Why We Pray - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 22
About This Presentation
Title:

Why We Pray

Description:

'Well, Mom,' he replied, 'our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy ... thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:250
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 23
Provided by: kevinhi
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Why We Pray


1
Why We Pray
  • Promptings 101

2
Little boys
  • When Joey was little, his mother asked
    what he had learned in Primary.
  • Well, Mom, he replied, our teacher
    told us how God sent Moses behind enemy
    lines on a rescue mission to lead the
    Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the
    Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon
    bridge, and all the people walked across safely.
  • He used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters
    and call in an air strike. They sent in bombers
    to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were
    saved.
  • "Now, Joey, is that REALLY what your teacher
    taught you?" his mother asked.
  • "Well, no, Mom, but if I told it the way the
    teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

3
C.S Lewis
  • Christianity thinks it is in a civil
    war, a rebellion, and that we are living in
    a part of the universe occupied by the rebel
  • Christianity is the story of how the rightful
    king has landed, you might say in disguise, and
    is calling us all to take part in a great
    campaign
  • When you go to church or pray you are really
    listening in on the secret wireless from our
    allies that is why the enemy is so anxious to
    prevent us from going. (Mere Christianity, p.
    46)

4
And yet, right in the middle of the battle.
We have a son on a mission, Why would we lose our
job now?
My daughter is 15 and suicidal. What should I do?
Bishop, I think my husband has A pornography
problem
Should we have mom do Chemo? Shes 85!
Should we take that job in Texas? We dont know
anyone there---and its hot!
12 year olds? I dont know anything About
teaching 12 Year olds!
Crickets? First Mobs, then Mud Now Crickets? Why
Now!?
5
And Yet.
  • We harbor questions about prayer itself
  • For instance
  • 1) Why arent answers coming?
  • 2) Can I really trust Him?
  • Will I really be happier doing it His way?
  • 3) Can I really trust me?
    Am Am I worthy to receive
    answers?
  • 4) Can I trust God too much?
  • Can I lose my free agency?

6
For instance
  • If the answers arent coming, do I need to
    weary Him with repeat requests? Maybe I havent
    asked enough

7
Luke 18
When we revert to the nagging prayer
approach, we risk believing either A) He
didnt want us to have the requested blessing in
the first place but so got tired of hearing us
complain so he was pestered into giving
in. Or B) He wanted us to have the
blessing, but decided to tease us for a while
before giving it to us.
  • There was in a city a judge, which feared not
    God, neither
    regarded man
  • And there was a widow in that city and she
    came unto him, saying, Avenge
    me of mine adversary.
  • And he would not for a while but afterward
    he said within himself,
    Though I fear not
    God, nor regard man
  • Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will
    avenge her, lest by her continual coming she
    weary me.
  • The Saviors interpretation
  • Hear what the unjust judge saith.
  • And shall not God who is Just avenge his own
    elect Israel which cry day and night unto him,
    though he bear long with them.

8
Three questions to ask when there are no answers
  • First Question
  • How much of your prayers are consumed with what
    you want (regardless of how righteous a request)
    and how much is spent trying to find out what the
    Lord wants for you?

9
Elder BednarOctober 2008 Conference
  • Prayer becomes meaningful as we remember
    our relationship to Deity and heed the
    admonition to
  • Cry unto God for all thy support yea,
    let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and
    whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord
  • Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he
    will direct thee for good

10
Getting Answers
  • And at that day, when I shall come in my glory,
    shall the parable be fulfilled which I spoke
    concerning the ten virgins.
  • For they that are wise and have received the
    truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their
    guide, and have not been deceivedverily I say
    unto you, theyshall abide the day. (DC 45
    56-57)

11
Natural Man Tendency
  • I live my life the best way I know how. I have to
    make a lot of decisions. When I come to a
    decision I cant solve, I choose the best option
    I know and then take THAT one to the Lord for
    confirmation.
  • I shouldnt have to be commanded in all things.

12
Elder Busche
  • None of us has enough wisdom, enough
    intelligence, enough knowledge, enough skills, or
    enough courage, by ourselves, to master our lives
    and even succeed in life
  • unless we learn what it means to surrender
    ourselves into the arms of the Lord and be filled
    with the Spirit.
  • Unleashing the Dormant Spirit May 1996

13
Struggling Parents
14
What about fasting and prayer?
  • DC 59
  • And on this day thou shalt do none other thing,
    only let thy food be prepared with singleness of
    heart that thy fasting may be perfect,
  • or, in other words, that thy joy
    may be full.
  • Verily, this is fasting and prayer,
  • or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.

15
Second Question
  • When revelation finally comes, do I immediately
    act on it,
  • or do I tend to hesitate, waiting for something
    more to my liking?

16
Caution
Guilt Ahead
17
William James
  • If I doubt you are worthy of my confidence, I
    keep you uniformed of all my secrets just as if
    you were unworthy of the same. If I doubt the
    need of insuring my house, I leave it uninsured
    as much as if I believed there were no need
  • There areinevitable occasions in life
    when inactionmust count as action

18
Therefore
  • When an answer comes and we know it was from God,
    and we fail to act (or do something else)
  • A) We are really saying Heavenly Father
    doesnt understand that His way will not be
    as good as our narrow view of things. Or
  • B) We are saying that He doesnt really
    know our true needs, capabilities or
    circumstances.
  • In either case, if were honest, we are
    saying we dont trust Him.

19
DC Section 9Oliver Cowdrey
  • And, behold, it is because that you did not
    continue as you commenced, when you began to
    translate, that I have taken away this
    privilege from you.
  • Behold, it was expedient when you commenced but
    you feared, and the time is past and not
    expedient now
  • For, do you not behold that I have given unto my
    servant Joseph sufficient strength, whereby it is
    made up? And neither of you have I condemned.
  • Do this thing which I have commanded you,
    and you shall prosper. 

20
President Eyring
  • You must listen to the spirit with the
    intent of doing what you are told. If you
    do, then after you have been obedient you
    will be told more.
  • Joseph Smith described it this way "Happiness is
    the object and design of our existence and will
    be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that
    leads to it and this path is virtue,
    uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping
    all the commandments of God.
  • But we cannot keep all the commandments without
    first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know
    all, or more than we now know unless we comply
    with or keep those we have already received."
  • To Draw Closer to God A Collection of
    Discourses ( 1997)

21
Finally, Third Question
  • Do I trust my ability to distinguish the voice of
    the spirit from my own wishes and emotions?
  • Can I tell the difference between actual
    promptings and when its just me?

22
Elder F. Enzio Busche
  • Occasionally we may even feel a certain
    reluctance to deal with matters of the a
    spiritual nature because of our insecurity in
    discerning the difference between the
    influence from the Spirit of God and promptings
    that may come from the liar and deceiver.
  • BYU Devotional, 14 May, 1996
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com