Tell me more ×
Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 8 down vote favorite
3

I often hear people thank God about how their prayer being answered such as in competition. But what I'm thinking is, the winner is not absolutely the only one that prayed. I believe everybody in the competition pray and hope to win too. So, in this condition, only one person's prayer will be answered.

So, how does God decide which person's prayer to answer? Is it based on how hard s/he prayed, or how much s/he deserved it? or is it according to His will only?

If none of them pray, will the result be the same?

share|improve this question

3 Answers

up vote 6 down vote

As a frequent competitor, I understand prayer as such following.

When I pray, I know that in whatever I do during the competition, God will be with me. As such, mishaps or any other unwanted disadvantages that may happen to me are voided. And thus I compete fairly with others with no disadvantages (such as sickness).

However God may not answer my prayer as it may be a lesson for me to learn.

God helps me with that, but as for the rest of the competition, it is up to me to accomplish it. God wouldn't want to intervene in order to help me win, because He wants to see me working hard and winning the competition in His will.

Competitions cannot be win by greed, as greed is sin. I pray to do my best of my abilities for all competitions.

share|improve this answer
Well said brother – Shredder Apr 4 '12 at 16:53
up vote 4 down vote

There are no rules. And personally, I think it is wrong to compete about this. Prayer should be a personal relationship between you and God.

It is also not always easy to identify answers as aswer to a particular prayer. It is also not given that the prayer will be aswered within a short period of time.

God works in mysterious ways.

Talking to others about answers to prayer should only be done as inspiration for others, not as braging about how good you are to pray. Answers to prayer is never a result of the "quality" of your prayer.

share|improve this answer
up vote 4 down vote

As soon as you start to think about prayer as a set of rules, you have missed the point. God listens to prayers, but doesn't necessarily grant them. You may be asking for something that will be bad for you, or bad for someone else. God may have other, probably better, plans for you. Trying to work out the "magic formula" for getting your prayers granted is approaching it a whole wrong way - like a toddler trying to work out what way of asking her parents for a pony will actually get her one.

There are some guidelines given: James chapter 5 is often quoted in this context. But there are also many, many books on the subject.

share|improve this answer
I think you are missing the point of the question. The OP is asking for guidance or how to properly pray (if proper at all) for a victory in competitive situation, where the competition are also praying for victory; and how God responds to the situation. – Shredder Apr 4 '12 at 0:19
As soon as you start thinking about prayer as a set of rules, you are on the wrong track. – DJClayworth Apr 4 '12 at 13:43
The image of a toddler asking her parents for a pony is a great image that properly reframes God. God is a person, the basis for our own personnes, in fact. When God reveals his name to Moses it is I am who am -- NOT It is what is! Approach God like a toddler asking for a pony; not like a vending machine. God is not a vending machine ... – svidgen Nov 7 '12 at 22:20

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.