore in vain?

Again, leading on from this fact, would that not mean that a simple “Our Father” is equivalent to that a rosary? Is there really any difference in the effectiveness of a prayer, if God will not change His mind?

Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

.

 

[John7]

here’s a parable from Jesus that speaks to your question

Luke 18:
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

 

[bubble_lady]

God asks us, through Jesus, that we should pray multiple times or to pray without ceasing. Prayer is only in vain if we ask without confidence. We should also pray seeking that God’s will be done in everything; otherwise, we treat God as though His only role is as some sort of benevolent genie.

 

[odhiambo]

Here is an excerpt from Saint Monicah’s biography. The link is given at the end.

“The story and history of Saint Monica.
Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, was born in 332. A, a girlhood of singular innocence and piety, she was given in marriage to Patritius, a pagan. She at once devoted herself to his conversion, praying for him always, and winning his reverence and love by the holiness of her life and her affectionate forbearance. She was rewarded by seeing him baptized a year before his death. When her son Augustine went astray in faith and manners her prayers and tears were incessant…”
We know about Saint Augustine.

catholic-saints.info/roman-catholic-saints-m-r/saint-monica.htm

 

[Waiting]

It is usually asserted that if we pray for an intention multiple times to God, He will hear our cries more. But this strikes, to me as of now, as an absurdity.

It is generally accepted that God does not change His mind. Therefore, if we pray multiple times for an intention that God has deemed as “no” or “later”, what purpose would that serve if one were to continue accumulating the number of prayers? Isn’t the prayers said therefore in vain?

Again, leading on from this fact, would that not mean that a simple “Our Father” is equivalent to that a rosary? Is there really any difference in the effectiveness of a prayer, if God will not change His mind?

Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

.

No prayer is ever said in vain. The Lord said to persevere, so we do. No one can read the mind of God – when will He answer, what will He say. We only know to keep on asking, as any child would.

Also, if you’re more comfortable with just an Our Father rather than a rosary, then just say the Our Father. The idea is to keep in contact with the Lord. The rosary lets us meditate on the life and deeds of Jesus, which I know pleases Him and His mother, and all heaven. Prayer is a personal choice, so the choice is yours.

 

[odhiambo]

here’s a parable from Jesus that speaks to your question

Luke 18:
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Jesus presented this parable to His disciples.
There was this woman that kept coming back to the judge, asking him forgiveness for what she had done and grant her justice against her enemies (Luke 18: 3). She has to make sure that her petition reached the judge. She was there every day asking the judge for appeal and kept bothering him for justice. She never stopped until she received her request.
Because of her determination and constant plea, the judge was not able to refuse but gave her what she was asking.
From this parable we are made to understand that Jesus wants us to be persistent in prayer and in our faith, not only that we will receive the blessings of God, but we will become closer to Him.

 

[odhiambo]

It is usually asserted that if we pray for an intention multiple times to God, He will hear our cries more. But this strikes, to me as of now, as an absurdity.

It is generally accepted that God does not change His mind. Therefore, if we pray multiple times for an intention that God has deemed as “no” or “later”, what purpose would that serve if one were to continue accumulating the number of prayers? Isn’t the prayers said therefore in vain?

Again, leading on from this fact, would that not mean that a simple “Our Father” is equivalent to that a rosary? Is there really any difference in the effectiveness of a prayer, if God will not change His mind?

Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

.

**The Parable of the Persistent Widow **

Jesus presented this parable to His disciples.
There was this woman that kept coming back to the judge, asking him forgiveness for what she had done and grant her justice against her enemies (Luke 18: 3). She has to make sure that her petition reached the judge. She was there every day asking the judge for appeal and kept bothering him for justice. She never stopped until she received her request.
Because of her determination and constant plea, the judge was not able to refuse but gave her what she was asking.
From this parable we are made to understand that Jesus wants us to be persistent in prayer and in our faith, not only that we will receive the blessings of God, but we will become closer to Him.