Prayers... is it an opportunity? Or is it an expectation?
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
August 31, 2009 10:19pm CST
I was watching "Evans Almighty" the other night with my wife. And boy was I having a good laugh at all the slap sticks!
A show that exceeded my expectations. Wished I had watched it earlier. Will be working on the review shortly.
Prior to watching the show, I have always prayed to God. And I always wondered, when will god answer my prayers.
And as if to answer my question, this movie had one section that leaves much food for thought. I have recorded that small section and shared it on youtube.
You can check out the video here: -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkQnQFeW53I
For the benefit of those who do not have video streaming capabilities, this is how the section goes.
Prior to the clip, Evan's wife was lamenting about her husband's antics and why he is acting so strange when in fact, Evan was just carrying out God's orders.
So god met her at the cafe at a pit stop that she pulled over after leaving Evan.
The few questions that he put to her is what makes food for thought!
[b]God: Let me ask you something...
If some one prays for patience, you think god gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient?
If he prayed for courage, does god gives them courage? Or does he give them opportunities to be courageous?
If some one prayed for the family to be closer, you think god zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings? Or does he give them opportunities to love each other?[/b]
I was actually dumbstruck by those words. Imagine! I asked a question. And it was... well... kinda answered by the movie!
That left me thinking about the things that I prayed for. And reflected back on the events that had happened in the past few months. And I, sorta instantly, see there were a lot of opportunities for me to make my wishes in my prayers come true!
And boy was I awed!
Now I am writing up new plans to make sure I grab those opportunities as they come to me!
I am sure we all have prayed at some point in our life. And when we pray, we will usually ask for god to help us to fulfill some desire or wish.
My question to you:
And after you say your prayers to god, do you expect god to just fulfill them? Or do you look for opportunities that opens for you to get that wish fulfilled?
I was actually dumbstruck by those words. Imagine! I asked a question. And it was... well... kinda answered by the movie!
That left me thinking about the things that I prayed for. And reflected back on the events that had happened in the past few months. And I, sorta instantly, see there were a lot of opportunities for me to make my wishes in my prayers come true!
And boy was I awed!
Now I am writing up new plans to make sure I grab those opportunities as they come to me!
I am sure we all have prayed at some point in our life. And when we pray, we will usually ask for god to help us to fulfill some desire or wish.
My question to you:
And after you say your prayers to god, do you expect god to just fulfill them? Or do you look for opportunities that opens for you to get that wish fulfilled?2 people like this
14 responses
@axlrate7 (1398)
• Philippines
16 Jun 11
Wow, that is good! God blessed you with that wisdom... I love the two almighty movie, it gives plenty of wisdom and lesson that feeds our heart. Thank you for reminding! That was a nice post! Really!!! God bless you! =D
@EnglishTeaDuck (862)
• United States
2 Sep 09
I have not seen the movie, but I might stick it on my netflix queue now!
I have definitely experienced this in my life - that I will pray for something, and God will use some experience to teach me that thing, or to grow that characteristic in me. It makes sense, for example, that the most effective way to learn patience is with a situation where we are required to practice it (or with a PERSON!!)
I think God does sometimes answer directly - I have had some really obvious immediate things sometimes, for example, praying about not knowing how to pay a bill and, the day I needed to, having someone send me the money through the mail, who didn't know about the bill or my worries. Coincidence some might say, but I don't think so!
Other times I have not understood why He seems not to answer - but many of those times in the past I can now look back on and see the process he took me through and what I learned and gained from it.
You know this is really what I need to remember right now - I got laid off, and also have some health issues and kinda needed to preach this sermon to myself tonight so thanks for posting the topic!!
