Mr.Cat Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 (edited) God does answer all prayers, [i]for He wastes not a single intention unto Him[/i], but it is not always answered as we please or when we please. But then again, God does not have to answer my prayers, [i]and sometimes should not[/i], but I do not always do what He asks ([i]as I suspect some of us are like[/i]) so I am not in a position to demand anything of God. [i]I sort of touched on this in the previous post...[/i] The thing about Free Will is that we can resist God to a certain degree, which means that some people while they may pray, may not be properly disposed to receive the gifts God is willing to grant them. In some of the visions of the Saints, [i]particularly the Divine Mercy[/i], our Blessed Lord comments on how many gifts He is willing to give to us, yet so few ask for them or desire to receive them. [i]Just some thoughts[/i]... Edited March 23, 2009 by Mr.CatholicCat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtins Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 From Fr. Jim Cole and my 10th grade religion class: -We are "made in the image and likeness of God" -Therefore we can do "God-like" things -Therefore we can sometimes start to think that we are God -Therefore we pray to remind ourselves that we are not God and that God is God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 What if you don't want to pray? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1815419' date='Mar 24 2009, 10:05 AM']What if you don't want to pray?[/quote] Doesn't that depend on what you consider prayer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puellapaschalis Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1815419' date='Mar 24 2009, 03:05 PM']What if you don't want to pray?[/quote] Cue yet another battle between my reason and my emotion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 What if you don't want to go to school today? You still go. What if you don't want to work today? You still work. What if you don't want to feed the kids, do the laundry, mow the lawn, wash the dishes...? You still do it. More or less well, perhaps, but you still do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archaeology cat Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 [quote name='Luigi' post='1815424' date='Mar 24 2009, 01:21 PM']What if you don't want to go to school today? You still go. What if you don't want to work today? You still work. What if you don't want to feed the kids, do the laundry, mow the lawn, wash the dishes...? You still do it. More or less well, perhaps, but you still do it.[/quote] Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I pray to know my Creator. When I am in constant contact with Him, I am usually my best self - the one He intends for me to be. [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1814741' date='Mar 23 2009, 09:21 AM']The answers are as varied as the personality of each posting, some are rational, some are faith-based and some are a bit of both. So, I have a followup question then. Why aren't all our prayers answered?[/quote] They are. Sometimes we just aren't open to realizing it. (That is, when we are asking for something in prayer. Because prayer isn't just about asking for things!) I think, too, that when we allow ourselves to turn into the "our prayers are never answered" deal, we are doing one or both of the following: 1. Not taking the necessary action and depending on God to do everything. 2. Focusing too much on ourselves, demanding things not asking for them humbly. We feel self-entitled and are being selfish. Yikes. Humility is the foundation of prayer. If we got that, I think we'll never stop praying! [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1815419' date='Mar 24 2009, 08:05 AM']What if you don't want to pray?[/quote] Then my relationship with my God suffers, as do all my others. If I don't know Him who is Love and I don't stay in contact with Him, I start to run on my will and my will is SO not pretty when I'm not in connection with Him. The Catechism says this: Prayer cannot be reduced to the spontaneous outpouring of interior impulse: in order to pray, one must have the will to pray. Nor is it enough to know what the Scriptures reveal about prayer: one must also learn how to pray. Through a living transmission (Sacred Tradition) within "the believing and praying Church," the Holy Spirit teaches the children of God how to pray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 (edited) I am surprised that on a Catholic board, it seems, only the same few are responding, with an occasional "newbie" passing through. If that is the case, then I am wondering: How important is prayer to you? Edited March 24, 2009 by Theologian in Training Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkwright Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1815490' date='Mar 24 2009, 11:32 AM']I am surprised that on a Catholic board, it seems, only the same few are responding, with an occasional "newbie" passing through. If that is the case, then I am wondering: How important is prayer to you?[/quote] I watched the video in the other thread by a priest speaking at a mens conference, I'm forgetting his name... but it really hit me when he said that for us Christians prayer is equivalent to eating, sleeping, ect. It has to be part of our lives. As for me... I must admit it still doesn't seem that way. Honestly I don't feel like I'm that good at prayer right now. I've been better at different times in my life. I've been trying harder this lent, and it comes in spurts... I think often of God and make short prayers often during the day, but setting up definite time spans seems hard. Anyways that maybe more than what your asking for... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1815490' date='Mar 24 2009, 01:32 PM']I am surprised that on a Catholic board, it seems, only the same few are responding, with an occasional "newbie" passing through. If that is the case, then I am wondering: How important is prayer to you?[/quote] I really do think it depends on how you define prayer. Mass? Saying the Hours? Rosary? Litanies? just having a running conversation with God? All of the above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1815490' date='Mar 24 2009, 11:32 AM']I am surprised that on a Catholic board, it seems, only the same few are responding, with an occasional "newbie" passing through. If that is the case, then I am wondering: How important is prayer to you?[/quote] Very. It's absolutely vital to a peaceful existence. [quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1815512' date='Mar 24 2009, 11:47 AM']I really do think it depends on how you define prayer. Mass? Saying the Hours? Rosary? Litanies? just having a running conversation with God? All of the above?[/quote] the Church tells us what prayer is. not everything is a shade of gray, cmom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 [quote name='hugheyforlife' post='1815520' date='Mar 24 2009, 01:56 PM']Very. It's absolutely vital to a peaceful existence. the Church tells us what prayer is. not everything is a shade of gray, cmom.[/quote] I was asking Father, not other posters hughey, its his thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountDeleted Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1815419' date='Mar 24 2009, 07:05 AM']What if you don't want to pray?[/quote] Then first you need to do is to fall in love with Jesus. One always wants to spend time with someone they love. Some Protestants seem to have this one down a little better than Catholics. The first thing they do is realize that a personal relationship with Jesus is essential and they talk about letting Jesus into their heart and taking over their life. I wasn't raised in any faith and I love the Catholic Church as the one true Church of Jesus Christ, but sometimes I really wonder at the cradle Catholics who don't seem to even see what a gift they have been given! Prayer is just essential! This question to me is like asking "What if I didn't want to breathe?" - you know, ridiculous! Oh yeah, I can understand what is being asked, but this isn't a chore that is being asked - it is an amazingly intensely beautiful way to be with someone you love ALL the time! So I would say to anyone who doesn't want to pray - take a giant step backwards and ask yourself "what is wrong with this picture?" The one who loves you the most in the whole world wants to spend time with you -- and you say????? ouch to Him ! Edited March 24, 2009 by nunsense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puellapaschalis Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I haven't really posted because I'm not sure how to word my answer. Plus there's the whole talking-in-front-of-Phatmass thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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