If humans have free will, then what's the point of praying to God?

[Anonymous]

For example, I can't simply pray to God to give me something, right? I gotta work for it. If so, then what's the point of praying for God's help in any scenario? Prayers are rendered useless.

[jshm2]

You're confused, as one has nothing to do with the other.

People pay taxes, but it does not mean they can phone local government to widen the footpath in front of their house, as they have a big party planned next month.

God may have written the script of your life, but it's you that gets the Oscar or Wooden Spoon AFTER you act it out. What you're essentially doing with prayers is seeking some "direction" from the director. If you're just a prop, he would ignore you as you've only one role.

[Honestguyopen]

Actually you have to consider how God feels about it. Let's say you created a person and you did not give them free will but programmed them to do what you want. Sounds Ok right?
Now imagine you create a person with free will, who you want to love you because you gave him everything to exist and be happy, yet he does not choose to love you? Heartbreaking to think of.

Now from God's pov, he wants us to love him of our own free will. He wants us to choose him. The scriptures tell us he is worthy of our prayers and praise because of him all things exist. Also his eyes rove about the earth so that he might show his strength on behalf of those who serve him. Anything we ask for in line with his will he will hear.

Prayer also helps us to have a personal relationship with our heavenly father, making him ever more real and ever more of a friend to us. So please pray, be specific, taste and see that he is good.

[AllieAnswersThings]

The concept of god is one of the three biggest mistakes humanity has ever made - creating something to explain things we don't yet understand is a fundamental weakness. The faith we place in god is stolen from our potential. Studies show that there is an increase in serotonin when we pray and many (including myself) believe that this increase causes a sort of "high" that we attribute to "the holy spirit". Basically you have free-will and you should use it in a more productive way than praying to an imaginary friend.

[SweetDumplings]

When I pray, I pray with confidence that God is going to give me what I ask for and many people do this, it may not happen right away because God works in his own time so when it does happen it happens

[FunkyMonkee]

Exactly!! And, if EVERYTHING that has ever happened and is GOING to happen is all part of god's plan, and god makes EVERYTHING happen for a reason, what makes you think you can just pray to him to have him change ALL of his future plans just to suit you?
And, since god makes everything for a reason, does that mean we can blame covid on god?

[Anonymous]

Prayer is as old as mankind. Just because u can't see ur heart or your brain or your thoughts doesn't mean it's not there. Even with the free will we have there are something's we can't still do it have all by our selves so we ask our parents sometimes and if they can't give, then we ask God. Even the Bible said faith without work is dead

[Opinion Owner]

Do or have all by ourselves*

[Northernlights25]

That rationale doesn't really make sense. Yes, we have free will, for the very reason that God isn't a pupeteer. He wants us to choose Him out of our own accord and not because there's no choice but. Prayer has immense power to affect our circumstances, and while it is true that effort from our side is required, prayer can also move mountains on their own. It depends on the context really.

[all_hayl]

This question (and many others) is actually addressed - and even answered - in the Bible. Read the Bible all the way through a couple times and maybe you’ll find the answer to your question. If you still haven’t found it, keep reading.

[Anonymous]

You should thin to pray so God can make your boss to think about you when he need somebody in a bether position.
You should pray to God so you will have that oportunity much more faster.
You should pray to God to not be fired from your job because Gina don't like your hair.

[Dargil]

Your talking points are not mutually exclusive. You can ask G0d for intervention and in turn, G0d can ASK someone else to intervene. I have been "asked" to intervene by G0d more than once.

[Agape93]

There is no point but to stroke a madmans ego