I don't mean to offend, but what exactly is the point of prayer?

[Celestial.]

I'm not asking this to be annoying or to cause trouble; it's just something I've never been able to understand.

(To clarify, I'm talking about prayers of supplication or petition here, where you're actively asking God for something.)

The way I see it is that the idea is that God sees everything, and knows everything. In which case, why pray? He already knows what's going on, so if he's not interfering, isn't it logical to assume that there's a reason for it? Aren't these prayers almost saying, 'I know more than you' or 'I'm disregarding your authority' or 'You've made a mistake'? None of which are exactly a great thing to imply to your God.

Again, I apologise if I've offended anybody with this. I'm not trying to criticise anyone's beliefs, or belittle their religion. I just want to understand how others see it.

[Sythan]

Id differs depending on religion. Many Wiccans and Pagans like myself don't focus too much on prayer, instead we work for what we want and change something if we see that it needs to be changed, we don't expect the Gods to do it for us.

Most Pagan and Wiccan prayers are more of praise to the Gods or Goddesses than asking for something.

[Cosmo]

Prayer is one of the reason I don't believe in Christianity.The idea that someone in America can pray to do well in a test and, incredible, do well baffles me: not because it's impossible, that's a different point: but because they don't deserve it. Not a single person in America deserves it while Africa remains in the state it is in. Notice how almost all prayers are answered for people in well-developed countries where Christianity has developed to be quite influential.

[Celestial.]

To make it clear, I'm talking more about the monotheistic/traditional religions here, like Christianty, Judaism, and Islam, rather than the pagan faiths (which tend to focus more on spells than prayer).

[Unicorn ♥✿]

It's calming, You Pray for an Op to go well or something and it helps you to relax and not worry knowing God will be doing His best to keep you safe.

Every time I pray, things go smoothly and are less stressful. I don't often pray as Christianity is new to me. But I first pryed in a hospital chappel, asking Him to watch over me and help the doctors make everthing go well. Ok, I have had some complications which needed more surgery since but I have to be thankful I am alive It could have all gone wrong.

It's a comfort really, and it helps you feel like you are not alone xx

[Awakening]

Oh Chess my dear, don't worry about offending people. You're allowed to ask whatever you want.

Okay I'm a Christian so this is my perspective from that point of view.

It makes it seem more important in a sense. If you just got everything you wanted or even didn't get what it was you wanted and you didn't pray about it, you just thought God know's everything so why talk to him about it, then it wouldn't mean anything to us. If you just got what you wanted without praying then God wouldn't get any thanks for that. He wouldn't be given the credit. You would just believe that you got that just because. I mean maybe sometimes you might think that it's because of God that you recieved this, but not all the time.

It also gets us more involved with the relationship with him. Makes us value him more. You pray and you get your prayer awnsered and it's a great thing, you know that he gave that to you. You pray and your prayer doesn't get awnsered then you know that God has other plans for you.

Plus, why would you not ask for something? It doesn't matter if he know's everything. Who doesn't like to be asked for something if that person wants it? It's kind of rude to just expect soemthing without asking for it.

I hope that made some kind of since.

[JKmadu619]

Not everyone asks for something. Some pray just for the sake of praying (Mind you, you're supposed to pray often without needing something...) and it's supposed to be a way to keep in touch with God and have him in your everyday life. AT tleast that's what preachers preach.

From a standpoint of the thoughts behind it, I feel many people pray because it gives them a sense of safety or fear of going to hell.

- Justin

[John 6:29]

The Bible teaches that God already knows what we're going to ask for, but also that it's important we ask for it.

The way I view it: If God causes everything, then He causes the person to pray, so He can cause the answer to their prayer.

So, even our prayers were prayed because God decreed us to pray.

Your question is a bit mundane. If God knows everything, why do anything at all? Yet even if we do nothing, we're still doing something. Kind of reminds me of a Gandhi quote, "Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it."

[Kira-Kira]

its just something i grew up with pray to god because he listens to us and its just a belief he is there listening and he wants us to be happy and he wants us to ask even though he knows we should ask just the way i was brough up pray every night pray to keep your family safe and yourself and thank him because god is your father thats what i was told so i do that

[Celestial.]

Originally Posted by Awakening

Plus, why would you not ask for something? It doesn't matter if he know's everything. Who doesn't like to be asked for something if that person wants it? It's kind of rude to just expect soemthing without asking for it.

