Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: cole@maverick.uswest.com (Cole Keirsey) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Power of Prayer Message-ID: Date: 3 Apr 91 07:59:57 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 35 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Goeff said: >Prayer is more than asking for things. Much more. I don't spend all my >time with my wife asking her for things, and neither should we spend all >our time with God asking for things. Talk to him. Like he's right there Prompting John Warren to ask: >Why not pray for what we want? The worst God could do is answer no, and >tell us why, or answer 'wait', which (given my impatience) is probably worse. to which Geoff responded >There's no problem with asking for things. . . . >I would hate to abuse that priveledge by spending all my time saying, >``Can I have this? Can I have these? Can I have one of those? I want that!'' Also, consider the example of Jesus when he was tempted in the wilderness. Satan asked Jesus to pray that stones be turned into bread, and to throw himself from a steeple. Jesus responded that you should not tempt God. This story says to me that I shouldn't willfully put myself in danger or need, then expect God to spare me the consequences. In such a situation, I think God might see that my real need is to learn from my mistakes. Yes, God is right here with us, but we see him, as Paul says, through a glass darkly and not face to face. If I make a prayer that I don't sincerely think God will answer, isn't that prayer directed to my own dark, distorted image of God and not to God Himself? I would be concerned that a prayer like that would be a kind of idolotry -- worshipping a false image. Right now, I don't know God clearly as he really is. But it's wrong for me to make a prayer that assumes God is something I believe He isn't. C. C. Keirsey