I am a cynic. And faithless. My rational mind strives away from faith and the supernatural, while at the same time believing in both. There are days when I hate to pray, because I can’t approach God like He is some fast food counter where I can immediately sate my gluttony for answered prayer. It’s not the results of prayer He is after. It is how were are broken and rebuilt in the process of prayer. This has recently been my life.
But I am seeing faint glimpses. Hardship and pain are giving away to freedom and encouragement. I am seeing to work of the Almighty One in many small ways. And the small ways add up to the big way in which God works.
When I recognize the ways He loves me (the glaringly imperfect me), my heart weeps with joy. I am not worthy, yet I am profoundly worthy in His eyes. My imperfections stare me in the face. Yet He gazes upon me longingly, with adoring grace. And I am undone.
God has helped me through a few very difficult months, though I have been weak at best in my prayers. Last weekend, I was compelled to pray for a situation. I was awake all night in battle. It was for a person that I love. The next day God answered, and encouraged me to pray persistently and watchfully through the sermon at my church. And He reaffirmed His vivid presence to me in ways I will not describe here.ÂÂ
 As I continue to struggle with staying persistent with prayer, God comes through. Prayer does work.ÂÂ
How are you doing with prayer? Do you truly believe in God’s work through it? Or are you just going through the motions?  Let me know your experiences. I am sure we would all benefit.ÂÂ
This really touched me as I read it tonight because I can relate to so much of what you have written. You have a real gift with words and word pictures. As I am on my “journey” it is so wonderful to find others that are also in seasons of their lives with the same questions and struggles – and that I am not alone.
Thanks for posting this.
Glad you were impacted by this Cindy. Appreciate your visit.
I am glad that the person you loved turned out to be ok.
But I do not think that prayer works. There was a study conducted by the Templeton Foundation (a religious organization) that showed there is no difference between those who are prayed for and those who are not.
Studies aside, I have seen prayer work in my life, directly. And I have seen it in others. Don’t you think there is a possibility that God can work above and beyond natural laws to heal brokenness? If not, you may want to see how he may surprise you by asking him for a real need or some healing you might need in your life. You never know what’ll happen. I notice your handle – athiestbattlefront. Are you an atheist? But there must be a God for you not to believe in right? Just saying you don’t believe in God doesn’t dismiss his existence or power in the universe.
Thanks for visiting, BTW! Hope some prayers work for you, despite the studies that appear to show otherwise.
I do think that there is a remote possibility that there is some form of God or prayer answerer, but I think that such an entity is just as likely to exist as the tooth fairy. We cannot disprove that the tooth fairy exists beyond all doubt, but most people don’t believe in it because it required too many unwarranted assumptions that are extremely unlikely given our scientific knowledge.
I would need to see some evidence to believe in such an entity, evidence that is not sketchy or easily interpreted or explained by naturalism.
So yes I am an Atheist.
“There must be a God for you not to believe in”
You could also say “There must be a mermaid for you to not believe in right?”
I believe that there is a concept that people believe in, that they call god. I believe that the concept is real but I don’t think that the concept quantifies over an actual existing entity.
Just saying God exists does not mean he does.
And even if prayer did work (which I do not believe), that would not indicate that god exists. There would probably be a physical explanation for it, perhaps some sort of waves generated by thoughts or concentration.
But there is nothing to suggest this is the case, so I won’t entertain such theories seriously.
You’re welcome for the visit. Being prayed for makes me uncomfortable so I would prefer that you don’t. But thank you for your thoughts.
there’s a God. By just looking around, we will realize that there’s someone with a great power who can make all of these things… there are really things beyond human knowledge. we cant expain everything…
I do believe in prayer.. I do believe that it really works. And i also believe that Prayer is a way of having fellowship with God… it is our personal encounter with Him.
I am borrowing these words below from Eric Elder in his Lesson in Grace entitled, “How Much Can You Imagine?” :
Have you ever found yourself to be a little disappointed with God, wondering why He hasn’t answered your prayers in the way you thought He might?
You may want to pray in faith, but you also want to pray realistically. So how can you pray in a way that expresses your faith and trust in God, without being disappointed if you don’t see the answers in the way that you expected?
For me, I’ve found that even if I overreach in my prayers, asking and expecting more from God in the short run than He actually provides, I know that in the long run He can still answer my prayers in a way that goes beyond anything I could have asked or imagined.
There are times when we tend to overestimate how God will answer our prayers in the short-term. But we vastly underestimate how God will answer our prayers in the long-term. While we may be disappointed in the short- term answers to our prayers, the long-term answers often go way beyond all we could ask or imagine.
to atheistbattlefront
there’s a God who hears and answers our prayers. The creation of the world is beyond human knowledge. God is working in mysterious ways. And His love, grace and mercy are for all of us.