Prayer (2) Whats The Point?

[nailit]

Many people pray for frivolous things (God please grant me a parking space at Tesco)
Many people pray for something far more serious (God please save my dying child)
The frivolous prayers seem to get answered far more than the serious prayers.
(Maybe something to do with the fact that you are more likely to find a parking lot at Tesco than you are of finding your terminally ill child miraculously cured of a terminal illness)

Its been said that prayer doesnt change circumstances, it changes you.
So why pray in the first place?
As an ex-christian, I really dont get it? I prayed for stuff to happen, which I. knew wasn't going to happen anyway, but then came the excuses. It wasnt Gods will etc. If God's will is paramount then prayer is a waste of time, he aint going to change his mind as to who suffers and who he replies to...

Didnt the Pope a while back say that he was going to ask God to remove Covid? If God didnt listen to the Pope asking for a pandemic to be erradicated then he's not going to listen to you asking for a parking space at bloody Tesco.

So whats the point? Seriously!

[naomi24]

You're not bored - you're stymied.

[jno]

you might as well ask "Doctor Who? What's the point?" Why do people watch stories about time travellers? Who cares?

And the answer is "Because they want to. And it's not compulsory for those who don't."

[Theland]

Stymied?
Only you could deliberately go put of your way to stymie.
Once again, self aggrandisement.
The discussion is secondary to your self promotion.

[HansUrbancka]

Theland...Why do you keep making statements which, if 'mirrored', reflect back to your own pomposit personality.

Oops sorry, you don't answer questions do you.?

Hans.

[HansUrbancka]

Your superior intelligence will realise that I should have said 'pompous
personality.

I sign off in your eyes as..... Hopeless Hans.

[Theland]

Dear Hopeless Hans,
Sorry for your plight.
Have you spoken to your GP about it?
Try Horlicks.
Regards, T

[HansUrbancka]

Well done Theland. Another piece of God given reflection.

Hans.

[andy-hughes]

The point of prayer is to comfort the person who is praying.

I am unsure if the prayer actually expects their prayer to be answered - maybe it is simply the act of prayer that does what they want.

But you have to be aware, as any Christian will tell you, is that God will hear your prayer, but not necessarily answer you in the way you want, or even understand.

Peter Green had it down -

"Now when I talk to God I know he's understand,
He said stick by me, and I'll be your guiding hand,
But don't ask me what I think of you,
I might not give the answer that you want me to."

BTW - Peter Green was Jewish.

[woofgang]

I can't help it 'bout the shape I'm in
can't sing, I ain't pretty and ma legs are thin
But don't ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that ya want me to.....
oh well.....
(guitar)

[woofgang]

yeah yeah I know this is OT but who doesn't love a good bit of guitar?

[Mamyalynne]

♪ But yesterday is dead and gone
And tomorrow's out of sight
And it's sad to be alone
Help me make it through the night ♪

[woofgang]

Rosemary Sutcliffe wrote this about harp music in Sword at Sunset but it seems to me to be descriptive of the best guitar solo intros
"Until now it had been sound without the limit of form, but now it was taking on a fugitive pattern, or rather the pattern was growing through the storm-rush of the music,"

Sutcliff, Rosemary. Sword at Sunset (p. 52). Atlantic Books. Kindle Edition.

As you were I must have had too much PX sherry
shuffles off to her corner again

[woofgang]

very true Mamya

[Mamyalynne]

Nice quote Woof x

[woofgang]

I have got a belter for your night night thread

[Mamyalynne]

Great,see you there soon.

[Theland]

What a beautiful and welcome diversion.
Thank you.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes, some smiles rather than frowns - far less aging.

[naomi24]

Bleurrgh!

Theland, //self aggrandisement….self promotion//

Thread after thread, you appear to have acquired a bit of a penchant for attacking me with garbage like that - and never with anything to support it. It's the behaviour of a petulant child who can’t get his own way.

[Theland]

You are fond of telling me, in mostly pedantic tones, how wrong I am, for example regarding prophecy.
'' You have been told before ....... ''
That is disrespectful to me, and I won't be, ''told,'' by you or anybody else without giving a robust response.
Get back to the issues.
Read through the threads, all of them. I don't think I have ever initiated a personal criticism, but I will truly respond to them.
Being a Christian does not mean I have lost my marbles!
Being atheist does not endow you with superior insight or knowledge.