What were you doing when...?

[William777]

“What were you doing when some of your favorite prayers were realized?”

This is something I have always found fascinating - what factors may have lead up to the answer to a prayer?

If you reply, some things worth considering…

1 - What were you praying for?
2 - What prayers did you say?
3 - What were you “doing”, (e.g. walking down the street, cleaning the dishes)?
4 - How was your prayer answered?
5 - Were others praying for you?
6 - Had you been praying a long time?
7 - How did you know your prayer was answered?

I’ll chirp in after a bit. Just want to see if others find it as fascinating.

 

[Christmastwin]

What a fantastic post! I’m gonna have to think about this, though, and I’ll get back to it as well. Just wanted to tell you that it’s very thought provoking and I’m curious to see others’ responses, too.

 

[Samson01]

“What were you doing when some of your favorite prayers were realized?”

This is something I have always found fascinating - what factors may have lead up to the answer to a prayer?

If you reply, some things worth considering…

1 - What were you praying for?
2 - What prayers did you say?
3 - What were you “doing”, (e.g. walking down the street, cleaning the dishes)?
4 - How was your prayer answered?
5 - Were others praying for you?
6 - Had you been praying a long time?
7 - How did you know your prayer was answered?

I’ll chirp in after a bit. Just want to see if others find it as fascinating.

1 - To live
2 - Please God, I’m scared, let me see my kids grow up.
3 - Laying down, either in a hospital bed or at home.
4 - I lived
5 - Yes, alot.
6- 6 months to date.
7 - see #4
I was diagnosed with stage III cancer in July 2003. Been stable since Oct. 31, 2003.

 

[BarbG]

I went directly to God through my husband. My oldest son was in the Military for over 25 years (he had a draft number of 4 during the Vietnam war) and had retired but was looking for another job a/c his two sons were still in college. One day I visited my husband’s grave and thought I’d ask him to ask God for a favor – Believe it or not, my son called me the next day and he had TWO job offers – how’s that for having your prayers answered!!!

 

[William777]

I’d like to thank all who participated in this thread. I am sorry to see more people didn’t take interest in it. I honestly thought it would be a popular topic.

As per those who did respond, it’s amazing how death can sometimes be a factor in a successful prayer, although I am not sure why. Perhaps it has something to do with perseverance, or perhaps conversion and change, as there is a lot at stake when we make a petition in such a state. Perhaps we are more motivated and willing to make sacrifices (i.e. give up and accept things that give us life).

I guess my own story, as I promised I would offer one, would center around a time when I thought I was going to die as well - from (of all things) anxiety and depression. It may seem hard to imagine someone as being that depressed, but, yeah, I thought it was going to take my life.

The “turn around” seemed to occur when I decided to return to church, and then I saw something in a leaflet about praying to the precious blood. I thought it was strange - the idea of praying to blood instead of Jesus himself - but I didn’t disrespect or disregard the idea either. What also seemed unusual was Christ’s wish to take on our sufferings; I was always brought up thinking we should wear our Sunday best when going to church, so why he’d want to suffer the misery I was experiencing was beyond me.

But I gave it to him. It sounds strange - giving God the pain; I felt like I was crucifying him all over, but I didn’t “want” to do it either. I could only trust in the fact that when we go to communion we break (literally gnash) bread; that he overcame the sufferings of this world; that nothing is greater than God; and that he did suffered because he wanted to see us healed. And - as for the precious blood - while it seemed strange praying to blood, the mystery of its cleansing power was something else in which I just had to have faith.

And, I could feel it in turn - it was almost as if I was standing up. Like the same impulse. I didn’t literally stand up at that moment, but it was a rising of some sort. It felt good. And, then, when I did physically rise, I found myself just going back to church over and over again. I still sense it when I am there; it’s why I am at church or going to church. It’s like I am drawn to it.

So that is how I prayed and how I knew my prayer was answered. I hope it serves to enhance your own prayer experiences. I know your answers did mine.

Blessings,

wm