JAHS Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 I think quite often God doesn't have a "will" when it comes to what we ask for in prayers. Our prayers and faith can change things in a way they may not have gone if we didn't pray for them. But we should simply acknowledge that if God does have a will regarding what we pray for, we should be humble and willing to accept it.
The Nehor Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 If God's will is absolute there is no need for me to do anything. I should not go buy food. If God wants me to have food he would have it come to me or be brought to me. Since God allows us to influence things in one way why not allow us to influence things via prayer? Prayer is a special case. It lets us ask for things we cannot do on our own. It does not change God's mind but God in his condescension allows us to be, to a degree, the source and cause of some of his actions. Seeking God's will and submission to it means to pray for things we believe God wants and not necessarily what we want.
mfbukowski Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 22 hours ago, JLHPROF said: So should we be praying for God's will to be done or should we be praying that WE will put aside our own will? Isn't God's will going to be done anyway? Not if we have agency. 1
cinepro Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 9 hours ago, The Nehor said: If God's will is absolute there is no need for me to do anything. I should not go buy food. If God wants me to have food he would have it come to me or be brought to me. Stranger things have happened...
The Nehor Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 5 minutes ago, cinepro said: Stranger things have happened... Pretty sure that was a special case and not meant as a general exhortation to expect the local wildlife to drop off food. If it was I have been doing this whole life thing wrong.
Teancum Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 On 11/8/2016 at 0:13 PM, JLHPROF said: So recently someone I know recommended that we pray today that the will of the Lord for the country (whether his goal is prosperity or destruction ) will be done. This got me to thinking. Why do we pray that the Lord's will be done? Obviously this practice comes from Christ's prayer - thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. But how do you think this would work. Let's use the election example: 1. Let's say (for the sake of argument) God would prefer Trump over Clinton. 2. If God has that preference and purpose he is fully capable of bringing it to pass. Nothing we pray will change the course he has planned. If he wants Trump to lead, Trump will win. 3. If God doesn't have a preference and we pray the result if God intervenes won't be his will and if he doesn't intervene it won't be his will. Do we think that God's will ever WON'T be done if he has a purpose? No unhallowed hand can stop the work of God etc. Are we requesting our agency be removed so that God can decide for us? What exactly are we asking when we ask "thy will be done"? if there is a God and if this God has a plan for the world and for us all, if this God is all knowing and all powerful our prayers cannot persuade or influence such a being one whit. We pray a hurricane will avoid Haiti. It hits Haiti. Then we pray God will help relieve the suffering of those in Haiti. Is this not a waste of time? What can our prayers change? Take this and apply it to almost anything we pray for.
Teancum Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 On 11/8/2016 at 0:17 PM, Marmonboy said: I think basically we're asking for God to give us what He wants us to have, not what we might want the most. Quite often these are not the same things. Then why pray?
Teancum Posted November 9, 2016 Posted November 9, 2016 On 11/8/2016 at 0:31 PM, JLHPROF said: So should we be praying for God's will to be done or should we be praying that WE will put aside our own will? Isn't God's will going to be done anyway? If there is a God praying to influence this being is a waste of time. Praying to understand this being is not a waste of time.
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