Prayer

[«MªÞlεδtǻr»]

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all have sinned.
Romans 5:12

So last Sunday I took a few sermon notes because luckily my pastor taught on sin and prayer and stuff. I also found a good devotion in my devotional that I'll take parts out of. The above verse explains that sickness is a result of sin. To reverse the curse (sin) Jesus died on the cross so that we could ask him for forgiveness from our sins. And it's a simple as that, if you want your sins to be forgiven, you just ask him.

⁴Surely He has borne oour griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵But He was wounded for transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon him,
And by his stripes we are healed.
⁶And we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:4-6

These verses talk of how Jesus died on the cross for us, that He undergoed a brutal crusifiction. Thay would beat Him with a cat-of-nine-tails until He was literally inches away from His death. He couldn't even carry His own cross to the crusifixtion site! Jesus dies for our sins, that we might be forgiven and ask Him to come into our hearts and spend eternal life with Him. Verse 6 is speaking of how He is the shepard and we are the sheep. When one of us goes astray, He'll search for that lost sheep.

For I consider that sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18

This verse basically is addressing how suffering will teach us things, and give us chances to teach others as well. And that glory will be revealed in us after we have been taught of our sufferings. I have tons more verses that I will put at the bottom of the page so you can read them if you want. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 is a piece of scripture Paul wrote and says that he had "a thornin the flesh," or basically that he was either sick, injured, or had some other need. He pleaded to God that He would heal him of it, and God had answered that He was not ready to heal him, but that he would give Paul His strength and His grace. Paul rejoiced over this because he stated "for when I am weak, I am strong." Therefor meaning that even if God hasn't answered your prayers, He will give you the strength to carry on, and because of your sickness, you can get chances to speak about God to people, to tell people how you can still carry on and be joyful if you have cancer, or have lost a friend. God wants you to spiritually thrive, and sickness is not cast upon you because of your sin.

Here is the devotional that I found, it goes a teensy bit off subject, but it still applies to why God doesn't answer prayers right away ::

For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges ever son whom he receives.
Hebrews 12:6

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There is a tendancy among Christians to view anything unpleasant that happens to them as the result of "spiritual warfare." When difficulty arises, many immediately ask God to remove their distress. The problem is that their predicament may have nothing to do with Satan or spiritual warfare. It may appear far more glorious for us to explain our hardships as Satan's determined attacks against us, rather than admitting that we are merely reaping what we have sown and are being disciplined by our heavenly Father (Galations 6:7).
What is oftern mistaken as Satan's attack may actually be chastement from our loving Father. If you have neglected your role as a spiritual teacher to your childeren, ((I don't think anyone here has childeren, lol, but this devotional is more advertised to adults than teens, lol)) God may allow them to fall into sin. If you have been dishonest at work, God may correct you by letting you face the consequences. It would be foolish to pray that God would ease your discomfort. God is disciplining you in order to gain your attention and bring necessary change to your life. How traginc never to make the connection between your problems and God's dicipline. God's dicipline will not help you if you dismiss it as Satan's doing or spiritual warfare ((or Him ignoring you)). Not every hardship you face is the chastisement or God, nut scripture indicates that God will dicipline you.
If you misunderstand God's chastening, you may actually blame Him for not answerinf your prayers or failing to protect you from Satan. Meanwhile, God is warning you of the danger you face because of your sin. Are there difficult circumstances in your life? Could it be the discipline of God? God, whose nature is perfect love, will correct you because He has your ultimate good in His heart.

I have a few prayer experiences that I want to share, for three years I prayed when I was little for 2 new cats because we recently had a couple of our cats die. After three years my dad found a cat for me, I'm so happy that we waited because the cat we found was my cat Sandy and he's my perfect match! Plus we saved him in a way because his previous owners were feeding him food that his body couldn't digest very well and he'd always throw up. Then about 6 months later, we found our second cat we had been praying for, Bellestar. My dad had a cat named Bellestar for 19 years before she died, and this Bellestar is almost exactly like her. In fact, when Bellestar the first died, she bit my dad on the thumb before she died, and when my dad first held Bellestar the second, she bit him on the exact thumb as Bellestar the first had.

Right now I have been praying for new friend. Actually for a long time I have been praying for new friends. God had given me you guys, my online friends, even though that wasn't exactly what I was looking for, and a few new school friends. Even though I still don't have a best friend that's a girl at school, he has given me the faith to trust Him to find me one that's just right for me, and the strength to carry on waiting.

