He’s still in the miracle business, and He cares about people and their struggles. In spite of this, I’m not giving up on God.

I prayed for Jesus to heal the man in a show of faith that would be evidence for the Gospel in that village. While I was in India, I had an opportunity to pray for a profoundly injured man. Other times, I’ve had the opportunity to pray, and I’ve seen no results. In my opinion, that’s a miracle brought about by prayer, and a good God! This once terminal four-year-old turned 25 years old this year. I’ve prayed for her throughout her entire life as she’s grown up. She’s had a rough life, with repeated surgeries, and ongoing health concerns. But, through prayer to Jesus Christ, she did survive. She had a complicated brain tumor that she should not have survived. Once, I was part of a group that prayed for a four-year-old girl to be healed. God is in control of the outcome I’m just His willing servant at the moment. I’ve learned to trust God with the outcome, trying not to sweat the details. I’ve prayed for supernatural occurrences, and I’ve prayed for simple needs. In my life, I’ve had the privilege to pray for many people. And, I’m mystified when it seems to do no good at all. Not only has it worked in my life, but I’ve also witnessed it working in others’ lives. I am personally in the mindset of praying now, and often. Keith Harris Video Blog - Encouraging Others Check out my video blog highlighting a few ways to encourage people in your life. The prayer you offer to another person might make a big difference in how they can make it through any given day. Offering Prayer as EncouragementĮncouraging others is responsibility Christ-followers need to take seriously. Barna reports, “Only a very small percentage most often pray audibly with another person or group (2%), or collectively with a Church (2%). This is most often silent, personal prayer. 94% of Americans most often choose to pray by themselves. The Barna Group states, “79% have prayed at least once in the last three months.” But their approach to prayer is complex and might be very different from the way you or I might pray.Īccording to a Barna Group study on prayer, “Americans do not think about approaching prayer in any kind of homogeneous way - or even pray to the same deity (if they pray to a higher power at all).”Ĭommunal prayer in a corporate setting, such as a church setting, seems to be declining. Prayer is a common faith practice for people in America. They are a leading authority, tracking the role of faith in the US, and around the world. The Barna Group is an organization with a long history of conducting surveys seeking insights about faith and culture. Is prayer powerful or powerless? If we took a poll of this readership, I’m guessing the response would come back with a resounding, “Yes!” But what if we took a poll of people not reading articles on a spiritually-founded forum? Your thoughts aren’t going to help at all.” Facts About Prayer

When I see this, my typical internal response is, “Keep your thoughts to yourself, prayer is what matters. According to a dictionary search, a platitude is “a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.” In other words, thoughts and prayers are patronizing and meaningless. Some people would call this a “platitude.” And, they’re right. So, “thoughts and prayers,” are what we send. Often, we don’t know what else we can or should do. We want to acknowledge the problems our friend is experiencing.

At the moment, it seems like the only help that can be offered. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you,” they write.

I’ve witnessed people offering to remember another in this manner. They span everything from the trivial to a truly tragic occasion. As I peruse the news feed, I see people requesting thoughts and prayers for a variety of issues. I have thought this myself more than once. A Platitude Is A Meaningless Remark Offered Too OftenĪ friend recently posted on social media, saying, “Thoughts and prayers are patronizing.” Essentially, they are meaningless, according to my friend. When you offer 'thoughts and prayers' to your friends, it may be sending a meaningless message.

Thoughts and prayers alternative