[Zen888]

Hello Everyone

Do you believe in the power of prayer? What does the power of prayer mean to you? If you are Catholic or Christian or Jewish or Buddhist or other faith how does your method of prayer function? Any concrete/legitimate events in your life that can be attributed to the positive affects of you or others praying? What do you pray for?

my granddaughter was born at 24 weeks. 1.5 lbs. prayer saved her. i'm convinced. the doctors are convinced.........i believe in it very much.......

[Maven]

No, I don't believe in the power of prayer. I'm not saying it can't be real, but I seriously doubt it. I've heard no reason to believe it makes a difference. People talk about how praying saved a life, but what about those it doesn't save? I remember a story in the news a few months ago, where a little girl died from a random bullet, while her infant brother didn't. People said God saved him. Then why didn't God save the girl?

I've heard so many adults who were raped and molested as kids, who said they prayed night after night, that Daddy or Uncle Bill wouldn't come back that night and do it again, but it happened again and again.

Just because someone survives, doesn't make it a miracle. It makes perfect sense that some people will get lucky or be hit/shot/harmed in a way that doesn't destroy them. When people say a person who missed being shot was saved by God, that's like saying that every bullet would hit a person if it weren't for God. I just don't buy it.

I'm not saying God doesn't exist (or Goddess[es]); but my theory (and it's only a theory), in short, is, if S/He/They exist(s), S/He/They set things in motion in the beginning, and what gets us into Heaven or Hell (if those exist) is how we react to the things that happen to us.

My theories and beliefs can be confusing to others, but they make sense to me.

[(JD)]

I absolutely know the power of prayer... and btw would you pray for my puppy right now? Caleb is sick from eating the IAMS dog food... I need him alive and healthy.

[bebop]

No, I don't believe in the power of prayer. I'm not saying it can't be real, but I seriously doubt it. I've heard no reason to believe it makes a difference. People talk about how praying saved a life, but what about those it doesn't save? I remember a story in the news a few months ago, where a little girl died from a random bullet, while her infant brother didn't. People said God saved him. Then why didn't God save the girl?


I know it works. too many things have happened in my life for it not to work. as far as the quote above...if it were meant for everyone to be saved or healed then no one would ever die and the world would be way over populated. God heals in His own way whether it be a healing that we see here on earth or healing in Heaven.

[Maven]

I'm not going to debate you. I was only answering your question.

[(JD)]

My Caleb is probably going to be ok... though we won't be sure until we know the full ramifications of the IAMs food recall problems. He's been put on heavy doses of antibiotic for a week and then we'll rerun the panels. His body is full of bacteria from this. But it appears we caught it and it didn't damage his kidneys. Thank [b]God.

[bebop]

sky I am praying for caleb and his recovery. good luck hon

[(JD)]

Thanks! He ate some food this morning... so that's good. He has to take the AB for 10 days actually... but his energy level is rising already. Poor puppy. My lawyer returned my call, and he's on the line for the class action suit information... will advise me as things develop. . . now I have to find that receipt if I still have it (more prayer??) AND hopefully it will also carry the item number, not just IAMS dog food. TC

[darkeyes]

I was relieved it hadn't affected the dry food, I give my girls Eukanuba natural lamb and rice. I did have from last year, 4 little cans to mix in when my oldest had a broken tooth extracted. I took them back to A&P grocery store and got refund. I wasn't going to wait to get the code numbers, the toll free lines and websites for the main manufacturer of the various brands, posted any product numbers, I wanted them out of my home.
My hubby said he heard that many dogs died at the place they test various brand foods, helping the companies to rate them, the manufacturer had hid that info, and knowingly continued to produce the products, Grrrrrrrrrr!!
Sort of like the tobacco industries when they kept it secretive that they were using tobacco with more potent amounts of nicotine, the addictive agent, to help keep smokers hooked. Every now and then I'll get waves of food and beverage quality/safety paranoia, but then convince myself I can't get neurotic over everything, golly I have enough problems. I pray the losses of our precious pets will be minimal, it's hard enough there has already been deaths cause of this. Last year some local horse breeders loss some of their horses due to bloat that was found to have come from some contaminated feed with some dangerous mold spores, and who knows what else was in the mix.
I pray everyday that humans and animals will be safe from harm, and the negligence/greed of some of the manufacturers in the food and drug industry.
Sorry, I digressed, it's just that my pets are my children with fur.

(((((((((( to all of you and your precious pets ))))))))

[Juliana]

I believe in the power of prayer -- even though I'm not a religious person. Regardless of faith or belief, I believe that the act of praying to whatever higher power one believes in (or even having a deep conversation with one's self) is a very positive thing. We don't always get what we pray for, but praying for something positive puts positive thoughts in our minds and I believe in the power of positive thinking.

Another good thing about prayer is that I think it helps us put things in perspective. The things we pray for tend to be the things that are most important to us. Sometimes we get caught up in our lives -- we're so busy and stressed, etc. we forget about the things that REALLY matter. So, prayer is a way of reconnecting with a deeper part of ourselves and reminding ourselves of what is truly important.

I have also known people in my life who have very low self-esteem and don't believe that they DESERVE to have good things happen to themselves and those they love. Learning to pray for good things can help to validate self-worth and act as a reminder and reinforcement that they are as deserving of good things as anyone else.

So, despite the many different ways in which people pray, I do believe the act in itself has positive power.

P.S. In answer to your question: I usually pray for strength.

[(JD)]

How about the prayer of Hezekiah? He prayed and God lengthened his life!

[Juliana]

I remember that passage.

I believe that everyday there are prayers that are answered and prayers that go unanswered. I just think that the act of praying in itself is a positive thing.

[(JD)]

Oh yes,,, and I will hunt the research delivered that says those surgical patients that had (by strangers) been prayed for healed faster and better...

[Maven]

There are studies that say positive thinking can have the same effect.

[nothemama8]

do you realize when ever we say "Bless you to another person" we are praying that a higher power watches over others
prayer is present in our daily life

[Juliana]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Maven said:
There are studies that say positive thinking can have the same effect.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

True. I've read about some of those studies. I believe strongly in the power of positive thinking.

[Maven]

There are two theories (that I know of) concerning saying "Bless you" to a person who sneezed. One is that people used to believe a person sneezes out their good luck, or something like that, so we say, "Bless you" to wish them more good luck. The other is that a person sneezes out evil demons inside them, so the "Bless you" is like a cheer, because you did a good thing.

Prayer is in any kid's life on the days when he gets a pop quiz or a test in school.