Question:
How is there power in prayer? **UrgentHomeworkHelp!**?
2008-04-06 11:34:55 UTC
Please help me! I am doing some homework and I really need to know how there is power in prayer.
I just dont understand, how exactly is there power in prayer? Please explain and give a couple of examples. Its much appreciated :)

Its not that I do not believe in God, I just don't understand.

Thanks...x
Twelve answers:
2008-04-08 16:19:12 UTC
Matt. 6:7 - Jesus teaches, "do not heap up empty phrases" in prayer. Protestants use this verse to criticize various Catholic forms of prayer which repeat phrases, such as litanies and the Rosary. But Jesus' focus in this instruction is on the "vain," and not on the "repetition."



Matt. 26:44 - for example, Jesus prayed a third time in the garden of Gethsemane, saying the exact same words again. It is not the repetition that is the issue. It's the vanity. God looks into our heart, not solely at our words.



Luke 18:13 - the tax collector kept beating his breast and praying "God be merciful to me, a sinner." This repetitive prayer was pleasing to God because it was offered with a sincere and repentant heart.



Acts 10:2,4 - Cornelius prayed constantly to the Lord and his prayers ascended as a memorial before God.



Rom. 1:9 - Paul says that he always mentions the Romans in his prayers without ceasing.



Rom. 12:12 - Paul commands us to be constant in prayer. God looks at what is in our heart, not necessarily how we choose our words.



1 Thess. 5:17 - Paul commands us to pray constantly. Good repetition is different than vain repetition.



Rev. 4:8 - the angels pray day and night without cessation the same words "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty." This is repetitious prayer that is pleasing to God.



Psalm 136 - in this Psalm, the phrase "For His steadfast love endures forever" is more repetitious than any Catholic prayer, and it is God's divine Word.



Dan. 3:35-66 - the phrase "Bless the Lord" is similarly offered repeatedly, and mirrors Catholic litanies.
super_skyguy
2008-04-06 18:46:39 UTC
Things of the Spirit cannot be scientifically explained. But I do know that prayer is direct communication to God, so perhaps it is not the power in the prayer, but the power in the answer coming from God.
2008-04-06 18:41:24 UTC
In some circumstances it may have a placebo effect. And sometimes prayer might help simply by putting your thoughts into words. But it has no supernatural powers, it can't do anything that a sugar pill or a journal couldn't do better.
?
2008-04-06 18:41:19 UTC
The power is in God, not the prayer. How close your relationship is to Him will determine how "powerful" your prayer is.
Dr Abbey
2008-04-06 18:39:58 UTC
the only power is in your imagination. people pray for things that have a likelihood of happening anyways, and so sometimes they do, and sometimes they don't. people convince themselves that this is either because god answered their prayers or because he did not (they didn't pray hard enough, or the time is not right). there is actually no evidence that prayer has any effect, except in the minds of the people.
ninja 2
2008-04-06 18:40:44 UTC
Prayer focuses the mind. Your soul is like a mirror, clouded over with chaos. Prayer wipes this away and lets you see yourself clearly. It takes a long time for this to happen
Weise Ente
2008-04-06 18:38:38 UTC
Double-blind scientific studies show there is absolutely no power in prayer.
2008-04-06 18:42:22 UTC
forget the blind studies...those who see have a means to the communion of saints...by praying, you join with all of heaven in expressing your sincere desire that all be as it should be...which is to be beautiful and good and true and right...just as God deises for us...thus you take part in God's 'work'...isn't that powerful!!
Dreamstuff Entity
2008-04-06 18:40:13 UTC
There is NO POWER IN PRAYER, as this study shows.



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060403133554.htm



Of course, the bible claims that ALL PRAYERS WILL BE GRANTED.



http://www.godisimaginary.com/i1.htm



Conclusion?
De Rerum Natura
2008-04-06 18:40:44 UTC
the Wise Duck is correct. prayer no workie.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/10/15/npray15.xml

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/health/31pray.html?ei=5090&en=4ecf3383e5b00000&ex=1301461200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
2008-04-06 18:40:12 UTC
Here is the power of prayer in my life:



http://z13.invisionfree.com/Maranatha/index.php?showtopic=15
interested1208
2008-04-06 18:39:56 UTC
It makes the person praying feel good. This in itself can't be bad...


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