Prayers of supplication- why?

[ArtStudent]

Hi! I am a Christian of 20+ yrs but have recently been thinking about prayer a lot more. Historically I have viewed prayer as a way of becoming more in tune with God and a way to become closer to Him.
I think all of us will often pray with requests such as healing, financial situations, family relationships amongst many other things.

My question though is that if God knows my innermost thoughts, then why do I pray for things like asking him to give my sick friend strength. God knows I want this so does me asking for it in prayer make a difference?

Because talking to God, and asking is part of building a relationship with God.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It's part of your relationship with God to tell him what is on your mind, or in your heart, the same as you would with anyone else that you love. Although @Sycamoretrees has put it far more beautifully than me.

If you don't believe in God why are you hanging about on the religion board? Is it just to make snarky comments to those who do believe? Because it's not a great look on you.

We already know what atheists think but we continue to believe anyway. A stupid comment that displays your ignorance won't change our minds.

In answer to the OP,

It's something I've wrestled with too. The conclusion I have come to us that really we don't need to pray for things but our relationship with God means we can't help but do so.

Jesus said we should come to him like little children so I always try and work things out as if I was a toddler and God was a father.

A child doesn't really need to tell us that they're hungry or tired. We can usually work it out from the time of day and their behaviour. But it's good when they ask. It builds our relationship. They learn trust through our response. They learn how to relate to one another.

But I still believe we do have to ask for things occasionally. Not because He doesn't know we need them but because of what it says about us. As a child care professional there are times when I automatically step in and fulfill a need e.g two friends are playing on the slide. One falls off and whacks their head. I don't wait for the second child to come to me before I step in (but it brings comfort and reassurance to the second child to find an adult regardless). But there are also times when I don't step in. If a child is working really hard at putting their own shoes on, I would wait for them to ask before stepping in and doing it for them. This teaches the child resilience, patience, and perseverance. When they ask for help, I give it as this builds trust, connection, and they learn through modelling and imitation. But there are so many lessons for the child to learn if you don't help until they ask.

Thank you to SycamoreTrees, RicherThanYew and CremeEggsForBreakfast

All explained very well and along the lines of what I thought. Helpful though to see my jumbled thoughts clearly expressed.

Thank you

That’s not a very Christian way to speak to someone.

Why?

The religious boards are not just for those with faith.

Christianity underpins the fabric of western society.
It permission to patriarchy, lends weight to laws that control women's reproductive choices, forces our children to be indoctrinated at school, confirms the idea that maleness is supreme.
Even if we are not religious we cannot escape the church.
The religious boards are for all.

I’m assuming because the person who made it is a bad Christian, and badly brought-up.

communication is positive even if we know what others will say or do. I guess it’s being involved in each others’ lives. It gives a chance for opening ourselves up and also reassessing or changing our mind. Even if it doesn’t change anything, it can be reassuring. people like having a ‘sounding board’ for important decisions; or to vent when stressed.

the psalms have some heartfelt prayers; Jesus withdrawing to pray to God during his ministry and during his toughest moments are important examples for us.

Of course, we are all permitted to read and contribute to the religious boards, but when people deliberately contribute in bad faith, it's pretty goady, rude, and disrespectful. Just as I wouldn't go to breastfeeding boards just to evangelize about the wonders of formula feeding and vice versa.

That's a circular argument and you know me by precisely two posts but okay.

I used to feel like that too but then I realised actually they aren’t doing the atheist cause any favours, just showing intolerance and nastiness. It really doesn’t make me want to give up my religion - quite the opposite!
Let them crack on and show their true colours.

Don’t worry, they don’t do themselves any favours. It just makes me glad to be a Christian.

Trying to get the thread back on track (perhaps we need to ask for a safe space rather like the Black Mumsnetters space)
I also wonder this. I tend to view my relationship with God as a parent/child relationship. God will love you whatever you do, he knows you and the needs of your heart. He also can see the whole picture - the butterfly effect.
I think communication is the key to any relationship, a parent/child relationship is no different. That’s why prayers are good. It doesn’t matter the quality of your prayer, I have just cried at God before. I think prayer helps you get your thoughts clearer, in asking for things and thanking God for things. I think it helps keep things in focus.
I don’t think you NEED to pray as, like you say, God knows already.
I think prayer is more helpful for us than it is for God.

In an age of science, and understanding, and propaganda, and deception, why do humans faithfully, believe in a book edited and written and translated by Humans, not gods, and why or how can people think a mystical being can exist ? I can understand if e.g. It's like Q, from star trek, but that aside. ?

and one comment that could be used is people have faith,
then but faith in what, it was humans writing the book, it was humans translating the books, and if it was all gods perspectives, then why even split the books into new and old testament, ??

Your views of religion are not something I recognise at all. It’s as if you get all your ideas from a long time ago or from the extremes on the internet.
You seem very biased and unwilling to consider both sides.
Have you been to church (or other religious buildings) recently? Do you listen to what people are saying on here? The responses of those who have a faith. Do you consider what they are saying or dismiss it without even listening?

Having unbelievers make comments that are completely off-topic and contribute nothing to the conversation is strangely tolerated here. It would be considered inappropriate to do this in the middle of a discussion by Jewish, Muslim or Hindu women but with Christians people think its fine to do so. It's strange.

Jesus encourages us again and again to tell him everything and ask God for anything. I agree with the OP that I experience prayer as more a union with God but I think its about opening ourselves and our innermost thoughts and desires to God and trusting in his love and providence. Obviously "in him we live and move and have our being" so its pointless to keep anything from God because all we have (whether we realize it or not, are thankful or not) comes from God. Truth, beauty, goodness, loveliness. So yes, just as a child would confide everything to a loving parent, we can trust God with our desires and needs.

I answered as the op asked

"My question though is that if God knows my innermost thoughts, then why do I pray for things like asking him to give my sick friend strength. God knows I want this so does me asking for it in prayer make a difference"

You raise a very interesting question but the question is not a direct response to what the OP asked as it does not answer WHY one prays. If you started your own thread asking this question I would happily contribute my thoughts on the holiness of the Bible, though!

(Also, I'm not sure you were the one the "off topic comments" remark was directed at. You were, at least, respectful, in your questions whilst another was not)

My understanding is that prayer is about having a close relationship with Jesus - not just about asking for stuff but sharing your day to day life, your joys as well as worries. It also helps you to have a quiet time in your day just to be with him and to receive the Holy Spirit.

Admittedly I am not good at doing this and am working on making time to do this, too many distractions in modern life, but I do often talk to him about how I'm feeling. Think of him as a close friend or loving Father, however you want to visualise it. The Holy Spirit is incredibly powerful at filling you with joy and peace in times of need, but you need to ask to receive, and to do that you need that quiet time with the Lord.

Fair point,

I do wonder if religion as a whole helps give people hope, and some sense of day to day meaning for life, and I wonder if a civilisation would be improved or not improved without religion.

I advocate each to their own,

but I do ask the question of the believers is that if devout believers can recruit people to believe in x religion, then also should it be the same for non, belivers to try to recruit believers to e.g. Science and logic perspectives ?

But then if unbelievers are not welcome, then how can they be converted to the beliefs of the lord, if they cannot be enlightened though discuss on matters of faith and the bible etc ?

*discourse