When you pray, do you know. . .

[MyGod]

Hi Guys,

I have a question. This one I really don't fully have an answer to. My dad is a pastor so I've been in a local assembly since I was 4 or 5 years old. I probably started quoting scripture when I was 6. I say that not to brag about my scriptural knowledge but just to say that I'm aware of stories and scriptures pertaining to prayer.

Right now is a very difficult time for my husband and I. I'm not really comfortable w/sharing exactly what's going on but lets just say, our lives could dramatically change (for the better) in a matter of days or weeks.

We both pray. We pray together. I guess my confusion comes when I'm trying to determine if I'm asking God to work something out in my favor, if I'm asking that His will be done, or both. Lately, I've been asking for both. Essentially that my will and His will be done. Lol. We've been dealing with our "situation" for a while, years. I pray every day, all day. Mostly just giving God the praise, honor, and glory and just thanking Him for everything I'm thankful for. That could go on for a lonnnggg time because I have so much, but, this one thing. This hugggeee thing.

I've prayed for years for this one thing. It hasn't happened yet so, obviously my prayers haven't been answered. I know they will eventually. I know that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose." I know this. Deep down. But, what I want right now doesn't seem to be aligning w/what God wants for me.

So, my question is (I'm sooooooo sorry for this being so long), when we pray, should we know that what we're praying for will be given? My mother-in-law constantly says I should "claim it" and "know what I pray for will come to pass." I know it'll come to pass, I just don't know if it'll come to pass when I want it too. Does that make sense? When I pray, should I ask God specifically to give me what I want or that His will be done or both? I guess my main reason for asking is, when I've prayed solely for one thing, I've kinda felt let down. I've never ever been angry at God. Just, let down. I kinda feel "safer" just asking that His will be done and not focusing on the "when."

Any thoughts/suggestions/advice?

[ChristsCourage]

You should not name it, and, claim it. You should continue to pray the way you are, with a mix of friends, and, family in there. So, that the LORD knows that you are not being selfish. There is a toipic I started about the whole name it, claim it topic. Do a search, and, if you find ChristsCourage read it. And it will tell you all you need to know about it. Good luck in your situation. I will be praying for you.

[Sold Out]

MyGod;1777487
I've prayed for years for this one thing. It hasn't happened yet so, obviously my prayers haven't been answered. I know they will eventually. I know that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose." I know this. Deep down. But, what I want right now doesn't seem to be aligning w/what God wants for me.

Any thoughts/suggestions/advice


I don't buy into the 'name it and claim' it doctrine, simply because we have no right to make demands to God and expect them to be answered according to our wants. That makes God into a puppet rather than the soverign God of the universe.

However, God does want to hear the desires of your heart. There is nothing wrong with pleading with Him for something you want desperately. I think I know what you are praying for.

Luke 18:1-7, "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?" Luke 18:1-6

Jesus gave us this parable to illustrate our need to continually bring our requests to God. Your continued pleas to God may bend His ear to your aid!

[karenoka27]

I've been studying the Greek word for pray all summer. I have learned something very valuable. When we cast our cares upon Him, we are trusting that He knows what is best. We believe and trust that He sees what we can't, His ways are above ours.
God calls people who pray for their own desires as being hedonistic (from the Greek word.) In James when it says you have not because you ask not, and you ask and receive not you receive not because you ask according to the desires of your flesh (how is that for a paraphrase?)...
Right away we think..I'm not asking for anything vain or for my own self..but God is saying that when we don't trust Him to answer in His way, that yes, we are asking for our own desires to be fulfilled.

Give it to Him completely and watch and follow what He does and where He leads. Being completely in His will is the safest and most rewarding place to be.:hug:

[MyGod]

I don't buy into the 'name it and claim' it doctrine, simply because we have no right to make demands to God and expect them to be answered according to our wants. That makes God into a puppet rather than the soverign God of the universe.

However, God does want to hear the desires of your heart. There is nothing wrong with pleading with Him for something you want desperately. I think I know what you are praying for.

Luke 18:1-7, "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?" Luke 18:1-6

Jesus gave us this parable to illustrate our need to continually bring our requests to God. Your continued pleas to God may bend His ear to your aid!

I don't buy into the name it claim it doctrine either! I do know the scriptures say "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Careful means anxious. So, to me, I'm supposed to make my requests known and just let God work. Because, if I could name it and claim it, "it" would've happened a long time ago. I'm not lacking in my faith that "it" will happen, I just don't think I can tell God when. I agree with you 100%. Thanks for your post!

