Question from an agnostic on prayer requests

[BlackX]

I presume some of you know me (as much as can be online) from some of the other foums and thought this would be the appropriate place to ask. Sorry if I'm wrong.

I've seen some things posted there, as well as via other places/email lists/etc., that raises a question for me.

I'm trying to understand the idea behind asking for prayer from others. It comes across to me as if it's suggesting that the more people who pray for something, the more likely God will be to answer those prayers. Since that doesn't make sense to me--I would presume that a God that sees and knows all wouldn't need any extra input to undersand a situation--I wonder what I'm missing.

(I grew up in an extremely religious houselhold and used to wonder about public prayer in relation to Matthew 6:6 even then but I'm not sure if or how that fits with this.)

Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[kdc]

BlackX, pray is for us not God. God knows the need before we ever ask. pray gives us a chance to consider someone else before ourselves. also a chance for us to come together and unite with common bond, God would hear the pray of just one and answer it in the same time. and for the person asking comfort knowing there is people who are standing with you. public pray is referring to the pharisees when they used to pray long prays in public to be seen and also they would alter their appearance to make them look like have been praying and seeking God so much that they didn't have time to even take care of themselves. these people were being false and doing it to get the admiration of the people. Matt. 6:5-8 makes that clear

 

[Graw]

When one can be compassionate Though Prayer or just showing someone your not alone. Is what it's all about. God Is Great..... Graw

 

[Pete in MI]

James 5:16 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.

We are directed to pray for each other, even confess our faults so we can be put back in rightstanding with God.

There are many righteous people on this forum. This is where many of us turn when we have prayer requests. Most of our prayer requests are not just for us but for others who may or may not even know God as we do but we ask for prayers for them (and us).

Mt 7:7

 

[Metal Harvester]

[size=large]BlackX, Amen simply means, "I agree". Prayer is communication with God. He encourages us to talk with Him. Your question has been answered quite well above, not much I can add to those posts! I would like to also add this though. Pose this question to the Lord if you are serious about an answer. Ask God through the precious name of Jesus Christ to come into your heart and bless you with understanding of HIS will and Grace. I too grew up in a religous home, true Christianity is not a religion but a way of life! There are many religions in the world but only one true God who revealed Himself through Christ. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart (not men!), and lean not unto thine own understanding! God loves you very much, He wants you trust in Him acknowledging that Jesus died in your place (as well as ours!), and invite Him into your heart and life. If you pray and invite Jesus in you have nothing to lose if we are wrong and He isn't real, but if He is, you will land on the right side of eternity while being able to have a personal relationship with the greatest King ever to whom every knee shall bow! An immediate blessing that will follow is that when you call upon the Lord as a Christian you have a direct line where the lines never busy, you won't get hung up on, and you will never need to call collect! He is waiting right now with His arms wide open, may God bless you with understanding and peace to your questions and concerns.[/size]

 

[Jim West Pa]

My wife janet and i were talkin about this post of yours and she reminded me that somewhere in the Old ztestament that God Himself invites us to pray together.Sorry, i'm not good at quoteing scripture nor giving "addressses".
Here's how i understand the subject of us praying together and for one another.
Jesus told us to love others as we love ourselves.Therefore i feel that not only is it our responsibilty to come before God thru Jesus with our prayers but also for us to come before God thru Jesus in prayer for each other. Our Lord will never ask us to come to Him in praye thyo He has given us the invitation and is most most pleased when we do take our prayers to Him thru His Son Jesus Christ.
Janet reminded me last night of how for many years my sister (without my knowledge) prayed for me. I was a wreched man that had other wives, terrible relationships and no relationship nor even thoughts of a relationship with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She prayed for me for many many years that God would bring me to Him thru His Holy Spirit and that i would find His love and also that i would find that certain special Christian woman that God Himself designated eons ago to be my wife and partner in a most wonderfull Christian walk to grow with in a TRUE relationship with Jesus Christ.
I am 53 y/o, lived a horrid sinfull life,had 3 horrible excuses for marriages. Here i now sit witnesing toyou that i now have that ONE SPECIAL WIFE that God had planned for me all along and that i am in the most WONDERFULL RELATIONSHIP with my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. I have never had more joy and happiness in my life as i do now. I never immagined that being 3rd would be the most wonderfull thing in this life.( a life i may add that i happily and willingly give wholey to my God each and every day) My Saviour comes first, my wife,children, freinds and enemies second, and i third. PRAISE GOD !!!!!!
All because my sister loved me so as to get her knees repeatedly for years and prayed for my happiness and more importantly my salvation.
There is a time when Jesus tells us to go to our "dark and private places" and pray to Him and He also instructs us that we gather together inprayer in His name that there is love and He is with us.
I hope this helps you Rich to better understand.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I cannot add much to what has been posted for you to understand our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, died for your sins and mine! But I will say that if it had not been for lots of prayers from my grandmother, many others for God to change and forgive me, I probaly would not be where I am in Jesus, Whom I love very much!

I believe that everyone has someone or many praying for the sinner's salvation! There is a song that I heard often when going to Faith Tabernacle Church in Newburg, MO! It is: Someone prayed for me!: a beautiful song. I really enjoyed hearing it sung often! I have prayed and prayed for my three children and their families for many, many years! My youngest, Tami, lost a 3-1/2 month old son due to SIDS....Infant Death Syndrome....the cause unknown! It just about destroyed her, as she has a very tender heart and is really sensitive! She was living with someone she loves and he loves her, but living in sin, I knew they both needed to get married and then saved to get right with God.

They married in 2007 and still were not living for Jesus, but Troy started going to the 12 Step Program and getting closer to his believing and then he and Tami started going to church and she accepted Jesus as her own personal Savior and this time she really believes it! I'm not sure if Troy is saved for sure, but Tami is and they both attend church when they can! They both work and Tami has different hours and cannot always go....but I know she now truly loves the Lord! It took years and years and I'm still praying for my oldest daughter and my son and their families! They are still being prayed for and I remind God ever so often that I have been praying a long time but I won't give up communicating with my Lord through prayer and talking to Him in my mind and out loud! I tell Him I love Him and I'm so glad He is my Lord and Savior and has forgiven me of all my sins! I ask Him also to give me the strength to go through and the power to overcome each day! God is so wonderful and the only regret that I have is of not taking Him sooner as my personal Savior! You see, I always knew about Jesus but He wasn 't my personal Savior....To know Him personally is the most wondrous thing that has ever happend to me! I tell Him I'm sorry that He had to suffer such a horrible death for you and me, but I'm so glad He did! Praise God and Thank you, Jesus!

My prayers are with you that God will help you to draw near to Him and then He will draw nearer to you and make Himself truly known in Who He truly is and you will accept Jesus as your own personal Savior! The longer you wait to do so, the more sorrow you will have for not doing it sooner!

God Bless & may our Savior's sweet love give you peace that passes all human-understanding! Ask and He will reveal Himself to you! He will not turn the true repentant sinner away! NO Never!

God Bless!
Betty

 

[Jim West Pa]

n/t

 

[Jamie(MI)]

BlackX,

Seems strange to me also. The only way I figure it is he wants us to be like him, He prayed to his father and asked us to pray to him also, But prayer is more then talk. In fact it is more in the way we live. A prayer of life is what he craves. It's a life long treasure hunt. It's kind of like how you want your kids to be like you, at least in some ways. He's all about relationship.

Hey, I like somebody who asks the hard questions. Keep asking.