Science Aside, I Believe God, the Creator of the Universe, Hears My Prayers!
I just read a Wikipedia that “Some religions claim that praying for somebody who is sick can have positive effects.” However, Wiki says, scientific studies have “failed to produce significant findings.” (See Wikipedia on "Intercession")
Ok, I agree, prayer cannot heal anyone. Prayer, in any religion, is like a telephone. It is just a channel. You do not talk to the phone; you talk through the phone. You do not talk to prayer. You talk to someone through prayer. It is the “someone” that makes the difference.
King Ahab and all of Baal's prophets prayed to Baal to send rain. It did not rain, simply because Baal was an idol that had no powers. The story goes like this, Elijah shows up at Ahab's palace and declares, that in the name of the God of Israel, there would be no rain. There is no rain. Cattle and crops died. The country was devastated. After 3 ½ years Elijah presents himself again to Ahab and Ahab confesses that for 3 ½ years Baal has not responded to their prayers. Would Elijah please pray?
God had everyone where He needed them. They realized their great need, and were looking to Him to solve it. Elijah told Ahab to bring all the people with the prophets of Baal and meet him on Mt. Carmel. There was to be a test. They would each build an alter and offer a bullock. The god who answered with fire would be the true God. Baal worshipers prayed, danced, cut, jumped and shouted most of the day, no fire. Elijah stepped forward, poured water on the alter, then, humbly prayed and fire consumed the bullock, the wood, the alter and the water around the alter.
I suppose it would not class as a scientific test, but if you had been there, you would have been foolish not to admit that the God of Israel, the Creator-God, had answered Elijah's prayer.
Is that repeatable in a scientific study? No way!
Nor is Peter and John's healing of the cripple by praying to Jesus provable by scientific methods. See Acts 3:1-9
Science does bear out that a positive attitude promotes healing, that a calm peaceful life is good for the health. The body is made that way, and no matter the reason for your peace, it seems to work. But prayer is different. It presumes we are calling on a higher power. If the power is impotent, the prayer goes unanswered. If the power is the all-wise God of the universe, it is answered in God's wisdom.
I often hold up my friends and loved ones in prayer to the Lord, Jesus Christ. I leave my request in His hands to answer as He sees fit. I wait in peace. I have seen God intervene in my life and answer many prayers—including many healings! My family and friends can exchange answers to our prayers for hours. That is all the proof I need!
Does prayer heal? No way. Does God heal in answer to our humble petitions through prayer? Sometimes. Does God hear our prayers? Always!
This essay inspired by my study of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 22:30 God says He needs someone to stand in the gap / intercede.
Ok, I agree, prayer cannot heal anyone. Prayer, in any religion, is like a telephone. It is just a channel. You do not talk to the phone; you talk through the phone. You do not talk to prayer. You talk to someone through prayer. It is the “someone” that makes the difference.
King Ahab and all of Baal's prophets prayed to Baal to send rain. It did not rain, simply because Baal was an idol that had no powers. The story goes like this, Elijah shows up at Ahab's palace and declares, that in the name of the God of Israel, there would be no rain. There is no rain. Cattle and crops died. The country was devastated. After 3 ½ years Elijah presents himself again to Ahab and Ahab confesses that for 3 ½ years Baal has not responded to their prayers. Would Elijah please pray?
God had everyone where He needed them. They realized their great need, and were looking to Him to solve it. Elijah told Ahab to bring all the people with the prophets of Baal and meet him on Mt. Carmel. There was to be a test. They would each build an alter and offer a bullock. The god who answered with fire would be the true God. Baal worshipers prayed, danced, cut, jumped and shouted most of the day, no fire. Elijah stepped forward, poured water on the alter, then, humbly prayed and fire consumed the bullock, the wood, the alter and the water around the alter.
I suppose it would not class as a scientific test, but if you had been there, you would have been foolish not to admit that the God of Israel, the Creator-God, had answered Elijah's prayer.
Is that repeatable in a scientific study? No way!
Nor is Peter and John's healing of the cripple by praying to Jesus provable by scientific methods. See Acts 3:1-9
Science does bear out that a positive attitude promotes healing, that a calm peaceful life is good for the health. The body is made that way, and no matter the reason for your peace, it seems to work. But prayer is different. It presumes we are calling on a higher power. If the power is impotent, the prayer goes unanswered. If the power is the all-wise God of the universe, it is answered in God's wisdom.
I often hold up my friends and loved ones in prayer to the Lord, Jesus Christ. I leave my request in His hands to answer as He sees fit. I wait in peace. I have seen God intervene in my life and answer many prayers—including many healings! My family and friends can exchange answers to our prayers for hours. That is all the proof I need!
Does prayer heal? No way. Does God heal in answer to our humble petitions through prayer? Sometimes. Does God hear our prayers? Always!
This essay inspired by my study of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 22:30 God says He needs someone to stand in the gap / intercede.
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