Does Prayer Work?
67Prayer
Prayer is a conversation with God. Many people think of prayer as a last resort when it should be first. Does prayer work? I believe it does.
Pray One For Another
What do you think about prayer? Do you receive answers to your prayers? Do you know how to pray? What does the Bible say about prayer?
These are valid questions and may be difficult for some of you to answer. Prayer is a serious issue in my life. I want to pray and receive answers to my prayers. I want to know that God is listening to me. I have no intention of merely going through the motions. Most of us make excuses when God does not answer our prayers in the manner in which we expected to be answered. We say, "God knows best...or it is not the Lord's will for this or that to happen..." The truth is something else again. God does hear our prayers and it is up to us to find out how he wants us to approach him. Think about this for a moment:
John 14: 12-15
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
The book of John in the New Testament is interesting reading. The 14th chapter gives us insight. Jesus was speaking with his disciples and made a direct statement. (whatever you ask in my name, I will do it) he repeats this two times within two verses. Interestingly enough, the very next verse says, "if ye love me, keep my commandments".
It seems likely that getting answers to prayer is closely tied to keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ. As believers, we have an obligation to seek the truth in the Word of God and live according to the principles laid down by Jesus Christ and passed on to us through his disciples. I believe that we should have our prayers answered. There were no qualifiers in the above statements. I do not believe Jesus Christ has changed his mind in the past two thousand years. Therefore it falls to us to search for answers.
James 5: 16
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James was the brother of Jesus Christ and also the pastor of the church at Jerusalem. He understood the message that Jesus Christ brought to the world. Three things leap to my attention as I read his words. (1) Confess your faults one to another (2) pray one for another that you may be healed (3) The effectual fervent prayer gets results.
James was teaching humility, honesty, and love one for another. When you pray for someone else you forget about your own needs and desires. When you pray fervently you forget about your dignity and prostrate yourself before the Lord, no matter what your request. We need to forget about our own needs. This is not easy to do in a world where everything is "all about me," but is necessary if we plan to receive something from the Lord. To receive one's healing as a result of praying for someone else is a very new and interesting concept. It is definitely worth thinking about.
Blessings!
What Do You Think About Prayer?
Do you believe that prayer works?
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Thank you. It can be hard to ask God for something intensely personal. I have been devoted to prayer for a long time and I am still learning.
pray work just for us who close to him (GOD) and we really said what we want. with calm heart and honest to him. great hub . I like it.
Yes prayer works. Prayer is communicating with God it is essential. When we pray we also have to learn to listen as well. This was thought provoking.
Amen!! Prayer definitely works, but prayer without faith is dead, as we have to BELIEVE that whatsoever we say, or pray for shall come to pass. Thank you for positing as I am a true believer in the POWER of prayer. Peace n' Blessings!!
My husband and I are Prayer Coordinators at our church and we are witnessing true miracles. We have been praying for a baby who had a stroke in the womb and was supposed to have been born dead. The baby was born healthy except for being blind due to a birth defect. God had other plans! Yesterday baby Travis reacted to light stimulation by his pediatrician specialist! God is a healer! We have also been praying for a woman who was in remission from cancer until it returned and had spread over her whole body. Her husband came to our church for prayer. Guess what? Not only does this woman no longer have cancer...she is not in remission! They cannot find cancer in her body at all! She was at the point of death and God has raised her up. This is not hearsay. My husband spoke to the husband this morning! God is a healer! Thanks for praying. Blessings!
God is truly amazing!!! I need to make a trip to Texas and come to your church!! I know a few people who need prayer desperately. We should load everyone in an RV and head your way. Sounds like God is moving in a mighty way in your community!! Many Blessings!! ~ K
Thanks so much. You are welcome any time. Send me the names of your people and their problem and we will add them to our prayer list! Blessings!
My father used to say that God answers all prayers. You might not like the answer, though. He was a wise man, teaching me that God does not exist for my pleasure.
Your father was right, Dolores. Many times we do not like the answer. We never want to hear when God says no! And even though God wants us to bring our cares to Him, He does not exist for our pleasure. Wise man, your father! Blessings.
Nice Hub Smireles, and great subject!
I am a firm believer in prayers being listened to AND answered. Sometimes we have to search for the answers, because they may already be there and we missed them. Sometimes we have to listen very carefully, because the Holy Spirit speaks in a still small voice - never boisterously. You are welcome to read two hubs I have written which testify of prayer: Thanks for Listening, and I Get the Blues, Jesus. The latter suggests that we best pray HUMBLY, for God is Great!
Thank you for this honest hub.
Good hub. I'm a defender of prayer, too.
Prayer is the key to Kingdom being released on the earth. Thanks for your thoughts on the matter.
Sam Antone again: I'm leaving HubPages because of no revenue after 15 months, but I'm coming back as SamboRambo. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for your hub. You are definitely right about prayer. We have to be in the right spirit in order for us to know the true abiding will of God and get the answers we are given by God.
Thank you so much heavenly father and ST. THERESE for ansering my prayer. I really thank you and I am so grateful. Thank you St Therese
O glorious Saint Therese, whom almighty God has raised up to aid and counsel mankind, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. So powerful are you in obtaining every need of body and soul our Holy Mother Church proclaims you a “Prodigy of Miracles...the Greatest Saint of Modern times.” Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good upon earth...of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Henceforth, dear Little Flower, I will fulfill your plea” to be made known everywhere” and I will never cease to lead others to Jesus through you.
no it didn't
Oh loving Jesus,meek lamb of God,I a miserable sinner salute and worship the most sacred wound of thy shoulder.On which thou didst bear thy heavy cross which so tore thy flesh and laid thy bones as ro be inflicted and anguish greater than any other wound of thy blessed body. I adore thee, o jesus most sorrowful, i praise and glorify thee and give thankfully to thee,for this most holy and sacred and painful wound,beseeching thee by that exceeding pain,and by the crushing burden of thy heavy cross to be merciful to me and towards heven along the way of thy cross.In Jesus name (request).Amen to all.
Teresa McGurk 3 years ago
I do know that I find it easier to pray for general ideas such as compassion, patience, and understanding. But I'm just beginning to learn that all the answers are there, if I'd just ask. Good hub.