That actually made a lot of sense to me. Thanks!

[Megan1]

This is a very good question and isn't offensive at all. I am a born-again Christian and I have even wondered this before.....but over time, God showed me the answer.

Think of God as a friend. When you talk to your friends, you talk to them to grow closer to them and communicate with them, right? You can vent to them even when they already know what is going on, right? If you need a friend's help with something, don't you ask them for help even if they already know the situation? God is the same way. Talk to Him, vent to Him, and ask Him for help however you would a friend- because God wants to be your friend.

Not only that, but when it comes to asking God for things, we do it more to let Him know that we have faith in Him to do it and to communicate with Him. He already knows what we need, but praying helps us to grow closer to Him because we are talking to Him and telling Him that we trust Him to do the right thing. We don't pray to inform God; He already knows everything. We pray to communicate with Him and pray out of obedience because He loves us and wants us to talk to Him.

I know what you mean about how prayer can sometimes kind of seem like we are saying "I can handle this better than you can, here is how it should be done". That's why when I pray, I don't say "Please let it work out this way"......instead, I say "Here is the situation that I'm facing. Please let it work out however You need it to, give me peace and strength to deal with it, and let me know what Your will is for this". However, there are some times when we know what the right way is because the bible tells us. For example, if we know for fact that a loved one is sinning and going down the wrong path in life, we can pray "God, please help them to stop doing this thing" because we KNOW that it is the right choice.

If we didn't talk to God, we wouldn't really know Him. We'd know about Him, but we wouldn't know Him personally.

[Cosmo]

So when a starving child in Africa prays for water, and he isn't given it and so dies of dehydration, was God just doing what was best for that child?

[Mulan]

Originally Posted by Sidhe.

I'm not asking this to be annoying or to cause trouble; it's just something I've never been able to understand.

(To clarify, I'm talking about prayers of supplication or petition here, where you're actively asking God for something.)

The way I see it is that the idea is that God sees everything, and knows everything. In which case, why pray? He already knows what's going on, so if he's not interfering, isn't it logical to assume that there's a reason for it? Aren't these prayers almost saying, 'I know more than you' or 'I'm disregarding your authority' or 'You've made a mistake'? None of which are exactly a great thing to imply to your God.

Again, I apologise if I've offended anybody with this. I'm not trying to criticise anyone's beliefs, or belittle their religion. I just want to understand how others see it.

Faith cannot be explained by science nor logic. In prayer, what we actually are doing in a "psychological sense" is that we believe in God which is the focal point to which our wants and goals in life are directed or shall I say dedicated to. But in reality, it is more a personal drive and motivation, to reach or achieve something that you want or need to happen.

It is much easier to understand with faith on your side

[punkchique]

Originally Posted by MonsterCosmonaut

So when a starving child in Africa prays for water, and he isn't given it and so dies of dehydration, was God just doing what was best for that child?

I always wonder this and pose this question to believers in any god that would answer prayers and I can never get a concise answer. This always makes me think of the timeless Epicurus quote.

Either god doesn't answer prayers and its all useless, or he's not a benevolent god and has a "let the rich get richer" mentality.

[abigailkristen]

For me, and my beliefs as a Christian, God tells us to talk to him through prayer.
I feel like it is the best way to connect with God, when you truly have a passion for Christ you will feel his pressence when you pray. Sometimes you even feel and notice the answer to prayers. When i pray, i usually don't ASK for object things, i pray for others, i pray for my life and people in it, i also pray just to make sure God knows i'm thankful; and that i love him. No doubt, he knows everything. Sees everything, hears everything. But prayer is just a personal time with him. <3

verses from the bible on prayer:
But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. Mat 6:6
Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1Ti 2:8

7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

John 14:13

13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

[MegaMadness]

In my opinion the point is to make people feel better and comfort them. People feel better thinking God will answer them and their requests. Sadly not all of these get answered for whatever stupid reason someone can suggest.

[Cosmo]

Originally Posted by MegaMadness

In my opinion the point is to make people feel better and comfort them. People feel better thinking God will answer them and their requests. Sadly not all of these get answered for whatever stupid reason someone can suggest.

It's always funny to watch white, middle class women complain about how God didn't answer their prayers