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Your Question:
What's the point of praying when it doesn't seem to work?
Answer:
As I reflect on the question of why prayer seems to not work, I'm reminded of the importance of understanding God's ways. It's easy to assume that prayer is a means of getting God to do our bidding, but that's not the case. In fact, Jesus warns us against praying for specific things, saying that it's like advising God on how to run the world. Instead, we're called to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, even when we don't see immediate results. Prayer is not about getting what we want, but about getting ahold of God Himself. It's about expressing our trust in Him and dependence on His power. As the Bible says, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matthew 6:8). So, why pray if it doesn't seem to work? Because prayer is a means of deepening our trust in God and increasing our faith in His goodness. When we pray, we're acknowledging that we can't do things on our own and that we need God's presence and power in our lives. I think it's also important to remember that prayer is not a magic formula or a machine that produces results. It's a way of communing with God, of talking to Him and listening for His voice. And sometimes, that means praying repeatedly for guidance and direction, even when the answer isn't immediately clear. As I've said to my congregation at church, prayer is not about getting what we want, but about getting ahold of God, and that's something that's always available to us, no matter what our circumstances may be.
Sources:
systematic theology
wayne grudem
how to pray
c s lewis
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
power of a praying parent
stormie omartian
building dynamic faith
jerry falwell
my utmost for his highest
oswald chambers
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