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Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/18/2008 11:19:25 AM
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willfs
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The Bible has several verses that mention praying all the time and a lot.
Pray continually 1 Thessalonians 5:17
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Psalm 22:2
It seems like I have gone through real low periods of my life where I really prayed a lot. It seemed like because of all that prayer that God turned things around in my life. Here I find myself at another point in my life where I feel things are going down the commode. It's hard to tell how much I have played a part and I don't always know what to do about it.
Is praying awhole lot, all throughout the day, about anything and everything a good idea? I am motivated to do this and I find that I can pray all day because I get so discouraged about life and I see no way that I can change anything. Several things motivate me: I am actually getting things of my chest, in praying my heart is as least somewhat hopeful instead of feeling uterly hopeless, and I have seen God answer me when I have really prayed about stuff a lot. When I pray a lot about my problems I find myself also praying a lot that His will would be done, that I would grow closer to Him...etc...
Or is it about me just following some formula? Why should I have to pray more than once about something? I feel its like me pushing the elevator button over and over again: is all this prayer really nessesary? Didn't God hear me the first time? So what am I to make of Luke 18:1? Could I really keep this up my entire life? It doesn't seem that relational. What should I do?
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/18/2008 6:48:31 PM
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SonInMe1
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God is the source for all good things. Having a relationship with God makes it possible to resource those good things. In a relationship communication is key.
No talking, no relationship, no link to the good things in life.
Of course, that is not total. Having a relationship with God is not a promise of nothing bad ever happening to you. It is the promise of...hope though. Of assurance and trust. Of victory.
There is no "easy button" with God. No formula for perfection.
Deut. 28 1-14 suggests obediance is a way to be blessed...and Job shows us God's ways are above our own understanding.
I guess if there is any formula for a joyful life its this...trust God.
Don't let your circumstances dictate your joy.
Immerse yourself in the Word.
Prayer...no question prayer helps.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/18/2008 7:21:42 PM
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_CANCELLED_
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All I can say is being a believer, praying a lot, having faith, etc., doesn't ensure a great life--at least not in this life. If it happens, all the better, but what you're storing up isn't of this earthly life. Whatever we go through here, I have to believe, is in direct correlation to our life in heaven, somehow. What we go through here may be to make us stronger for other things we're going to go through. As hard as those things are for me personally, I can't help but think God's preparing me for His Will.
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And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and they house--Acts 16:31
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/18/2008 8:34:36 PM
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4IMPersuaded
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This is a good question and I think it addresses a misconception that many Christians have about prayer. I have said many times that our God created us to be in a personal relationship with each one of us. This is our greatest privilege as a believer. The distortion comes when we begin to believe that the nature of this relationship is about us. It isn't, it is about Him.
You probably already get this, but for the sake of others who might not, imagine a relationship in which one person does all of the talking-- and initiates the conversation when she wants something or is in a pickle. How long would this relationship last? I've actually had that relationship-- not cool.
This is not the sort of relationship that God is seeking to have with us. The point of prayer-- though it certainly can include petitions and pleas for help (see many of David's psalms)-- is to help you align yourself with God's will for your life. If you are living in the center of His will, you are not promised a "better life." History bears that out. What you are promised is a peace that passes understanding in the midst of trial and a personal, eternal relationship with our Creator. What is better than that?
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/19/2008 11:41:37 PM
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Dakotasunbeam
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I agree with 4IMpersuaded.
Praying a lot does not gurantee us a good life any more than crossing your fingers ensures something will occur. Prayer generally helps us to find ways that we are out of line with God. Often what we percieve as an answer to prayer is really us getting into line with the will of God in spiritual matters. The spiritual is first, then comes the physical. The Bible read, "I would that you prosper even as your soul prospers." The most important is the soul. Jesus outlined this when he asked, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?"
However, prayer does move the heart of God. And His mercy and His decision to move is entirely His. It isn't a formula, like if you pray 50 times a day, God will answer or feel pity for you. But Jesus gave an example. He told the tale of a widow woman who sought a field, and every day she went to a very shrewd land owner and begged him for the property. The Bible says, at length the man was grieved because of her much returning and her many pleas and he gave her the field at last. He said God could be moved in just such a way.
When we throw away our pride, and fall upon the mercy of God, there is something about that which moves His heart. But understand, His mercy is His to give.
Bless you
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/20/2008 1:14:08 AM
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aldrine
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i also believe that prayers don't assure us better result but a phase to exercise the limit and the capacity of our relationship with our Creator which are far more important than having a good outcome but the means crushed the spirit.
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/20/2008 8:07:20 AM
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earthless
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What do you mean by a "better" life? Jesus didn't promise us health and wealth.
_____________________________
Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/20/2008 12:19:51 PM
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armydude
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quote:
ORIGINAL: earthless
What do you mean by a "better" life? Jesus didn't promise us health and wealth.
Why is it assumed when someone talks about a "better life" someone starts with this? Come on!
_____________________________
Good question, you think?
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/20/2008 12:25:38 PM
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armydude
Posts: 15267
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SonInMe1
God is the source for all good things. Having a relationship with God makes it possible to resource those good things. In a relationship communication is key. That is true... God wants a relationship, and any relationship is better with communication. And a better relationship with God simply means a better life. After all why be upset about the future when you're talking every day to the One that holds the future?quote:
No talking, no relationship, no link to the good things in life.
