The most common prayer among Christians is the "Lord's Prayer", which according to the gospel accounts (e.g. Matthew 6:9-13) is how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. "The Lord's Prayer" is a model for prayers of adoration, confession and petition in Christianity.

Much of our prayer life can sometimes become about how much faith we have. We think that our prayers are answered when there is maximum faith and minimal doubt in our hearts. Otherwise it's best we try again.

But the power of prayer lies not on our faith, but on the finished work of Christ.

Faith is wonderful, and the Bible says that it is faith that pleases God. But is it also the determinant of whether our prayers get answered and how fast they get answered?

So much of the teachings on prayer nowadays focus on having more and more faith. These teachings say:

● "You should believe God more when you pray for the sick."

● "Stop doubting when you pray for financial provision and God will open the flood gates of heaven."

● "Your family isn't saved yet because when you pray, you don't pray with conviction."

Faith is important and vital to our everyday life. But do we really gain more faith in prayer by believing more and learning to doubt less? Isn't that in essence trying to get our prayers answered by our own strength?

When we think this way, then we fail to realise how faith really comes. Faith comes not by our own ability to believe or our own ability to remove doubts.

We need faith, but sadly many of us have misunderstood faith. We think it's about how much we read the Bible, how much we think about God's goodness, how much we shut out the fear when praying, or how much we cry and kneel when praying. When we think of faith this way, it now becomes faith relying on our attempts and no longer on God's power.

Hebrews 8:1-2 reminds us that it is through Jesus alone that we can now approach God in prayer. He is the high priest that mediates for us and stands on our behalf before the Father to come to His presence and offer worship, gratefulness and petition. That's why we end every prayer by saying "in Jesus' name."

Many believers pray today thinking it's their faithfulness that will get prayers answered. We watch for keywords, traditions and rudiments unawarely thinking that's what will get our prayers answered.

Even the simplest of prayers will be answered when we realise that it's God's faithfulness and not ours that answers prayers.

God's faithfulness to hear and answer our prayers does not depend on our rudiments, our works, or our ability to shut our doubts and fears. It's God that works out our faith and it is His perfect love that casts out our fears.

What happens to "anything you ask in my name, believe that you have it and you shall have it.

Well, on the flip side, many Christians, more especially the pastors, now qualify and quantify God's blessing with material gains. This has gotten to a stage that we believe God is owing us for serving Him or doing what He commanded. Many churches have forgotten the kingdom of God and are leading their members into seeking material wealth first.

Faith is required to actuate our desires, yes, but some of the things we call faith are actually selfishness in disguise and irrational material lust, or putting God to test (like confronting a lion). There are situations that call for God's will to be done, but we are always afraid to ask for His will. For instance you cant see a beautiful lady with bad character and pray that God should change her character and make her ur wife, instead of asking God to show u ur wife. Sometimes we give God unnecessary conditions forgetting that He is not a puppet.

We all need faith to function as Christians. Believe, don't entertain doubt, but let not ur fleshly desires take a lead, lest you become heavily disappointed.

Why do Catholic pray to Mary sef

2nd to comment........a front page material......;what a achievement

How come wretched people pray more and they are still poor...

We already have an open cheque being Christians....."God said, ask ANYTHING in my name".

Can prayers be answered without faith?
That bible recorded that it was the faith of the woman with the issue of blood that made healed her.
Think of how to please God and be good to those around you.

pweeryambre:
How come wretched people pray more and they are still poor...

A lot has to do with faith.

tyconcepts:
We already have an open cheque being Christians....."God said, asked ANYTHING in my name".

well dayumm

Pray with conviction and sincerity of heart....and God will see you through.

Dont know

Hmm

Flexherbal:
Ca prayers be answered without faith?

Faith is our key as Christians....Its the hope/evidence for things not seen.

ola1982:



Because you Christians are confused

but we don't smell

It baffles me that in this digital age where logic prevails over faith & some biblical concocted contradictory bullocks, some people still kneel & pray to an imaginary white-bearded sky fairy.

If prayer works, would Nigeria not have been transformed into a Paradise by now?

PS: Quote me with your nonsense & receive the flaming javelin of Ogun Lakaaye Oshimale straight to your heart - Awon oniranu gbogbo!

sukkot:
well dayumm

Clap for yourself darling....You have bin noticed.

Why does God ignore prayers?

tyconcepts:


A lot has to do with faith.

But they are the ones that usually have the biggest faith... because nothing in their possession to think about while they pray.

pweeryambre:

But they are the ones that usually have the biggest faith... because nothing in their possession to think about while they pray.

That's what we think....But doubt within kills faith.

tyconcepts:
We already have an open cheque being Christians....."God said, ask ANYTHING in my name".

The ANYTHING in that sentence, is a hyperbole
because in the real sense, you're to ask for anything within reason, ask for anything within your remit
If you ask the wrong thing, ask the wrong way, ask the wrong side of God, ask the wrong time, ask the whatever left not mentioned and you'll be a long time waiting for request to be grant

Sukkot is not an attention seeker but a bohemian

tyconcepts:
Faith is our key as Christians....Its the hope/evidence for things not seen.

Prayer is the key, not faith
Faith is part of all the ingredients
Faith is part of a whole lot of other dynamics of getting prayers answered

tyconcepts:
A lot has to do with faith.

tyconcepts:
That's what we think....But doubt within kills faith.

Praying hard, having the biggest faith and zero doubts, wont stop you obeying the law of gravity, jumping of a tall storey building without a parachute

Click on a wrong part of any Nairaland page, hoping for a page load, is pointless
Such action of clicking or typing on a wrong section, of any Nairaland page is incapable of producing any useful result
because Seun (i.e. the god of Nairaland) hadnt coded anything to that section of the page to respond, obey or react to

STFUareyouG0d says below: Not all prayers are answered
Luke 18:1, Jesus teaches that men always ought to pray and not lose heart
This within reason, ask within your remit
Pray not the wrong thing, pray not the wrong way, pray not the wrong side of God, pray not at the wrong time,
in short, be 24/7 in communication with God without wavering

rattlesnake:
Why do Catholic pray to Mary sef

can you please explain how catholic pray to mary and one of the most prayer they normally pray and how they say it.

tyconcepts:

That's what we think....But doubt within kills faith.

maybe it's because prayer/faith without works means nothing.

pweeryambre:

maybe it's because prayer/faith without works means nothing.

Mannas no longer fall from heaven so prayer + faith + work = Success.

Without faith u cannot receive from God , God doesn't help us work our faith , it's up to us to have faith in him , faith cometh by hearing . When u keep hearing the word of God it build your faith in him .. Jesus taught us that when we pray we should believe that we receive that which we have prayed for and we will have it ..

falconey:



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He does. Not all prayers get answered. Maybe there's preference