This is such a great thread, thank you Arcturus for starting it!
For me, there was an initial period after my eyes were beginning to open that my mind went blank when I tried to pray for myself or others about anything specific...I didn't know how to do it anymore! I didn't know how to ask. I talked to God all the time in my head about things that I was learning or about His word etc, but when it came to people and their needs I was at a loss. It took me a little time to see what all of you are talking about.
Ray's paper on prayer made it that much clearer. I completely realize that God's will WILL be done, regardless of what I pray, so I strive to be in agreement with whatever God has in store for me or others, and just ask that He give us the strength to endure. It is natural I think to want to pray for the health and happiness of those we care for, and I still do that. But I do it with the acknowledgment that this health and happiness will come when God ordains, even if it means it won't happen until after the Lake of Fire. Health is just another definition of the Greek word for "salvation". And we know that everyone will eventually receive this.
It is comforting to know that afflictions in this life really are for our benefit. So when a loved one is going through a trial I am secretly excited for them. Not that I enjoy their suffering or want this for them, but I know that God is moving in their life, so I pray for them that the trial will bring them that much closer to the "peaceful fruit of righteousness".
Realizing that all is of God, including the good and the bad, the lessons that were easy and the ones that were horrid; allows us all to see that because of them has us here today at Bible-Truths.
Amen to that!
What we accomplish (or should I say God accomplishes in us) through prayer is our own growth into conscious agreement with God's will/plan for our own life and for the rest of His creation.
Josh that is so profound!
God draws us to turn to Him and we just have to come to the realisation of when it is HE dragging us to turn to Him or when He is inspiring confidence in Him in us. We also need to know the difference and when it is us trying drag HIM into agreement with our percieved needs or agendas!
Yes, there is a huge lesson in this Arcturus!
If God is inspiring us to pray in the first place, then even if He influences us to pray for something He knows will not come to pass, He is teaching and disciplining us through this. Kat, you did not get angry at God because He didn't save your baby, but there are many that would have. Confusion and even anger at God are likely much needed and necessary steps in certain people (as only God knows exactly what each person needs to go through to be brought to His likeness). I see it as part of the "experience of evil" that humbles us. While I have never been angry at God either (that I can remember) there was a time when I was indifferent to God. Boy, that was an empty yet evil experience!
But as you said Darren, all of the things in our lives has brought us to this point. I strive to lace each prayer with gratitude and practice this feeling in my heart, because I know a day may come when I'll need to hold fast to this attitude of gratitude during tribulations yet in the future.
Peace,
Diana