Zone1 Pray for me please.

[sparky]

Pain is what comprises our character Shocked one.

None here are immune, few are isolated from it

Those of us that have lived it and rose above, are forever free of the chains it may impose

Only you can endure.......

~S~

 

[Meriweather]

Sure, people want to believe. And some will even believe when they get nothing time and time and time again.

Are these people telling you they "get nothing time and time and time again" or is that your own diagnosis?

 

[frigidweirdo]

Are these people telling you they "get nothing time and time and time again" or is that your own diagnosis?

What do they get that I don't get?

I work with this dude who is "religious" in a "I don't go to church, never read the Bible" kind of way. His life sucks. My life is so much better than his life and I'm not religious.

Is this like the "I take medicine for a cold, and I get better after 7 days" kind of thing?

You pray, things happen. You don't pray, the exact same things would happen.

 

[ninja007]

And does God listen?

Not at all. Why would God care about you?

For example, a religious person I used to work with. She's spent the last 14 years trying to have a child. She got pregnant, lost the baby after 5 months.

God didn't answer her prayers. God didn't care.

she got the jab; she can thank billy gates

 

[shockedcanadian]

Pain is what comprises our character Shocked one.

None here are immune, few are isolated from it

Those of us that have lived it and rose above, are forever free of the chains it may impose

Only you can endure.......

~S~

The problem is evil. There seem to be more evil people in the world, especialy in positions of power than those who are good. It actually floors me to know this and you may not have as many evil people in positions of authority in America, but you will, as you continue to help the evil ones here.

 

[BreezeWood]

There seem to be more evil people in the world, especialy in positions of power than those who are good.

so very true and not just those in power, sadly there are most likely more good people in power just not enough than what is the general population on average and they claim billions belong to their churches.

- true evil has always been the leadership of organized religions.

 

[Meriweather]

What do they get that I don't get?

Let's start with the basics: We all get a life of our own. No one gets my life but me; no one gets your life but you. This is why, "I don't have religion and my life is better than his" doesn't work as a persuasive argument. The questions are, Would his life be better without religion? Would your life be better with religion. How would each life be different had the opposite choice been made? Would that difference be for the better?

I work with this dude who is "religious" in a "I don't go to church, never read the Bible" kind of way. His life sucks. My life is so much better than his life and I'm not religious.

Is this like the "I take medicine for a cold, and I get better after 7 days" kind of thing?

You pray, things happen. You don't pray, the exact same things would happen.

In many ways prayer is inexplicable, unfathomable. There are a couple of approaches to prayer:

• Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will. (I want what God wants for me)
• Here am I Lord for you to do my will. (I want what I want)

Both are equally great, because we are in communication with God. Amazing things can happen if we begin prayer by blessing God, and asking for his blessing, by offering our praise. Then a simple, humble, sincere, "Here I am Lord. Send me. I come to do your will." Yes, then ask for the blessings you wish to have in your own life, accepting that these blessings may not enter your life in ways you imagine they should. Then thank God and after that final 'Amen' stand up and say, "Now I begin."

And after each failure in that day, think it over, and again say, "Now I begin." After each success, "Now I begin again." Ask for God's help after each failure. Bless and thank Him after each success. Keep God in your life throughout the day, as often as you remember. (I find it's easiest to remember God at stoplights!)

Having God in my life has made a difference in this unique life that is mine alone. Looking back, I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[frigidweirdo]

Let's start with the basics: We all get a life of our own. No one gets my life but me; no one gets your life but you. This is why, "I don't have religion and my life is better than his" doesn't work as a persuasive argument. The questions are, Would his life be better without religion? Would your life be better with religion. How would each life be different had the opposite choice been made? Would that difference be for the better?




In many ways prayer is inexplicable, unfathomable. There are a couple of approaches to prayer:

• Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will. (I want what God wants for me)
• Here am I Lord for you to do my will. (I want what I want)

Both are equally great, because we are in communication with God. Amazing things can happen if we begin prayer by blessing God, and asking for his blessing, by offering our praise. Then a simple, humble, sincere, "Here I am Lord. Send me. I come to do your will." Yes, then ask for the blessings you wish to have in your own life, accepting that these blessings may not enter your life in ways you imagine they should. Then thank God and after that final 'Amen' stand up and say, "Now I begin."

