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Luke 15:8-10 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
We’ve been sitting with the Father, joining Him in His watch. He’s watching and waiting for His prodigals. His eyes scan the horizon just waiting for the first glimpse of His beloved’s return. We are joining Him and praying. He tells us that our prayers are the force necessary to change the hearts of His children. He’s confident that our prayers will avail – so confident that he’s fattening up some of his livestock to prepare for the pending celebrations. He is full of faith.
So, we continue to pray.
I speak to the minds and wills of prodigals and say, “Reject perverse ideas! Stay away from every evil in the Name of Jesus Christ.”
I command doors to open that would bring godly influences into their lives. I slam shut every door of evil influence in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
I take up the call to ferret out the wicked and free Your child from the grip of evil. I call down the powers of addiction in Jesus’ Mighty Name. You must go now. I bind the spirit of pride and arrogance. You must leave in Jesus’ Name.
I ask You, Father, to remove the film over the eyes of the deceived. I apply the Blood of Jesus to these eyes and cry out for mercy. I cry out for justice. I cry out for repentance and returning. May these beloved prodigals once again believe the good news – the good news that You are loving, forgiving, and just waiting to celebrate their return.
Amen
After I prayed this this morning, I looked back at the tree where the Father was waiting, and He was not there, just a few apple cores and a dove. There is a note simply saying, “Be back tomorrow.” He loves it when we wait with Him.
“Okay, Father. See you then.”
In the distance I could hear someone whistling a tune… “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…”
posted July 9, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Oh, this is too good to resist, so forgive the irreverent humor of an old seculatist.
“Prayer doesn’t work. God works.” Ok. But then we add:
God doesn’t work either. On the Seventh Day he rested and is still resting.
Or another one. You find a slip of paper in your prayer closet that reads, “Thank you for your prayer. Unfortunately it does not meet our needs at the present time. Best of luck with another deity.”
And finally, “We’re sorry. Our prayer answering service has been eliminated due to cost control considerations. Heaven appologizes for any inconvenience.”
posted July 9, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Touche’ Charles! Good humored (and “irreverent humor” as you put it can be quite good) barbs are always welcome. On the challenge side, I’d simply add that we see empirically what we look for, a la quantum physics. We used to play a game with our kids on road trips – seeing who could spot the most yellow VWs. It’s amazing how many you can find when you’re trying to see them! Look for reasons to disavow God’s power through prayer and you’ll see it. Flip it around and honestly look for God’s hand at work… you’ll see just that. Call it a dare.
posted July 15, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I understand the “prayer doesn’t work, God works” line of thinking. However, the question then becomes “Does prayer have any effect on God working?”
In other words, does praying for a desired outcome increase the chance of that outcome happening?
I just watched a YouTube video of parents of a young girl diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor begging for worldwide prayers on her behalf. I’m sure there are thousands praying for her.
I can accept that, somehow, it might be God’s will for her to die. But if that’s the case, then the prayers were useless to obtain the desired outcome of her healing, right?
posted July 17, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Josh, you’ve hit the deepest of all mysteries. I don’t suppose there is any clear answer to this question. The way I understand is by not trying to understand it. Somehow, I believe, God factors our prayers into his purposeful will. One wise person said “In prayer God grants us the dignity of causation.” Somehow prayer matters, even though God is still in charge. I can’t figure that out. But then again I can’t figure out electricity and I yet I can flip on a light switch. God invites us to pray, not grasp how it works. If you’d like to explore this question more I’d invite you to check out my book “Six Prayers God Always Answers.” The link is on the blog page. And I’d love to dialog more with you on these questions. You’ve struck the heart of the matter. Well done!
posted July 28, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I don’t pray for money or anything that will benefit me materially. i have almost everything i need. i am unemployed but still manage to pay the bills and put food on the table.But one thing bothers me. Really bothers me. And if you are a male you will know what i mean. I am going bald. Now i know what you all will say. Its in the genes. Wrong. No one on both sides of my family is bald or have ever been bald(My brother who is a year younger has more hair than a monkey). It makes me almost break down and cry. And for 6 years i have been praying for my old hairline. I’m a decent soul. Cause no trouble but yet he cant grant me something that will make me a happier person(slowly growing miserable). I know I know that there are children starving and all I’m worried about is my hair. I know the debate. But its quite apparent to me that prayer doesnt work. Like i said if you are a guy you will know how hard it is losing hair.But i still believe in a greater mystery even though he or she sometimes doesnt seem to care.
posted December 21, 2009 at 10:27 am
If prayer worked no one would get sick or die. Saying stupid things like “God has a plan” is just making excuses for something that is supposed to be ALL POWERFUL, and dedicated to HIS PEOPLE. God is totally imaginary which is why no prayer to do the impossible is EVER answered. Just try praying some day for the ability to do something like walking on water. It certainly wouldn’t hurt anyone if you could walk on water, so why won’t God answer your pray to allow you to do it? It’s not like walking on water really makes a difference to anyone in the world, other than a drowning man, so why won’t God let you, or me do it? Because it is against the laws of nature, that’s why. But supposedly Jesus did. Hmmmmm. Imaginary, plain and simple. Religion is a hoax sold by con men that are only interested in money, prestige, or controlling other people.
posted January 10, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Mark, not sure if you’re still reading these comments, of if you’ve moved on to other things (I won’t be offended if you have), but I have a thought/question similar to Josh’s. In the familiar passage in Matthew about prayer (Mt 21:21-22), the “moving mountains” passage, it suggests that if we believe our prayers WILL be answered, i.e. “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for.” There are parents that pray for their newborn baby with some type of disease or birth defect to live, and undoubtedly would ask their church family to pray the same, and the baby still dies. And on the same floor of the hospital, an atheist couple with a child with the exact same problem lives w/o an ounce of prayer. So this suggests 1 of 2 things. Either A) the scripture is flawed somehow or in some way or B) the parents didn’t really “believe.” However, I have a tough time believing with the countless number of situations there are like this that NONE of the people praying them “believe.” So….. I just don’t know what to think.
I want to add that anyone feel free to comment or respond, not just Mark. I was just playing on the dialogue he and Josh had. Thanks.
Confused College Student
posted March 18, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Guys…you’re all missing the clear, easy, reasonable answer. Prayer doesn’t work because there is no god. Plain and simple. Had you not been brought up in your religion, you wouldn’t believe it. Just like you don’t believe in Thor, Baal, Allah etc. Think analytically, not emotionally!
posted May 14, 2010 at 3:16 pm
hi guys… my prayers doesn’t wor i think… if god gave me answer i promis to him that i will help others and share all that i have… just 1 shot GOD… promis i wont blew it….