Not sure if anyone has posted on this topic, but would like to see what everyone thinks on this subject.
Basically it seems like in the "Modern Church" we use prayer to ask God for everything we want, but rarely what He wants. I know a lot of people claim that God will give them the desires of their heart, but are what they asking for the desires God gave them? Shouldn't we instead be asking for what God wants for us?
Good points on prayer and I agree, today's post-modernism teachings are giving us the idea that God is the "candy man" just waiting for us to command Him or His angels to bring it forth!
I've heard preachers say that we need to demand of God His promises. :rolleyes:
Love C.S. Lewis, thanks for sharing those, Cobbler.
Jesus gave us an excellent protocol to follow for every prayer:
Our Father who Art in heaven... Acknowledge who He is.
Hallowed by Thy Name....Worship
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done... His way..not ours.
Give us this day our DAILY bread...Asking for what we need according to His will, nor more... no less... like the manna in the wilderness.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.... We receive His forgiveness and dare not to deny forgiving others in the same way He did us, lest our prayers go unanswered.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.... guide our steps out of the path of temptation and wrong decisions, as well as the power and strength to resist satan and sin.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever, amen.... Letting God know that you know He is Omniscient.. all-knowing God, Omnipotent..all powerful and unlimited in His power...Omnipresent....He is able to be everywhere at all times, therefore...the ONLY ONE worthy of your praise and prayers...eternally He is! :applause:
Oh, and here is something about prayer that you all should read: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/01/the-only-way-a-soul-can-live-habit-3-for-a-new-year.
Ya'all were having' this conversation while I was out doing family stuff.
I agree with TwoSp (everyone can breathe now) when he said that the verse is referring to God giving us the desire. Not what we ourselves want in our heart or mind..... but the desire itself. And we must do the first part of the verse first.
Mountainlass, who told you that if you were very quiet and had a listening ear when you prayed, God would speak? Maybe He will, and certainly He has at times done that with me. But if He doesn't, and I hear crickets, I don't mind. I know that He WILL speak --- if not to me or my inner Spirit directly when I pause, then through others. Through His Word. Through songs. Through nature.
I believe God is speaking all the time to His people that He loves. We just don't recognize it or sometimes hear it because He uses different mediums. Don't stop pausing and waiting. But keep your ears open always.
Ugh, ya; there is so much of that "health and wealth" prosperity "gospel" stuff. The mature Christian will understand that WE are in service to God, NOT that we are to sit around like fat little princes (and princesses) having our every whim met by God -- it's all about Jesus, NOT us!! The purpose of Christianity is not our happiness. Rather, happiness/joy is the byproduct (fruit) of growing in the Spirit. When we centre our lives around Him and delight in Him, then our prayers will also be focused on Him and the things that delight Him. God desires a relationship with us that is uninhibited by worldly things; this sometimes means stripping of us of the stuff that gets in the way, even we think we want those things. If we also desire that close communion with God, then we'll be able to find joy and delight in NOT having our worldly desires met; we'll recognize that it's easier to be closer to God when there's not so much clutter (not just the physical kind!) in the way. Does that even make sense? I feel like I'm talking in circles! It's late and I've been typing ALL night (homework).
Just to answer your statement Pixy, health and wealth are all thru the bible, maybe you are hearing thru others dull ears.
Here is my question to you, who is our father of faith according to scripture, and what does the scripture say about him.
Jn 16:23 � And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Jn16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Pixy next time you run into a single mother, with children and she is struggling to care for her children, you tell her your gospel, it will not be Good news to her!!
There is no probably with my heart, Pixy it is full of light.
Mr 11:233 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Jn 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Jn 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Jn16:23 � And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
JN16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
