Vital: Prayer, Witnessing, Fasting, and Living for Today

And if He already knows what we want, why is prayer necessary in the first place? Even those who stay far from a synagogue intuit the existence of God. As the saying goes, there are no atheists in a foxhole. When a guy is dug in and the enemy is coming, he will cry out: I want to live!

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Although I have ignored You for all these years, denied Your existence, and not appreciated all You have done for me, I'm in trouble now. And I know You're the only one Who can help. To pray properly, you have to understand that not only God loves you, but His love for you is infinite.

God has given you eyes, ears, intelligence, life itself! Every morning, a Jew recites blessings of thanks to God for all the gifts He has bestowed upon us.

These blessings remind us of how deeply God loves us. When we pray, of course, we are not pointing out anything new to God. He does not need us to remind Him of our needs. So why doesn't God just give without our asking? Because we need to pray. Prayer helps us refine and affirm what we want out of life. It's a process of maturity. If a billionaire father handed over unlimited cash on a silver platter, his child would grow up spoiled and irresponsible. So too, if God gave us everything automatically, we may never define for ourselves what we want in life. True, life would be easy.

But we would not grow. Since God has our best interests at heart, He wants us to earn it. Because that's what will make us great. God has all the right connections. He can find you the right spouse. He can solve your financial problems. So why in the world do we have all these problems? Because no matter how brilliant or powerful you are, you will never be able to live your children's lives for them. In fact, part of genuine love for your children is to allow them to branch out on their own, to be independent.

If we were just robots, mechanically following every instruction, the world might be neat and tidy. But life would have neither significance nor meaning. We have the "free will" to make decisions that are eternally meaningful. We can choose to move away from God — and He will let us do that. Not because He wants that to happen, but because He wants us to have independence — even at the risk of it being misused.

We may suffer the consequences, but it keeps our independence intact. You live in a small town in Midwestern America. There is an extremely large and unsightly pothole in front of your house. For the last four months the local municipality has ignored your insistent requests to have it fixed. Finally, in an act of frustration, you call the White House and ask for the president. Hey, it's worth a try. To your utter amazement, the president himself gets on the phone.

You quickly explain your problem. The president listens for a minute and then hangs up. You don't really expect anything to be done about it. The next morning you look out your window and, lo and behold, the army corps of engineers is busy at work fixing your road. The President of the United States took your request seriously and sent in the troops to help! That is our relationship with God — Father and child. Just as a parent fulfills a child's request, so too God answers prayers.

The Infinite Genius Who created every molecule on this earth, can alter the course of existence in order to answer your prayer. To really talk to God, you need to know He is willing and able to do it all. Otherwise, you're only talking to your finite concept of God — and not to our true Father in Heaven.

Many people who visit Jerusalem are tourists who come to get a sense of Jewish culture and history. One day, a young tourist named Jeff was brought in to meet me at Aish HaTorah. Whoever was able to convince an atheist like you to speak to a rabbi like me deserves a medal. Jeff had been in Norway, visiting his Norwegian fiance. And he decided it was now or never: So he headed for Jerusalem and the Western Wall.

He figured he would stop by the Wall to see some old stones. Yet upon his arrival he was amazed. He felt something heavy. As far as I know, You don't exist. But I do feel something. It's just that I don't know that You exist. But God, just in case You're really there and I'm making a mistake, get me an introduction.

Jeff finished his prayer, and one of the Aish HaTorah students who happened to be at the Wall, saw Jeff and thought, "Perhaps he'd be interested in learning some Torah. He tapped Jeff on the shoulder, startling him so much that he jumped three feet in the air. Jeff whirled around and shouted,. That question hit Jeff like a two-by-four right between the eyes. He had just finished asking God for an introduction, and immediately someone was offering to introduce him to God. Jeff learned at Aish HaTorah for the next six weeks.

He was a very serious student, and went back to the States with a commitment to continue learning. A year later, Jeff came back to Israel and told me the end of his story. During that previous summer he had been meandering through the cobblestone alleyways of the Old City when he saw a pretty, sweet, religious girl walk by. He said to himself, "Look at the charm of this Jewish woman.

