How powerful is a PRAYER?

[John VN]

I was taught that a single prayer from the soul and heart is as powerful as all the prayers ever said. I believe that is what faith is all about.

With that in mind I will mention that in time of concern, many people put faith in the power of praying.

Time and again you will hear people mentioning praying when a tornado has passed by and they have survived the event with no loss of life. When a sudden accident causes injury there might be requests for prayers. If there is hope for a new job some will ask for prayers for a positive outcome.

So just how much power do you believe there is in praying and more importantly, is there more power if you get more people to pray for your cause than there is in just one prayer deep from your own soul and heart?

 

[Disney-For-Life]

Power is in action not in prayer.

 

[pat fan]

Good question that I wish I had a good answer for.

I do agree that prayer is powerful though. I know when I am faced with a situation that I feel is more than I can handle (I may have been praying about it on my own for a while and am still struggling) I call on those close to me to pray for me/the situation and I do feel it helps.

 

[Fly me with Balloons]

Prayer is useless.

You's get more help from asking a complete stranger for assistance than in a thousand people praying for the same thing to happen.

 

[transparant]

I believe prayer is more powerful than we could possibly even know.

 

[Buckalew11]

I believe prayer is more powerful than we could possibly even know.

Me too. I think we have no idea how powerful prayer is. And again, I have to add that I do not believe prayer is *making God into a genie and to grant wishes*. I think there is much more to praying and how to pray than most people think. And I also believe that, yes, one prayer is as powerful as many of the same prayer.

 

[Kath2003]

Prayer is useless.

You's get more help from asking a complete stranger for assistance than in a thousand people praying for the same thing to happen.

I agree on a practical level.

Although I'm an atheist, I can understand that some people need a God, or another being, that some point need organized religion.

If prayer helps people feel better then it holds value.

Sadly I think that prayer on a practical level is futile, but things can be worth doing on a psychological level alone.

Praying together? Same as sharing a problem. Makes people feel better. Binds communities in an aim and an interest etc. There are social and psychological reasons why prayer is a worthwhile activity - just not practical ones.

 

[kdudley3]

I believe there is power in prayer. I think it saved my son's life.

Since then I pray for people everyday. It can't hurt !

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I agree on a practical level.

Although I'm an atheist, I can understand that some people need a God, or another being, that some point need organized religion.

If prayer helps people feel better then it holds value.

Sadly I think that prayer on a practical level is futile, but things can be worth doing on a psychological level alone.

Praying together? Same as sharing a problem. Makes people feel better. Binds communities in an aim and an interest etc. There are social and psychological reasons why prayer is a worthwhile activity - just not practical ones.

That is such a respectful attitude for a non-believer to have.

Yes, I believe in the power of prayer, regardless of who or how many are praying. I personally don't pray for specific things to happen, but rather for strength, guidance and to accept God's will.

 

[freckles and boo]

I agree on a practical level.

Although I'm an atheist, I can understand that some people need a God, or another being, that some point need organized religion.

If prayer helps people feel better then it holds value.

Sadly I think that prayer on a practical level is futile, but things can be worth doing on a psychological level alone.

Praying together? Same as sharing a problem. Makes people feel better. Binds communities in an aim and an interest etc. There are social and psychological reasons why prayer is a worthwhile activity - just not practical ones.

I feel the same way. I don't feel, as an atheist, someone else's prayers pose any threat to me. In many cases, prayers serve to help people find peace and strength. I only find myself frustrated when people drop to their knees when a situation actually calls for rolling up their sleeves. No amount of prayer is going to clean up New Orleans or solve the problems in Darfur. Praying for God to cure a child's disease instead of going to a doctor is, to me, almost criminal. But if it makes someone feel better to pray and take the child to the doctor, more power to them!

 

[pat fan]

Praying for God to cure a child's disease instead of going to a doctor is, to me, almost criminal. But if it makes someone feel better to pray and take the child to the doctor, more power to them!

I agree 100%! God gave Dr.'s the wisdom to help others, they are to be used! I also believe you can roll up your sleeve's and work while praying! God help's those who help themselves.

 

[LisaR]

A family I know is Christian Scientist and beleives pray will heal. They do not believe in doctors. One Monday morning the husband became very ill. It was obvious to everyone but the family that it was something that required treatment. Instead, a pray chain was started. By Friday, the husband was dead from a massive heart attack. He was in his mid-40's. God helps those that help themselves.

Lisa

 

[freckles and boo]

A family I know is Christian Scientist and beleives pray will heal. They do not believe in doctors. One Monday morning the husband became very ill. It was obvious to everyone but the family that it was something that required treatment. Instead, a pray chain was started. By Friday, the husband was dead from a massive heart attack. He was in his mid-40's. God helps those that help themselves.

Lisa

And sadly, they probably thought it was God's will.

 

[car55]

I thank God for every day, and all the beautiful things I see. Life is what you make of it, and I choose to make God a big part of my life.

 

[lucyanna girl]

Prayer is more powerful than any force on earth. Just because you don't always get what you ask for is no reason to doubt. We don't let our children have everything they ask for because sometimes we know what is best for them. God doesn't give us everything we ask for because we don't always know what we really need.

Penny

 

[Disney Doll]

I think it depends what you pray for.

God is not a genie, granting wishes.

I know folks who had a baby with Downs Syndrome. Their extended family prayed that the baby would be healed. Well, hello, you're praying for the wrong thing. Finally one of the grandmothers realized this, and prayed, instead, that the parents of the child would have the strength and fortitude to handle the challenges they would face with the child.

Does it help? Maybe not in a practical sense, but it can't hurt and if it makes the "pray-er" feel better that they are doing something and it makes the "pray-ee" feel better that something is being done, what's the harm? Of course, I do agree that sometimes it's good to roll up your sleeves and do something while you're praying.

 

[Darth Cupcake]

There is a saying: "Pray toward Heaven. Row towards the shore."
Praying for me is my practical application of my belief that I have faith in an all powerful God. But God also wants me to step out in this faith and consciously act in accordance with the provision of talents, knowledge and gifts he has given me.

 

[phillybeth]

I agree on a practical level.

Although I'm an atheist, I can understand that some people need a God, or another being, that some point need organized religion.

If prayer helps people feel better then it holds value.

Sadly I think that prayer on a practical level is futile, but things can be worth doing on a psychological level alone.

Praying together? Same as sharing a problem. Makes people feel better. Binds communities in an aim and an interest etc. There are social and psychological reasons why prayer is a worthwhile activity - just not practical ones.

I agree with you. Prayer does nothing for me, but I am not going to dispute the help it brings to others.

 

[JoyG]

The Bible tells us in James that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced it's crops.

That's some pretty powerful praying!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Steven Colbert is exploring this issue.... Anybody watching this? Basically 10,000 people are praying for these celebs daily. He calls them on the phone and asks what happened that day they were getting prayed for.

Here is the group called "Mastermedia International"....and their prayer calendar.
http://www.mastermediaintl.org/guest/MLPC/current.html