We can’t change God’s mind, try to change God’s mind, it’s pointless to pray to try to change God’s mind. Can we change God’s mind?
We should be careful how we word our prayers. (I wouldn’t want to pray and hinder God’s second coming)
(comments made by church leadership concerning a church member's desire to pray for unity amongst believers and across denominational lines, as well as her desire to pray for the state of our country.)
Why? Can He not handle our prayers, right or wrong according to His will – or- maybe it’s not about what we pray as much as it is about our intentions when we pray. Is it possible that we can pray for ANYTHING we want, as long as we acknowledge that God may have other plans or purposes? For example, is it ok to pray for someone’s healing, even though it’s not God’s plan for them to be healed? How would we know the difference? Can we know the difference? Maybe sometimes, but maybe not always. What about when Paul speaks about the thorn in his flesh that he has asked God to remove and God chooses not to remove it (2 corth 12)…it’s that thing that makes God, God to Paul. It’s that thing that makes Paul rely on God rather than himself. It’s that thing that makes Paul recognize he is not the one in control and that he must rely on God’s grace. It’s the thing that makes Paul humble; it’s the thing that causes Paul to relinquish control.
We pray to know the heart of God because sometimes we don’t necessarily know what he would want for us. Not that He has not revealed His ways in scripture, but we are often ignorant of His ways. Isa. 55:6
We pray for His will to be done and revealed. (Matt. 6: 5-15)
Are our prayers or words in some way a threat to His plans? Can our prayers or words in some way ruin His plans? (I believe it’s not our prayers but our actions; the intent of our heart, not truly desiring His will.)
Is it possible to pray for the wrong thing if our hearts are truly seeking His will?
If it’s possible to pray for the wrong thing, is it possible for God to reveal to us that we are praying for the wrong thing?
Is it ever wrong to pray for unity in the church or healing for the nation(s)? Side note, personal opinion: I can’t ignore the fact that Christ’s ministry was about reconciliation of all things to God the Father, which it would seem would also be our ministry.
The two greatest commandments ( Matt 22: 34-40) are:
Love God
Love our neighbor
I wouldn’t want to pray and interfere with God’s second coming.
Is this possible? Can my prayer in some way hinder God’s will? How? Can my prayer in some way hinder God’s will if it’s my desire to serve Him and to do His will?
We give good gifts to our children hoping it’s right, how much more does our Father give to us? (Matt. 7:11) This scripture suggests to me that when we are asking with the intent to seek Him, whether our prayer is “right” or “wrong”, whether we use the “right” words or not, we can trust Him with the outcome.
The new covenant is made within us, not externally. The law is no longer on stone tablets, it’s written on our hearts. (Rom. 2: 15-16) We sometimes ask God for external circumstances and situations to change, but He is more concerned with what is going on with us internally (our hearts). Beth Moore, Believing God, Unit 3 DVD
It seems it’s so easy for us to forget the one thing that separates us from all other religions. That five letter word: GRACE (from C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, I think?)
What does is mean to take the Eucharist unworthily? Is it possible for one to take part each week or even several times a week and be pure of heart? Is it ok for children to participate?
1 Corth 10:
17-19Regarding this next item, I'm not at all pleased. I am getting the picture
that when you meet together it brings out your worst side instead of your
best!
First, I get this report on your divisiveness, competing with and
criticizing each other. I'm reluctant to believe it, but there it is.
The best that can be said for it is that the testing process will
bring truth into the open and confirm it. 20-22And then I find that you bring your divisions to worship—you come together, and instead of eating the Lord's Supper, you bring in a lot of food from the outside and make pigs of yourselves. Some are left out, and go home hungry. Others have to be carried out, too drunk to walk. I can't believe it! Don't you have your own homes to eat and drink in? Why would you stoop to desecrating God's church? Why would you actually shame God's poor? I never would have believed you would stoop to this. And I'm not going to stand by and say nothing. 23-26Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord's Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me. After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me.What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt. 27-28Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe. 29-32If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences. That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later. 33-34So, my friends, when you come together to the Lord's Table, be reverent and courteous with one another. If you're so hungry that you can't wait to be served, go home and get a sandwich. But by no means risk turning this Meal into an eating and drinking binge or a family squabble. It is a spiritual meal—a love feast.
§ It seems Paul is talking about a lifestyle and condition of the heart, rather than going through the motions of a religious action.
§ It sounds like this church body had a habit of mistreating one another and using and abusing themselves and one another (getting drunk, overeating, some going hungry, etc). vv.17-22
§ They brought their divisiveness to the table of communion which Paul basically says made a mockery of the Eucharist, mainly because even on the night Christ was betrayed He still showed kindness and love toward Judas (washing his feet-being a servant leader), which follows His commandment about loving our neighbor (Matt.22: 34-40) vv.23-28
§ Paul seems to say it’s a condition of our heart, he urges us to examine our motives. I kind of think the fact that one would be concerned about their heart and question their intent would make them worthy of participating because it would sound as though the individual is open to God revealing sin in their life and desiring to deal with whatever He reveals. Vv.27-28
§ It sounds as if he is even encouraging the members to set boundaries in their life in order to deal with themselves. It sounds as if he is encouraging them to set time aside to take inventory of themselves and deal with themselves in advance so they can come to the table in unity and love, or in Christ’s spirit. Vv. 33-34
§ It seems to me that a child’s innocence of their heart (not that they are perfect and would do no wrong) would exclude them from any harsh judgment about participating in the Eucharist. ( Matt. 18:3) Although I’m not entirely sure I understand this scripture reference.
