Where Would I Be Without It.

praying all the time i need to pray and have others pray for me

A Preacher of God once said;

Lot's of prayer is lot's of power.

Little prayer is little power.

and no prayer is no power at all.

it is written:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

"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."

"we have not because we ask not."

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

"In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."

"Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

"For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."

" But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

" And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

well amen to this story.smebro has a point.this is what i often say about religion.its a "hit or miss" thing.never the less i have witnessed things that make me wonder about god and csan if you feel he answered your prayers then more power to you.i hope we all go to a good place when we die.

WOW! Elle, we must really really talk on day, over a nice hot cup of tea, would love to hear every word and every detail of your personal testament.

I too cannot imagine my life without prayer! Do my prayers always get answered. NO! but without them, I would not have a dear friend named Anne in my life today. My son would be in a wheelchair, so would the mother of my grandchild, if not killed by the car accident that occurred breaking her neck in three places. I know too many miracles for prayers that were answered against what doctors predicted would not have occurred.



All I know for sure, is that the more I pray the more circumstances go my way. I don't gamble, but I don't think prayer is a gamble. I believe it moves mountains, changes circumstances, and makes miracles happen. YEA! for me it works :)



If faith is the pump at the water well, then I keep pumping til the water flows. Very few times have I ever hit a dry well. In many cases when the answer is NO, peace comes in anyway replacing the disappointment. Seems either way, the prayer is answered.

PLEASE let smebro be. I DO NOT WANT MY SHARED STORY TO BECOME SOMETHING TO ARGUE OVER WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG. Everyone is entitled to their belief. DO NOT GIVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT MUCH POWER, BY letting them get under your skin. There are the BELEIVERS and the other who don't. We don't have to change them. That does not make them a bad person.

In the end...it all comes down to the power of thought. Sometimes Geller bent spoons and forks, some times he didn't. I think it is great to have faith, without it the world would shrivel up and die. If it comforts someone to belieeve a prayer was answered, so what? it doesn't harm me...my friend is wiccan and she did a protection spell, or blessing, for me. I think it made her feel better than me. it could have been kismet that she called-then again, it could have been divine intervention...you may never know but the cmofort is what stays with you. But prayer should be about giving praise and not asking for things...at least, that is what I think.

No-ones to blame, so no-one need be forgiven :) This kind of thing happens with so many views mashing together.

...and to all a good night.

Maple, lets just drop this okay. I will try to avoid commenting on stories that might offend people where such comments are not already posted or where the story does not pose a question. I've dropped you from my circle so you don't need to see my activity as most of what I write will contradict your beliefs and we've been down that road before.

I find smebro's comments offensive quite often, but I acknowledge his right to make them. I know this makes me sound like an old mother, but this has gone too far. Perhaps everyone needs to sleep on it and see if tomorrow things look less offensive.

Very wise words from The Tardy Dodo

Now I don't know where the majority Moral Compass is pointing

Yes well stated.

I apologize because you suggest I've offended Csan. My shared experience is that prayer does not work, as studies have shown and as experience in life displays (The experience that not matter how good or bad you are, you might get good or bad regardless).

I will try this thing you speak of, minding my own business. I will still need to share my views, so I will turn to looking through Atheist experiences looking for Christians who actively post as I do. Since they are looking for trouble as much as I seem to, they surely won't mind me sharing my ideas in a like manner.

Now I am going to post my story here, my 'experience' with prayer.

Well stated Dodo.

I disagree with the idea that people who do not share the experience should not comment.



I think that Experiences are there to be reflected upon, and learned from, to share with others but also learn what others have reflect back upon that.



In this particular example, csan begins her story by talking about not being able to imagine life without prayer. If she so chooses her own understanding of the world can be expanded by trying on smebro's perspective, for that is a world without prayer. It may open possibilities, or it may reinforce ones existing viewpoint.



In my opinion, the initial comment that smebro raised is a valid one for this experience. If you believe in prayer, what does it mean when the prayers of others are not answered?