[MyGod]

I've been studying the Greek word for pray all summer. I have learned something very valuable. When we cast our cares upon Him, we are trusting that He knows what is best. We believe and trust that He sees what we can't, His ways are above ours.
God calls people who pray for their own desires as being hedonistic (from the Greek word.) In James when it says you have not because you ask not, and you ask and receive not you receive not because you ask according to the desires of your flesh (how is that for a paraphrase?)...
Right away we think..I'm not asking for anything vain or for my own self..but God is saying that when we don't trust Him to answer in His way, that yes, we are asking for our own desires to be fulfilled.

Give it to Him completely and watch and follow what He does and where He leads. Being completely in His will is the safest and most rewarding place to be.:hug:

You're right. I always think of the scripture "set your affections on things above." That's what I try to do but, I don't know, it's hard. :( Thanks for posting!

[MyGod]

You should not name it, and, claim it. You should continue to pray the way you are, with a mix of friends, and, family in there. So, that the LORD knows that you are not being selfish. There is a toipic I started about the whole name it, claim it topic. Do a search, and, if you find ChristsCourage read it. And it will tell you all you need to know about it. Good luck in your situation. I will be praying for you.

Thank you. I will look for that thread.

[Makimbo]

Here's what happened in my life...probably not comparable to your situation but for example's sake I think it will help.

My boyfriend had broken up with me and even though all of my friends and family said, and I knew, that he was no good for me anyway I had given so much of my heart to him and had a very hard time letting go. For months I prayed and prayed for him to come back to me, and then about 3 months later he did. He had broken up never wanting to see me again in his life but then something changed in him and we got back together.

It was destructive to be dating him and I started falling away from God. I knew that this was not the man that I wanted to spend my life with but I always get attached and find it so hard to end things.

All that said, I think that sometimes when we pray for something long enough God will give us what we want, but it's sad because we'll end up missing out on God's best for us. Maybe He does it to teach us a lesson, I don't know. So I think it's wise to pray that God's will be done in every situation because a lot of times we don't know what is best for us in God's eyes.

Oh, and thankfully he broke up with me again and now I'm married to "God's best for me"!!!

[turtledove]

Hi MG, you said you felt "safer" when you asked for His Will to be done. Do you also feel peaceful when you pray for His Will in certain situations? I do. And sometimes I ask God to provide the best possible answer to my prayers and let Him just do it...His Way. :saint:

Remember in the Lord's prayer the words:
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven?" Matthew 6:10.

Jesus, himself, prayed asking for the will of the Father to be done. But that doesn't mean I can't ask Him for specific things. He wants us to ask Him even though our loving Father knows what we need even before we ask. As we turn to Him and sincerely seek Him with our whole heart and our whole soul..He answers the prayer..It isn't always in the way or at the time we think. And sometimes He has something better in mind for us; something which at the time seems beyond our understanding. But not to lose heart..as the familar expression goes..God's delays are not His denials.

The problem with the "Name and Claim" approach is that we can't limit God by using this in every prayer. It's like when we were kids and went to ask our parents for something. Maybe they did not give us what we wanted but instead they gave us what we needed. Maybe they knew what we asked wasn't good for us or that we weren't ready for it.

As we mature in our love of the Lord, knowledge of His Word, and in our prayer life..our Will can line up more and more with His Will. So, he often gives us the desires of our hearts because they are the desires of His heart.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

[Duane Morse]

So, to me, I'm supposed to make my requests known and just let God work. Because, if I could name it and claim it, "it" would've happened a long time ago. I'm not lacking in my faith that "it" will happen, I just don't think I can tell God when.
You contradict yourself, in a couple ways.

Make your request known, and let God work.
Yet, how many times have you made the request?

Your repeated requests do show a lack of faith.
Both that God will do your will above His own, and that in His lack of fulfilling your request thus far means that it will be done some time in the future - as long as you hound God with enough requests.

Also, you have faith only that 'it' will happen, instead of having faith in God to do His will as He sees fit - no matter if it aligns also with your own will.


Perhaps it hasn't happened, because it will never happen.



"I kinda feel "safer" just asking that His will be done and not focusing on the "when." "

The bolded part is the most important, I think.
Because anything after that is focusing on your own will.