And after each failure in that day, think it over, and again say, "Now I begin." After each success, "Now I begin again." Ask for God's help after each failure. Bless and thank Him after each success. Keep God in your life throughout the day, as often as you remember. (I find it's easiest to remember God at stoplights!)

Having God in my life has made a difference in this unique life that is mine alone. Looking back, I wouldn't have it any other way.

The problem here is that you say "pray and God will fix it", but he doesn't. Why wouldn't God be going around giving all the goodies to the religious people, and spend a lot of time attacking the non-religious?

 

[Ace Nova]

The problem here is that you say "pray and God will fix it", but he doesn't. Why wouldn't God be going around giving all the goodies to the religious people, and spend a lot of time attacking the non-religious?

How do you mean, "he doesn't"? Billions and billions of people pray on a regular basis and (you can ask them) I would assume their prayers are answered one way or another.

For many people, God is Spiritual in nature- something they feel inside of them, or as an invisible presence around them - for others, he may be a more physical presence - something they see in others and in the world around them. For some (possibly the ones that feel God is more Spiritual in nature - God may give "spiritual goodies" to. For others, he may reveal his "goodies" through someone they know. And for some others, he may indeed present them "with physical goodies" one way or another.

As far as "attacking the non-religious" my question would be, why would God need to attack "non religious"people? Are they attacking him? Are they attacking his Spirit? Are they attacking the people that believe in him?

 

[Meriweather]

The problem here is that you say "pray and God will fix it",

Except... I never said, "pray and God will fix it".

 

[Meriweather]

Why wouldn't God be going around giving all the goodies to the religious people, and spend a lot of time attacking the non-religious?

God offers a way of life to everyone. This has nothing to do with handing out goodies.

 

[Ace Nova]

Except... I never said, "pray and God will fix it".

* Although he could fix it at times

God offers a way of life to everyone. This has nothing to do with handing out goodies.

*Although he does "hand out goodies" at times as well

 

[Meriweather]

* Although he could fix it at times

Yes. Instead of "fixing", could the more accurate description be that God is building at all times as He is Creator? God also draws good out of evil. I do a lot of "fixing" with duct tape and super glue. God works on a whole different level.

*Although he does "hand out goodies" at times as well

Yes. All that we have on Earth is God's, is from God. He gives to us so that we might give to others. Blessings are received with the gifts; blessings are received in giving those gifts.

It's more complex than 'fixing' and 'goodies'. And in many ways, more simple. Almost unexplainable.

 

[frigidweirdo]

Except... I never said, "pray and God will fix it".

So then, what's the point?

 

[frigidweirdo]

God offers a way of life to everyone. This has nothing to do with handing out goodies.

Again, then what's the point of praying?

 

[Ace Nova]

Yes. Instead of "fixing", could the more accurate description be that God is building at all times as He is Creator? God also draws good out of evil. I do a lot of "fixing" with duct tape and super glue. God works on a whole different level.

Yes. All that we have on Earth is God's, is from God. He gives to us so that we might give to others. Blessings are received with the gifts; blessings are received in giving those gifts.

It's more complex than 'fixing' and 'goodies'. And in many ways, more simple. Almost unexplainable.

It always has been and always will be.

That said, I thought "goodies" was a nice, simple term, especially coming from someone who thinks God doesn't "care about them" BUT God shows he cares because even a term that was intended as an insult ,can become a nice, simple term, when referring to what God can do.

 

[Meriweather]

then what's the point of praying?

Start with: Why do people talk to anyone--parents, friends, colleagues, strangers?

Years ago, I read this advice: When someone is speaking to you, to be a good listener, remember the three H's. Do they want:

• Heard
• Helped
• Hugged

Sometimes we enter a conversation to share something in our life, an opinion, or a problem we are wrestling with, where we just want a sounding board so our own thoughts and words can bounce back to us from an outward source, not just inwardly.

Other times, we are outright asking for help, or indicating we would like some help.

The third H is that we are simply looking for compassion, love, reassurance, and understanding.