It is an interesting theological question for believers and non-believers alike, a point of doubt, and faith has always had to answer to doubt, much like empiricism has always needed to respond to incomplete evidence - they are the gaps that people must cross.



Subsequently, however, it seems that discussion has shifted away from the point of contention to focus more on other things, which is a shame.

It seems to many I can be an insensitive meanie often.

Csan, no offense to you.

Mapleman, I suppose the reason I don't hesitate to question belief is because my values are different to yours. As you pray for others, I try to share my outlook with others.

No harm done. I did share an experience here.

Asking me what i do for the starving children does not detract from my point, which is that prayer achieves nothing. What do I do? Nothing but encourage others to give, and give little where I can.

My solution for (specifically) helping the starving children? sponger a child if you can afford it, and if your church wants to make a difference it might lend a Sunday to encouraging sponsorships and donations with all the forms waiting at the door for people to pick up and sign on their way out. You don't want to hear my other thoughts on how church could be improved...



This is a nice, rational, conversation. I don't think anyone here is stupid.

Weggies that is serious. You need a crowbar to dig those out.

Seriously, I heard someone once say (unfortunately I can't remember who) something that impressed me. "Pray like it depends on God, but work like it depends on you."

When I had cancer I prayed for God's healing. I believe He gave it to me. I also believe He chose, in His omniscient way, to do so through modern medicine. Namely 5 surguries, 4 chemo ,and 33 radiation treatments. I could have chosen to forgo the medical treatment and rely solely on God's power. I chose to go through medically induced "hell" because I had to put feet behind my prayer so to speak.

Can God feed the hungry children without my help. YES!!! But He allows me to be blessed by actively responding to the need. God doesn't NEED my help, but He lets me help just the same.

Such different worlds people of different beliefs live in. It boggles the mind to consider how differently a christian, muslim, wiccan, bahá'í , buddhist or atheist see events around them.

Mapleman; I'm here to promote though as much as anything. I think my first post was more thought provoking then argumentative.

It bothers me not that people 'see the proof of prayer', as should be clear from my posts I do not actually believe these proofs. If, suddenly, every malnourished child was restored to full health due to mass prayer, then I might consider that proof. My message is; don't pray, help.



Elle; whatever you think, you are a very strong person. I can see the strength in you, from where I'm standing it comes from you.

And although I'm thankful you gave me kind thoughts, as I always keep in mind 'I have it better then Billions do', and thats all the humbling I need to feel grateful for the life I am in.

I agree with Meza. God gets the blame for the doings of Satan. I agree that prayer is not an excuse for failure to show human kindness and mercy,but lets remember many people who pray also pull out the checkbook and do something tangible as well.

It doesn't really matter if God's answer is no or wait, because wait is no for now.

God Bless All who read here.l

What I don't understand is why you cannot congratulate yourself for achieving your position in life, you are a strong person regardless.

Lets not argue. The fact is, there are a lot of people in the world that have the misguided idea that prayer actually helps people, these people are upper-middle class and comfortable, and when they see starving children on TV they are more likely to pray then donate. They'd rather give money to Benny Hill then to Africa.

Prayer is not a solution to anything, except for maybe making the individual feel better. Let’s leave it at that.

If you are praying for something, instead stop and think; how could I physically influence the outcome of this situation?

Okay, for clarity. Not trying to insult you Csan, just trying to point out the fallacy of thinking prayer solves anything. If it did the world would be a better place.

Seems like I regularly read rude comments fromthe same part og the EP. While I don't agree with the hockey analogy (sorry Mapleman, you know I love you) the M-man is right about ignoring rude comments.

I love to sit back and watch answered prayers. I have seen some big ones get answers, both yes and no answers.

Fair enough, just remember to donate to good causes. Prayer does not produce results any better then wishful thinking. Do not substitute prayer for good deeds or medical care.

But sometimes it's a 'no' or 'wait'...and there's really no way to check which one it is...right? Sounds like you got a yes...I only wish the malnourished children would receive the same treatment when they ask for food so that they can live.