Do you believe in prayer?

I don't practice any particular religion, but on 2 separate occasions (both some while back), I did make a heartfelt and desperate plea to who or whatever might be out there, to help resolve difficult situations for 2 separate people and their situations did change. I did also follow that up with sending thanks out to whoever may have helped.

Prayer, which I believe in, is not for that sort of use. Also our minds must always be open to other beliefs and religions. Only then will we get peace (if only) in most of the world.

I agree with Greeneyedgirl that prayer can change a person. Prayer is listening and responding as well as asking. Be very careful what you pray for as you might be asked to respond to the situation you pray about.
I do believe that prayer can change things. Jackie Pullinger who worked with drug addicts and gang (triad)members in Hong Kong says that she was able to get them off drugs by the power of prayer alone.A brilliant testimony to the power of prayer.

I just can't fathom how anyone can believe in a religion, let alone feel that a prayer has any result.

I suppose at least they're harmless, though, unlike all the trouble and wars religion has caused in the world.

I completely agree with Doodle and all she has written.
I do not pray for frivolous things that I may want. I have difficult situations in my daily life in matters regarding family.
I pray and put all my problems and stresses in God's hands I do not ask God to sort out those problems as I want as he is the one that knows what is needed in my life and His work is different to what we see in our lives.
I do get angry with him on occasions as sometimes it seems he sends me hardships that I do not want to endure but I keep up with my religion and keep praying.

I send a hug to KatyK as also being of the Catholic faith she had a hard time by the sound of things and praying to see the end of a horrible childhood which she wanted to stop but found no answer to her prayers is sadness in itself.
Fully understand how you lost your faith to pray hope you will not mind if I offer up a prayer for you and good wishes in all you do.

Thank you 3nanny6 How kind. Best wishes back to you.

I believe in the power of prayer - but not for material things. I have on several occasions asked for the strength to face a serious illness in myself or an illness in a close family member. Each time that prayer has been answered and each time I sent up a prayer of thanks. I also say a prayer of thanks every night.

Positive thought is what I believe in.

Oh and I think praying for a certain type of sweater is trivializing what prayer is about.

I was brought up as a Catholic, although I am not a very good one now, however I have great faith in Prayer, its a consolation and Prayers do get answered.

Same here KatyK

I am not sure what I believe but I know when something bad happens I pray but it is more to my late Mum & Dad.
However I do have a friend who is very devout & I have asked her to pray for my DiL who is very ill. I think if there is anything out there she will have more clout then me! She finds it very funny but does do it for me.

I certainly do not pray for cashmere sweaters nor tell people what to read. But I do believe in prayer. We may not get the miraculous healing or wonderful changes in fortune which we might be praying for but to put yourself in God's hands is a truly blessed experience and I always feel a great weight lifted from me when I pray.

I do believe in prayer, but I think there is pointless prayer..
Eg coming towards home and there is smoke coming from a house. It’s pointless to pray that it’s not your house (it’s already on fire), but to pray for the strength to deal with it if it was yours.

This reminds me of my time as a nursing assistant at 15 in a Catholic hospital - I'd been warned but the other girls re being approached about my religion etc. When the talk came we were changing the babies and I simply said that I was not a believer and didn't go to church. If I was a believer I didn't need to go to church as if God was real I would find him every where and not just in church - never heard another word on the subject whilst the other girls were constantly being hassled - oh and I was also good friends with the local priest who liked frequenting the popular meeting places for the young at the time, simply to keep abreast of all etc plus I guess chat to those who needed it in a familiar way. So I regularly had him greeting me from the other end of the corridor on his rounds or giving me a Xmas hug in front of the horrified Nuns. Don't get me wrong, I definitely support those who get comfort from prayer, I just don't expect there to be any real solutions because of it.

I would love to believe in prayer

But I don't

Not someone whose friendship I would cultivate!

BlueSky

Dear Doodle You so beautifully express what I feel and brought one of my favourite Salvation Army Songs into my head:

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!

In all the world around me I see His loving care
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair
I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast
The day of His appearing will come at last

He lives (as above)

Dear GrannyGravy13. You sound as if you need support. I do hope your prayers were answered. I know what it is to pray in a desperate hope for something. I sincerely hope all is well with you and pray for peace in your heart.

As a non conventional believer I have never understood professional sports people thanking God when they have won a race, scored a goal etc. Surely if they believe that strongly and with all the ills in the world they would believe God would have better things to do than watch their supporting achievement. Surely a Christian would be praying for a better world not their own personal commercial desires.

No i do not Pray nor a church goer.

Dear KatyK. That is so sad. It is also not uncommon. I have met so many people upset by a cruel childhood or upset by the rigorous religious upbringing they received. Often the two things are intertwined. This of course is nothing to do with God, it is the work of people and the fact that we live in the world outside the Garden of Eden and where the Devil holds sway. We are weak and do not understand. It is terrible that children suffer and I am not in the least surprised that you have no time for any Christian faith.
I am so sorry this happened to you. Unlike many, I believe it was purely by chance that you were in a family which delivered this kind of upbringing. I do not believe the theory that we are set trials that we can endure or to make us stronger. I simply think it is the mark of the wickedness that exists in the world, call it whatever you like. I really wish I could say something that could comfort you. I am so sorry you had to live through such a terrible childhood. I do believe that Jesus is very distressed about it and angry with the perpetrators of the cruelty. Why he does not intervene is a mystery we cannot understand until we see the next world. I did not believe in God, having had a difficult childhood too, until I was shown the next life, very briefly, and then I saw plainly that this life is just a passing phase and that we are loved so much and life goes on so much more wonderfully after we leave this world. This changed me. If you can have just a tiny hope, a grain of belief as the Bible says, then the way ahead will be wonderful for you. Meanwhile try to make a good life for yourself, one you deserve, and do not let the unhappiness of childhood throw its shadow over your life now.
With much love, Elle. ?? ?

I think it depends what you mean by prayer really. I am not a church going Christian but when I am very anxious particularly about people I love I do find myseld turning to something like prayer. I also think it can bring comfort to people. I think that praying for a cashmere jumper and not allowing your children to read Greek mythology is ridiculous though.
Did she really believe the jumper was in the shop because she prayed for it? Or was she just joking. If she really believed it I would question her beliefs because it doesn't sound very Christian

Thank you Elle

I always find it strange that people think God, Jesus or whatever has time/interest in sorting out their 1st world niggles yet does nothing to sort out real problems of drought and floods in the 3rd world.
Not for me. If there is a God he's an evil b*****d.