The power of prayers

[ozark]

It is said that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much. Not all things ask for in prayer will be granted because the Will Of God will be the deciding factor. However, Prayer in many cases is all that we can do and believing Christians will pray when from all appearances there is no hope. It still helps to turn things that we cannot do ourselves over to God and know that we have done all that we can do. All Christian parents will pray that God not take their child but not all these prayers are answered. We accept that it is Gods decision and not our desires that count. Normally my prayer is for God to grant me the strength to accept whatever His Will be. I may have all this wrong but because of my belief I cannot ask others to pray for a cure or a miracle. Yes, pray for me that I might have the strength and courage to accept what is in store for me. I know that many have differing opinions and have specific prayers. I have not been able to improve on the Lords Prayer as written in the Bible. IMO it is hard to beat as a prayer that we can expect to become fact. I just felt like sharing these thoughts with those who care to read them. I am not condemning anyone, just trying to make clear my own position. Who knows, my view might help someone I don't even know.

[wilmsmeyer]

Another very thought provoking thread....

I also ponder the powers of prayers. Some go "answered" and some go "denied". When they are denied the person who prayed may feel inadequate...or not having prayed enough. Or to Ozarks point, just accept the outcome as one that was meant to be. If "answered", it seems to serve as "proof" that it helped.

A tough one...isn't it? If things are going to happen as part of a big plan, all the prayers in the world will not change that.

Please members, do not take this wrong. I often wonder when people ask for prayers for a sick or dying person. what are they really asking? Is it a request to ease their own suffering or a request to rally the powers that be to cure or save someone? And when someone tells the requestor.."prayers sent" is the goal of that person to say..."I'm thinking about you" or is it a statement of unity of Christianity? Because if they pray, the one who hears the prayer doesn't need the advertisement....they seemingly would already know

Another topic that has no answers for me, yet my thinking mind tumbles around often.

A sweet older lady that I am very close with was talking with me before she went to church. This is a lady that can barely get herself into her car from ailments of many varieties. I take care of her best I can. I brush off her car in the winter, shovel her walk, get her groceries, take her air conditioners in and out, do her garbage...etc etc. I was feeling crappy with a bad cold. I am rarely sick so she was shocked to see me so "crappy". She was worried! She said, "I am going to pray for you today". I replied, "do you think it's going to help......someone must have wanted me to have this cold" She stopped, thought for a moment and said..."I don't know, but I'm going to pray for you anyway" and went to church. Part of me know she cares for me deeply and another part wondered if she was worried about who might help her with things if something happened to me.

I am usually the type to ponder and question. My personality tends to try and make others do the same because just as I do not understand the wave of people (sheeple I call them) that follow a politician blindly due to many promises, I also try and stir the same questions for other followings.

Please know that I respect all the opinions and all your beliefs and hope that I never come off as offensive. The thoughts about religion are deep and close to a persons heart and you all deserve to have whatever comfort they bring you (or me)

[deadon]

Wlms, right on!!! I believe God can do anything he wants to do. He could turn this lap top into a ml10 if I prayed for an ml10. But ONLY if he wants to.

[deadon]

That last post sounded like I was making light of the power of prayer , I was not. If its Gods will, it will happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!