seriously, i want to know. does anyone have an answer?

There is a story in the bible about a man who became ill and God told him he was going to die. He cried and asked God to let him live and God did. God hears our prayers and acts on them. He answers ,, yes, no and wait a while. He tells us to pray continually, so that is why I pray. When my kids were younger and would get sick, we had no insurance. I would pray for God to heal my kids and he would. I would not be alive today if it weren't for him. I was going to blow my brains out one day and I cried out to God and he told me to call my pdoc, I know that sounds simple but my mind was gone I couldn't think at all, anyway I called pdoc and he saved my life. I don't know if this helps or not but this is what i believe and my experiences.

I talk to God like I am talking to a friend... when I was little, I even called Him Daddy! lol

When someone says that they will pray for you, I think it just means that they are interceeding for you... worrying about your situation for you so you can be strong, Prayer does work, I have seen it, I don't believe in Coincidence, I believe that whatever is supposed to happen will...

I don't get the "may God's will be done" statement either! lol

Yes he answers my prayers, usually with a resounding NO. But it is an answer.

I know that praying for others uplifts me and I have seen those prayers answered and not answered. My sister and myself have been prayed for by my aunt and uncle(just lost him a couple of years ago, he was a prayer warrior and a wonderful example to all he knew) my aunts church and small groups have also prayed for us for years. I would not be alive today without those prayers, I have been in too many situations I should have never come out of alive but I am still here. Why? prayers of others for me and God's Will. When I prayer for someone I ask God to help them the way I would want them to be helped (to the point of begging at times) but I always finish the prayer asking that God's will be done because that is the way it will be regardless of what we pray or ask for.

Ron

so you believe is someone is not well, and you pray for them, then God may change his mind and heal them?

Or was it His plan all along to heal them?

It's weird for me to think we control God in that way?

I dunno?

Thank you Ron, I couldn't find the words, as always

I have aasked God for something for 6 years. And he hasnt answeredd my prayers. it is a very small non life threatening prayer. So in July I just gave euo on him. threw away all my bibbles, stopped going to church and Bible study. He isn't worth my time.

Auntfeather, like someone else already said, God always answers prayers, the answer may be NO, but that is still an answer... I am so sorry you lost your faith!

God gives us free will. So to ask that His will is done is saying that if He will tell us what his will is we will choose to do it.

The best way I can try to explain God's will is that there is no way we can comprehend what God's will is.
Yes everything is already decided God is omnipotent and all knowing, creator and taker away. I know that the thought that "nothing we do will change what is to be" is very difficult to deal with. I do know that when I stopped praying for things I wanted and gave it over to what God wants things have happened that can only be described as miracles and other things that could be considered just the opposite. Like I have stated before giving my will and wants over to God's will has been the hardest thing I have done in my life, also one of the most rewarding.
Hope this make some sense.

Ron

Ummmm... Praying to God has been a ritual, since time. I still have my roseary, since I was a kid. I pray to God quite often. Is there any sense to it? I don't know. It seems like the last desperate attempt to communicate to a higher being. I believe in a higher being... not necessarily God. Giving hugs and prayers is a last ditch effort to save your soul. Your soul is the essence of life. Everyone has a soul. You pray to save your soul. Again, a ritual. Does it work? Well, I've heard and experienced miracles, personally. I believe it does. So, I pray.
Hugs and kisses...
Take care.

Sometimes GOD just wants you to humble yourself and ask instead of just assuming you will get your way

i understand prayer on a personal level. i understand giving yourself to God...

what i don't get is asking God to take care of others.... does He need us to do that?

As someone who was raised in a very strong praying community, I believe in it.

If I was to pray for you, I believe that it's more like sending you energy, or an angel, or a spiritual reminder to stay on the path that is best for you.

Kinda off the subject, but a movie that I really like is "waking life" they talk about the common energy of the universe. If you watch it, in a sense I think that's what prayer is. Putting together a common thought. In this forum, it's putting together a common thought for one person specifically. I hope this helps and dosen't add to confusion.