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kristinannie
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| Posted: May 09 2011 at 4:11pm | IP Logged
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I have been reading Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence: The Secret of Peace and Happiness. It is such an amazing book and it has given me so much to think about. I was reading a section today about prayer. It stated that God wants you to keep praying over and over for the same thing so that when He does answer your prayer, He will answer it in a great fashion. He used the example of St. Augustine's mother who prayed for his conversion for 16 years.
I have been praying for our old house to sell. However, I haven't been praying for it very often. I was trying to trust God to help me when the timing was right. However, now I am thinking that I should be praying for this regularly. The book actually said that praying once for something is almost like ordering God to do something. I had never thought of it this way before.
I would love to hear your opinions on this. What is the most effective way to pray? I was always of the opinion that God knew what I wanted and would grant it when He was ready so I shouldn't keep "annoying" him with the same request. Maybe this is faulty thinking!
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JodieLyn
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There's the story in the Bible about the woman who kept knocking at the judges door and how we should be like her.
And yet we're also told that what parent would give a stone to their child instead of bread and how much better our Heavenly Father is than we are..
So maybe it's both. We need to trust.. but we also need to pray often.
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stellamaris
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Quote:
| I have been reading Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence: The Secret of Peace and Happiness. It is such an amazing book and it has given me so much to think about. |
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I agree! One of my personal favorites!
Quote:
| . What is the most effective way to pray? I was always of the opinion that God knew what I wanted and would grant it when He was ready so I shouldn't keep "annoying" him with the same request. |
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God does know what we want, even before we ask: "Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether." Ps. 139:4
Even so, He desires us to ask and it is our privilege as daughters of so great a King to be able to ask: "Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Jn. 16:24
He commands us to persevere and keep on asking: "Ask and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 In the original language, this has the idea of "keep on asking", "keep on knocking", and "keep on seeking". Also, as Jodie said, Jesus told us by way of parables to be like the persevering woman before the judge (Lk 18:1-8) or the friend who is seeking bread for his houseguest (Lk 11:5-8). So we know we ought to keep on asking. Our Father loves us and He will never be impatient, annoyed, or aggravated by our repeated asking.
I personally think that consistent prayer about a need is one way God helps US. As we pray for the same intention over and over, God purifies our hearts and desires. We begin to see what we really need. We begin to "abide" in God with that request, as if we were sitting in His lap surrounded by His loving arms holding our request in our hands. Often God has changed my heart, increasing my charity and patience toward some other person as I have consistently prayed for them over a long period of time
In prayer, we trust that God knows our needs, we ask and keep on asking, we accept that our will and His may not be the same, and that the answer might be a loving, "No, I am your Father and I know what is best."
So--go ahead and ask! And keep on asking, too! 
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Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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cheesehead mom
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| Posted: May 09 2011 at 8:34pm | IP Logged
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Kristin--I was recently re-reading "King of the Golden City" to my son preparing for First COmmunion and was reminded how often we forget to ask the Lord for things at mass and especially during that treasured time when we have just received him.
Laura
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kristinannie
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| Posted: May 10 2011 at 10:49am | IP Logged
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Stella, that was a great response thank you!
You ladies have given me a lot to think about! Laura, I completely agree about that time after communion. I try to always pray then, but with three kids under 5 who are usually squirmy by then, it isn't the best time for me!!!! 
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Angie Mc
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stellamaris wrote:
| I personally think that consistent prayer about a need is one way God helps US. As we pray for the same intention over and over, God purifies our hearts and desires. We begin to see what we really need. |
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Caroline, you really helped to put into words what I have experienced. There have been times in my life when I have *begged* for what I've wanted...then my pendulum will swing the other way and I find myself holding more tenderly in my heart my request and simply asking that I trust in His will. I don't see either as better...like Jodie said, perhaps both fulfills a need. When I'm a begger I feel very humble, vulnerable, child-like. When I'm more accepting (less begging) of what is before me, I feel trusting, peaceful, and maturing. I need both. Both are the same coin...a deep understanding of my complete dependence on God.
What I want to avoid is becoming luke-warm in prayer. I think that can *look* like less-begging/more accepting prayer, but it isn't at all. I don't want to be lazy or feel entitled. Hard to describe.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Question about prayer