[MyGod]

You contradict yourself, in a couple ways.

Make your request known, and let God work.
Yet, how many times have you made the request?

Your repeated requests do show a lack of faith.
Both that God will do your will above His own, and that in His lack of fulfilling your request thus far means that it will be done some time in the future - as long as you hound God with enough requests.

Also, you have faith only that 'it' will happen, instead of having faith in God to do His will as He sees fit - no matter if it aligns also with your own will.


Perhaps it hasn't happened, because it will never happen.



"I kinda feel "safer" just asking that His will be done and not focusing on the "when." "

The bolded part is the most important, I think.
Because anything after that is focusing on your own will.

Thanks for responding. I don't think I'm contradicting myself, I'm confused. That's why I posted this thread.

I don't see continually making my requests known as "hounding God." Otherwise, we'd all pray one time and be done w/praying for that one thing. If my mother was dying, I wouldn't just pray one time for God to let her live. I don't know if you would, but I wouldn't. Beseech, (from my understanding) means beg. Beg means pleading over and over. So, I don't think that just because I ask that my request be made known and expect God to do his work is any different than saints did in the bible. Paul beseeched us to present our bodies a living sacrifice in Romans. He begged us. I'm begging God! Lol. Seriously. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. That's why I started this thread though to get help.

Wiseoldowl (who i'll respond to in a minute) I believe answered my question and caused a tear to fall from my eye, I thank you!

P.S. I will not! "claim" the whole "perhaps it hasn't happened because it'll never happen." That, to me, is not having faith in God. But, I thank you for your words and opinion. I truly do.

[MyGod]

Hi MG, you said you felt "safer" when you asked for His Will to be done. Do you also feel peaceful when you pray for His Will in certain situations? I do. And sometimes I ask God to provide the best possible answer to my prayers and let Him just do it...His Way. :saint:

Remember in the Lord's prayer the words:
"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven?" Matthew 6:10.

Jesus, himself, prayed asking for the will of the Father to be done. But that doesn't mean I can't ask Him for specific things. He wants us to ask Him even though our loving Father knows what we need even before we ask. As we turn to Him and sincerely seek Him with our whole heart and our whole soul..He answers the prayer..It isn't always in the way or at the time we think. And sometimes He has something better in mind for us; something which at the time seems beyond our understanding. But not to lose heart..as the familar expression goes..God's delays are not His denials.

The problem with the "Name and Claim" approach is that we can't limit God by using this in every prayer. It's like when we were kids and went to ask our parents for something. Maybe they did not give us what we wanted but instead they gave us what we needed. Maybe they knew what we asked wasn't good for us or that we weren't ready for it.

As we mature in our love of the Lord, knowledge of His Word, and in our prayer life..our Will can line up more and more with His Will. So, he often gives us the desires of our hearts because they are the desires of His heart.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

You are soooo right! I do feel peaceful when I pray that His will be done. I thank you so much for this post. I felt immediately calm when I read "God's delays are not His denials." Amen! And you are so right. That's how I have to look @ my situation. You are wise, you wise old owl! Lol. He gives us the desires of our hearts because they are the desires of His heart. So profound! He ultimately knows when and how. I don't. Otherwise, I'd be God. You remind me a lot of my dad. He's wise. He's patient. I think of the scriptures "but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope." My dad is one wise dude. He'd say everything you said wise old owl. Actually, he's already said what you've said. I don't know, maybe I just needed to hear it from someone else. And, I thank you for that.

I thank every single person who has taken the time to read my thread. In the general scheme of things, I feel silly even creating a thread to address my minor issues. To me they're big, but overall, they're not. Anyway, thanks. I just love that saying "God's delays are not His denials." I'm feeling much better. So glad I found this site!

Thank you!

[MyGod]

Here's what happened in my life...probably not comparable to your situation but for example's sake I think it will help.

My boyfriend had broken up with me and even though all of my friends and family said, and I knew, that he was no good for me anyway I had given so much of my heart to him and had a very hard time letting go. For months I prayed and prayed for him to come back to me, and then about 3 months later he did. He had broken up never wanting to see me again in his life but then something changed in him and we got back together.

It was destructive to be dating him and I started falling away from God. I knew that this was not the man that I wanted to spend my life with but I always get attached and find it so hard to end things.