Of course, that is not total. Having a relationship with God is not a promise of nothing bad ever happening to you. It is the promise of...hope though. Of assurance and trust. Of victory.
There is no "easy button" with God. No formula for perfection. Exactly. The more we talk to God, the more we are able to understand His commands to us. Along with that goes obedience. After all, God wants a relationship, but we still need to remember that He is God and we're not.quote:
Deut. 28 1-14 suggests obediance is a way to be blessed...and Job shows us God's ways are above our own understanding.
I guess if there is any formula for a joyful life its this...trust God.
Don't let your circumstances dictate your joy.
Immerse yourself in the Word.
Prayer...no question prayer helps.
I'll amen that!
_____________________________
Good question, you think?
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/20/2008 7:27:36 PM
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earthless
Posts: 5383
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: where pigeons are getting their sweaters ready....
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quote:
ORIGINAL: armydude
quote:
ORIGINAL: earthless
What do you mean by a "better" life? Jesus didn't promise us health and wealth.
Why is it assumed when someone talks about a "better life" someone starts with this? Come on!
Could it be because that is what over 90% of all Christian TV and radio broadcasts consist of?
_____________________________
Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/20/2008 7:32:20 PM
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armydude
Posts: 15267
Joined: 2/12/2006
From: NC
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quote:
ORIGINAL: earthless
quote:
ORIGINAL: armydude
quote:
ORIGINAL: earthless
What do you mean by a "better" life? Jesus didn't promise us health and wealth.
Why is it assumed when someone talks about a "better life" someone starts with this? Come on!
Could it be because that is what over 90% of all Christian TV and radio broadcasts consist of?
Not to take this off topic, but where in the OP were TV and radio broadcasts mentioned? I just searched again and I don't see it. I'm sorry to sound mean here, but there is a one stop thread to talk about this. Could this be taken there and not over the whole board please?
_____________________________
Good question, you think?
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/20/2008 11:22:55 PM
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Kath
Posts: 16556
Joined: 2/28/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: earthless
What do you mean by a "better" life? Jesus didn't promise us health and wealth.
Perhaps you missed what he meant as he discussed his thoughts in the OP.
quote:
Is praying awhole lot, all throughout the day, about anything and everything a good idea? I am motivated to do this and I find that I can pray all day because I get so discouraged about life and I see no way that I can change anything. Several things motivate me: I am actually getting things of my chest, in praying my heart is as least somewhat hopeful instead of feeling uterly hopeless, and I have seen God answer me when I have really prayed about stuff a lot. When I pray a lot about my problems I find myself also praying a lot that His will would be done, that I would grow closer to Him...etc...
Or is it about me just following some formula? Why should I have to pray more than once about something? I feel its like me pushing the elevator button over and over again: is all this prayer really nessesary? Didn't God hear me the first time? So what am I to make of Luke 18:1? Could I really keep this up my entire life? It doesn't seem that relational. What should I do?
This is what the OP wishes to discuss. Lets not focus on the title of the thread, instead lets discuss what he actually wishes to talk about. Thank you.
Sincerely
Kath
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/20/2008 11:27:24 PM
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DenimDiva
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Joined: 9/28/2007
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Mark Lowery said that if he only had one word to sum up the Christian life that word would be .................... interesting.
I don't know that prayer will make you have a better life, but it certainly never hurt anyone!
_____________________________
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/21/2008 12:19:01 AM
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LCannon
Posts: 1271
Joined: 2/22/2007
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'Pray honestly to show me my faults and victories(don't forget those!)and act on positively on both; to correct my wrong thinking and disobedience and allow His discipline to have it's 'perfect work'(James 1:2-4)and my victories to be ever more vulnerable to His Spirit.'
< Message edited by LCannon -- 6/21/2008 2:07:58 PM >
_____________________________
"Many of our prayers are for an easy solution. God is more glorifed in Him
when souls exhibit His Grace under pressure." -Elisabeth Elliot-
"But at my stumbling they gathered in glee...[but]How long, O Lord,
wilt thou look on?" -Psalms 35:15-
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RE: Want a better life? Just pray a lot??? - 6/21/2008 8:55:15 PM
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4IMPersuaded
Posts: 424
Joined: 11/17/2007
From: Florence, KY
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Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
quote:
I feel its like me pushing the elevator button over and over again: is all this prayer really nessesary? Didn't God hear me the first time? So what am I to make of Luke 18:1? Could I really keep this up my entire life? It doesn't seem that relational. What should I do?
Here is something else that occured to me as I re-read your OP, willfs. First, No, it is not futile-- it isn't the same thing as pushing the elevator button over and over. God ALWAYS answers prayer, though sometimes we are not prepared for the answer that we get. Sometimes he holds off just a little bit in order to teach us something. I have learned so much about who God is since having my children.
Imagine me and my little, strong-willed, independent daughter in the grocery store. How often do I tell her to stay by my side? A few times I allowed her to wander beyond me and ducked behind a display to see how long it would take her to look for me. I knew she was safe, but I allowed her to call for me a few times before I responded so that she would know that feeling and remember the next time she thought she should wander. We had to do that more than once for her to learn that particular lesson, but it wasn't that I wasn't there. I was watching her and keeping her safe even though she couldn't see or hear me.
I don't know if that helps...
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