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Prayer Book (1)

• After a strong relationship with God, I have lost my spiritual zeal and my prayer life has grown cold. Whose fault is it?
• Am I walking on a fine line between the existence of my free will and the omniscient sovereignty of God?
• How can we explain "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16)? I find it rather selfish if the beneficiary of these prayers is the subject not the object of prayers, i.e., me not others to whom I pray.
• How does one prevail with God in prayer?
• I have been praying earnestly to God to interfere in a problem. It has been close to 2 years and the problem is getting more complicated. I pray to God to open my heart, eyes and all my senses to see him in my life; but nothing has changed. Actually I feel I am more doubtful than before; and the tiny bit of faith I had is dissipating. I really need advice.
• I often neglect to pray, usually because I am too tired, busy, or just lazy. When I do stand up to pray, I often find myself unable to continue for very long. I really want to pray, but I just find myself unable to do so at times.
• I understand we should persevere and always pray. But what do I do when prayer has just become words again? A monologue I'm reciting to relieve my conscience. I call "Our Father" and almost instantly my thoughts go somewhere else.
• I was a reading a book by H.G Bishop Mettaous that had a chapter for the conditions of accepted prayer, but I don't remember the title of the book. The conditions were overwhelming and I felt that every prayer that I have ever prayed was unaccepted by Christ which brought my faith down. It was a very long list of conditions; I am a very sinful, weak, and undeserving servant, which made me feel like I will never meet all the criteria for accepted prayers. I pray that the Lord guide me on what to do in life that I may glorify His holy name, whether it be continuing with pharmacy or another major, whether it be marriage or monasticism, and that He grant my parents comfort and happiness with what whatever I do, and that they bless my life.
• I would like to know, if Jesus taught us to address the Father in our prayers (i.e. the Lord's prayer, see Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 6:9-13) why do we also address the Son and the Holy Spirit in our prayers (e.g. in the Agpyea)? What is the Biblical basis for this?
• Is it appropriate to ask God to make someone like you back?
• Is it wrong to have a personal agenda for prayer? How does one balance moving beyond guilt because of the freedom of God's forgiveness when past sins have brought on consequences that serve as a constant reminder?
• Is there a successful way/practice while praying to totally keep me focused on God Himself without my mind wondering in other directions or simply falling asleep?
• It has now been a year since I have prayed or read the Holy Bible. It could be out of laziness, lack of desire or both. What can I do to overcome this difficulty?
• My problem is lack of concentration during prayers. I just want to finish quickly and think about what to do next. What is the remedy, if there is any?
• What prayer does is change us to conform to God's will. The conclusion was that God out of His loving kindness allows us to participate in His will when we pray. (Example: Abraham's prayers regarding Lot Genesis 19:29; Jonah's prayers for Nineveh; Simon the shoemaker and all the Christians in the Mokattam miracle). We cannot logically say that Jonah or Abraham or Simon influenced God's mind as He is omniscient, instead these prayers allowed them (creatures) to participate with God (Creator) in accomplishing His sovereign will before the beginning of time.
• When we pray, is it appropriate that we ask for temporal, material things for ourselves and others? Considering our lethargic spiritual state, should we not instead be praying for forgiveness and grace, asking for God's Will to be done? I am wondering what we should request in prayer.
• Why do we pray?
• Why then are we asked to pray for one another? Who benefits?
• Will God ignore our prayers when we doubt?
• "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Mt 18:19-20). I have a number of points that need clarification:
  • Does this verse address the apostles only or is it for the clergy as well as laymen?
  • It’s content is not fulfilled. I have agreed with a fellow Christian once on something and it has never come through.
  • How can we distinguish between what is addressed to the apostles, clergy and laymen?
• "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin, which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death" (1 John 5:16-17).   I do not understand:
  • he will ask, who is "he" and what will he ask?
   
  • him, who is "him"?
   
• "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared" (Hebrews 5:7-8). What is the correct interpretation of this verse?.
• "When you pray not to be repetitious in request, for God knows of your needs." So does that mean we don't really have to ask?