May the Almighty help me meet someone like this. One Shabbos morning during the next year, Jeff entered a synagogue in Boston for prayer services. Standing there was the same young woman he had seen in the Old City. He made his way over to her and said:. If you know any atheists, you can teach it to them. Because when you are sincere with God, your prayers are answered. Anticipate that God wants to help you. Anything that you could ask Him for is infinitesimally small compared to what He has already given to you. If you don't expect the good, God is not going to invade your space.

He wants you to connect to your Father in Heaven. Yet He wants you to work for that understanding. By not answering you, God is telling you that you've got a problem, that you need to change. That's doing us a big favor. Because if He wouldn't do that, we'd just remain stuck in our illusions, unclear on the idea that God can do it all. You're years-old and driving through Manhattan in rush hour in the middle of July.

What if your father was in charge of all traffic lights in New York City and was able to track your location at any given time? He would arrange for green lights all the way! The Almighty can arrange it for you. He created the universe. Traffic in Manhattan is not overly taxing for Him. So here you go. Green light, green light, green light, green light. You say to yourself: This is too good to be true.

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I don't deserve this. If you don't anticipate God's help, then you have lost sight of God as your Father. So God breaks the flow in order to realign your focus. Focus on the fact that the Almighty wants everything good for you. When you do that, He'll move mountains to answer your prayer. Nothing God does is by accident.

If things don't go smoothly for you, your first reaction should be: Why is God doing this? Why is He trying to get my attention? An uncle wrote newsy letters to his nephew at college.

After six months and numerous letters, the nephew hadn't written back once. In the next letter, the uncle wrote his standard letter. But this time, he added a P. The nephew received the letter and of course couldn't find the check.

The Power of Prayer with Fasting

As expected, the uncle immediately got a letter in return: I like my dorm room By the way, you forgot to enclose the check. Love, your favorite nephew. The Almighty knows how to get our attention. When we forget that He loves us, He sends a red light to refocus us. But there's one big difference between the uncle and God: God is not hurt when we ignore Him. God has no needs and doesn't need a relationship with us. It is we who need a relationship with Him. Our greatest pleasure is being in touch with God. That's why He arranges small mishaps to get our attention.

All for our own benefit. If you are serious about a relationship with God, then you understand that God is always teaching you. When life is suddenly full of inconveniences thrown your way, stop and ask: When the problems are larger than minor inconveniences — i. There is something deep within yourself that you need to rectify. A young man came into Aish HaTorah to meet with me.

I don't need a yeshiva. You see, God and I are very close. God does miracles for me. Once I was riding my motorcycle up a winding mountain road. A truck came around a curve and swerved into my lane. My only choice was to either smash into the side of the mountain, or to go off the cliff. Next thing I know, I'm flying through the air with nothing but rocks beneath me.

I screamed out, 'God! My bike landed between two rocks, which acted like shock absorbers and cushioned the impact. I was gently tossed off my bike into a hedge of bushes. I didn't get a scratch! So you see, God does miracles for me. I looked at him and said, "Tell me, my friend. Who do you think pushed you off the cliff?!

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God is not Superman. He doesn't wait until you stumble off a cliff so He can fly in at the last moment to save you. He controls everything in your life: Don't wait for God to push you off a cliff and catch you. Pay attention now and ask: What is the message? And if You want to get my attention, please do so without too steep a cliff!

To get our prayers answered, we have to be clear that what we are requesting is really the right thing — and not just some momentary whim. My whole class decided they were going to play hooky one day and go to the World's Fair. But there was one condition: Everyone had to bring a dollar. If you didn't have a dollar, you couldn't come. I didn't have a dollar, and the only way I could get a dollar from my father was to learn a chapter of Mishna by heart.

But there was no way I could pull off a whole chapter on such short notice. So I figured I might as well go to school that day. I'd be the only one there — a hero! I started walking to school, when it suddenly occurred to me: Keep your eyes on the pavement, Noah, maybe you'll find a dollar! I started to pray, "Almighty, a dollar bill You have them around the street all the time.

Just this one time, let me find a dollar bill. Two more blocks, no dollar. I thought maybe God wants something from me. So I said, "Almighty, I'll take out the garbage. And I won't fight with my sister. Finally, I round the corner and the school is in sight. The moment of truth. And then I caught myself. If you find the dollar, you're gonna play hooky!

