Why pray?

[pearly163]

Thank you to all who have taken time to reply to my question about prayer.

I have read the replies carefully and I now see that the subject of prayer has many facets and I was simply looking at only ONE of them.

I think that one of the thngs that I now understand is that if we spend time in discovering what the will of God is on a certain subject, we can know what to pray in order that God's will should be done in that situation. That way, when I pray I don't need to worry about things "Not being God's will" because they "WILL be God's will"!

I will get there, slowly (very slowly) but surely !!!

[Shy Christian]

I have a young adult son living with me who has been looking for work for over two years having filled out over 100 applications. I also pray that God leads him to a job. Family members give us a hard time about him not working as if he's not even trying. I have said that if God wanted him to have one of those jobs he would have made it happen.

One hundred applications over two years are not many. He has to pray to get a job. He must believe God unconditionally. Praying is a reminder to ourselves of God's love for us.

Blessings

His prayer life is not where it should be so I pray for him, as well as other relatives. I don't believe HE needs to pray in order to get a job. If that were the case, unbelievers would not be employed. Have you seen what job apps entail these days? It's not merely writing your contact info and past employment on a page that takes 5 minutes like it used to. It's a half hour long psychological profile and questionnaire full of "what ifs". You think it's no big deal to do this over 100 times only to get no response? (And no, he's not crazy)

[alex_31]

Without doubt, finding a job can be a very difficult task in these times. Anyone who has been laid off knows of the difficulties involved... Truthfully, the best things to do are 1) Trust God will provide and be thankful(Phil 4:6), 2) Do the best you can in terms of applying & following up, 3)Try to stay positive and be patient(not an easy thing sometimes!!).

Hope this helps...

[UncleAbee]

I have been battling with the subject of prayer for a long time.

When I pray (and I know there have to be certain conditions such as faith etc) and I do not get the answer that I had hoped for people say to me, "It obviously wasn't God's will ".

If God has already made His mind up about issues what then is the point of prayer?

In Matthew 6:8 Jesus says concerning prayer - "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." The question is then why ask Him? He already knows. Prayer is not for God. No more than any other command that God has given us. God knows all, hears all, and sees all. He doesn't need for us to pray to Him for Him to know what we need. The commandments that God gives are for us. Every command that God gives us is to develop us as Christians. Prayer helps to keep us focused on what the will of God is. It humbles us. It is the way that God has given us to speak to Him. When you understand that you then understand why Jesus tells us to go into ourt closets and pray.

I don't know How God decides on whose prayer to answer. I have seen non-believers fall down in prayer as a last resort and get their prayers answered positively. I have seen believers pray all night and not get what they asked for. God also does not take claim for the prayers He answers. When God did something in the bible He always made it clear He was the one doing it. He left no doubt that He was responsible. I knew a christian lady that needed money. She prayed. An unexpected check showed up in the mail. She said it was God answering her prayer. God never said that He gave her the check. God never came to her and said " a check will be in the mail tomorrow. Look for it." That's what God does in the bible. He verbally tells you that He did it or gives some unmistakeable sign. The check just just showed up. Another christian lady I know of has been praying ceaselessly for tens of years for a good husband. No answer yet.

It's a mystery to me. I do know that we know God's will from the bible and we work on it. We ask God to help us with it. All these other things I'm not sure of.

[other one]

I have a young adult son living with me who has been looking for work for over two years having filled out over 100 applications. I also pray that God leads him to a job. Family members give us a hard time about him not working as if he's not even trying. I have said that if God wanted him to have one of those jobs he would have made it happen.

One hundred applications over two years are not many. He has to pray to get a job. He must believe God unconditionally. Praying is a reminder to ourselves of God's love for us.

Blessings

His prayer life is not where it should be so I pray for him, as well as other relatives. I don't believe HE needs to pray in order to get a job. If that were the case, unbelievers would not be employed. Have you seen what job apps entail these days? It's not merely writing your contact info and past employment on a page that takes 5 minutes like it used to. It's a half hour long psychological profile and questionnaire full of "what ifs". You think it's no big deal to do this over 100 times only to get no response? (And no, he's not crazy)

Has he gone to an employment agency?

[Guest Yakuza]

I don't really pray much myself. Like u said, God's gonna do what he wants 2 do anyway. I just focus on living in a righteous way so that God will bless me

[Guest]

I don't really pray much myself. Like u said, God's gonna do what he wants 2 do anyway. I just focus on living in a righteous way so that God will bless me

You Really Do Need To Start Talking

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

To Your Heavenly Father

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:7-11

If You Believe

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

And If Not

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

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