Comments on: Thoughts on Prayer: Is it Work?

By: Reed

Reed — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:16:26 +0000

Also… I do agree that may times our prayers are answered immediately… in the changes they make immediately in our minds and hearts. On the external changes we’re praying for, I do know that prayer can miraculously and instantly change things some times.

By: Reed

Reed — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:15:28 +0000

Kris – You’re right, instantaneous ‘positive’ responses don’t seem to come about too often anymore (but sometimes they still do…my dad can attest to this). On those prayers in the bible, my sense is that we tend to focus on them as the rule instead of the exception; when in fact they may be just that. Consider Abraham and Sarah… how many years do you think they prayed to have a child of their own… many, many, many! Abraham also experienced instantly answered prayer, too, though (Genesis 20:17).

Aaron – The struggle to pray still exists for me, too. And again, I think it is because I don’t see it as “work.” Or perhaps it is precisely because it is work! I should schedule it out, task it out, *and* let it flow naturally from me, too (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Either way, I must have a firm conviction that prayer works and a firm commitment to do the work of prayer.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:02:55 +0000

Your continued challenges are motivating to me! It is interesting; I have never doubted the efficacy of prayer, yet the struggle to pray exists. Sometimes I just don’t want to do it. I read of some of these great Christian spiritual ‘gurus’ and mystics. The passion and joy of which they speak of prayer flows so naturally from their being. I wish to have that kind of prayer; the one that just emanates and flows naturally out of my relationship with God. To have that kind of prayer would be to invite powerful workings of the Spirit into my life, witnessing those events where prayers seem to be answered immediately.

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:13:55 +0000

Sorry for the cognitive dissonance! you really should learn some $5.00 terms lol.
Prayer always seems to be a formal thing to me. Not on a one on one level, but in situational obligations. My problem is I think I grew up were prayers weren’t an intimate time spent with Christ but more of a “religious” expectation. I can talk to Christ openly when alone but not so much when other people are around. I do feel prayer counts, its just that sometimes my instantaneous needs are not met. After all weren’t most prayers in the Bible answered immediately!