What Do You Usually Pray For? Does Prayer Work for You?

Singapore
February 21, 2007 3:13am CST
Hi there! Do you tend to pray for material or non-material things? Do you pray for yourself, others or the world-at-large? I'm agnostic, and though I don't believe in any particular God I do sometimes "pray" to the "Universal intelligence" for things like the health and safety of my friends and family. Disclaimer! I'm NOT trying to poke fun here or to be disrespectful to anyone, but I find it interesting that the 2 richest men in the world, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, are atheists. That means they have no God/deity to pray to for wealth. So does that mean that those who pray for wealth are doing so in vain? Again, please note that I'm NOT trying to make fun of those who pray (I do pray myself, as I stated earlier), I'm just asking for some helpful, insightful comments. Cheers! Andre www.theultimatesuccessmanual.com
2 people like this
7 responses
• Pakistan
21 Feb 07
I pray For everything from a little thing to a huge thing. I do not concern about the size or materialization or limits or cost or anything. I just pray because I know anything ane everything is geven by GOd. And yes my prayers do work me.
3 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
21 Feb 07
Andre - I don't believe the level of your faith has any effect on God answering them or not. He will answer anyone's prayers, I think the difference is a person who has more faith is possibly more aware of when prayers are answered. Things like I prayed for a new printer but someone fixed my old one which works perfectly fine now. It wasn't I needed a new printer, I needed a printer that worked and I have that now - my prayer was answered in His way.
2 people like this
• Singapore
24 Feb 07
Hi Byfaithonly, That's an interesting way to look at things! Will God answer prayers of those who don't necessarily believe in Him?
• Singapore
21 Feb 07
Great! Happy for you that you have such strong faith. I suppose the stronger your faith, the greater the chances are of your prayer being answered! Carry on praying! Cheers!
2 people like this
• India
21 Feb 07
I usually pray i should be able to pray the next day ... it literaally means i sustain each day without much hardships though i know that hardships are a part of life but if u can stay away from it without much touble then i think its worth it
• Singapore
21 Feb 07
Thanks for sharing your simple, yet powerful form of prayer!
1 person likes this
• Singapore
23 Feb 07
It is simple yet powerful. You're one crazy dude. :-) Regards, Edmund Ng http://www.purchaseresume.com http://www.internet-empire.com
@cuddleme01 (2725)
• Philippines
21 Feb 07
i pray for everything, material and non-material things, even for the things which are impossible in the eyes of humanity. I have faith in my GOD and i know HE is so powerful to grant all my prayers if i deserve them and they will work for my advantage. I don't think those who pray for wealth do so in vain. i pray for wealth too, and i think am getting just what is enough for me to live a comfortable life. Other than the worldly wealth there is in store for me, i believe in the fact that my GOD has prepared riches for me when i join HIM in heaven. Besides, material wealth can't buy you happiness, so am contented with what my GOD has been providing for me. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are athiests? well, i did not know of that till now. But i do know of a lot of rich people who have GOD and they are getting richer everyday too and happier each day.
• Singapore
21 Feb 07
Wow, looks like many of you pray! Maybe I should pray more often too! Good to know you have such strong faith! I mentioned praying for wealth since wealth is the easiest thing to measure, unlike things like love, happiness, spiritual growth, health..... By the way I feel love, happiness, spiritual growth and health are more important than wealth. It just so happens that wealth allows us to help more people, and it is gratifying to see that Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are also the biggest philanthropists out there.... Yes, I read in Forbes Magazines billionaire list a couple of years ago that Bill Gates is an atheist. Read on the internet that Warren Buffett is an atheist too. I'm not sure what are the religions of the other richest people. May all our prayers be answered! Cheers!
2 people like this
• India
24 Feb 07
i usually pray for the well being of my family and pray that my married life remain as happy as it is!
1 person likes this
• Singapore
24 Feb 07
Great, long may your happiness continue! :)
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
21 Feb 07
I do pray to God Our Father and have seen prayers answered many many times. I have never prayed for wealth and can't see I ever will. For 2 main reasons material things can not be taken with us when we die and I know I will receive my wealth in Heaven. Yes, my personal beliefs would lead me to believe that those who pray for wealth are praying in vain. I don't know the scripture reference from the bible but we are told that we are not to worry about the things here on earth, God will provide for our needs (He has for me I know) but we need to be prepared for when Jesus returns. Wealth is not a NEED it is just stuff.
• United States
21 Feb 07
Very true, God does not want for uys to pray for things in vin and weath is certainly vanity. Just because the 2 richest men have no belife in GOd does not mean that that is why the have thier riches it only means they were smart enough to think of the things they did before anyone else. I am not rich by the standrads of this world but I am very rich in love family and faith, these are the most important things to me and God has provided me with a great bounty of them.
1 person likes this
• Singapore
24 Feb 07
Hi Byfaithonly, When do you think Jesus will return? Many groups are saying that some of the natural disasters are an indication of an impending Second Coming. What do you think?
• Singapore
24 Feb 07
Hi Happymomndad, Great, happy to hear that you have what's most important to you, may you continue to have His Blessings! Haha from the responses so far it looks like those who pray usually get what they want! I suppose I should pray more!
• Singapore
23 Feb 07
Hi there, I'm a practical person who don't believe that prayer. can work. Example: I have to eat when I'm hungry. No one can eat on my behalf. I should be serving my sentence if I violated the law. No one can be serving on my behalf. I don't believe in praying or asking for anything from any super beings but, I do make well wishes in my mind. Like what you mentioned, the world's 2 riches man are atheists. So, I suppose they don't pray for their riches but work for what they have now instead. If one can get rich by praying, who will work? What will become of this world? Cheers! Tashi http://www.entrepreneurs-link.com
1 person likes this
• Singapore
24 Feb 07
Haha, our 1st contrarian response! Some interesting views you have!
@LeXDei (209)
• Philippines
22 Feb 07
I pray for almost everything. I pray everyday to thank the Lord for all his blessings and I continuously ask for his continued guidance. I lift everything up to Him because I know that He will always take care of me and will lead me to the right way. I pray because there are things in life that I as a human, cannot comprehend or accept so I go to a being that is superior than me to help me and unburden me.
1 person likes this
• Singapore
24 Feb 07
Hi LeXDei, Interesting username you have - what does it mean? I know "Dei" means "God" - what does "Lex" mean? Thanks for your response, happy to hear you have such strong faith!