Many times the Almighty sends us what we truly need, but we don't recognize it because we haven't done the work of clarifying our needs! God's answer — whether yes or no — always tells you something important about yourself. Prayer is not an escape from personal effort or responsibility. It is a vehicle for us to refine our choices, and to realize that God is the source of all that we accomplish.

Prayer focuses us on reality, and keeps us in touch with where our life is heading. It's not just a pipe dream. You have to work for what you want. If you're half-hearted, you're not serious about it. The purpose of life is growth. Prayer is not a magic button to escape that process. By compelling us to make an effort, God gives us the means to truly grow. Brown , December 10, Prayers for me lord to change my ways and thoughts and prayers for me and my girlfriend and prayers for me to change everything lord it's not holding m.

Prayers for me to change my ways and thoughts against my girlfriend lord and prayers for me to change my ways and thoughts Lord. We need to get out of debt and have our rightful inheritance restored.

Since my parents and brother died things have not been as good as we believe H'Shem intended. I pray that money comes to me unexpectedly to pay all bills. We are this close. There have been several unanswered prayers which is turning me to an athiest I feel. If God is a good, kind father, why would he put a disease in me nor help when I need Him the most? Mike , December 9, 5: Our faith is what we live by. I am new to aish. I started my day just surfing the site. I came across Rabbi Weinberg's article on how to get prayers answered.

What a way to start my day. I love this web site. So much to look at. Milgrim-Heath , July 24, 1: The first time I was saved from an expressway full car collision- Torrential rains, no casualties or banged up cars anywhere where an angel saved me being his mission. A premonition of this accident made me most concerned- Saving an elderly woman profusely bleeding behind me that I learned. Adrenaline heaviness saved me from pain after this strong collision hit- Feeling no pain but hours later severe pain came in bit by bit.

And a day later and after that I felt severe pain really much worse- Being spiritual with all my heavy accident trauma God I couldn't curse. Due to my dental assistant surgical background seriously did prepare- Helping this frightened profusely bleeding elderly lady God did spare. The ER didn't come quick enough so I cleaned her up and did pray- Thank You God for saving four living souls still on earth today. Not everyone understands the reasons why bad things happen to be- A certain traveler's keychain from Israel God led me online to a site actually.

Anonymous , December 9, 5: I was really asking my self about this question. I've been suffering with pain in my right hip area since ;but before that I was told I had a very rare bone disease in my collar bones since been operated on both disease is back. Because I was in so much pain I hired a trainer to try and keep myself in shape and remember feeling a terrible pain on the right side hip area. Long story short no one knows why I have this pain, since I am a female with mild hemophilia, there are a lot of medications I can't take so I'm on oxycontin - I'm under the care of pain management doctor; but I'm always so tired.

I make sure to light Shabboes candles and keep a Kosher Home. I try to keep Shabboes but things have been so bad of late that if my husband and sometimes myself turn on the T. I'll watch it - it takes me mind away from the pain. My husband is not religious at all - the only time he comes to Shul is when Yom Kippur is over he heard the Shaffer to pick me up. Since it just the two of us now Shabboes is not how I would want it to be. I just read one of your articles about a man named Jeff who became religious, his prayers answered and I cried - first time in a very long time - so much pain and fatigue - don't know if I'm coming or going.

I pray that I will get well not only for my sake but for G-d's sake - how can I be a good Jewish Woman, a productive woman living this way. Feel like I'm losing. Want so much to be a good Jewish Woman, how can that be when you cannot function? They said G-d cured all the Jews at Mount Sinai so they could understand and follow the laws - I felt as though I was there - if so I wish he would help me now.

But sometimes I'm so tired I can't pray and feel as though my prayers are not strong enough. Hard to be a good Jew when you are sick! It has happened all of my life,starting from about 16 years old up to now and I am 58 years old. Everytime something good happens for me, or it seems as though my life is about to take a turn for the better, I is taken, I hit a dead end, it stops. I pray against generational curses and other curses because it seems as though there is one on my life.

