How powerful is a PRAYER?

[Amity 3]

And the opposite is also TRUE:
there's no empirical evidence of prayer NOT affecting anything we experience.

there's no empirical evidence of the God you're praying to in the first place.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I believe it has a calming effect. maybe a short spurt of endorphins.

but praying that Uncle Bob isn't going to die of lung cancer doesn't stop him from doing so.

we all have different ways of making it through the day, a couple of beers does it for me. I don't look to Miller Lite to save my soul.

I don't believe a soul needs saving either...That not part of my belief system.
And I don't pray that Ed won't die.. I don't really believe in a micro-managing type of G-d

 

[Disney Doll]

Prayer is as powerful as the person praying or the person being prayed for believes it is.

Maybe it won't hurt, but it can't hurt. And for those of you who don't believe in prayer, why are you so disparaging of prayer and those who believe in it (Kath2003 you are the exception). I find it interesting that the topic arouses such strong emotion in folks who aren't interested in it.

When there is discussion of a topic that doesn't interest me, I don't even bother to read it or respond to it.

hmmm....

 

[MrsPete]

Yes, prayer is powerful. I've seen it many, many times.

The thing is, we don't always get the answer that we want -- it's just not possible. God's not a big vending machine in the sky: Insert prayer, reach in to pull out your blessing. Someone else already said, there are three possible answers to prayer: Yes, No, and Wait.

Of course, we love it when we get a "yes" answer . . . but more than once I've realized years later that "no" was the best answer for me -- I just couldn't see it at the time because I was so caught up in what I wanted. And more than once I've prayed for something KNOWING that it was really my responsibility (i.e., "Please Lord, help me pass this test -- I promise I'll study next time.") And more than once I've realized that what I wanted just wasn't going to happen, and I've prayed that I'd be able to change my attitude /accept what had to happen -- and I've found peace and understanding, despite the fact I didn't get my way.

Do multiple prayers help more than one single prayer? I admit I'm not too sure about that. I know that God only responds to those who come to him with a clean heart and who ask in the right spirit. So I have to believe that one person who genuinely believes and who prays fervently could easily "catch God's ear" more easily than a dozen people who send up a half-hearted, ambivalent prayer.

 

[Saphire]

there's no empirical evidence of the God you're praying to in the first place.

And that is where we say goodbye...enjoy the beers!

 

[lucyanna girl]

Some of you think I am foolish to have blind faith in prayer.

Some think mine is just a typical answer to the question of the power of prayer.

Some think prayer doesn't change anything.

There have been times when someone on these boards made me feel a little foolish for something I posted. Occasionally I feel like I can close a thread just by answering. This is human doubt. It is possible to make me doubt myself. I do NOT doubt God or the power of prayer.

Thank you CJBaby.

Penny

 

[MrsPete]

there's no empirical evidence of the God you're praying to in the first place.

There's also no empirical proof that I love my husband and children -- does that mean I don't?

To those who know God, no more proof is necessary; to those who've decided to turn their backs on Him, no amount of proof would ever be enough. Speaking personally, I know that I've seen too many things fall together to be coincidental. Too many very specific things.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I believe it has a calming effect. maybe a short spurt of endorphins.

but praying that Uncle Bob isn't going to die of lung cancer doesn't stop him from doing so.

we all have different ways of making it through the day, a couple of beers does it for me. I don't look to Miller Lite to save my soul.

What about alternative types of medicine?? What about the power of suggestion?? If you tell a person that a whole group of people have been praying for them it can change their attitude. I think most doctors will agree that there is evidence that a positive outlook most definitely can impact your health.

 

[orljustin]

Yes, prayer is powerful. I've seen it many, many times.

The thing is, we don't always get the answer that we want -- it's just not possible. God's not a big vending machine in the sky: Insert prayer, reach in to pull out your blessing. Someone else already said, there are three possible answers to prayer: Yes, No, and Wait.

Of course, we love it when we get a "yes" answer . . . but more than once I've realized years later that "no" was the best answer for me -- I just couldn't see it at the time because I was so caught up in what I wanted. And more than once I've prayed for something KNOWING that it was really my responsibility (i.e., "Please Lord, help me pass this test -- I promise I'll study next time.") And more than once I've realized that what I wanted just wasn't going to happen, and I've prayed that I'd be able to change my attitude /accept what had to happen -- and I've found peace and understanding, despite the fact I didn't get my way.

Do multiple prayers help more than one single prayer? I admit I'm not too sure about that. I know that God only responds to those who come to him with a clean heart and who ask in the right spirit. So I have to believe that one person who genuinely believes and who prays fervently could easily "catch God's ear" more easily than a dozen people who send up a half-hearted, ambivalent prayer.

That's just rationalization. Events happen, and you evaluate those events so that they support your beliefs. It's convienent, but it doesn't really prove anything.

 

[freckles and boo]

Prayer is as powerful as the person praying or the person being prayed for believes it is.

Maybe it won't hurt, but it can't hurt. And for those of you who don't believe in prayer, why are you so disparaging of prayer and those who believe in it (Kath2003 you are the exception). I find it interesting that the topic arouses such strong emotion in folks who aren't interested in it.

When there is discussion of a topic that doesn't interest me, I don't even bother to read it or respond to it.

hmmm....

Most people who don't believe prayer is useful in a practical sense have acknowledged that it holds therapeutic value. Just because someone doesn't believe prayers "work" doesn't mean they aren't interested in the subject. Why should someone who doesn't believe a prayer has power decline to participate in this conversation? The topic of the thread is "How powerful is a PRAYER?". All of us are entitled to respond with our opinions.

 

[MrsPete]

but praying that Uncle Bob isn't going to die of lung cancer doesn't stop him from doing so.

