Honestly...does prayer REALLY work?

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Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:41:45 PM

michaelOfGeorgia

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so many times i've seen and heard people say something like: "You're in our prayers". but, honestly, does it REALLY work?

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:44:50 PM

popeye1250

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Not for winning the Powerball Lottery!

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:46:25 PM

imthatacheyouhav

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quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelOfGeorgia

so many times i've seen and heard people say something like: "You're in our prayers". but, honestly, does it REALLY work?

Yes...yes it does!

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:47:09 PM

michaelOfGeorgia

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does prayer heal those that have things like MS, MD or Spina Bifida? Does it bring back the dead?

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:48:49 PM

FullCircle

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It helps those that have faith not those without.

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:50:19 PM

NakedGirlScout

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Yes prayer absolutely does work. I was raised in an atheist family, and I've never been part of any organized religion. About a year and a half ago, I decided to try prayer. Ever since then whenever I ask for help for something, I am helped. I don't think you can pray for particular things and have that work. Like bringing someone back from the dead, or to become a millionnaire. From what I've seen so far, it does work if you ask for help with something and then allow God to decide how to help you best.

Now I feel dirty... LOL... back to our regularly scheduled programming...

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:50:38 PM

FullCircle

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I'm agnostic so I don't prey often but if you think it will help the mind is a powerfull thing so who knows.

Having said that I now feel it will never help me because I think it is all about the minds ability to make things happen and so knowing that eliminates the positive effects.

< Message edited by FullCircle -- 7/28/2007 3:53:39 PM >

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:51:17 PM

michaelOfGeorgia

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ok, let's look at that theory for a second

suppose somone with MD has great amounts of faith, prays to someday be normal like everyone else, be able to ditch their chair and walk again, be able to use their muscles just like everyone else does. they pray for this...how many people have you heard of that has been granted this prayer?

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:51:33 PM

Level

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I believe it can help, but we don't always get the answers we want. Or think we want....

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:58:14 PM

FullCircle

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quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelOfGeorgia

ok, let's look at that theory for a second

suppose somone with MD has great amounts of faith, prays to someday be normal like everyone else, be able to ditch their chair and walk again, be able to use their muscles just like everyone else does. they pray for this...how many people have you heard of that has been granted this prayer?

Someone could argue why would they suffer MS in the first place? It seems you are asking if god exists because bad things happen or are allowed to continue happening.

< Message edited by FullCircle -- 7/28/2007 4:01:09 PM >

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:58:24 PM

Owner59

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quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelOfGeorgia

so many times i've seen and heard people say something like: "You're in our prayers". but, honestly, does it REALLY work?

I think of it as the power of positive thinking and having good intensions.It`s a sign that folks care and think about you.

Peace

(or was that the power of positive drinking?emmmm)

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 3:58:54 PM

CuriousLord

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quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelOfGeorgia

so many times i've seen and heard people say something like: "You're in our prayers". but, honestly, does it REALLY work?

"You're in our prayers" is pretty much the same as, "I wish you well".

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 4:01:04 PM

popeye1250

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I'm a recovering Catholic and I don't think I ever got anything that I prayed for.
And, I figure if you're going to pray for something why not the Powerball Lottery or "Fun" things like that?
"Dear Big Guy, please make Ted Kennedy's pants fall down in public."
"Dear Big Guy, you know all those idiots who want to "get raptured.....?"
"Dear Big Guy, let me win the Powerball Lottery so I can open a HUGE B&D club with "all the fixins" and me and all the people on collarme can have a nice big party!"
"P.S. I hope Moderator 11 likes to be caned!"
Just think of all the "GOOD" I could do with $94 M in tonight's pot!

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 4:03:34 PM

BitaTruble

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quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelOfGeorgia

so many times i've seen and heard people say something like: "You're in our prayers". but, honestly, does it REALLY work?

I think if it brings you a sense of comfort, then it worked.

Celeste

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 4:12:34 PM

slaveluci

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Level
I believe it can help, but we don't always get the answers we want. Or think we want....

Beautifully stated, Level. I could relate experiences about answered prayer in my life and others I know that are amazing. I won't do that on the open forums because it's too precious to me to be mocked and scoffed at which it inevitably would be. When one has to defend the right to be considered "normal" and "legitimate" because they are practicing Christians, it's just a little too judgmental and closeminded for my taste. But....suffice it to say "the effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).

There are tons of scriptures concerning prayer but I always think of the one I just listed as well as this:
* James 4:3: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" - This may be why you can't pray to win the lottery and get it

With this fast reply, I don't have all the scriptures by chapter and verse but I would add this:
As mentioned above, it's my own belief that prayer has to be sincere and can't be for things that we simply lust for.

One has to actually have faith that prayer will be answered. Praying for something and at the same time doubting you'll get it is not efffective. Nothing is impossible with God but don't pray for it if you think it is.

Though prayer very often works, it doesn't always happen the exact way we desire. As Level said, we don't always get the answers we want. Nor do we always get our answers in the way we want. You have to be prepared for that too.

Prayer is a wonderful thing in my opinion. It gives me time in communion with the Creator and, even though He already knows what's in my mind and heart, telling Him about it feels, to me, like becoming unburdened. Not every prayer of mine or those I know has been answered as we wanted, when we wanted, or how we wanted. But many have been answered in ways much more wonderful than we had imagined. Prayer does work............luci

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 4:21:01 PM

FullCircle

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I generally believe in the beehive model. You may be responsible for every bee in the hive but can you help an individual bee in need? Maybe there was someone that set things in motion but do they now control their creation and would they even want to? I'll probably never know for sure.

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 4:24:20 PM

popeye1250

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Luci, are you saying that if I pray to hit the lottery I won't win but if I pray for,......... "a lump of coal" I will win?
I don't think I like that idea!
And, I don't think hitting the lottery is "amiss."
"Dear Big Guy, life is going so well for me lately, could you see to it that I break a leg or arm or at least a finger?"
Now THAT sounds like a "Catholic" prayer!
They like to "suffer."

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 4:26:53 PM

Level

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I have to admit to praying for the Lottery before, and I remember thinking, "if I win, I'll do so much good with it"..... but in effect, that's blackmailing God.

"I'll do good if you give me money"..... well, that ain't gonna fly.

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 4:27:12 PM

AAkasha

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quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelOfGeorgia

ok, let's look at that theory for a second

suppose somone with MD has great amounts of faith, prays to someday be normal like everyone else, be able to ditch their chair and walk again, be able to use their muscles just like everyone else does. they pray for this...how many people have you heard of that has been granted this prayer?

Prayer can be extremely effective and work. However, you need two things before it will work for you - 1 is faith, and not just "Ok I believe in this so it will work, right?" and 2 is understanding what is appropriate to pray for. To win the loterry or be cured of a disease? Uh, no. To live in comfort within ones means (and be granted the occassional miracle that helps financially) and to live with acceptance an joy despite a painful disease? Guaranteed.

I was a borderline athiest (still am at times). I don't believe you can pray for "other people" and have stuff happen. I do believe there is a connection between prayer and meditation that helps you build the ability to see things in a better way, to accept things with more peace and to have answers to difficult questions and situations. I think it could just as easily be use of the power of the unconscious, not some "all powerful being" - although, as I get older, I tend to believe more in the latter.

Akasha

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RE: Honestly...does prayer REALLY work? - 7/28/2007 4:32:00 PM

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I don't know how many times I been in one kind of a scrape or another and wailing and remorseful cried out to god--------Oh, god!!!! Help me through this one, and I promise I will help myself through the next one---but it never works.

Ron

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