Why “Pray for Knowledge”, When You Can Study and Actually Acquire Knowledge?
Question by Enigma®Ragnarökin’: Why “pray for knowledge”, when you can study and actually acquire knowledge?
I’ve heard that phrase once too often to laugh at it anymore. Isn’t praying for something that takes effort to get really just admitting that you’re too lazy to do it yourself?
fmko: Not really. The people who believe in unicorns and leprechauns aren’t trying to force others to live by their beliefs. I’ve also never heard them condemn anybody who doesn’t believe in unicorns and leprechauns to eternal torture. Other than that, yes it is exactly the same thing.
BK: There is sufficient evidence to convince me that man actually exists, and that his knowledge is real rather than delusion.
For all those who study and pray. This is commendable and respectable. Don’t let my questions fool you; I do have a certain degree of respect for all religions and their followers. I just have no respect for ignorance and self delusion. Thank you and have a nice day. *bows*
GorgeousTx Spurs fan2: I was eating when I got to your answer. You got me choked! lol
malicedmind: I’ve read the book of Proverbs. Half of it is common knowledge that requires no great understanding, and the other half sounds like it was made up by a 9 year old idiot.
Mizz Zero, fractal, Meilien, jesusgirl (((SFCU))): work and faith, each in their place rather than one replacing the other; excellent. Best wishes for a wonderful day to each of you. *bows*
LadyLost: The only way that you could possibly see “hate” in my comments would be if you were looking through a filter of religious prejudice. I hope that you can get past your hatred and bigotry. If you think that I’m just being mean, ask some of the wonderful Christians answered with real wisdom, like Mizz Zero, fractal, Meilien and jesusgirl (((SFCU))). Have a nice day, and stop projecting your prejudices onto others.
Best answer:
Answer by Penutty
It’s too hard…you want me to actually read?
*cries*
Answer by Mizz Zero
I try to do both. I find I gain something from each.
why ask questions about a god that you don’t beleive exist…isn’t that like asking questions about a unicorn or a leprechaun…
Because praying is easier and it takes less time. It does not work well for test trust I have tried before.
cuz if you got it from prayer, it’s divine knowledge.
I wouldn’t pray for knowledge; pray for wisdom. Wisdom gives you the ability to learn new things. Like Solomon–he never prayed for tangible things. He prayed for wisdom to guide his people.
Wisdom and wit go hand in hand. Reading the book of Proverbs shows some of the greatest wisdom we have in this world.
prayer should certainly not be used to bypass doing the actual learning.
We pray for it because God can give the understanding we cannot ourselves attain through our own efforts.
Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and without the guidance from God, we only “get” so much…the Bible is not just another piece of literature. There is a spiritual dimension which, unless one be enlightened by God, cannot be understood.
I believe that the principle is that you do the work and pray that the end result is that you acquire that which you need.
You can’t aquire or have anything that God doesn’t allow. Therefore, even if you study you will not understand what you’re studying unless God opens your eyes to it.
Exactly, it’s easier to just follow the leader rather than think for yourself.
you are mistaking wisdom for knowledge.
Proverbs 3:13
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
Ecclesiastes 7:12
Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.
Ecclesiastes 7:19
Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city.
to those say they alone became full of knowledge solely by reading and research, they need to consinder Job 38:36, which says:
Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind ?
Proverbs 28:26
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
Job 21:22
“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?
Job 21:22
“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?
Proverbs 1:29
Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,
it is indeed good to have knowledge, particularally knowledge of God, but for wisdom we need God.
