Actually, despite talking to pastors and such, I've never been told that.Hi Final, Good to hear from you friend. I would say a couple of things about praying. Some things take a long time. Other's are right away. Not only is the act of praying an art of becoming completly sincere. The act of receiving the answer is an art of becoming receptive and intuitive to the many ways an answer may reach you. You may have heard this many times Final. But it is something that takes a while to distinguish.
Indeed, and I at one point prayed for the same thing day after day for easily over a month. The content of the prayer I don't wish to be public, so if you think it is relevant, Pm me.I also think that sometimes the involvement of someone else helps for some reason. I think the reason is to show that co-operative effort is more valuable than solo effort. We are here for each other is one of the simplest and hardest lessons to learn. But in time the profundity of that concept, in regards to being God like or doing God's Will, is not Lost on one. Very Happy Here's a few things to consider about Prayer that may help in the success of One's test. I think one of the most important things is, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again."
I can't dispute that, as I don't have the info, and wouldn't care to anyway. I would state however, that my purpose in prayer was only rarely psychological(during the time I was suffering from major depression, prayed for help, and then bad things happened to me/my family)Aside from all that is superself in the experience of praying, it should be remembered that ethical prayer is a splendid way to elevate one's ego and reinforce the self for better living and higher attainment. Prayer induces the human ego to look both ways for help: for material aid to the subconscious reservoir of mortal experience, for inspiration and guidance to the superconscious borders of the contact of the material with the spiritual
To clarify, my prayers were never materialistic(not that I think you are saying they are). I am very much not a materialistic person. Objects, things don't matter to me. People matter to me. Nature matters to me.No prayer can be ethical when the petitioner seeks for selfish advantage over his fellows. Selfish and materialistic praying is incompatible with the ethical religions which are predicated on unselfish and divine love. All such unethical praying reverts to the primitive levels of pseudo magic and is unworthy of advancing civilizations and enlightened religions. Selfish praying transgresses the spirit of all ethics founded on loving justice.
In all your praying be fair; do not expect God to show partiality, to love you more than his other children, your friends, neighbors, even enemies....Egoistic prayers involve confessions and petitions and often consist in requests for material favors. Prayer is somewhat more ethical when it deals with forgiveness and seeks wisdom for enhanced self-control.
While the nonselfish type of prayer is strengthening and comforting, materialistic praying is destined to bring disappointment and disillusionment as advancing scientific discoveries demonstrate that man lives in a physical universe of law and order. The childhood of an individual or a race is characterized by primitive, selfish, and materialistic praying. And, to a certain extent, all such petitions are efficacious in that they unvaryingly lead to those efforts and exertions which are contributory to achieving the answers to such prayers. The real prayer of faith always contributes to the augmentation of the technique of living, even if such petitions are not worthy of spiritual recognition.
My prayers also were not selfish, unless you count "Please God, save me. I don't have the strength to save myself." as selfish. (again. back when I was very depressed.)
from your phrasing above, it almost seems as if one cannot pray for anything that you could possibly be able to tell if it were answered. if you cannot pray for petitions, then you do not seem able to ask for anything, and praying for self-characteristics is not possible to detect answers on, and most likely an answer would be meaningless anyway, as, by your account, praying for it will cause you to develop it yourself anyway.
How does this apply to prayers for something that you cannot possibly affect yourself. I never prayed for anything I thought I could effect myself, because it would seem ridiculous and lazy.Prayer must never be so prostituted as to become a substitute for action. All ethical prayer is a stimulus to action and a guide to the progressive striving for idealistic goals of superself-attainment.
Potentially possible, but i want to understand before I would do so.If you would like to try an experiment with me either on thread or via PM I would be more than amenable to such a joint effort. Peace be with you friend.
It's really only contradictory in the way you've subjectively interpreted it. 
