Praying for things

[MoreCoffee]

Do you think that God has any intention of granting to you the things that you pray for? For example, will you win lotto if you pray to win?

 

[Josiah]

I would hesitate to tell God what He can and cannot do..... indeed, I hesitate to use the word "can't" in any reference to God.

I don't see prayer as a mechanical sort of thing, as if God is a waiter and we're ordering off some self-made menu. I'm NOT saying He can't or won't (see above), and I'm NOT saying it's wrong for us to pray for very specific things (even luxuries we actually don't need). I just don't see prayer as such a mechanical thing.

I think of prayer as talking with God. And that includes sharing what's in my heart/soul/mind. And yes, sometimes that includes material/physical stuff. Heck, I've prayed to God as test papers were being passed out (who hasn't?) and as I waited in the Dentist office (who hasn't?). Is that WRONG? IMO - no. God is our Abba and He cares about what is in our heart (and yes, He already KNOWS - so this isn't about informing Him, it's about SHARING with Him). It's relational.

God promises to "hear." And in a sense, to answer. But again, it's relational rather than mechanical. God is not an ATM machine, He is our Abba. If I pray, "God give me a Lamborghini Aventador" Well, what's behind that? What's in my heart/soul that is causing me to request that? God knows.... even if we don't. And I think it's often the need in our heart that He addresses rather than the literal words on our lips (especially since we have NO IDEA what we actually want and need). God is not our pet who rolls over if we do demand; God is not some mindless/heartless Genie in a Bottle. God is our Abba..... we are His precious children.


Another point: One think I've personally learned about prayer is that God may well answer it NOT by changing the situation but by changing ME. Changing MY heart, MY spirit. I think this happens a lot. Pray for your neighbor and you just may find that you go over to your neighbor and do things for them......God answered the prayer by doing something in YOUR heart. God CAN change things but more importantly, God can change US... and I think He often begins with the one we see in the mirror.



- Josiah

 

[MoreCoffee]

But will God give to you what you ask for in prayer?

 

[Lamb]

But will God give to you what you ask for in prayer?

If my prayer is in line with His will and plan...then yes.

 

[tango]

Do you think that God has any intention of granting to you the things that you pray for? For example, will you win lotto if you pray to win?

I think this feeds nicely into an arguably related question of just what it means to pray "in Jesus' name". A lot of people seem to think that they just add "in Jesus' name" before the "Amen" as a way of making their prayer somehow more special, or more likely to be granted. I keep coming back to the idea that praying "in Jesus' name" is about asking for what Jesus would have asked for in the same situation. I might fancy a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster (it does often catch my eye!) but the King of Kings who chose a borrowed colt as his means of transport into Jerusalem probably wouldn't have chosen something so exotic. When the man who had every right to demand the kings of the earth line the way so he could walk over their backs into Jerusalem chose not to be so ostentatious, chances are there's a lesson in there for us.

Maybe I need a car but it doesn't have to be a Lamborghini. I need somewhere to live but it doesn't have to be a 12-bedroom oceanfront mansion. I need to eat but don't need fillet steak.

 

[tango]

If I pray, "God give me a Lamborghini Aventador"

Ha, you use that example as well

Another point: One think I've personally learned about prayer is that God may well answer it NOT by changing the situation but by changing ME. Changing MY heart, MY spirit. I think this happens a lot. Pray for your neighbor and you just may find that you go over to your neighbor and do things for them......God answered the prayer by doing something in YOUR heart. God CAN change things but more importantly, God can change US... and I think He often begins with the one we see in the mirror.

I remember years ago I was praying for someone, for God to address a specific situation they faced. It was as if God said back to me, "why don't you fix it?". And then I realised I was busy asking God to step into a situation that I was quite capable of fixing myself. It was a humbling moment...

 

[hotrhymez]

No. God is not some genie that pops out of a lamp and gives you whatever you want. Though if it is in His will...then so be it.

Though I dont think it hurts God's feelings if you ask for stuff and tell Him the things you want.

 

[IACOBVS]

Do you think that God has any intention of granting to you the things that you pray for? For example, will you win lotto if you pray to win?

I pray each week when I purchase my $1,000 of lotto tickets. I've done this for 1,000 weeks. So far, the heavens have been as brass, and I'm $1,000,000 behind. Maybe Christian Haven members could step in and pick up the slack where God has failed so miserably ... especially the ones who vote for Republicans and other conservatives.

 

[NewCreation435]

Do you think that God has any intention of granting to you the things that you pray for? For example, will you win lotto if you pray to win?

You can tell God what is on your heart, but at the end of the day what is important isn't your will but God's will. You should always be willing to say "Your will be done". If your not, then your probably sinning

 

[MoreCoffee]

What about that verse where Jesus says that if two or more are agreed on earth then they will be granted anything that they pray for? Will one or more of you agree with me that I ought to win a HUGE lotto prize - I'll share

 

[tango]

I pray each week when I purchase my $1,000 of lotto tickets. I've done this for 1,000 weeks. So far, the heavens have been as brass, and I'm $1,000,000 behind. Maybe Christian Haven members could step in and pick up the slack where God has failed so miserably ... especially the ones who vote for Republicans and other conservatives.

What has voting preference got to do with this?

 

[tango]

What about that verse where Jesus says that if two or more are agreed on earth then they will be granted anything that they pray for? Will one or more of you agree with me that I ought to win a HUGE lotto prize - I'll share

There must be more to it than that, because otherwise if two or three agreed that you'd win the lottery and another two or three agreed that you wouldn't win the lottery, one group would clearly have to be denied in which case they could claim God broke his promise.

But if you feel like sharing your lottery winnings with me, go right ahead. I would share my last lottery winnings but they were only $10 and international transfer fees would soak that up before I even began.