If G-d Knows Best, What's the Point of Prayer?
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Question:
I'm a bit confused about the idea of praying to G-d to help us in a
certain situation or provide us with something. If G-d has made a person's
situation a certain way, then He wants it to be this way. He knows this is good
for that person. So then, why should a person pray for the situation to change?
Answer
Yes, the whole concept of praying is confusing. We trust in G-d that He is
good and does everything for the good. We believe that He has perfect knowledge
of everything and that everything is under His control. And we ask him to change
things and make them good. Yes, it seems a contradiction.
So think of it like this: G-d wants people to pray to Him. Something like a
parent wants a child to pick up the phone and say,"Hi, Mom and Dad."
More than that, He wants things to progress in His world through mutual
consultation. He wants that we should be involved in understanding what's
good for us and bringing it about -- no matter how much better His own
understanding and ability is than our understanding and ability.
That's what prayer is all about: Communion between you and G-d. Think of
prayer as G-d talking to Himself -- through you. In prayer, you and G-d are one.
So ask for everything you need. But keep in mind Who it is that you are
asking. And ask yourself what you are doing in return. What kind of a partner
are you?
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Latest Comments:
In that we talk, commune, and tell our agonies to G'd EITHER in words or feelings or thoughts or quiet meditation, we are actually strengthening ourselves. Why? Because the closer we are to realizing the G-d who is within us and being with His presence within, the stronger we are to face the calamities of life. Sometimes, the printed out, scripted prayers said while in the community of other people praying at the same time makes you feel connected to the PEOPLE, but I don't believe that Go-d likes those type of prayers BETTER than private communication. Again, if it gives us strength to face life and gives us a sense of purpose in life, then it is all for good. It is NOT about the end result of "getting" prayers answered. It's about the process itself.
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As we sow, so shall we reap. If today I am down in the dumps, my past karma has been so sinful that I am now suffering its reactions. Where does the will of God come here? God, to my mind, is only the referee in the game of cosmos. He just is the judge. He does not will us good or bad.
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Inasmuch as it is viewed as turning inward to commune with the strength, love, support and encouragement of G-d within ourselves, it is very highly useful, and to be desired not just by G-d as a parent, but also to us as being vulnerable to the winds of agony around us. However, there are two instances when I think it is not beneficial. First is when it is used to show others how pious we are, as in showing off. Second is when we use it to run from reality or use it to deny a situation. I had a friend whose son had a heart attack at a young age, and she called all her friends in the church (she was Christian), to come to the hospital to pray with her to ask G-d to heal him, and when he died, she stayed all night asking G-d to bring him back to life. After all, she said, her scriptures said if you ask G-d using the name of J.C., he will do ANYTHING you ask. So, prayer is both good and helpful as well as non-productive. It all depends why we pray.
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Maybe He does have control over everything. But does He exert control over anything? In the Garden of Eden, when He gave us free will, did he not cease to control everything we do or experience? If this is so, then there is much validity in prayer because he just may heed our prayer and intervene again and exert control, or He may not.
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G-d hears, sees, and feels all. G-d hears our voice wherever we are, and we are unable to flee to a place where G-d does not hear any sound we might make. The next question is, "Why doesn't G-d always listen?" Perhaps, you weren't speaking His language.
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Perhaps prayer is necessary so that we may remain or retain humility.
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thanks for the added clarity. it will greatly enhance the experience.
shana tova
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i am confused to why when we pray for things we need G-d seems to have a deaf ear. we live our life by his laws and yet again the prayers go unanswered. people loosing their jobs, homes and financial investments. is this the will of G-D? i just can not understand how G-D would let these things happen to good and observat people.
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I have read all of this article and it gives good answers to the question of "why it is necessary to pray". Our "Heavenly Father" is always available to us all, as He is, of course "The Giver of All Life". I spend, at lease one hour daily, in prayer and meditation, firstly just to thank him, for what he has given to me and mine and most importantly, to pray for those brave people, in our "Armed Forces", who would lay down their lives just to protect us from our ememies. We must never take them for granted and they deserve our prayers and absolute support. The soldiers in "The Israeli Army" are especially courageous, as in the past, and now in the present, have fought bravely to regain and retain our God-given, promised land.
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I think there is a difference if your prayer is like a ritual or something that definitely comes from your heart, a broken heart, Like David, he has many sins but his gift was that he knew how to repent and that came from the bottom of his heart.
G-d is G-d and I believe that He want us to get closer to Him throughout the prayer, and the need comes for that, without need we never search for G-d.
Thanks be to G-d for the need, and For His mercy endures FOR EVER!!
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