Prayer continued.

My reflections on the nature and subject of prayer are based on experience and some of the traditional teaching of the Christian religions.

Initially, I always believed that the deity heard and answered my prayers.  I would often back up my claims that God answered prayer by my own answered prayers.  Generally speaking I would call upon God for all manner of requests.  They have been many instances in my life where amazing things have happened to me and as a believer in the practice of prayer, put this down to God's answers.  

However as I began to experience life more widely I found that amazing things still happened to people who never prayed.  If the incredible things that happened to me were the result of God's intervention and answers to prayer, then what was the explanation for the pagans who prayed to their "false" Gods and had equal if not more profound answers?  One suggestion is that incredible things happen to people regardless and in spite of prayer.

When I began my journey into the search for truth and meaning I have and still have remained open to the possibility that the Christian version of God could still be "the way".  In order to always keep this door open I have claimed a number of Biblical promises that are supposedly not negotiable promises.  I have asked God to reveal himself to me.  Not while I'm asleep, sick or after too many home brew beers, but in a way that is clear and precise.  

I have been told by many Christians that God has not answered my prayer because I needed to be somewhere quiet and lonely, because my heart was not right or simply because he did not have to answer my prayer.  None of these seem to cut it because I know that if I was of infinite importance then he would answer me.  

I have been in many churches where people are prayed for.  It is sad to see the many, many prayers that are never answered.  If there is a God, this may not be a blight on him but on the twisted ideas forced by people claiming to speak for him.

I have repeatedly heard the explanation that God requires us to "knock and keep on knocking" for the constant prayer may get answered.  Or else it may be that God requires many people to pray even for great lengths of time.  Even further God may require people to go without food for periods of time (fasting) in order for the prayers to be effectual.

These are supposed to be the requirements of a God who is described as the perfect father.  Hhhhmmmm!  I consider myself to be a good father and these types of responses from my children make my resolve even more definite.  If I say I will consider their requests, I will do exactly that.  I will not accept being buffeted by numerous and constant repetitive petitioning or nagging.

Prayer, I have been told is not for God (because he already knows our requests) it is for us.  Well that seems like a bit of humanistic psychology where talking through a problem helps us confront and deal with our own feelings.  So is God just playing with us, resigned from the tragedy of life?  Why is prayer unanswered so often if there is a loving God?  Why are there so many different answers given to answer these questions?  I often hear that prayer is not answered, because of sin in your life, unconfessed sin, unbelief, because it is not in God's will or because God has a better purpose.

It seems to me like their are so many pre requisites to getting answers to prayers that it is a hopeless and impossible task.  I will continue to pray, and will continue to be open for a response, but in the meantime I'm still waiting.  Besides the answer may come from somewhere unexpected or even a source that is unexpected.

The recent case of Van Nguyen has been fascinating to me from a prayer perspective.  It seems that many churches have been praying that he might escape the death penalty in Singapore.  I am eagerly waiting and hoping their prayers are answered.  If so many Christians are petitioning their God, I would expect that he listen and respond to these prayers.  Will he listen and respond, or will he choose to do something else?  Whatever happened to the availing prayers of the righteous?  Maybe the ones praying aren't righteous, or maybe God simply can't hear their prayers.  I hope their prayers are answered as the penalty is not in perspective with the crime.  

What do you think?  Tell me your experience of prayer.

Sanctified séance? Go to Payer part 3.