[b]Is Prayer Overrated? I pose the question to elicit sincere logical responses.

Let me elaborate. I belong to a faith belief system and i pray not too infrequently.

However there is a school of thought that thinks that excessive belief in prayer removes the incentive for self reasoning and hard work.

There is a school of thought that thinks that prayer and the belief in the solutions it would profer from heaven constitutes a large part of the "Black" problem.

There is a school of thought that thinks prayer to an extent is an impractical convenience.(I.E no application in Economics,Agriculture,Medicine)People that say this also say all of the below :

1. You can't pray your way out of the devastation of floods or famine/drought.

2. You can't pray your way out of the aggression of an invading superior army.

3 You can't pray your way out of a recession.

I for one believe you can pray to be spared any life mishap but i do not believe you can pray to come 1st in a competition with others where the price is 1st.[/b]

My cousin once prayed fervently for weeks hoping hoping that the british high commission would give her, her student visa.  And i even told her to do some research on the internet and go to the travel section of nairaland for advice that knowledge is power. She prefered prayer power. She didn't get it. Prayer is nothing but superstition.

Yes, it is.

Prayer clearly doesn't work. It has been objectively proven to be pointless countless times. If Nigerians would spend as much time hustling and working as they do praying for "breakthrough", there'd be far less poverty. If we'd all just stop praying for good leaders and instead focus on voting out the thieves, Nigeria would be a very different place.

Sadly, people prefer to live in a fantasy world with fairies and benevolent spirits watching over them than to face reality and take responsibility for their own lives.

No. it is not.

And if not for Christ making prayers of mercy for you right now, you'd be gone by now.

Bless you and try for your own good not to bad-mouth things you [b]very clearly [/b]do not understand.
pointless foolhardiness is not wise.

The holy Bible is the infallible word of GOD, for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” -2 Timothy 3:16-17

GOD says,

1 Corinthians 1:20
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"

1 Corinthians 3:19
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."

Luke 18:1
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" (as The Lord JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF prayed always), "Pray without ceasing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Bear in mind, that and GOD commands,

2 Thessalonians 3:10
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."

"Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." - John 9:31

"The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." -Proverbs 15:29

"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry." - Psalm 34:15

"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." -Jeremiah 23:6

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

"O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come." - Psalm 65:2

GOD does answer prayer pursuant to HIS holy word and in HIS goodness, mercy, loving kindness and faithfulness, HE answers, miraculously.

2buff:

No. it is not.

And if not for Christ making prayers of mercy for you right now, you'd be gone by now.

Bless you and try for your own good not to bad-mouth things you [b]very clearly [/b]do not understand.
pointless foolhardiness is not wise.

The vast majority of people living today do not believe in Jesus. They live long and friutful lives in their unbelief.
Why do these godbots think that disagreeing with their deluded superstitious beliefs amounts to foolhardiness
It is very easy to hide your ignorance behind the writings from a clearly superstitious age. At least the writers had an excuse - they did not know any better.
What is the christbots excuse for their ignorance?
they take pride in their foolishness and accuse unbelievers of the same.
If prayer works, why is the world is the state it is in?
You create a spoiled, narcissistic monster, call it god and and then depend on said being.
What a way to live one's life.

@poster, HISCHILD, has said it all, the importance of prayer can never be over emphasized. And if at all u do not receive the answers to ur prayer, its best u re-examine ur self to know wether u are in line with the will of God. If u are then continue to persevere in prayer, Gods delays are never his denials, if not, retrace ur prayers to go according to his will.

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Prayer is very much UNDER-RATED. The big problem is that some many prayers are 'UNHEARD'. Some many others are answered in the NO mode.

Krucifax:
.

There is a school of thought that thinks prayer to an extent is an impractical convenience.(I.E no application in Economics,Agriculture,Medicine)People that say this also say all of the below :

Prayer is applicable in all situations of life

1. You can't pray your way out of the devastation of floods or famine/drought.

What of the biblical stories.

2. You can't pray your way out of the aggression of an invading superior army.

What of biblical stories e.g . Hezekiah,josiah

3 You can't pray your way out of a recession.

what of biblical stories

I for one believe you can pray to be spared any life mishap but i do not believe you can pray to come 1st in a competition with others where the price is 1st.[/b]

Prayer is needed for everything, that's what crowns your little effort with success .

Proverbs 21:31
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.


Prayer does not take the place of planning or preparation , rather prayer helps you to have good preparation .

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Image123:

Prayer is very much UNDER-RATED. The big problem is that some many prayers are 'UNHEARD'. Some many others are answered in the NO mode.

Some sayings from Jesus contradict the above.

Mark 11.24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Matthew 7.7 -  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 21.21 -' Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. '

John 14. 12 -14 - "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Matthew 18.19 -  “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."

According to the words of Jusus, there should be no unanswered prayer. Jesus is quite clear about that.
Clearly, he was wrong, hence the need for his modern day followers to make make excuses.

Is prayer overrated? Definitely Yes.