Troubleshooting Prayer! 

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What is Prayer?

Prayer is Lifting up our mind to God. 

What are the requirements for effective prayer?

To Pray to God, one must believe in God. The more powerful our Faith in God, the more effective our prayer. If we do not believe in God, then we must ask for this belief, even if it is only conditional. It is in times of stress, that man is created to reach beyond himself.

What are the different types of prayer?

Adoration, Praise, Thanksgiving, and Petition are the different types of prayer. Many of us will pray only when we need something, which is a prayer of petition. Prayers of Adoration, Praise and Thanksgiving, however, can be very powerful.

Why is it that many who pray do not appear to get prayers answered?

  Prayers may not be answered quickly, if they are not said with humility, Love and Faith. In the Gospels, the centurion, the publican, and the Good Thief had prayers answered quickly, because they were close to Jesus and were humble. Since no one is more humble than a child, children's prayers can be very powerful.

  One becomes humble by accepting the humiliations that God sends them; this is sometimes not so easy to do. Sometimes God, who wishes our eternal happiness, may withhold answers to prayer, when we are not ready for those answers.

Are all prayers equal?

All prayers are not equal. Some prayers are more powerful in achieving results than others. God favored the prayer of the humble publican over that of the Pharisee. The prayers of those close to God not only can get results for themselves, but they can act as intercessors in prayer for others. We can see that some Christians were so humble, faith-filled and close to God that they were even able to raise people from the dead (e. g.. St Patrick, St Francis Xavier, St Martin of Tours, and of course Our Lord).

  All things being equal, communal prayers (prayers said in common), or in song, can be more powerful than private prayers. Prayers of praise of God, thanking Him for our difficulties, can effect greater results than prayers focussed on the difficulties themselves. Praise is better than petition. Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all will be given to you. Praising God for our difficulties can effect more than seeking to be released from them.

  Repeated prayers said to Jesus with the assistance of intercessors (such as Our Lady, St Joseph or St Catherine, or even a prayerful friend, living or dead) can get surprising results in a short period of time.

Which Prayers are the Best?

Certainly the prayer that Jesus recommends in the Bible has to be considered the ultimate personal prayer, namely the "Our Father". This prayer is also included, not only in the rosary, where are prayers are offered through Mary, but in the highest public prayer, where we offer not only imperfect ourselves, but Jesus himself, namely, the Mass.  It is in the Mass, that the Sacrifice of Our Lord is not repeated (that can happen only once), but re-enacted.

Does God answer the prayers of sinners?

  Yes, God does answer the prayers of those in a state of sin (we have the example of the prayer of the Good Thief), and is anxious to forgive their sins. There is good evidence that God looks also closely at the Faith and humility, with which a sinner prays.

  How can we tell a good prayer from a bad one?

  Firstly, we can look at the prayer results. Did we get the expected results? If not, then were our expectations wrong? And if so, where? Was our prayer, a demand? Or what was it a humble presentation of the problem to be solved, Much as Mary saying "They have no wine", and allowing Jesus to provide the solution, rather than demanding from him, a miracle. It can happen that, while we are not happy where we are, we are exactly where God wants us to be.

In prayer, who controls? God or man?

  It is God who invites us to prayer, and assists us in that prayer. Initially we may want God to be our co-pilot. It is only later, that we realize that God is the pilot, and we are a willing or unwilling passenger, and we need to learn to pray accordingly "Thy Will be Done".

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