I just don't understand. Why does this keep happening to me and I have never been able to live out my dreams, goals or anything. HELP, I need answers please. You said, "If a billionaire father handed over unlimited cash on a silver platter, his child would grow up spoiled and irresponsible. He's not trying to not spoil us, he's just not active in our lives at all.

I had and unusually rough weekend due to family issues. I am a person who loves to spend time in prayer. The family issue was one of those 40 year ones But after reading the article, it doesn't matter so much that there was no answer, what matters is that I kept praying and perhaps what I think is the best answer, is not. The article made me smile again. I'm christian and all that you have shared about prayer thanks for it because it really helps.

I am really thankful to have stumbled across this article as it has helped me understand many things about prayer. I'm going through a lot and just needed God to be here. Your words help me be optimistic and leave my trust with God because I know he only wants the best for me. I'm having problems in life and sometimes i feel kinda left out, but the article really helped me see a more lighter side of life besides setbacks. Thanks a million and may GOD bless you all.

Am goin through break up and i feel like god doesnt care about it cause i have prayed and prayed about it and stil he hasnt answered but i feel much better now that ive read your stories and everything. I was online wondering how GOD can answer my prayers on my trouble life. Read your post and it all makes so much sense. He is our true father who only wants the best for us. Thank you for your article! This is the most precise article that I have read concerning the importance of prayer and why it's important to pray. I never commented on articles that I read.

This has helped me a great deal! I feel encouraged to take up the matters of God seriously.

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God bless you abundantly. I am really inspired by your advise about prayers. May the good Lord help me to understand on how I should live and pray. When I pray,I pray desperately from my heart,I am a woman who has been through a lot in life,I struggle financially and emotionally but I make my problems be known to God,so many went unanswered,but I never blamed God for it all,I just believed that what is mine will come to me. I don't worry muclh about my fanancials cause I never go to bed hungry and a roof over my head.

God knows my family is all I have and I believe he has the power to rebuild my home again. I was quite surprise and enjoy a Jewish sermon. I don't mean any offense when I say jewish. I came from Baptist background unexpectedly I learn many things and it really touches my heart. I am looking for an answer to my prayer for the past give years and your message help me alot. Thanks for your help. Nice article, but it doesn't help me. I have tried everything he suggests. And I still feel like I am talking to a wall or myself. I get more response from my dog! I have disabilities for which I have been praying for over a decade to be healed.

Instead, they are worse. I am trying to get a decent relationship with my adult son whom I was forced to give up custody in order to receive my get. He answers me as often as Hashem does. I do not undertand why G-d just cannot hea me. Haven't I suffered enough? What more does He want after nearly 20 years of chronic pain. Whar answer did I get? He added problems with my eyes giving me facial and eye spasms. What did that do except make me tied down to doctor visits, relying on my husband to drive me, taking away my ability to go when I want and not when my husand wants.

He doesn't want me to call since it is always a bad time. Yes, it feels like I am being punished. What did I do to deserve this stress and anxiety? And thanks to my not being able to work, I do not have the money to go and visit my son in Israel. It is expensive to stay in hotels. And dad is giving my sister all she wants. He is supporting my narcissistic nephew. But, he doesn't have a penny to help me? So, I pray for help.

My husband who used to be able to save money before we married, now is having to give me money since social security disability won't pay for gasoline. So, what has praying to G-d everyday done for me? Yes, I am angry. I feel like I am wasting my time. Why pray when my answers are always NO! I do not deserve to be pain free? What does G-d want from me? I now pray not to wake up in morning. Alice Odumosu , April 20, 9: Lara , April 30, 6: How could you possibly expect your prayers to be answered when you have such a negative outlook on life.

I have never know anyone write an essay this long about everything that is wrong in their lives. You have completely missed the point of prayer. Don't get me wrong; I am not saying your problems are not real, but as long as you continue to focus on the problems rather than God's love, your situation will not change. I feel sorry for you, not because of your problems but because of your attitude. The choice is yours - either keep pronouncing your problems and let them you or let go and let God, and be amazed.