Verses

Do not be decived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galations 6:7

⁷And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revalations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
⁸Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
⁹And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strenght is made perfect in weakness." Therefor most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
Galatians 4:13

For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Philippians 2:27

No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for you stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.
1 Timothy 5:23

Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
2 Timothy 4:20

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[stoneflame]

I feel like a devil compared to you, Maplestar! Your faith seems so strong, while mine is...doubtful. I can't help but question the Bible. I've been lied to just way too muc, so I don't know what is true.

I question things like, "How do you know it isn't just a bunch of guys getting together and writing the Bible to keep the world under control?" I mean, we don't know that and sometimes I believe that God is only this hing that keeps the people together, under control, obedient, and is someone we can put full trust to. He doesn't exist in that matter.

Geez, I'm a horrible Christian! Did Jesus ever exist? Or is he just a character? Why can't we walk on water like Jesus did. Why did all the miracles happen then, not now?

[-:¦:-Shortfoot-:¦:-]

I feel like a devil compared to you, Maplestar! Your faith seems so strong, while mine is...doubtful. I can't help but question the Bible. I've been lied to just way too muc, so I don't know what is true.

I question things like, "How do you know it isn't just a bunch of guys getting together and writing the Bible to keep the world under control?" I mean, we don't know that and sometimes I believe that God is only this hing that keeps the people together, under control, obedient, and is someone we can put full trust to. He doesn't exist in that matter.

Geez, I'm a horrible Christian! Did Jesus ever exist? Or is he just a character? Why can't we walk on water like Jesus did. Why did all the miracles happen then, not now?

Yup, I feel the same way!! I wanna feel like I fully am a christian, but I cant. I am taking conformation next year. I am hoping that will help

[«MªÞlεδtǻr»]

It's natrual to have doubts. And I can answer some of those questions for you ::

Did Jesus ever exist?
I believe so, the proof we have is the bible, and the artifacts in Israel. In the book of Revelation, it speaks of how to buy or sell items or to travel, every person will have the mark of the enemy(or devil, something to that effect) on their hand or head. Heard of how in 2008 people will have microchips in their hands? And that to travel, buy, or sell, they'll have to have it? I'll study Revalation more and make a devotional about the things in it.

Why can't we walk on water like Jesus did. Why did all the miracles happen then, not now?
Faith. That's simply it, faith. A few weeks ago, a man from Africa came to my church for about a week and every day, for the whole day, he'd be there, and people could come and ask to be healed. The result, he healed them! It was amazing. With all of the sin filled things in the world today, people struggle, it's harder to not have doubts and "walk on the fence." What I mean by that is that it's hard not to have one foot in the world and one foot with God. There was a scientist who came to my church Wednesday and did Creationism vs. Evolutionism. They only teach evolution in school. You know the diagram of the horse evolving? It's incorrect, there are multiple quotes the scientist supplied from evolutionists, the first little horse, is a hyrax, meaning it's a completely different species, it's like a rodent. Plus there is no evidence for the transition between fish and amphibians, there are amphibians, and there are fish, no transition animals. Same with amphibians and reptiles, and reptiles and mammals, and reptiles and birds. He's eventually going to write a book about it and I can post a link for it when it comes out.

[stoneflame]

So Christianity is all about faith. Even if you have your doubts, you just need love and faith? But what I was sayig about Jesus and if he existed or not is that what if the Bible is just a story to kep the world under control? What if God doesn't exist? What if he is only there so that we can trust someone with all our heart till our graves, like someone to lean onto?

[«MªÞlεδtǻr»]

Yeah, christianity isn't all about good works and such, you can't get to heaven by good works, you get there by your faith in God. Good works come along with the relationship, and they might strengthen it too. Just like going to church doesn't make you a christian, having the realtionship does, though going to church does help your relatonship with Him.
I understand those questions, but I can't answer them, it's going to have to be a question that you answer for yourself. I personally believe that He is real due to my experiences with him, I know eventually I am going to deal with doubts, but I totally believe in it.

[hollypaw]

almost everyone asks the question does god exist? once in there lifetime or they are just faking there belife. and i dont think the bible is fake. and if you want to go strickly mathmatical think of this, what have you got to lose?? if he is false then nothing happens but if he isnt you gain eternal life! so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. and besides even if there is no proof you still believe. faith needs no proof. and the only bridge to god is though crist. even if you are perfect if you dont believe then you cant go to heaven, likewise if you are the most rotten thing and then you start to believe in crist you will go to heaven and be saved.(phew that was long)

[«MªÞlεδtǻr»]

I've been reading up on the effect music has on plants, and the certain sound waves correspond with amino acids and proteins and such to help or destroy the plant. Same with humans. So I was talking to my mom and it's interesting because she was saying that with the right sound wave God could make things do anything he wanted (She was reading about the string theory). Also she told me that she had been praying for my dad because he had been at risk for prostate cancer and one night she heard this amazing low melody that she can't even describe (obviously it was in her head and not out loud) and the next night she had prayed again and God said that he was already healed. And he was when it came time for his next check-up!(I've posted a bit more in the Garbage thread too)

Read the article here :: www.earthpulse.com/src/subcategory.asp?catid=2&subcatid=6

[wolfwind]

to true! soundwaves could influence the strings in a atom essentailly changing what it is. and besides i sometimes feel like i have a really strong faith and then i think all these people say god has talked to him. but i havent heard him i think?? what do they mean by that? and what scares me is when i think do i have a really strong faith?? i sometimes feel like no one could have a stronger faith then i start to think do i really have a strong faith? it scares me.

