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That was a phrase I heard at a lecture last night: "Prayer is impotence crying to omnipotence." Then we were reminded that in 1 John 5:14-15 it says, "This is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us, and if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." It was pointed out that asking according to God's will is critical; we know that the Lord's prayer details what we are to pray for, and that we are to believe the promises of God, so we can pray them (appropriately, of course).

So, I just wonder if anybody has any experiences of how the Omnipotent God has wonderfully answered a prayer for a situation wherein we felt helpless?

Hello, Annsan:

I view prayer as conversation with my best Friend. The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer.

Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching, we are in danger of growing careless, and of deviating from the right path.

The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy-seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation. {

Yes, I have had answers to prayer, and sometimes they are more remarkable and different that my request.

For example, a couple times in the Tropics during rainy season I prayed for no rain. Instead, the clouds formed a perfect boundary on my property line and overhead about 100 ft. It was raining everywhere but we finished our cement in a clear bubble--and after five and 1/2 hours, when the work was done, it disappeared.

Another time we needed to cross a river nightly for important services we were conduction. The water was up to the running board each day, but during the rain storm, while all the other rivers were torrential, the water was not flowing, clear, and only a few inches deep.

God does special things when we ask according to His dictates.

Blessings, Ben Yeshua

All prayers are answered but people can not take no. "If He loves me He will give me what I want!" this is the mind set of most people and some Christians. Most things I pray for come to me, on God's terms not mine. Several things have not, like make me rich but I don't say in money so I am rich in life!!!

All prayers are answered but people can not take no. "If He loves me He will give me what I want!" this is the mind set of most people and some Christians. Most things I pray for come to me, on God's terms not mine. Several things have not, like make me rich but I don't say in money so I am rich in life!!!

prayer is just you talking to God - no need to throw fancy words around.

when I talk to somoen else I dont say it is impotence discussing with impotence - that's just weird.

and no, I dont have a lovely story to chare.

no. sorry. but I don't really... whatever. no sorry.

Hi Annsan... when I pray, I am always mindful of the Lord's Sovereignty &
perfect knowledge, so I accept the outcome - whatever it is - with thanks.

I once helped bring a lady to the Lord. After 6 months of joyful worship and
regular fellowship at our church, she came to me and said her granny had
been admitted to hospital, diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer.

She said: "I'm not impressed. I thought bad things wouldn't happen now."
I did my best to assure her that normal things would continue to happen,
but we had the option to take this to the Lord in prayer. Her granny was a
normally feisty little woman of 73. We visited her in hospital, and learned
the doctors had advised there was little time left for her.

I had never been more in need to step out in faith. I tried to encourage her,
saying: "There is another way to tackle this, if you can believe it."
She sat up in bed and said: "Well come on...let's get on with it," and while
her granddaughter walked around the room praying, I told her what it says
in James 5, and then laid hands on the affected area of her stomach, and
bound the cancer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That was on the Tuesday, a day after she was admitted, and at the end of
the same week (Friday) she was discharged by her very baffled doctors, as
the cancer had completely vanished. A wonderful answer from our merciful
God. The lady lived another 8 feisty years, and is now in her Savior's care.

Blessings to all. God instructed that we pray constantly in the Spirit with our request and supplications to Him. Jesus prayed to His Father while He was on the earth and we shoul follow His instructions because prayers pleases God. the Bible says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."1 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer. Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God. Your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."3

It's pretty natural to feel that separation from God. When people begin to ask God for something, what usually takes place? They begin with, "God, I really need your help with this problem..." And then there's a pause, followed by a restart... "I realize that I'm not a perfect person, that I actually have no right to ask you for this..." There's an awareness of personal sin and failure. And the person knows that it's not just them; that God is aware of it too. There's a feeling of, "Who am I kidding?" What they may not know is how they can receive God's forgiveness for all their sin. They might not know that they can come into a relationship with God so that God will hear them. This is the foundation for God answering your prayer.
With God, when the person is actually a child of God, when the person belongs to God, he knows them and hears their prayers. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me...my sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."4

When it comes to God then, do you really know him and does he know you? Do you have a relationship with him that warrants God answering your prayers? Or is God pretty distant, pretty much just a concept in your life? If God is distant, or you're not sure that you know God, here is how you can begin a relationship with him right now: Getting Connected.
For those who do know him and rely on him, Jesus seems to be wildly generous in his offer: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."5 To "remain" in him and have his words remain in them means they conduct their lives aware of him, relying on him, listening to what he says. Then they're able to ask him whatever they want. Here is another qualifier: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of him."6 God answers our prayers according to his will (and according to his wisdom, his love for us, his holiness, etc.).Thanks for the question Peace to all.