Proverbs 30:3
I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
Psalm 37:30
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
we need to remember: Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
to get wisdom:Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 13:10
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
its good to remember:Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
there are 2 kinds of wisdom:James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Source(s) Job 28:18
Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
Job 28:28
And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’ ”
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Ecclesiastes 2:13
I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
Judging by these:
“Belief in evolution sends thousands to hell every day.” – fundie
“There was no room on the ark for the dinosaurs so they drowned.” – fundie
“It never rained before the flood that is why no one believed Noah.” – fundie
“Schizophrenia is demon possession.” – fundie
“Menopause is punishment for sin.” – fundie
“Yes God created all animals. But He knew that they {dinosaurs} would hurt people, and allowed them to die during the flood.” – fundie
“Science has yet to disprove anything that God has said in His Word. If science says anything different, you’d best question the scientist that said it. God’s word is truth. Scientists lie.” = fundie
“God grew my nail back despite the surgeon’s education, surgical expertise, and his protest!” – fundie
“Satan caused Adam and Eve to sin, therefore corrupting paradise. Thus decay began. Disease is a direct result of that original sin.” – FUNDIE
“It isn’t so dumb. Many are Satan influenced.
Tobacco: Emphysema, heart disease, lung cancer
Alcohol: Liver disease, alcohol poisoning,
Drugs: cancers, brain damage, HIV, Aids
homosexuality: Aids, HIV” – fundie
“there is a ton of proof.
-the bible
-love
-rainbows
you cant see it because you are a tool of satan.
ILL PRAY FOR YOU.” – fundie quote
“No, even if you were a human vegetable strapped to your hospital bed for your entire existence you would still have original sin.” – fundie
“read “How to know God exists- scientific proof of God” by Ray Comfort.” -fundie
“This age of the earth thing is pointless. Our God can create things aged.” – fundie
“As a Christian believer I do think the earth is between 6,000 – 10,000 years old and i also believe that the dinosaurs did exist but at the times of Adam and Eve to Noah and they all died during the great flood of the earth.” – fundie
“nope. personaly i don’t believe dinosaurs exzisted.
it’s just some freaking scientists’s business, make believe………..thing.
read your bible.” – fundie
“Yes, they {dinosaurs}were in the garden with adam and eve, They are described in Job 40” – fundie
“Seashells on Mt Everest proving the flood is true, proving the Bible is true , proving creation is true, proving that you are wrong. if you are going to hang your eternal destiny on how old the world looks you are in big trouble. Me thinks you should investigate a bit more.” – fundie
“For all you people who say it is plate tectonics, who do you think controls them,duh!!!! I agree with the asker and think that California is first in line for a one way ticket to hell!!” – ignorant fundie who claims California will have an earthquake because of gay marriage.
“It obviously was made for humans, more specifically for Jesus to live and die on.” – fundie answer to: “If the Earth is here by accident or some Boom process, why is everything on Earth to human scale?”
“can science remove the sin debt from before the eyes of God? the blood of Jesus did this.” – fundie
“can scientist heal broken bones in 3 minutes, can scientist create something out of nothing!!” – fundie
People who pray for knowledge are not aware their prayers are not being answered.
you can pray for knowledge all day long… if no effort is put behind that prayer you ain’t gonna learn nothing!! Better to pray for understanding as you read!!
Laziness.
because like Children they cannot acquire knowledge so they sit there wining until some magical pixie comes around and spoon feeds it to them.
Because God has knowledge that you can not even imagine and you won´t find it studying the books of this world..
Do you want man’s knowledge or God’s knowledge?
I assume it means to pray for knowledge of something that can’t be aquired by normal means. If you have a difficult decision to make, you’ve studied all the factors you can, but still can’t decide, so you ask all your friends their opinion, but there is no consensus, so you still can’t decide, and finally decide to “pray” for guidence, or meditate, or what ever decision making process you use.
Or else, in terms of spiritual knowledge, you’ve decide that further study of esoteric texts or available history or the words of various masters of saints or priests is only so much mental masturbation and “true” spiritual knowledge will be, paradoxically unknowable by normal means, so you again “pray” or meditate or whatever you choose to do to gain this “unknowable” type of knowledge.
There is never any harm in asking for God’s help on any matter.. God should be included in any task you perform. You will always achieve greater results when you include Him/Her.. God bless.
True, very True.
Very good point.
John 17:3 even points out how taking in ACCURATE knowledge is very important.
“This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.”