Hi Semi:
I think people who pray for "things" or "events" are pretty much missing the point. To me, prayer is not a technique for getting what I want. It is not a technique for bartering with God, promising Him that if I do thus and so, then he will deliver this or that. No, that is not prayer, that is more the primitive delusions of old, carried forth into the Twentieth Century more or less intact.
So, what do I consider prayer? If consider it a technique, not for bending the will of God to my selfish desires, but for bending my will to the higher desires and purposes of the universe. Prayer is a technique for me to align myself with all that is real and good in the universe, to attempt to align myself with the will of God. When I pray, I try to pray for values, not things. I pray for goodness and love, for a better understanding of the mysterious path of life. I pray for insight into how I might be a better person. At least I try to.
Of course, in a pinch, I still pray selfishly. When my son got taken to the hospital, I did not pray for the world to become a better place. Heck no! I prayed he was OK! I think we all, even the atheists, in their own way, pray for our loved ones when they are in danger. And I think that is OK, we really can not help it, nor should we.
But those who pray for money, or success, are really missing the boat. Prayer will not get you the material things of this world. That is what hard work and dedication are for. (and a little luck too, sometimes!). People who routinely pray for money have been deceived by those false preachers who prey upon our society. They deserve nothing more than they get.
Same with those who use prayer exclusively for curing disease. Prayer is not a technique for curing real and organic diseases, but prayer has contributed enormously to the enjoyment of abundant health and to the cure of numerous mental, emotional, and nervous ailments. And even in actual bacterial disease, prayer has many times added to the efficacy of other remedial procedures. Prayer has turned many an irritable and complaining invalid into a paragon of patience and made him an inspiration to all other human sufferers.
Semi, never forget that the sincere prayer of faith is a mighty force for the promotion of personal happiness, individual self-control, social harmony, moral progress, and spiritual attainment.
Semi, do not be so slothful as to ask God to solve your difficulties, but never hesitate to ask him for wisdom and spiritual strength to guide and sustain you while you yourself resolutely and courageously attack the problems at hand.
Prayer has been an indispensable factor in the progress and preservation of religious civilization, and it still has mighty contributions to make to the further enhancement and spiritualization of society if those who pray will only do so in the light of scientific facts, philosophic wisdom, intellectual sincerity, and spiritual faith. Pray as Jesus taught his disciples—honestly,unselfishly with fairness and without doubting.
Al