Random Prayer Question?
...a long distance friend left a 'prayer request' on my Facebook page. She was asking everyone to pray for someone that most did not know.........
Question which will probably get me in trouble...but what else is new?!?!?
If God is the creator of all (to me that means good and bad things(?)) , he's all knowiing, all powerful & the master architect........why do we pray for him to alter what he has designed?
I have a pretty strong religious background but this has never made sense to me! (But neither does does grieving over death when the entire goal of life is to get closer to our maker!)
Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mary1C on -
God, does call people to pray. God does not impose himself on others. Many people believe they have found God, the reason, God, gently taps the person on the shoulder and the person says yes. It is late and I am paraphrasing. The Bible says we have not because we ask not One person's prayer can send a thousand angels to flight, where two or more are gathered ten thousand are sent into flight. The Bible advises that prayer should be specific
God is omnipresent. Bible: He knows your prayer before it is said. Again, you must bring the need to him, he does not steal. :) When things do not make sense, an individual can always ask the source. Lean not on your own understanding,,,,
Answers always arrive, yes, no, wait...
Disclaimer: My answers are paraphrased in this post
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Permalink Reply by Mark in Frisco on -
Mary,
Thanks for responding - I appreciate it.
I was trying to not reference the Bible 'cause it's basically what I'm questioning. To answer my questions (about biblical philosophy) by referencing the Bible is a circular exercise. In other words, if you have a problem with a Wal-mart (sorry couldnt resist) employee...you don't go to the same person to complain. That person believed they were right originally. Make sense?
Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Mary1C on
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Sorry for the late reply. This does make sense when we appeal to man. God is not a man and he cannot lie. The problem comes in when we do not want to accept the truth as it is presented. There are times when I am guilty of not accepting a truth or wanting to re-write truth because of emotions. Man reasons and reasons...give reasons for this and that, blah, blah blah....
Yes, you can complain to God. You can ask God any question. He does not force you to accept His answer. A man's argument is an attempt of force, sometimes. Now, I do read books from different authors. Regardless of the author I question their motives, by asking the source.
Mark, I have found you to be very interesting since you joined this board. Your approach... I can't explain it. I almost think you know the answer, but you may be going back and forth between your family's approach to God and the approach you want to take. Take your approach,
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Permalink Reply by Mark in Frisco on
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Hey Mary,
You wrote This does make sense when we appeal to man. God is not a man and he cannot lie. True, God is not a man, but the only 'truths' we have were presented by men. The Bible was written by men. The only evidence that the Bible was devinely guided comes from....the Bible!! I think we have to be careful with the 'truth'. People have died for 'truths' they absolutely believed.....many of those are now commonly rebuked.
Lastly, you wrote about my almost knowing the answer. I think i know the best answer to this question (has noting to do with my family though).
The best answer is Faith! The most beautiful thing about religion is it asks people to believe almost blindly. I don't think I have to pretend I know (or could know) God's thought process. I don't have to pretend my religious denomination is better or more correct than other's. Nor do I need to believe God left a how-to book for every situation I would encounter. I simply have to believe because it make ssense that there is something bigger and larger than me...or anything I can even fathom.
I was trying not to divulge my complete feelings but you nailed me so there it is!
Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Mary1C on
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Thanks for the clarification about the family. Some people are turned away from things because of their family. Think about the stories found in this book. This book addresses everything that is still occurring in the world today. When an individual chooses to serve one God or another god, isn't that saying that He or the other has more answers than the individual? God and gods ask for faith. Faith is a process. Everything is a process. Learning a new job is a process, etc, etc, etc...
Truth is an absolute. Why was MLK able to make a difference? My answer is old, but he took a truth that everyone should be afforded human rights to live their purpose to the highest level possible. Why did he include everyone when Blacks were not afforded this right at the time? The Bible does not mention this color did this, and this color did that.... The Bible references characteristics. Hmmmmmm
No, it is not about one denomination being better than the other, it is about the individual's personal relationship. :)
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Permalink Reply by Mark in Frisco on
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I agree truth is an absolute...I don't agree we can know what is truth and what isn't.
I got lost on your Faith is a process thoughts & the MLK reference (sorry)
Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by iAunt B~ Independent Geezer Geek on -
I'll address the last part. The grieving is for ourselves. We will miss the departed.
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Permalink Reply by Mark in Frisco on
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Bob,
I agree with that! ...and I think grieving for one's self is perfectly acceptable.
Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by Mark in Frisco on
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Thanks BB!
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Permalink Reply by Summer~Left of Center on -
The last part = the person dieing usually would see that are going to be closer to their maker. My Mother didn't want us to grieve her death she wrote for us to "rejoice and give thanks" and she wrote that she wanted us to dance at her funeral. But like AB said the grieving is for the ones left behind, it was very difficult but all 7 of her children made ourselves dance at her funeral through the tears.
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Permalink Reply by Retro on -
In the Old Testament, there are examples of man praying and God "changing his mind". I don't have the Bible with me to look at exact scriptures, but there are examples. In fact, I have asked this question myself several years ago, and discovered this when I read it.
I am of the belief that some things happen because God WANTS you to pray. It pleases Him that you acknowledge Him and that you are asking for His guidance and have faith that it will happen.
I also believe that the relationship and peace you have with God during the time period that you are praying for your desired outcome is actually the real blessing.
Many times I have prayed for things and honestly felt I was told "no". What he was saying was "No,not this way. In fact, I have something better in mind. Just trust me". I prayed for a child with my first husband for nearly ten years. I prayed for my husband to change. Neither happened. My husband left me and said he had never wanted kids. I was crushed--heartbroken--even angry sometimes. But I was talking to God about it. Sometimes I was mad at God and even questioned his plan. Then, something happened and I stopped being angry and thought "OK...maybe He doesn't intend for me to become a parent". Here I was getting close to 40 with no kids, and now no husband. However, I carried on, and tried to find joy in what life I was given. It was still after all a blessing. It was just my attitude about it that stunk!
I met my wonderful husband 6 months later and I was completely blindsided at how perfect he was for me. It was like God had changed his mind. Maybe that was the plan all along. I remembered telling the ladies at my wedding that I was done worrying about being a parent. I was so happy with this wonderful man. If it happened--great! If it didn't, we would be the cool aunt and uncle and do a lot of traveling. My daughter was born 9 months later. I honestly think God just wanted me to truly appreciate what I had, and now he said "OK...I've tested you, and I'm proud. Here's your blessing". And what a blessing she is!!
Now life isn't perfect, but I'm more happy and at peace that I have ever been in my life. And I'm not someone preachy, but I do talk to God everyday and it makes me strong.
And just within the past few weeks, I had a blessing happen that I have prayed for since 2001. And it never happened the way I thought it would. Just goes to show you that God knows hearts much better than me.
Sometimes, we just have to wait. And we have to stop looking for the proverbial burning bush. There are miracles and blessings all around us if we will open up our hearts and look for them.
I hope this story blesses someone. At the very least it comes from my heart, and to me, prayer is very powerful and God is very real.
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Permalink Reply by Barefoot Ninja on -
Retro, this was lovely.
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