Do you let anyone correct you? You need to be corrected. Let me tell you about someone who does it correctly. My family helps take care of a man who has muscular dystrophy. He has hundreds of friends and everyone loves him. People go out of their way to visit him and after being with him they forget that he can only move one finger, let alone hug his wife, throw a ball to his adopted son or help a stranger change their flat tire. He can not even wipe the crumbs off his face, but does he complain?

I have never heard him complain ONCE. It is not a part of his makeup. He constantly loves others and helps them. You must choose to get your eyes off of yourself. You sound like a black hole that sucks the life out of everyone around you. I am not trying to be mean when I say that but the truth may hurt in this situation. What you want from others is for them to give. Well, at the root o giving is love. Start learning to love and you will not need to complain all the time.

This article helped me a lot and understand more. I always wondered why I was rejected from this school a few years ago. I was reluctant but this year I tired again bug for a more prestigious school and this time I did differently. Instead of only relying on myself to get in I prayed, I prayed when ever I could. This article helped me realize what I need to do and made me feel better about being rejected because I know now i hav to figure out why by asking God.

Thank you so much! So right so positve. Because of that i love Judaisam. It s good for everyone not only for Jews. Shalom Hashem bless You. Hi, I'm a Christian from Australia and I am going through a very hard time at the moment, a separation and some incredible financial stress. I have been praying to God like you would not believe but have not felt any answer to prayer. When I have read answers on many Christian websites to try to understand why I feel as though I am being met by God's silence they all say much the same thing that I have not been showing enough faith or God answers prayers in His own way or in His own time, you just have to wait.

This page booklet is a great introduction to a God who listens, and is available with fantastic bulk-buy discounts. Boxes of 10 packs. Available in Boxes of 10 packs of 10 leaflets. Living on a Prayer. Living on a Prayer Boxes of 10 packs. With five days of Bible readings, thoughts and prayers, see how different Bible characters prayed.

You will have supernatural favour as a child of the Lord in opportunities to prosper comes your way supernaturally — new business ventures, new geographic territories you have mapped out and want to take for Christ, new or revamped church premises, new connections to bless you and your ministry. There are keys in heaven which the Lord is now giving to those to open doors previously closed to us and keys to open treasure chests to bring about spiritual transformation in cities and nations.

Keys of different shapes and sizes, made of different materials — you are unique and the key you will be given is unique to fulfill your unique exploit. Ask the Lord to show you and create opportunities to do mighty exploits for the Lord — in your family, your friendships, your church, your community, your workplace, your country. A lot has been spoken about the end time harvest of souls being ready to come into the church — that new breed being raised up to take their place in the body of Christ.

Ask the Lord for strategies and opportunities to reach the end time harvest of souls. Declare that you will have sufficient workers in the field to reach the harvest. Plug in and see what God will do. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour. It took a lot emotionally, spiritually and possibly financially from some. BUT God … this is the year where the Lord is going to restore and revive all that was lost or stolen.

The Lord is sending a fresh wind upon the earth to breathe life into the weary. The Lord is rebuilding walls which were torn down in the past season due to devastating circumstances or personal challenges; restoring vision to those who have lost direction; restoring a renewed passion for Kingdom work and Kingdom people. And will you not bear witness to it? I show you specified new things from this time forth, even hidden things [kept in reserve] which you have not known. This is a season and time for the seers and the hearers, as the Lord is showing and revealing new things upon the earth and in the spiritual realm.

The fullness of time is upon us, with increased signs and wonders, increased prophetic utterances, increased revelation — the fulfillment of Joel 3! This is the start of a new era, where the impossible will be made possible in the name of Jesus, experiencing increased restoration and revival upon the earth, a separation of the authentic and the counterfeit; promises and prophetic words spoken over your life will come to pass rapidly, as you put the Lord first in all things. Decree that you will have a relentless pursuit to walk in the fullness of what Christ has promised you.

Look back over the past 6 days and thank the Lord for every transition and shift no matter how small you have made spiritually, emotionally and physically during this period of fasting and praying. Decree that there is no going back to the old season. Speak completeness of turnaround in your healing, health and wealth in your spirit, emotions and physically. Thank the Lord for every person who fasted and prayed during this period — that they too will experience the fullness of transformation and transition in spirit and circumstances.

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