We talk to God for the same reasons. Plus we include the acronym ACTS. Adore/Praise, Contrition, Thank, Supplication/petition. Some who are skeptical of prayer ask why God needs all that, why God needs worship. God is whole/complete in Himself, so need does not enter into it when it comes to God. People are not yet whole/complete--we are the ones with needs. We worship, adore, praise, thank and bless God because of our own need to remain focused on God, serve Him first, to love Him first so that we might draw closer in becoming whole/complete. We place our own needs before God. While God has no needs to place before us, Listen. He is often speaking to us, "Come with me to serve/fulfill the needs of another." (Speak Lord, your servant is listening. Here I am, Lord. Send me.)

God is God, not a Genii who comes to do our will, to grant our every wish. We bow down to God, "Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will." Even so, God hears us, He actively listens to our needs, what it is we want and ask Him for. Listen and actively look for how He is responding to your every request.

For example: A teenager has been trying to commit suicide. My prayer, "Help her, change her mind, protect her." His answer: To have me be of a very small service to someone who is helping her. Another: Someone close has liver cancer. My prayer: "Cure her all in an earthly instant! This instant!" (Okay, I was feeling desperate.) Answer: Reach out and support her in her journey as she wants (no more, no less)--and support those who are also worried as we go through this time together. The ways of doing this open up, become clear.

Know: Prayer and be rich and rewarding. Prayer can be more arid than the driest desert. Keep on anyway. Footprints in the sand.

 

[Meriweather]

It always has been and always will be.

That said, I thought "goodies" was a nice, simple term, especially coming from someone who thinks God doesn't "care about them" BUT God shows he cares because even a term that was intended as an insult ,can become a nice, simple term, when referring to what God can do.

Ironically, the goodies God is showering us with often go unnoticed. Some of this is our own eyesight. A lot of it is because God is so good at not letting His left hand know what His right hand is doing, that we miss knowing as well!

 

[frigidweirdo]

Start with: Why do people talk to anyone--parents, friends, colleagues, strangers?

Years ago, I read this advice: When someone is speaking to you, to be a good listener, remember the three H's. Do they want:

• Heard
• Helped
• Hugged

Sometimes we enter a conversation to share something in our life, an opinion, or a problem we are wrestling with, where we just want a sounding board so our own thoughts and words can bounce back to us from an outward source, not just inwardly.

Other times, we are outright asking for help, or indicating we would like some help.

The third H is that we are simply looking for compassion, love, reassurance, and understanding.

We talk to God for the same reasons. Plus we include the acronym ACTS. Adore/Praise, Contrition, Thank, Supplication/petition. Some who are skeptical of prayer ask why God needs all that, why God needs worship. God is whole/complete in Himself, so need does not enter into it when it comes to God. People are not yet whole/complete--we are the ones with needs. We worship, adore, praise, thank and bless God because of our own need to remain focused on God, serve Him first, to love Him first so that we might draw closer in becoming whole/complete. We place our own needs before God. While God has no needs to place before us, Listen. He is often speaking to us, "Come with me to serve/fulfill the needs of another." (Speak Lord, your servant is listening. Here I am, Lord. Send me.)

God is God, not a Genii who comes to do our will, to grant our every wish. We bow down to God, "Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will." Even so, God hears us, He actively listens to our needs, what it is we want and ask Him for. Listen and actively look for how He is responding to your every request.

For example: A teenager has been trying to commit suicide. My prayer, "Help her, change her mind, protect her." His answer: To have me be of a very small service to someone who is helping her. Another: Someone close has liver cancer. My prayer: "Cure her all in an earthly instant! This instant!" (Okay, I was feeling desperate.) Answer: Reach out and support her in her journey as she wants (no more, no less)--and support those who are also worried as we go through this time together. The ways of doing this open up, become clear.

Know: Prayer and be rich and rewarding. Prayer can be more arid than the driest desert. Keep on anyway. Footprints in the sand.

We talk to each other because we're social creatures. We're designed to talk to each other.

Prayer is like talking to an imaginary friend. It can make people feel good, feel in control.

Doesn't mean they're actually talking to anyone or anything.

 

[Meriweather]

Prayer is like talking to an imaginary friend.

It is not at all like that. Sometimes it feels like I'm talking to myself. Then it turns out I wasn't.