Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: A multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer
[Full Study] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002870305006496
American Heart Journal Volume 151, Issue 4, April 2006, Pages 934–942
Conclusion:
"Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on complication-free recovery from CABG, but certainty of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with a higher incidence of complications.
This study was supported by the John Templeton Foundation. The Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation supported the Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation site only."
Intercessory Prayer and Cardiovascular Disease Progression in a Coronary Care Unit Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
[Full Study] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025619611627948
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Volume 76, Issue 12, December 2001, Pages 1192–1198
Conclusion:
"As delivered in this study, intercessory prayer had no significant effect on medical outcomes after hospitalization in a coronary care unit.
This study was supported by the Saint Marys Hospital Sponsorship Board."
What does The Bible say about this matter?
Let's take a look...
James 5:13-18
"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth."
Philippians 4:6
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
John 15:7
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
Mark 11:24
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
Luke 11:9
"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Psalm 34:17
"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles."
Matthew 18:19-20
"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 21:22
"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
So, the message is clear. If you have faith, and you pray to god, your prayer will be answered. But, if this is true, then it would have shown in the results. The results of both studies showed prayer to be no more effective than a placebo.
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