Author	Thread: Prayer
Admin	Prayer Posted : 14 Feb, 2010 10:29 PM A few years ago at a Bible study someone said that when we pray we should pray specifically and it was related to some friends looking for a place to live. The person said that when they pray about where to live, they should ask specifically for what they want... like praying for 2 bedroom apartment with a washer and dryer in the apartment and they should pray expectantly. The other day I did morning devotions with a close family, and the mom told the kids that they shouldn't tell God what to give them because it puts limitations on Him. I have been thinking about this all week, because the two oldest kids were specifically praying for all the money for their upcoming mission trip to come in this week. From what the mom said it would seem that praying specifically for what we want/need is putting a limit on what God can do, even though He can do whatever He wants in the blink of an eye. This seems to be a contradiction in my mind, but maybe I am missing something. Thoughts anyone? Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 15 Feb, 2010 09:06 AM dear katie, welcome to the forums.. ole cattle Post Reply
daniel12345 View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 15 Feb, 2010 09:18 AM Hi Katie, The ultimate question here is why do we pray? I believe from the Lord's prayer, it is taught that we pray to understand God's will and to ask for remission of sin. Since God's already knows what is best for us, there is no need to ask too specifically. It is not because when one asked specifically, one put a limitation to God but one tend to choose a path not of God's will as he is too focus on his. You can't put limitation to God. Post Reply
DontHitThatMark View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 15 Feb, 2010 09:39 AM I'm not sure. I've just about given up praying for anything specific and just pray for God to do His will in my life. I trust that He knows what is best for me. It kinda turns prayers more into a "I trust you, God" instead of a "please give me". Jesus gave us a model prayer, and it starts with asking God to do His will, and ends with the most basic requests. Food, forgiveness, and protection. No matter what you ask God for...He's going to do what He knows is best for you....and that should be all we ask for ourselves in my opinion. Praying for other people...we can get as specific as we want, I just think we should be worried about being selfless/serving others and trusting God. If we do that, God will take care of us. No worries. :peace::peace: Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 15 Feb, 2010 10:53 AM Hi Katie, You ask a very good question. I believe that when we pray we first must come to the Lord with a clean heart and have the proper motive. In other words we must come to the Lord with all of our sins confessed and repented of. There is also the issue of "Fasting". Fasting is not something Jesus suggested but made it pretty clear to me that we must fast and pray. There is a great deal in the scriptures about prayer. If you have a bible program do a word search and study what God has to say about prayer. You can download a free program at www.e-sword.net Here are some scriptures that hopefully will help you. God does answer prayers even though sometimes His answer is no or not just yet. We should also seek and ask for His will to be done. It is interesting that while we can ......Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come BOLDLY to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." We must also be humble in spirit and never demand anything from God. I love what Jesus said in Matthew 7 below. Mat 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! NKJV Mat 21:22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Mar 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. The key is that we must have no doubts. Our faith must be strong and solid. Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 1Peter 3:12 FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE ON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN TO THEIR PRAYERS; BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL." Prayer is communication with God and He enjoys good conversations. :-) Blessings! Walter Post Reply
stormcountry33 View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 15 Feb, 2010 03:50 PM I can see both sides of the argument. I think that if we pray specifically for something that maybe we are being too selfish however when we pray specifically I think that we are showing God that we believe that He has the power to deliver what we are asking for...I guess I say pray specifically and trust that God will deliver!!! But of course it would be better if you knew that what you were asking for fit into God's will. Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 15 Feb, 2010 05:13 PM There is no way that we as His creation can put limitations on the Creator. What can the pot say to the Potter? I agree that when we pray specifically that we show faith. But faith really comes from the heart and He knows our faith. He also has His agenda for our lives, and it is right and good. It might not be comfortable but it is right and good. "Peel back the layers of self, Oh Lord and do Your perfect will at the heart of the matter, my heart!" Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 15 Feb, 2010 08:25 PM This is a great question! Thank you! "A few years ago at a Bible study someone said that when we pray we should pray specifically and it was related to some friends looking for a place to live. The person said that when they pray about where to live, they should ask specifically for what they want... like praying for 2 bedroom apartment with a washer and dryer in the apartment and they should pray EXPECTANTLY..." A few thoughts... -Is it possible that God already has something else in mind? Like a cheaper apartment with not as many luxuries because He knows a time is coming up when money will be scarce. We aren't able to see all that He sees. (okay, maybe just ONE thought. lol) My PERSONAL view... As I've seen someone else say on this thread, pray for God's will to be done. It may not be what you WANT, but I promise it will be what you NEED. And, when you pray for other things (UNDER His will, that is), do so with expectancy, as you learned in college. Just realize that when you do this, you are expecting His will first, THEN your personal requests. These may clash. Some cool scriptures... James 4:3, 5:13-18 Philipians 4:6-7 Matthew 7:7-11 Hope to hear from you more on the forums! In Christ Garrett Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 16 Feb, 2010 07:41 PM hi there, the word of encourages up to delight ourselves in God and assures us that he will give us the desires of our heart also proverbs 16.9 a man's heart devise his way and God directs his path. God does not have to say yes you know? but you must have some sort of desire to live your life. how will God judge us if he makes our decisions for us? just my opinion. of course he tells us that we sometimes do not get our desires because we ask amiss but we(hopefully) learn from our mistakes, say thanks and keep it moving . nyanda p.s on my phone again ... Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 17 Feb, 2010 03:49 PM would you look at those typos. hehe. that first line is supposed to read 'the word encourages us to delight ourselves...' Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 17 Feb, 2010 03:49 PM would you look at those typos. hehe. that first line is supposed to read 'the word encourages us to delight ourselves...' Post Reply

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