As a frequent 'assistant' (at least, I think I'm helping!) on the NCLEX Discussion Forum, I see something posted over and over and over again. It's a very common theme, actually, and although in the past it didn't much bother me, it has been getting more and more under my skin. I know those who post it obviously don't look for discussion on that topic, but...on THIS forum, it seemed most appropriate :)
I frequently see people who have failed the NCLEX more than once (or more than twice, or more than three times) who will write "please pray for me". Are there really people out there who add to their personal prayers "oh, and G-d? Please help FailedNclex-3x to pass her exam" ?
Seems to be pretty low-brow for G-d, doesn't it? As if The Almighty WOULD have 'let' FailedNclex-3 fail yet again, BUT FOR the prayer from someone on AN...nope, that tilted the wheel the other way and now a PASS is in order!
I cannot see myself EVER thinking to ask G-d for something like that. Pray to understand why things happen the way they do. Pray to ask for strength through a difficult time. Pray to find goodness where there doesn't seem to be much....pray for assistance, but not for personal gain.
Maybe that's it. People are asking for personal gain. I wouldn't pray for someone to win the lottery, I wouldn't pray for them to get into grad school. I'd wish them well, I'm going to "send happy thoughts", I'm going to hope they succeed. But PRAY for this?? No.
I also believe that thanks are in order when one has a success such as passing the NCLEX: thank your spouse and kids and family and friends for putting UP with you while you went to school and while you studied for the exam. Thank the financial institution that fronted you the money, if you like. And yes, thank G-d for the ability to get through it all! But IMHO there's also a difference between thanking Ad'nai for strength, courage, determination, etc and thanking the Holy One for passing a test. YOU, the TEST-TAKER, took and passed the test! He might have been 'with' you in the testing center (strength, support) but He sure wasn't taking that test FOR you!
So no, don't say it was G-d who 'allowed' you to pass the test. If you passed, you EARNED it. Give thanks where it's due, but....remember the limits of what you'd "get" for your prayers, too :)
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I believe that prayer for oneself and having people pray on behalf of you is superior to praying for oneself alone. But if there was a choice between prayer for oneself and having others pray for you your own prayers are more powerful.[/quote']
Can you back this up with Biblical references? What if the person who is praying is in an isolated area and can't get more people to pray for him/her? That would be saying that God would be discriminatory toward people in rural areas.
Acts 10;34, 35 says "God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him."
1 John 5:14 says "This is the confidence we have toward him, that, no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us."
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Matt 18:19-20 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
That Scripture simply
That Scripture is referring to Christ's presence being with those who are gathered in his name, not prayers of a group of people getting special favor over the prayers of one.
That Scripture is referring to Christ's presence being with those who are gathered in his name, not prayers of a group of people getting special favor over the prayers of one.
Yes verse 20 refers to God being in the midst of 2 or 3 but verse 19 refers to at LEAST two touching and agreeing and "it shall be done in heaven" . This clearly requires more than one person in order for it to "be done in heaven" in this particular scripture. Of course God answers prayers from a single person but I was addressing a question that was posed.
I believe in God and the power of prayer. Yes, I have earned my nursing license however it would not be possible if it were not for GOD !!!!! I don't see anything wrong with praying for someone to pass the NCLEX.
Shouldn't people pass the NCLEX based on how much studying and preparation they have done? By praying to pass the NCLEX, it sounds as though they're asking for help with questions they don't understand, like gimme a divine cheat sheet. If you don't understand the material, you don't deserve to pass, that's the whole point of the test. Why involve god? And why ask other people to involve god on top of that?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Yes verse 20 refers to God being in the midst of 2 or 3 but verse 19 refers to at LEAST two touching and agreeing and "it shall be done in heaven" . This clearly requires more than one person in order for it to "be done in heaven" in this particular scripture. Of course God answers prayers from a single person but I was addressing a question that was posed.
It does not mean that you need more than one person to have your prayer heard and fulfilled. For Christians, the only requirements for prayers to be heard are that they follow what is outlined in the Lord's Prayer at Matt. 6:9-13. There is no requirement there that you have more than one person.
John 14:6, 14- "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." This Scripture does not refer to any requirement that there be more than one person present in order for a prayer to be heard.
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Does that mean that if you want a Bentley, God will give you a Bentley?
I haven't seen anyone here using God's name as a curse word. BTW, do you know what God's name is?
No Bentley but a Mercedes Benz for sure, maybe a color tv,too. (RIP Janice Joplin) I always thought if someone failed the boards a few times it was "God's" way of saving an untold number of patients in the future! Maybe it's time to listen to his message and re-think your career.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Yes verse 20 refers to God being in the midst of 2 or 3 but verse 19 refers to at LEAST two touching and agreeing and "it shall be done in heaven" . This clearly requires more than one person in order for it to "be done in heaven" in this particular scripture. Of course God answers prayers from a single person but I was addressing a question that was posed.
The Scripture doesn't say it was done because of the number of people. It says "...it will take place for them on account of my Father in heaven."
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
No Bentley but a Mercedes Benz for sure, maybe a color tv,too. (RIP Janice Joplin) I always thought if someone failed the boards a few times it was "God's" way of saving an untold number of patients in the future! Maybe it's time to listen to his message and re-think your career.
Thanks a lot. That song is going to be stuck in my head now.
It does not mean that you need more than one person to have your prayer heard and fulfilled. For Christians, the only requirements for prayers to be heard are that they follow what is outlined in the Lord's Prayer at Matt. 6:9-13. There is no requirement there that you have more than one person.
John 14:6, 14- "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." This Scripture does not refer to any requirement that there be more than one person present in order for a prayer to be heard.
Um I said that God answers the prayers of an individual in my post. That does not mean that prayer as a group has no effect. The two are not mutually exclusive. We are talking about God here.
I believe in God and the power of prayer. Yes, I have earned my nursing license however it would not be possible if it were not for GOD !!!!! I don't see anything wrong with praying for someone to pass the NCLEX.
OCNRN63, RN
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