Sunday 30 March 2014

Prayers

 
People sometimes ask: Why pray? Will it change the will of God, or budge Him in any way?

As parents, we do sometimes change our minds and give way to our children’s demands, (eventually), especially when they go on and on about something that they want. Perhaps they make us see reason and we oblige them because we love them.

Are we to believe that our Father in Heaven loves us less than we love our own children? That He will not give us what we ask Him?

In Luke 18:2, Jesus tells the story of a widow who pestered a judge for so long that he eventually gave in and helped her. This parable teaches us not to be discouraged and always pray to God for our needs. Not what we want. But what we need.

Yet again, in the Lord's Prayer, we are taught to ask God our Father, and we will receive.

So then, how about praying to God? Will our prayers change His mind, or His will? Or are His plans for us already set out and no prayers will change them?

Over the years I have learnt that by praying, especially when praying for others, God does listen and sometimes our prayers are answered.

Whether He answers our prayers because we prayed, or He meant to answer them anyway (i.e. it was His will all along); is a debating point which can go on for ever - without us reaching a conclusion.

This is simply because we are not meant to understand Him, and to understand the reasoning behind His actions.

He is God. We are not.

We really should stop bringing Him down to our level by trying to understand Him with human minds.

However, the fact that we don’t understand how, when and why our prayers are sometimes answered and sometimes not is not a good reason for us to stop praying.

It is sufficient to learn from Christ, who prayed to God many times, and who encouraged us to do the same.

And when we pray we should do so in thanksgiving, in hope, and in the sure knowledge that He is listening.

10 comments:

  1. Great point Victor. If praying was something important enough for Jesus to do, who are we to question whether it is right??

    Fr. Martin once put this into perspective for me. He said, at the end of the day we are trying to build a relationship with God. He challenged us to look at our earthly relationships ... are there any where we are totally silent? Any where the only thing we do is ask for things? Of course not. So then how would we expect to build one with God by not talking to Him, or only talking to Him to ask Him for something?

    God Bless you.

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    1. You make a good point Michael, and Fr Martin is very wise. God likes to hear us talk to Him in prayer.

      God bless you.

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  2. Excellent point Victor (and Michael).
    Seems too often we forego prayers due to time limitations (busy lives) or perhaps due to our natural negativeness?
    God mysterious ways are not for us to understand, but simply to accept.
    Easier said than done though...

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    1. Hi Noelle,

      You're so right. We so often "forget" our prayers because we're oh ... so busy. God bless you and your family Noelle.

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  3. Victor #1, when we get right down to "IT", many people probably accept that they are on this earth to get rich and forgive me but if God was to check in HIS OWN WAY, I believe at this time that the % of humanity would agree that a LOT of humans are all a little Leary in this way. :) Although, I'm sure that in some way, you and other readers would probably say in so many words that it is nothing to worry about cause GOD (Good Old Dad) really does LOVE US (usual sinners) a lot more than we luv, "I" mean love our own children so let's keep praying for each other. Right Victor? (lol)

    God Bless Peace

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    1. Praying for you and yours always, Victor.

      God bless.

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  4. I think what's more important about prayer is what it does to our hearts, and by our interation, other people's hearts. Yes, it's possible for God to intervene based on prayer, though we'll never know if He did or whether He meant it to work out that way in the first place. But prtayer atunes us to Him, and that's more important than getting our desire.

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    1. Very well said Manny. I could not have put it better.

      God bless you and yours.

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  5. As you write, Our Lord teaches us to pray. And He himself prays to Our Father...
    "Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done."

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    1. That's right Hand-Maid. He taught us by example.

      God bless you and yours.

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