Your Questions, My Responses (S13 Episode7)

<p dir="ltr">I mentioned in Week 1 of our prayer series that I would do a final Sunday where I answered any questions people have on prayer. I received five questions. They are these:</p> <ol dir="ltr"><li>Why pray if I’m totally willing to accept whatever God sends my way? When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer I did not pray for healing. I prayed that God would help me deal with whatever resulted in a God honouring way. Was that a demonstration of submissive faith? Or was it a cop out; afraid a prayer for healing would not be answered?</li> <li>Some Christians believe that if many are praying for something the more likely it will be answered. Wouldn’t that mean a famous preacher is more likely to be healed than an usher?</li> <li>Do you think that substances that alter our state of mind (alcohol, cannabis, or psychedelics) could be a tool for prayer?</li> <li>You have talked a lot about how prayer is about our own formation…what is God’s role in all of this? What is God doing while we pray? Does God answer prayer?</li> <li>Sending "thoughts and prayers" has become a ubiquitous phrase people offer up in the face of tragedy. But it seems to be a cheap platitude for doing nothing. Does prayer make a difference in the face of suffering? </li> </ol><p dir="ltr">Well…this ought to be interesting.</p>