National Day of Prayer

[josh_oakley]

Today was the National Day of Prayer, and millions of people likely prayed for various things. Some prayed that the President prosper and guide our country, some that he repent and turn from the error of his ways... and some just prayed that he be impeached

Comments

[moonshineray]

Though I like the idea of your prayer and agree to an extent, I also believe we have a very real and may I even say Godlike? power in our prayers. I think there are different kinds of prayers. There is prayer that is focused on simply knowing and being with God, there is prayer that is worship and adoration, there is prayer that is asks for needs or wants, for God to do things in the world, to keep us from sin or evil influence, to ask for wisdom, etc. Most of the reason why I believe many prayers accomplish little is because people who are praying do not really believe that their prayers will come to pass. Yet the Bible constantly mentions in the new testament (and often shows us with examples in the old) what can happen when a person prays and acts on faith without doubt.

It is good to be content in all things, but I always felt it good to be content in my discontent, if you know what I mean. Discontent at the world and at the distance I am from where I should be in whatever aspect of life, as well as content that my needs are met, that I am progressing, and that God is with me helping me every step of the way.

Faith, to me, is like a very real power that can make unseen "possible" things into reality, like an ability to shape the world according to our own vision. It's like a power of creation, when God spoke He made the ideas in His head a reality on the earth, just as when we speak (pray) we can make real the things we ask for. Now obviously there will be times where the answer is no, or that the prayer will be answered just not the way we imagined it, or that we have to wait for it to come. Yet I believe God wants us to ask, ask as beloved children would ask their father for something, and God, the happy Father, more than happy to provide.

Here are a few verses that illustrate my point...

Luke 11:9-13
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

Philippians 4:6-7
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

I Timothy 2:1-4
"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior."

Hebrews 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."

Hebrews 11:1-3
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."

James 1:5-8
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Etc ect. Anyway, not dismissing your wonderful post, which I enjoyed very much, but just adding my own little bit of flavor.

[josh_oakley]

I agree, with the caveat that those kinds of prayers should only be prayed when God directs us to.

Plus my stance on the Bible remains... but I think we'll not get into that.

[moonshineray]

No, I think not.

[josh_oakley]

:)