All that said, I think that sometimes when we pray for something long enough God will give us what we want, but it's sad because we'll end up missing out on God's best for us. Maybe He does it to teach us a lesson, I don't know. So I think it's wise to pray that God's will be done in every situation because a lot of times we don't know what is best for us in God's eyes.

Oh, and thankfully he broke up with me again and now I'm married to "God's best for me"!!!

Thank you for sharing your story. I got all teary-eyed when I read you ended up married to God's best for you. Lol. I'm a hopeless romantic and your story is romantic.

I can't imagine my "problem" being something He doesn't want for me. But, hey, who am I? Lol. I'll see in due time. Thak you for responding!

[karenoka27]

I agree with you about praying and beseeching. I think of David when his son was ill and he prayed and fasted until the child died. God had answered in His way. David then got up and got dressed and ate and accepted God's will.

There is nothing wrong with praying and praying. Remember Jesus asked the disciples to pray and watch with Him? Three times I believe! Jesus prayed the same thing each time He went back to pray.

Beseech- "parakaleō"-to beg, entreat, beseech

[turtledove]

You are soooo right! I do feel peaceful when I pray that His will be done. I thank you so much for this post. I felt immediately calm when I read "God's delays are not His denials." Amen! And you are so right. That's how I have to look @ my situation. You are wise, you wise old owl! Lol. He gives us the desires of our hearts because they are the desires of His heart. So profound! He ultimately knows when and how. I don't. Otherwise, I'd be God. You remind me a lot of my dad. He's wise. He's patient. I think of the scriptures "but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope." My dad is one wise dude. He'd say everything you said wise old owl. Actually, he's already said what you've said. I don't know, maybe I just needed to hear it from someone else. And, I thank you for that.

I thank every single person who has taken the time to read my thread. In the general scheme of things, I feel silly even creating a thread to address my minor issues. To me they're big, but overall, they're not. Anyway, thanks. I just love that saying "God's delays are not His denials." I'm feeling much better. So glad I found this site!

Thank you!


Hi again, MG, so glad you have found some help here. And I think I am honored to be compared with your dad, (:saint:even though I am a mom and grandma) ..he sounds all right to me. You have blessed my morning!

God bless you and here's a big :hug:.

owl

[MyGod]

Main Entry: be·seech
Pronunciation: \bi-ˈsēch, bē-\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): be·seeched or be·sought \-ˈsȯt\; be·seech·ing
Etymology: Middle English besechen, from be- + sechen to seek
Date: 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to beg for urgently or anxiously
2 : to request earnestly : implore
intransitive verb
: to make supplication

There is nothing in the definition of 'beseech' that indicates that more than once is necessary, needfull, or even desirable.

Main Entry: 1beg
Pronunciation: \ˈbeg\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): begged; beg·ging
Etymology: Middle English beggen
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1: to ask for as a charity
2 a: to ask earnestly for : entreat b: to require as necessary or appropriate
3: evade, sidestep <begged the real problems>
intransitive verb
1: to ask for alms
2: to ask earnestly <begged for mercy>
— beg the question
1: to pass over or ignore a question by assuming it to be established or settled
2: to elicit a question logically as a reaction or response <the quarterback's injury begs the question of who will start in his place>

Same for the definition of 'beg'.


Continually requesting simply indicates that either you don't think God heard you the first time(s), or that you think that repeated requests will make your case stronger.

Personally, I try to never make a request to God more than once. Because, to me, it shows a lack of faith and trust in God's good judgement.

Duane, I really do know what you mean and that's why I created this thread. I think to myself, when I continually ask for the same thing, am I lacking in faith? I'm thinking, "God, you've heard this request countless times." I don't know. A lot of people have made good points w/supporting scripture regarding continually requesting. Overall, I do tend to think it's okay to let my requests be made known more than once. Thanks for your post!!

[MyGod]

Hi again, MG, so glad you have found some help here. And I think I am honored to be compared with your dad, (:saint:even though I am a mom and grandma) ..he sounds all right to me. You have blessed my morning!

God bless you and here's a big :hug:.

owl


Aww. Thank you. You blessed my day when I read that. I've actually been repeating what you said over and over and just reminding myself that "Gods delays are not His denials." I truly believe that. Well, kinda. Lol. No, I believe it, I just think my little pea brain thinks it knows more than God and what's best. That's what we're saying when we have our little temper tantrums and aren't getting what we want. In my case, the one thing I want. But, I'm a work in progress.