[«MªÞlεδtǻr»]

Yeah, I've had that happen a lot. When people say they've heard God speak to them, or in the Bible where it's written out that he spoke as in verbally, I always feel left out b/c I've never heard him speak to me that way. But I think it's meaning that it's like a feeling, kind of like your conscience, I can't really explain it because I have a had a few times where he's "spoken" to me, it's hard to explain

[•○Granny Flash○•]

Well I agree with Maplestar.. i beileve that faith is all you need, wonderful things happen when you have faith. Those who beileve see the miracles that happen all the time. And for the suffering, it was ment to be. The devil.. as it is told in the bible, wanted to save the human race from all suffering..all hurt. But his one price for this.. was he was to have all the power and glory of God. Now not just did the Lord not like that Satin wanted his title.. but God does and didn't want us to live without pain. We learn from pain and our mistakes. The younger we are..the more our faith is strong, as we grow.. it becomes much more difficult to see and feel him there. But if we beileve, have faith. We will see.. he is always there.

[«MªÞlεδtǻr»]

yup, it all comes down to faith. In my opinion there is tons of evidence there, but the reason I believe in it so strongly is my faith. The things that don't make sense I just pass off b/c I know that God knows why they are that way and it doesn't matter if I have to know b/c it;s not necessary for me to know

[tidekit]

Miracles hapen all the time with God in our time, it is just hard to see. Just a few days ago I got back from my trip to Costa Rica. The day before we were supposed to leave, I didn't think I was going. They said my passport was in New Orleans. And as hard as my Mom tried, she couldn't find out if the people could send it same day. Everything was against us. All of the suddent the workers said they didn't have record of the passport ever being made. My Mom made phone calls all day and finally said, "Maybe God is protecting you from something on this trip." I was devastated all the same. We had been praying for the oast few days that God would allow me to go if it was his will. I was in bed crying at 12:00 and my mom came in to pray one last time. In that prayer she said, while crying, " God you know what we want, and I have been sayintg that we know all is your will, and that nothing happens without your intention, but now I mean it Lord. She went on for minutes." When I was half asleep my mom came rushin in saying, "Your passport is being driven here!" That was fifteen minutes after she prayed. Mom says that God was teaching her to truly believe he is in control and does what is right for us. I believe her. Because no one that day thought that I was going to Costa Rica. That changed within a second after one, honest prayer.

[«MªÞlεδtǻr»]

I totally agree, miracles do happen today. Some might be as drastic in the bible, but most of the time people come up with "sensible" answers instead of believing it was God.

A few years ago when our high school youth group went on its usual trip down to Mexico, it was on it's way back in the 15 person van when the driver got drowsy, barely veered off the road into the gravel, but the van rolled over anyway b/c the 15 passenger vans are unsafe. A lot of the girls weren't wearing seat belts (this was the girl van) and a lot got hurt, but some came out without a scratch on them. One girl hurt her neck really bad and some people there remember seeing a lady holding her neck up until the paramedics came and they didn't see anything of her after that, and didn't see when she arrived. We believe it was an angel.

[ravenclaw]

So, it's kind of like the Nine? All you have to do is belive. But my queston is, I belive in God and all, but I don't pray, I don't go to church, and I cuss and flick people off sometimes. Does that mean I'm going to Hell? Or is there something worse that I don't know about. Do I have to go to church and pray to be able to go to heaven? Or is my fate to meet the Devil and die in death? A I already screwed?

[valiantlight]

well beleif is the first step but without asking god into your life it doesnt matter. you have to ask god to be part of your life before you will be saved. if you have then everything else will come in time. i know i go to church and pray every now and then. just remember that if you beleive that jesus is your savior and that you want god to be part of your life you will be saved. all you have to do is ask.

[«MªÞlεδtǻr»]

Yup, you just ask him to come into your life and keep a relationship with him and stuff. As time goes on your relationship and faith will get stronger, that is if you choose you want it to. If you just sit there and twiddle your thumbs nothing with happen, lol. As for "you already being screwed," that's not possible b/c you can come to the Lord at any time in your life