Questions on Prayer

I am looking for some help on this. At our weekly Bible study, the teens and I are studying about prayer. Each week I give them the opportunity to write down questions they have. I got quite a few at last week's study and would love to have additional feedback to offer the kids when we meet this week. Please if you are able to add offer any wisdom or insight on any of these questions, either comment below or you can email me at botswanagirl at gmail.com. Thank you!

  1. How come sometimes when you pray you feel like God is not listening and there is just a brick wall between the two of you? How do you change that?
  2. Is it a sin if we don't pray for our enemies?
  3. If you are praying to God and you start to lose focus, does He still listen to you and answer your prayer? How can I stop this problem?
  4. If we're praying for something and He hasn't give it to us, how do we know when to keep praying and when to stop?
  5. Do you always have to ask God before you talk to someone about Him and His teachings?
  6. When I pray for someone who is not a Christian, does God bless them?
  7. How do we pray so that God answers you fast?
  8. Is it ok to laugh and joke with God or should we talk to Him like we would our grandparents?
  9. Is praying in tongues real? And if so, when should we pray that way and why?

I have my own thoughts on most of these questions, but again, I'd really like to present more than just my thoughts and ideas. I'd love any feedback you could give on any of these. Thanks so much!

6 comments:

Judy Murray said...

#1 God is always listening, you have to trust that - it's called Faith. Sometimes when I feel He isn't listening to me, I think about it and realize I am not really focusing on Him. He is always focused on us.

Judy Murray said...

How do we pray so that God answers you fast?

If God believes you needs it fast He will deliver. Trust in Him and know He has your best interest in His heart.

Judy Murray said...

Is it ok to laugh and joke with God or should we talk to Him like we would our grandparents?

I grew up believing you only talked with the most reverent respect. When I learned you could laugh,love and praise him in a delightful way, I knew it was right. He wants you to talk from your heart and if your heart is singing, He sings too. If your heart is crying, He cries with you.

Its just me said...

Hey Andrea..This is the way I have always seen prayer. I am responding to the question about the timliness of prayer...

I try to look at the thing I am praying about and use my prayers as chissels. Each time I pray I chip away at it. Gods timing is always perfect. My answer is that we are to pray until God either answers our prayer or leads us in another direction. But continue to pray because everything always comes in His timing. I hope this helps and that all is well with you and your students. We leave Zambia on Saturday. This trip has been amazing and God is sow rad!!!
I will have more posts when I get home!!

Daniel R. Johnson said...

Andrea, this is Daniel Johnson. I am going to try answer these without appearing super-spiritual, please let me preface this by saying I am not an expert and do not have my head wrapped around God, these are just my opinions based on Biblical studying and understanding.

How come sometimes when you pray you feel like God is not listening and there is just a brick wall between the two of you? How do you change that?

I personally have come to a point where I have to think of God outside of my feelings. It's like when you don't feel like going to work is worthwhile, but you show up when you are supposed to anyway. If I don't feel like praying, I do it anyway. The feelings with follow, it's just human nature.

Is it a sin if we don't pray for our enemies?

I would say that it is a heart condition, not sure if I have Biblical evidence that it is sin, but it definitely shows the condition of your heart. I personally have conditioned myself to release someone in prayer immediately if I have bad thoughts about someone. If I start thinking about an enemy or adversary, my next thought is "what should I do about them?" I have my human reactions and thoughts, but then I always come to the same conclusion: "All I can do is just pray." And I pray for them right then and there. Makes it hard or impossible to stay mad or keep considering them an enemy.

If you are praying to God and you start to lose focus, does He still listen to you and answer your prayer? How can I stop this problem?

God knows the desires of your heart, focused or unfocused. With obedience and putting feet to our faith, he brings those things to fruition. If you were to pray for a job and stopped looking for a job, though, I would say your problem is more than just "losing focus."

If we're praying for something and He hasn't give it to us, how do we know when to keep praying and when to stop?

Never stop. My sister Kristen had a bad case of eczema, a skin disease, and prayed for one year straight. She never quit and prayed every day. After a year, she woke up with a miraculous healing.

Do you always have to ask God before you talk to someone about Him and His teachings?

No, his word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has already given us the command to go and make disciples of all the nations. We have already been given command to talk to people. Now, if there are particular hesitations or fears you have before speaking to someone, then it would be good to pray for wisdom, safety, etc.

When I pray for someone who is not a Christian, does God bless them?

I guess it depends on your definition of the word blessed. God will answer prayer on anyone's behalf, He loves all people and can use those instances as a testimony to lead the person to salvation. We should primarily be praying for salvation of sinners, but asking for blessing is just going to allow God to let His glory be seen, why wouldn't he bless those we pray for that aren't sinners? : )

How do we pray so that God answers you fast?

Selfishly! God always works all things out in His perfect timing. Fast doesn't procure faithfulness and patience in us.

Is it ok to laugh and joke with God or should we talk to Him like we would our grandparents?

There should always be an air of respect when speaking with the King, but being his sons and daughters, I like to think that God laughs with us heartily.

Is praying in tongues real? And if so, when should we pray that way and why?

Absolutely, it was highlighted in the Bible. It is always beneficial to pray that way when alone or to yourself. If in a corporate manner, it should always be followed with an interpretation, but when following the voice of the Spirit, we should always respond. If it is of the Lord and not our own accord, then the interpretation will come, so we need not stop ourselves from praying that way.

Hope those help!

Andrea said...

Thank you guys so much! (And those who emailed me) Your answers were a huge help. I compiled all of them and am sharing a few answers each week. The kids are loving it! Thanks again!