Your children and grandchildren are fortunate to have a wise old owl for a granny/mommy. Lol. My dad is totally cool. He's so patient and just wise. I know that comes with spiritual maturity and growth. And just trusting always no matter how things look. Anyway, thanks for your words and the hug. Lol. We can always use one of those huh?

[MyGod]

Continually requesting simply indicates that either you don't think God heard you the first time(s), or that you think that repeated requests will make your case stronger.

Personally, I try to never make a request to God more than once. Because, to me, it shows a lack of faith and trust in God's good judgement.


I definitely think that repeated requests make your case stronger. When you pray fervently for something everyday it shows the things your heart beats for.

James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much."

Luke 18

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Thanks for this post Makimbo. I'll have to read it again.

[MyGod]

James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much."

Note that he said 'prayer' (singular), not 'prayers' (plural).

I just thought about something. Many times in the bible, praying and fasting went hand in hand. We know they didn't just fast that moment. They fasted over a period of time. So, they had to have prayed as well. . . over a period of time, meaning it wasn't just once. Am I correct in thinking this?

[CoffeeCat]

God knows our heart. When we need something, when we're anxious and weary and in need of hope... we're invited to pray. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us "cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you". ALL our anxiety. We don't have to construct one carefully worded prayer, say it, and then leave it with God while we stand around still feeling anxious and weary. I don't believe it indicates a lack of faith to pray about the same thing. We pray continually, sometimes for the same things. If this were not the case, why would we pray fervently every day for the same friend, for example, who is sick? Is it showing a lack of faith? Nope. It's showing that we love God, and love our friend, and bring him or her before God... every day.

It's not that I think the repeated requests make our CASE stronger. The practice of continually bringing our worries and concerns to God makes US stronger... makes our spirit stronger, to know that we can pray anytime, for anything.

When we pray, we don't know what will happen exactly. That's in God's hands. While we don't want to make demands of Him, we NEED to know that He's there, that we can take our sorrow and anxiety and loneliness to Him, moment by moment. He's our Father. It's never as though we take up His time or trouble Him when we pray for the same thing more than once. :)

Just my 0.02.

[Duane Morse]

I just thought about something. Many times in the bible, praying and fasting went hand in hand. We know they didn't just fast that moment. They fasted over a period of time. So, they had to have prayed as well. . . over a period of time, meaning it wasn't just once. Am I correct in thinking this?
Actually a fast is also singular in nature, but yes it takes a certain period of time to accomplish. And if a particular prayer is associated with a fast then I would consider the prayer still singular in nature, because the prayer during the fast is more of a continual thing as being part of that fast.

[Makimbo]

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17 NIV). Note the phrase “I keep asking.” Paul did not believe that if you made a prayer request, you never had to make it again. When Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he prayed the same request over and over again–that they would know God better. Sometimes I hear it said that since God knows everything we say before we say it and everything we think before we think it (which is true), that we should never repeat ourselves in prayer (which is not true). We don’t pray to inform God of anything. He knows what we are thinking long before we voice our prayers to him. But if he knows all, why pray at all? The simple answer is one you have heard before: “He’s God and we’re not.” We pray to express our total dependence on him in every circumstance of life. As we continue to pray for the same things for our loved ones over and over again, the godly desires of the heart grow stronger and we are reminded that every day we must be 100% dependent on him. We can’t live on yesterday’s blessings and we can’t depend on yesterday’s prayers. So just like Paul, we “keep asking” on behalf of our loved ones.



<<<<<<FROM http://bible.christianity.com/faq/11539727/page2/

[Makimbo]

) “Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up” (Luke 18:1 CEV). The King James says that men should always pray and not faint. Persistent prayer honors God because it expresses our complete dependence on him. Since God knows what we need before we ask him, we don’t have to repeat ourselves to get his attention. But that’s not the whole story. We all know from personal experience that not all our prayers are answered the first time we pray them. Sometimes we receive immediate answers, but often we must wait days, week, months, or even years before the answer comes. When I was in the pastorate, we had some people who prayed for years for their loved ones to be saved. I know because they filled out the same prayer request week in and week out. Is that a lack of faith? To the contrary, repetition is proof of faith. I would add that it sometimes seems that the more something matters to us, the longer we will have to wait for the answer to come. This is very often true when we pray for our loved ones to come to Christ. Here is a very simple theology of prayer. Our part is to pray fervently, sincerely, and honestly, bringing our deepest concerns to the Lord. God’s part is to listen to our prayers and to graciously answer them in his own time, in his own way, according to his own will. If we do our part, God cannot fail to do his.
So pray, pray and keep on praying. You never know what God will do.