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
1 Sep 09
God does answer our prayers in so many ways that He deems fit. As spiritual beings, we often turn to our Maker to fulfill our desires magically. We do this by begging to God in our prayers. Actually, our prayers often sound more like shopping lists than devoted worships. Sometimes they read like a contract of performance, if you do this, then I will do that. If our Creator did indeed grant every demand, then He would be more inclined to respond to your wishes if you approached Him not as a beggar but, knowing that He created you in His own image, as His child. What He has, you also have. We may wish to get a lot of things done quickly, but we need to understand that God operates with a different timetable.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
1 Sep 09
hahahaha =D I have always been responding to questions on religion and all, and my answers are the same throughout.. Whenever one is praying to god, actually, our wishes are fulfilled on our own, thru opportunities created by god.. Because god does not wanna be taken for granted that easily, and god does not want us, humans to be smitten with success so easily.. hehe ^_^
Thus, god can only be helping us in a indirect way, and it's for us to get those hints, and working on them.. If we fail, it's destined we are not meant for that path and it's time to move on to others instead.. haha =D
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Sep 09
That is what I feel as well. We ask, and god shall give. But never on a silver platter.
He will point you to the door to your wish or prayer.
But ultimately, you have to be the one opening the door and walking through it.
That is why, for me, it is akin to the latter. I open my eyes to see the opportunities that comes after I pray.
Problem is, sometimes, we are so immersed in our frustrations, we seldom see what is beyond our nose!
Thanks for sharing kun.
1 person likes this
@maxilimian (3099)
• Indonesia
1 Sep 09
Hi ahqong! The most interesting part on the film ins when " I got the power" Can i have my own option? I think pray is a media to show that we do need a help from God also, so He can make an opportunity and our efforts meet in one condition, and it's called wish comes true. So that's why pray with no efforts is worthless, and effort with no pray is useless
Am i right? 
The most interesting part on the film ins when " I got the power" Can i have my own option? I think pray is a media to show that we do need a help from God also, so He can make an opportunity and our efforts meet in one condition, and it's called wish comes true. So that's why pray with no efforts is worthless, and effort with no pray is useless
Am i right? 1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Sep 09
I like the last part.
"pray with no efforts is worthless, and effort with no pray is useless" ~ maxilimian
May I use that as a quote sometime?
Hmm... I have watch the show, but I do not remember any portion "I got the power".
Did you mix it up with "Bruce Almighty"? 
Hmm... I have watch the show, but I do not remember any portion "I got the power".
Did you mix it up with "Bruce Almighty"? 
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
1 Sep 09
We need various ways to keep our heart and soul in balance, as an important precaution against health problems. Prayer is definately one of the ways, but only additional. If you are educated, you should have learned optional ways to stay in the positive, leveraging all resources available. Prayer could be an effective resort, though.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Sep 09
yes, that is true of what you said.
But you have not really answered my question.
When you say a prayer, do you expect it to be fulfilled like asking for a wish from a genie?
Or do you open your eyes wider to see the opportunities that comes along to help you fulfill that prayer you just made?
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
1 Sep 09
Everytime I ask God for something... He doesn't directly give me that something... but always something better... I always believe that God works in mysterious ways... and not one of us will ever understand that because we have this sort of limited capacity of grasping what it is the God really wants for us...
I am not religious nor even that prayerful... but i do believe in God... and i have faith that He only wants what is best for us...
@tulipstrader (1467)
• India
1 Sep 09
i wonder if anyone's prayers are answered immediately the way they want it to happen. prayers are just our helpless expectations and an opportunity to express our helplessness. that is what man has been doing for thousands of years and that is the way religions want us to be, so that they can have control over our mind.
most prayers are desperate acts. so it will never be answered as all of them are loaded with so much negatives, the chances of them delivered is NIL.
Don't pray. Instead do your work. Action. That will deliver the desired results.
@taripres (1499)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Ok, I'll put it like this; and even as I'm typing this, I must remember this myself The Most High help those who seek him first.
But at the same time, He gives you the opportunity to see why you should seek him, why He is the Greatest! Then He leaves it up to you to praise and glorify Him and His name. So there is no magical powers that's put over us, but it's the opportunity itself that gives us the will to overcome situations or do things we thought we couldn't do. But there's also the opportunity where it can be taken as well, because the glory has gone to either ourselves or the one who wishes us harm!!