God has a plan -- a plan to which we're not privy. Uncle Bob has to go sometime. If God has determined that lung cancer is to be the end for him, then all the prayer in the world won't stop that disease from taking him -- the answer to that prayer would be no. Something's going to take each of us someday, and for a Christian, that's not a sad thing -- if lung cancer is what takes Uncle Bob to heaven, then it's not entirely sad.

That doesn't mean that it's wrong to pray for healing for Uncle Bob, or that it's wrong to pray for a lessening of pain for him, for financial help for his wife, or a sense of peace for his children.

 

[Amity 3]

And that is where we say goodbye...enjoy the beers!

I will, my only problem is the beers are taxed. the religious vice isn't.

 

[MrsPete]

That's just rationalization. Events happen, and you evaluate those events so that they support your beliefs. It's convienent, but it doesn't really prove anything.

Yeah, if it happened once or twice, it could be rationalization . . . but over and over, constantly, across different areas of my life, involving different people . . . even sometimes when I don't see the "why" for quite some time . . . it proves to me that someone greater than myself is in control.

 

[JennyMominRI]

God has a plan -- a plan to which we're not privy. Uncle Bob has to go sometime. If God has determined that lung cancer is to be the end for him, .

Please don't take offense but I have never believed in *G-ds Plan* . That G-d gives Bob Cancer or Jenny AIDS or Ed an Aortic dissection It's just not something I can believe of a loving G-d..These things happen because we are human and are succeptable to illness, accidents and the free will of others..I believe G-s is just as sad as we are when these tragedies happen.

I say this just to give another perspective, not to skewer your view

 

[orljustin]

Yeah, if it happened once or twice, it could be rationalization . . . but over and over, constantly, across different areas of my life, involving different people . . . even sometimes when I don't see the "why" for quite some time . . . it proves to me that someone greater than myself is in control.

"Stuff" happens all the time. You can always find a "reason" it happened. "It was terrible Grandma died, but we found that collection of silver dollars we sold to help pay the mortgage." "If I hadn't lost my job, I wouldn't have been buying smokes and lottery tickets and won that $100,000. God must be looking out for me." Little things and big things. Sometimes good things happen, sometimes bad things happen. When you start attaching reasons and connections, then you're justifying your prayers.

 

[phillybeth]

Prayer is as powerful as the person praying or the person being prayed for believes it is.

Maybe it won't hurt, but it can't hurt. And for those of you who don't believe in prayer, why are you so disparaging of prayer and those who believe in it (Kath2003 you are the exception). I find it interesting that the topic arouses such strong emotion in folks who aren't interested in it.

When there is discussion of a topic that doesn't interest me, I don't even bother to read it or respond to it.

hmmm....

I'm not disparaging of it. It's not for me, but if it makes you feel better, who am I to try to stop you?

 

[Amity 3]

What about alternative types of medicine?? What about the power of suggestion?? If you tell a person that a whole group of people have been praying for them it can change their attitude. I think most doctors will agree that there is evidence that a positive outlook most definitely can impact your health.

once again, the second law of thermodynamics is pretty raw.

all of the life on earth has a finite energy supply. a land tortoise can live to over two hundred years, a blue whale over eighty. where a hummingbird less than two.

we're the only animal on the planet that has evolved with a frontal lobe that allows us to realize our own eventual demise.

we compensate with the belief in a 'God' and prayers to Him to stave off the inevitable.

 

[Cool-Beans]

What about alternative types of medicine?? What about the power of suggestion?? If you tell a person that a whole group of people have been praying for them it can change their attitude. I think most doctors will agree that there is evidence that a positive outlook most definitely can impact your health.

That's another one I don't believe. I don't believe a positive outlook changes anything. Seen lots of folks with excellent attitudes die.

Last Friday we had a great guy, great family, all very, very positive. He was very funny, too, with a gleam in his eye. But his chest pains returned, he went back to CCU and died on Saturday.

I know there are studies (evidence) that show that prayer and positive attitudes help, and they sure can't hurt!, but I don't believe they help. Not that I've ever seen, anyway.

I really believe that when it is your time to go that no amount of prayer, no amount of positive thoughts - nothing is going to change it.

And it kind of seems like a slap in the face to all the people who were positive, and who did pray, but died anyway, when people say that if they'd been more positive or had a better relationship with God that He would have helped them, like He helps others. Seems that way to me, anyway.

When I pray for my patients and other sick people, I pray for God to give them strength and peace. But I never pray for good outcomes (hope, but not pray). I've watched enough people pray for that and get no result.

 

[orljustin]

we compensate with the belief in a 'God' and prayers to Him to stave off the inevitable.

Is it more people are afraid of death, or that they are afraid of not knowing where they come from, that makes them turn to a religion?

 

[MrsPete]

Please don't take offense but I have never believed in *G-ds Plan* . That G-d gives Bob Cancer or Jenny AIDS or Ed an Aortic dissection It's just not something I can believe of a loving G-d..These things happen because we are human and are succeptable to illness, accidents and the free will of others..I believe G-s is just as sad as we are when these tragedies happen.

I say this just to give another perspective, not to skewer your view

I think bad things happen to us for many reasons -- I don't think God intends to inflict bad upon us; that clearly wasn't his original intention in the Garden of Eden. Much of the bad that comes to us is through our own foolishness or our own sinfulness. Much of it is "sins of the fathers" that's handed down to us from generation to generation -- a concept that seems unfair, but which I think I can see clearly in my own life. Some of the bad that comes to us is inflicted by Satan. And some is just pure chance -- due to the frailties of our bodies, free will of others, etc.

Yes, God is love, but He is also justice, wrath, and vengence -- we just don't tend to like to think about those parts these days. Yet, no matter what happens to us, no matter how much bad may fill our lives, God's love is always there for us -- if we reach out and take it.