<<<<from http://bible.christianity.com/faq/11539727/page3/

[Duane Morse]

Ask once, or ask many times.

No matter how many times, God's will is done - not yours, or mine.

If your request happens to align with the will of God, then it will happen sooner or later.
If not, it won't.
And it matters not how many times you make the request.

[BattleGround]

Prayer is our communication with God, just like we need oxygen and trees and what not to live on, we need to pray to stay strong, I went with out praying for 2-3 months, and even though I was going to church I was not victorious, that brings me to the bible in Luke 18:1 it says men ought always pray and never lose heart. 1 thessolonians 5:17 says pray without ceasing.

1 John 5:14-15
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
[Aye kick your feet up, thank you Jesus].

Pray should become our life, its becoming mines, like I said earlier I fell out of praying for 2-3 months, I have just now come back, but I didnt make the same mistake, a brother suggested that I start off slow this time, and build my prayer life up. I've been doing that and now its becoming a habit, dont put more on yourself than you can bear, know that God looks at the heart, dont try to pray like your pastor or your youth pastor, be yourself in God [ of course living by his word], but being ourselves and letting God build us as we go along.

Remember that God has placed different things in me and you, so that we can all reach a certain type of people that we're suppose to reach, you were not saved just so that you could Live but so that we could show the light of Christ to others.

[MyGod]

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17 NIV). Note the phrase “I keep asking.” Paul did not believe that if you made a prayer request, you never had to make it again. When Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he prayed the same request over and over again–that they would know God better. Sometimes I hear it said that since God knows everything we say before we say it and everything we think before we think it (which is true), that we should never repeat ourselves in prayer (which is not true). We don’t pray to inform God of anything. He knows what we are thinking long before we voice our prayers to him. But if he knows all, why pray at all? The simple answer is one you have heard before: “He’s God and we’re not.” We pray to express our total dependence on him in every circumstance of life. As we continue to pray for the same things for our loved ones over and over again, the godly desires of the heart grow stronger and we are reminded that every day we must be 100% dependent on him. We can’t live on yesterday’s blessings and we can’t depend on yesterday’s prayers. So just like Paul, we “keep asking” on behalf of our loved ones.



<<<<<<FROM http://bible.christianity.com/faq/11539727/page2/

Hey Makimbo,

Thanks for this. Only problem I have is the scripture you quoted is from the NIV, the KJV says something totally different: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I'm wondering if you misquoted where you found that scripture. I do read the NIV because it's more story form but I solely rely on the KJV for my doctrine. That's just me, personally.

I totally feel where you're coming from though, if God knows all, why pray? Because He is God and we're not. I truly believe, like you, that God wants us to solely depend on him. I'm thinking overall after this thread. that it is okay to plead and beg. That doesn't mean you don't trust God to work it out. It just means you are continually making your requests known. And that is what I'm gonna do. :D Thanks so much for this post.

[Makimbo]

Hey Makimbo,

Thanks for this. Only problem I have is the scripture you quoted is from the NIV, the KJV says something totally different: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I'm wondering if you misquoted where you found that scripture. I do read the NIV because it's more story form but I solely rely on the KJV for my doctrine. That's just me, personally.

I totally feel where you're coming from though, if God knows all, why pray? Because He is God and we're not. I truly believe, like you, that God wants us to solely depend on him. I'm thinking overall after this thread. that it is okay to plead and beg. That doesn't mean you don't trust God to work it out. It just means you are continually making your requests known. And that is what I'm gonna do. :D Thanks so much for this post.

Nope, that's what the NIV says. By the way, I just copied this from another the site mentioned at the bottom of the post, I didn't write any of it, I just agree with it.

That's how the verse is written in the NIV, as for the KJV, it's a translation mainly from the Latin Vulgate while the NIV is a translation of the Hebrew, Greek and Aramic texts.

But other than that I'm glad you found your answers! : )

[MyGod]

Nope, that's what the NIV says. By the way, I just copied this from another the site mentioned at the bottom of the post, I didn't write any of it, I just agree with it.

That's how the verse is written in the NIV, as for the KJV, it's a translation mainly from the Latin Vulgate while the NIV is a translation of the Hebrew, Greek and Aramic texts.

