ITT We Discuss Theology

[Drolefille]

Bumping this for a question that frequently bothers me:

Prayer - the type where you pray FOR someone/something. Does it work? If so do people who have people to pray for them deserve better outcomes? If not then why do it?

I always got caught in a recursive "can't just pray for one person why not everyone in the whole world well what's the point then" thought process.

/overthinks things, I know

[SWTXBelle]

This was my facebook status a few days ago:

"God is always much better than the most loving person you can imagine, Jesus is saying. It is not that we pray and God answers. It is that our praying is already God answering within us and through us." — from Wondrous Encounters

So, in answer to your question DF - I don't think prayer triggers some "Jackpot!" with God. I think prayer opens us up to what God is already doing.

And I do think you can pray for everyone - I know my parish does, along with those we know. Heck, we even make a point of "praying for those who have no one to pray for them". Covering all the bases, I guess!

It also depends on the type of prayer - meditative, gratitude, intercession . . .