A question of prayer and answers

[roger1440]

Why do One need to ask for it? Why wouldn't God provide it as is?

For the same reason, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink". For lack of a better term, we have "free will". We all know we shouldn't murder and steal but many of us do it anyway.

 

[Segev Moran]

For the same reason, "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink". For lack of a better term, we have "free will". We all know we shouldn't murder and steal but many of us do it anyway.

Let's try and use your horse example...
So God leads the horse to the water.. but only if the horse wants to drink, God provides him with the ability to do so.. Yet why is that that the horse would like to drink yet God denies him that ability?
Was the horse not good enough to earn the water?

Your example actually fits my POV with one difference, You say someone Leads the horse to the water, I say the horse gets to the water on his own..

We don't really have a "free will"...
You can't choose to live forever,
You can't choose the want to eat,
You can't choose to have a survival instinct,
You can't choose be born born with intact body...
What we can choose, is how to act in order to satisfy our instinct..

If you live with a group of people, YOU can choose whether you will survive better alone or with them...

Humanity, Slowly through the years, realized we will probably survive better as a species if we work together..

There are a lot of individuals that are not seeing it that way, unfortunately a lor of times those individuals are holding key positions that affect their decisions on millions of people who just want to survive peacefully...

So I can agree with the fact that we have the ability to choose, but on the same breath, we don't...

The question of this post, is if you think there is a deity, that makes you choose what you choose and more, does it provide some people what it prevents from others..

 

[Patrick Silverstone]

Hi All,
I Would like to talk a bit about the concept of prayer.
As I see it, a prayer is a way for someone who believes to "talk" with God and present him with your desires, gratitude and such.
But there is something that I really resent in the form that SOME people actually believe God answers those prayers..
Lets think of a scenario:

There is an outbreak of some violent disease, taking away lives one by one, lets assume it is affecting only children.
You can only assume that the religious people will prayer and give all their mind to wishing for their little one to survive the horrific situation...
My issue is that if for some reason, their child really is cured and manages to survive the terrible situation, it will be publicly be announced and a prayer answered.. as a miracle.. as something out of the ordinary caused by a super natural thing.
I find this to be one of the worst things humans can do to there fellow beings.
Imagine you have two mothers, they both pray for the same God,
they both lead good life and try as hard as they can to be kind and loving human being.
Now imagine only one child survives...
Not only the mother who just lost her child actually believes that God didn't answer her prayers, on top of that, the other Mother "rubs it in her face" that her child was saved. That god chose her child over hers.
even if the bereavement mother thinks that "God have it's mysterious ways" or that her child is in a better place... This is one of the most abusive things that can happen.
I Know that the concept of prayer (especially for other humans well being) comes from a positive position.. but what a devastating consequences it might have!
Although the example I gave was extreme, this goes for anything else in life..
Someone prays and get financial success.. WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO PRAYED AND DIDN'T?
Someone prays and manage to get pregnant... WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO PRAYED AND DIDN'T?

How twisted is it that when you get what you prayed for, it is God's wish?
Imagine the pain it might cause to someone who is on the "Losing" team...
How is that any different than saying: God loves me and not You?
How is it any different than saying that god discriminates people?

to make it all worse, Imagine the fact that people actually believe that the thing that caused the problem in the first place, was God's will...

If you'll take the same scenario and strip it from the concept of God and dress it on another human...

You have two mothers, Both with child. there is a man, and he decides to kill just one of the children...
Will ANYONE in the world praise the man for "Saving" the other child's life???

Sorry.. I really can't get my mind to understand how people can actually accept this way of thinking...

I Would really appreciate your thoughts or POV so i can try and understand it better.
Regards,
And wishing everybody (No matter what God he prays or not to) a full, healthy and cheerful life

Dear Friend,
Being bestowed whatever we ask for by God doesn't mean that God is listening to our prayers and visa versa, i.e not being given what we pray for doesn't mean that God is not listening to us. There are different reasons why God sometimes does not give us what we want:
1. To teach us something or add to our personal qualities (patience, ...) by challenging us and putting us into trouble
2. To see who among us will remain faithful to him in hardships and when our prayers are not answered (By to see, I mean to show us to what extent we are faithful to him. God doesn't need to test sth to know the result; He is omnipotent and is aware of the future)
3. To give us sth better instead of what we ask for. For example, we aren't employed by an organization and later receive a better job offer.
4. To protect us from a harm that may inflict us by being given what we ask for. Sth which you think is good for you, but in fact it is not and God is definitely aware of. You would like to marry sb who you think is your sole mate, but in fact may ruin your life.
What I have learned by reading religious books and listening to experts of the field.
hope it helps.
Cheers

 

[The_Fisher_King]

What are you praying for for example? (If i may ask)

Most of the time, I'm not praying for anything. When I pray, I am just remembering God. When I pray for anything, it is for guidance. And even then, that is ultimately just remembering God. I certainly don't pray for this or that thing in this world (or the Hereafter).

 

[The_Fisher_King]

With what frequency?

Ciao

- viole

Well, my prayers take different forms. There is the prayer in the heart and mind and soul (and with the body). In that sense, I aim for 24/7 praying = 24/7 remembrance of God and more (how many Hertz is that?). But I ain't perfect. The five times daily ritual prayers (Solaat) I pray as a Muslim I take as reminders to remember God always (if that makes sense).

 

[viole]

Well, my prayers take different forms. There is the prayer in the heart and mind and soul (and with the body). In that sense, I aim for 24/7 praying = 24/7 remembrance of God and more (how many Hertz is that?).

Do you pray also when you sleep?

But I ain't perfect. The five times daily ritual prayers (Solaat) I pray as a Muslim I take as reminders to remember God always (if that makes sense).

Of course it makes sense. It would be pretty easy to forget Him, otherwise.

Ciao

- viole

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Do you pray also when you sleep?

Yup. At least some of the time, at any rate.