Taripre$
The Most High help those who seek him first. But at the same time, He gives you the opportunity to see why you should seek him, why He is the Greatest! Then He leaves it up to you to praise and glorify Him and His name. So there is no magical powers that's put over us, but it's the opportunity itself that gives us the will to overcome situations or do things we thought we couldn't do. But there's also the opportunity where it can be taken as well, because the glory has gone to either ourselves or the one who wishes us harm!!
Taripre$
@airakumar (1553)
• India
1 Sep 09
Prayer is a communication process that allows us to talk to God! He wants us to communicate with Him, like a person-to-person phone call. Cell phones and other devices have become a necessity to some people in today’s society. We have bluetooth devices, blackberries, and talking computers! These are means of communication that allow two or more people to interact, discuss, and respond to one another. I am reminded of another benefit of prayer i.e.Peace. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. I suppose that we can test our prayer life and dependence upon God by the peace or lack of peace in our hearts. In all things we are to seek the Lord and in His continued presence peace will surely be our gain. Prayer is the practice of the presence of God.
Now I pray there be always peace and love everywhere ...[em\thumbup[/em]
@shimanaja (493)
• Indonesia
1 Sep 09
Hi there mylotter,
For me prayers is a very deep relationship with the Lord of life.
I think virtually prayers is one of our step to reach something besides hard working and making efforts.
So prayers is opportunity for us to ask God petrified realize that we asked, and prayers is also expectation for us to live always happy and more valuable.
Thanks..have a nice time:)
@tomjoad (551)
• Philippines
1 Sep 09
hi ahgong! i think prayer is both an opportunity and an expectation. i believe that when you pray for someone, it is an opportunity to intercede for that person. like when a friend shares to you a problem, then it's an opportunity to pray for that friend. it's also an opportunity to talk to God and even renew your commitment to Him. prayer is our best line of communication to Him. although he already understands our needs, it is still needed for a man to talk to God just like a father already knows what his children need but a child still needs to ask his father for his specific needs.
when you pray there is also expectation. no one prays to God and expects not to be heard. we always pray to God because we know that he hears us. and when we ask Him, we believe that he is going to grant our requests. expecting "yes" as an answer is a form of expectation. knowing that you'll get what you prayed for is an exercise of faith. prayer is an exercise of faith and both an opportunity and an expectation. God bless!
@Ycactus2 (2)
• United States
1 Sep 09
I too have enjoyed the movie "Evan Almighty" a couple of times. It goes well with it's precursor "Bruce Almighty" (Morgan Freeman plays God in both- really love it)-- and both have simple but profound messages, made in ironically irreverent ways.
Your comments and question remind me of a saying I have heard frequently: "Be careful what you pray for, you just might get it." In my mind, it's important to be really clear about what you DO want, be clear about your willingness to receive (not as easy as it sounds) and willing to listen openly, mind clear of clutter as much as possible, for the response.
I have had the experience you have described many times. When the question is honest and I'm truly open to hearing the answer no matter what, the answer will be there, usually pretty quickly (within 24 hours). At least that's the case when it comes to answers of questions that are about insight or understanding.
When it comes to having my situation change, it there really is another saying that comes to my mind: "Pray and paddle the boat." Achieving goals, creating my life the way I want it comes from staying clear with my connection to a power greater than myself, as well as putting one foot in front of the other. Just as Evan had to do. The inner connection is the source of inspiration, but I have to willingly connect to it and listen to how it guides me. And it is up to me to follow through.
Hope that helps.
@taripres (1499)
• United States
1 Sep 09
Kind of an in depth response, but totally relevant! You're correct in saying the phrase, "be careful what you ask for", because you just might get it but not in the way you intend because of your reasoning behind why you want it! His reasoning is totally different from ours; it's never when you want it and how you want it, but always what we need and right on time!
Taripre$
Taripre$ @anu3171 (2)
• United States
1 Sep 09
i feel praying is an important part in every individual's life.without praying to God one does not feel complete.It is the only thing which binds one's soul with the Ultimate and that is Lord. I dont think that praying is just an expectation rather it is an expression coming from human soul.
1 person likes this
