Do prayers really work?

[CaptGus]

I read down the forum about folks asking for prayer, my question is does it really work or does it just help us the mind cope with what is wrong in our lives. Im not condemning prayer, I just dont understand how some receive and others dont. Ask and ye shall receive, but it doesnt always work.....Responses please.

[Slug1]

CaptGus, I moved this thread to Growing in Christ so it can receive input and advice. Over in the Prayer Forum, that is reserved for asking for prayer or offering prayer.

[Indueseason]

I have no doubt that prayer works! I have experienced the results of Christians praying for me, and I've seen my own prayers answered in sometimes miraculous ways. Jesus taught us to pray, to communicate with our heavenly Father. Scripture tells us that the prayers of a righteous man avail much.Prayer is a vital part of our walk with God.

Paul tells us in Eph 6.18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Why would he tell us to do this if it did not work? I'm sure we barely understand just how much effect our prayers have. If we did, the prayer meetings would be queued out the door,and we'd gladly spend hours on our knees!

The Lord may not give us all we ask for, not give it instantly, or even answer in the way we'd imagine He would, but He hears and answers because He loves us!

blessings to you

[HoboTone]

1 John 5:14-15 NIV

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Sometimes we don't understand exactly what God's will is in our situation. I don't give my daughter everything she wants, but I do provide her with what she needs; she often times cant tell the difference between the two. We are God's children. Like a good parent, He knows the things we really need. We grow the most in the midst of trials and tribulation, the whole time crying out to God for deliverance. Sometimes when our prayers seem to be going unanswered, we are learning a valuable lesson about trusting God during the storm. Prayer is about so much more than just asking God for stuff. You cant foster a friendship without communication. God wants a relationship with us, and that requires dialogue. All that being said; yes my friend, prayer really does work.

[chad]

You know prayer works...when God answers them.

[Saved7]

Of course prayer works Gus, but you have to bear in mind, it's not some magic wand you wave to make things all better. So if you are looking for it to "work for you" then you will be sorely disappointed. In other words, if you're praying for YOUR will to be done, chances are it doesn't line up with God's will. And if it doesn't line up with His will, then it will likely not happen for you. In other words, get to know God well enough to know what His will is, and then pray in accordance with that understanding. Meaning, His will is for us to be molded into the image of His Son, and to glorify God in all we do. So first seek to understand how to pray about your personal issues in a way that causes your prayers to line up so that whatever the request is glorifies God and molds you into the image of Christ. If that's how you pray then your prayers will be answered, sometimes right away, other times it may be a long grueling process.
So first things first, pray that God put HIS desires for you into YOUR heart, pray that He cause you to pray for WHAT HE WANTS for you to pray. Do this often enough, seeking greater understanding about the mind of God in the Word, and you will find your prayers and your heart changes into the things that will line up with God's will and you'll see your prayers answered. I've seen it so many times it's almost normal (regular, near daily) for me to see answered prayer now.

[Dani H]

I can most certainly testify to the fact that God really does answer prayers.

[Boo]

I think the question is not about how many people believe that prayer works as much as it is why prayers sometimes are not answered.

There are problems with the way we ask, problems with what we ask for, and problems in who is asking.

It is understandable if we consider how parents give children what they ask for.

Example: a child wants a new bicycle. The parents can afford it, so that is not the problem. They do not give him what he asks for because of one of these:

1. They live on a high-traffic street and the child is only six years old.
2. The child is failing a subject in school and won't do his homework.
3. The child is mentally incompetent because of illness and is gauranteed to have an accident if given a bicycle.
4. The child is going through physical therapy and needs to walk as much as he can to build his strength.

God's refusal to give us what we ask for can be similar to any of those issues.

When we are "right" with God, unselfish in our motives, not needing to have something else in order for us to mature as Christians; then our prayers will likely be granted. It is not a case of just getting everything we ask for when we ask for it. It must align with God's will. Also, we need to keep in mind that - if our prayer is for someone else - they may not be in a position where answering your prayer is really good for their needs. Only God knows.

[Dalyn]

In my own opinion prayers really works if you pray with faith and do what you pray.

[Watchman]

James 2:3b-4a You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives...

There might be a bit of understanding in the fragment above.

blessings,

Watchman

PS: God assuredly answers prayer...and sometimes the answer is, 'No.'

[lovex]

Prayers are, are personal communion with God. They are such a beautiful way of connecting with Him, and it should be approached with thankfulness realizing that we are able to talk to the Creator of the universe.

Prayers definitely do work. I always pray that my prayers would align with His will, so that what He delights in, I too with delight in. What He hates, I also will hate. Keep praying... continously pray, and watch God work. Whether it is your the answer your looking for, or not.

[Ta-An]

The Book of Proverbs tell us that God gives the Righteous the desires of their heart.

And YES, God does answer prayer sometimes in ways we do not understand.

[esper88]

I feel like prayers do a lot more to assuage the mind than to actually remedy problems, for the most part. God has a plan which he needs to accomplish, and if our prayers ask him to deviate from that plan, he cannot listen to our pleas. I almost feel like praying, asking for God to do something is too imposing on him. It must hurt God to have to ignore prayers that he cannot answer for the sake of completing his plan. I tend to reserve my prayers for thanking God for all he has already done.

That being said, I think my prayers for my Dad have kept him alive in his old age. He should have been dead a while ago, but I've been praying for him and he has fought his way through bad illness after bad illness. Maybe it's somewhere in between. God answers the prayers he can answer, but we can't expect him to answer every one of them.

[joquiros]

Yep! in a way if your prayer is not yet been answer then God has some other purpose for you. Most of the time most of us christians to turns to prayer when in need not minding to thanks if it has been answered. We should be grateful to God for everything.