2021/10/26

Quakers | If prayer doesn't change you, can you really be praying? | Facebook

Quakers | A thought... If prayer doesn't change you, can you really be praying? | Facebook

A thought...

If prayer doesn't change you, can you really be praying?
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  • Belinda Schaal
    I think so. Prayer may not always have a instant result..
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    • 18 h
  • Chuck Castro
    What a Magnificent query .....a Zen like Koan 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 c
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    • 18 h
  • Thomas Alexander Schmitt
    What if God would like you to accept yourself as you are, and to be Kind to yourself?
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    • 18 h
  • Deirdre Hebert
    This came about when I was a bit angry with someone who was saying they would "pray for me" in a rather passive-aggressive fashion - similar to when Whoopi Goldberg said in Sister Act, "Bless You!" to somebody.
    I was thinking of asking this to that person when I realized that it really needed to be directed inward, and realize that I need to pray for them and for our relationship.
    No matter what this person does, it's really me who needs to be changed. If I wish to be a Quaker, and I want to live a life of peacefulness, no matter what others do, I'm responsible for my own actions and feelings and words. I can't find healing and joy within myself unless I, too, am willing to be changed.
    And this leads me to calling that individual tonight - and doing my part to be the kind of person I wish to be.
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    • 18 h
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  • Alex Shaffer
    it takes some active collaboration with a diety and accountability responsibility and emotional maturity to accept the results
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    • 18 h
  • Joan Gunn Broadfield
    My experience of prayer is not about change from outside, or 'gifts' suddenly appearing...
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    • 17 h
  • Steven Whinfield
    Not sure where you got that impression. The fact you pray is a changing moment.
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    • 17 h
    • Deirdre Hebert
      Steven Whinfield I'm not sure what you mean...
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      • 16 h
      • Steven Whinfield
        Deirdre Hebert the fact you consider prayer is change.
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        • 16 h
      • Deirdre Hebert
        I didn't say that. What I was questioning is whether the act of prayer should cause change in one who prays.
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        • 16 h
      • Diggitt McLaughlin
        Deirdre Hebert, who are you to judge?
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        • 9 h
      • Deirdre Hebert
        I didn't think I was judging either. It is a question that I experienced. And if you are experiencing the question as a judgement, I'm very sorry, but that wasn't the intent.
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        • 9 h
  • Kris Hillenburg
    My mother always said every thought was a prayer, although given some thoughts that could be concerning. And then there's the King in The Little Prince who only gives orders for things he knows are inevitable so he'll never be disobeyed. These days prayer is a curious thing to me. Some prayers are projected hopes and some are simply self talk. I've seen anti-vax Christians who contract Covid, ends up in the hospital, fervently ask for prayer and healing, and die. Our will? God's will? Just the way life is? Who's to say?
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    • 17 h
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  • Susan Jones
    Erm, that's a nice circular logic 😉 Reminds me of a reading program the author was a bit zealous about. If it didn't work, you didn't do it right, or maybe TAINTED IT with something else.
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    • 16 h
  • Bill Powell
    Does anyone here really know for sure?
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    • 16 h
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    • Deirdre Hebert
      Bill Powell it's certainly not a part of any creed.
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      • 16 h
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      • Maria Krasinski
        Deirdre Hebert It helps to have been A) in health care most of my life and B ) had to explain what i know to others constantly. Its not any individuals fault that i choose this as a career, but this particular heath care issue hits home when my best friend in the world sickens and dies of it listening to 45 when as a scientist... she knew better. 😭
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        • 15 h
    • Deirdre Hebert
      Maria Krasinski I'm so sorry.
      I had to take it seriously - I've got asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and now chronic kidney disease. If I want to live ten more years, I need to take things seriously and depend on science.
      I also work for a company that calibrated measurement equipment - and when I see that I'm calibrating equipment for Pfmark, Merk, etc. It's real.
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      • 15 h
    • Maria Krasinski
      The treatment for my genetic defect ( which keeps me alive ) also depresses my immune system. It also has side effects that have consequences. Fortunately, treatment on the whole, will give me back the 20 years the defect steals without it. My odds of living beyond 60 have increased dramatically with treatment. I can still die stupidly ( HOLD MY BEER ) just kidding, i hate beer. but with care, live better than not. 🙂
      1
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      • 15 h
  • Diane McHale
    I think so. Otherwise every prayer experience has to be intense and you feel guilty if it isn't.
    I believe it's good to pray regularly and that sometimes it will be more of a slog than others. Being open to change is important, but you don't have to change every time.
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    • 16 h
    • Bill Powell
      Diane McHale ….I’d suspect faith enters into the equation here, and that can be an asset when it’s needed, just like a friends comforting.
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      • 15 h
  • Elmyra Powell
    Friend Joan Gunn Broadfield speaks my mind.
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    • 15 h
  • Kerry O'Regan
    Depends how you define prayer really.
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    • 13 h
  • Maria Krasinski
    Absolutely. I grew up RC. I saw the nonsense early on, but i also saw what was good. I learned to worship in silence THERE. I learned that each human being is an unrepeatable, irreplacable act of creation THERE ( though RC's use different language ) I learned to love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly before our Godde with THEM. Hardly any other denom takes the sermon on the mount as seriously. I cannot and do not hate where i came from no matter the flaws, because they aren't wholely flawed. i cannot, and do not hate, my natural parents because like the church they came from, they were, simply HUMAN. I have reason to be angry ( with them and the church ) But it was through prayer that i grew up and learned to see their humanity. Not the vain repetition most protestants think of as RC prayer, But prayers of thanksgiving for it all, requests for forgiveness when i've fallen short, and yes when i pray rightly, answers. the answer simply isn't always yes, or no. I have 2-way communication with my Godde who speaks gentley with me. I was but 4 when they first spoke. A frightened child alone. "You are mine, you shall always be mine, and i shall never let you wander far from me". I could not even speak yet.... that was delayed. I was no different than any other abused child in that way. I heard my Godde because i desperately needed to. My life hung by a thread. But that voice and what they said has stayed with me my life long.... and eventually led me out, then into the RSOF. 🙂
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    • 13 h
    • Deirdre Hebert
      Maria Krasinski I grew up in an over the top Catholic family. I was in music ministry for at least 25 years. I understand.
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      • 11 h
  • Jilliann Murphy
    I learned to communicate with God.Just God and I.My Mother always told me,Jillian,People hide behind church.They are alot of "fakes"in churches.So if you want to know something ,Ask God YOURSELF.
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    • 12 h
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  • Mari Onsmith
    Yes. God always answers prayers. Sometimes, the answer is, “no.”
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    • 9 h
  • Penelope Vos
    Moderator
    Is it our job to judge other's idea of prayer?
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