But other than that I'm glad you found your answers! : )

Thank you !!! :)

[OneofHis777]

The reason people don't want to pray for specific things is because they are afraid of the answer, either they have faith and they just don't want the wrong answer to the prayer because all prayers are answered. For example you really want to pray and ask God if you should buy the big house or the little house but you don't because your afraid He will say the little house, So you pray Lord let your will be done in this and then you go buy the big house. Problem was you didn't want God's real answer to your prayer. Others don't want to pray specifically because they don't have real faith and they are afraid if God doesn't answer that proves he's not real and they can't handle that so they still to the generalities like God bless the world take care of my kids and so on and it's the same thing everytime. The answer is to lay it on Him he can handle make all you request give all to God even the selfish ones and let him sort it out. The hardest part of prayer is the results, never forget that prayer changes things so be careful and be ready to just God when God knows you accept his answer he will always give it to you with the wisdom to go with it. When he knows you won't listen and you were just looking for his blessing for what you are going to do anyway He just let's you do it in less it is contray to His will. Your next question was how should we pray to God. Well how do you ask your earthly Dad for stuff. You ask and if that doesn't work you beg, and if that doesn't work you cry and accept it and move on. Just know God has you best interest at heart and He will deny us no good thing.

[Duane Morse]

Perhaps we would be better going back to the old ways of casting lots (as in, a roll of the dice) for the answers to our prayers.

After all, it is much more direct. You get the answer in yes or no terms immediately.

This way of asking and waiting for some kind of response is much to ambiguous and uncertain.
Any random number of things can be taken as either a yes or a no answer.
God said no by ignoring it completely.
God said yes because of what someone said sometime after I prayed.
God said no because of what someone said sometime after I prayed.
God said no because I heard thunder as I prayed.
God said yes because I heard thunder as I prayed.
God said yes because I 'got a feeling'.
God said no because...
...etc.


Just get a single die (2 would be dice, and would influence the answer one way or the other), roll it once.
An even number means yes - an odd number means no.
Or visa-versa, just so you keep it consistant. (I have no idea how they did it before, but it shouldn't matter if both you and God know the rules and keep them consistant)

Take that as your answer from God and move on.

[FaithfulSheep]

Alright everyone. Remember that the purpose of this thread is to help MyGod. If you want to discuss praying for something multiple times or fasting (both good topics) create a thread elsewhere. This is not the place for it.

[MyGod]

Perhaps we would be better going back to the old ways of casting lots (as in, a roll of the dice) for the answers to our prayers.

After all, it is much more direct. You get the answer in yes or no terms immediately.

This way of asking and waiting for some kind of response is much to ambiguous and uncertain.
Any random number of things can be taken as either a yes or a no answer.
God said no by ignoring it completely.
God said yes because of what someone said sometime after I prayed.
God said no because of what someone said sometime after I prayed.
God said no because I heard thunder as I prayed.
God said yes because I heard thunder as I prayed.
God said yes because I 'got a feeling'.
God said no because...
...etc.


Just get a single die (2 would be dice, and would influence the answer one way or the other), roll it once.
An even number means yes - an odd number means no.
Or visa-versa, just so you keep it consistant. (I have no idea how they did it before, but it shouldn't matter if both you and God know the rules and keep them consistant)

Take that as your answer from God and move on.

Lmbo (laughing my butt off). I'm struggling w/cursing so I tried not to say lmao. I don't know if you intended this to be funny but for some reason I laughed. I think it was the whole "roll of the dice" comment and explanation following. :D I have a huge sense of humor and pretty much laugh @ anything. I'm a firm believer that you either laugh or cry. Since I want to cry about this situation (pretty much the only situation I feel the need to cry about), I try to find as many things to laugh about regarding it. That make sense? Lol.

I get your point though Duane. Makes sense to me. I don't know. I'm just praying and believing. I keep going back and forth though. When I think about my "situation" (which is all day, Lol! I'm sure I seriously sound crazy right now, trust me, I'm really not. . . :D) I want to pray (beg!). But, I'm thinking to myself, you already did!!! God knows. It's not like he forgot! Lol. So, I don't know. Thanks a bunch you guys for even taking the time to answer this thread. I appreciate it. I think overall I will just try and believe that God's will be done and that he and I are on the same page. Overall, I just keep reminding myself that God knows best and thanking Him for being all knowing.