Anyone Prayed About Restoring?

[TheRifleman]

I know in Dr. James Bigelow's book, he said he as a kid he prayed that God would heal him and restore his foresking, but God's answer to that prayer was "no, you are going to have to restore it yourself."

I have never expected my foreskin to be restored through prayer and/or faith healing.

I've always know it would take physical means.

To those on this board who do believe in prayer, do you ever pray you'll have divine guidance to find the restoration method that's right for your own individual situation, and that it will succeed.

I suppose if I tried praying, it wouldn't hurt me.

I might try it, and report on how things go.

Meanwhile, I'd like to hear from any of you board members who do believe in prayer, and pray about matters related to your restoration efforts.

[Science Monk]

No, I never pray.

I just visualized it growing so intently, that it did.

David
World As Monkey Island

[wulfboi]

When I was a child I used to pray to God that I'd be "healed" as to how I was born.

It was a long long time before I learned about foreskin restoration though.

[peterpink]

Check out:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569567

[Science Monk]

Check out:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569567
Well, that clinches it.

When I was in the hospital, I always thought that religious-themed get well cards people sent me actually made me feel worse!

David
World As Monkey Island

[TheRifleman]

Check out:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569567

Checked the link, and the conclusion is that intecessory prayer makes people worse.

I've heard of intecessory prayer before, but don't remember the exact definition.

Is that where one person prays for another person, rather than a person praying for themselves?

Any Prayer Warriors here?

If prayer makes a person's condition worse, and others are praying for me, then I can't help getting worse.

I might still try praying for myself, and if any of you other members want to pray for TheRifleman, please do so and let me know about it.

I really belive this is going to be a matter of having to do, rather than pray.

It would be nice if prayer could help me to find the right restorations for my own unique situation, and keep me from having any setbacks, as I have at the present, due to some skin pinching which inadvertantly occurred, and will delay my re-taping until it clears up.

In fact, recently, I've had to go untpaed, for a week, once, due to some irritation.

I've been at using a tape ring many years, and occasionally it happens, although most of the time I don't have any problems.

[wulfboi]

Any Prayer Warriors here?

My father fits that bill quite well. If you would like I'll ask him what his take on intecessory prayer is.

Update:

I asked Him this morning and he said "Intecessory prayer is praying on behalf of someone else. Like, getting on your knees before God and saying "Father I want to pray for so-and-so....". It's a lot simpler than it sounds."

[z726]

Hmm, gives a new meaning to "cross taping."

[Science Monk]

Hmm, gives a new meaning to "cross taping."
Except that cross-taping works.

David
Word As Monkey Island

[TheRifleman]

Thanks for all the great replies, everybody, and especially to wolfboi, for confirming what I thought intecessory prayer might be.

So, we know that a study has shown that intecessary prayer makes an illness? worse.

How about a person praying for himself or herself.

If I get the time tonight, I might go to a church where prayer requests for the sick are taken, but I don't think I'll ask them for an prayer about my foreskin restoring.

[wulfboi]

Belief is the key. It's the most important part of prayer or anything of it's ilk. If you truly believe it'll help it may very well help to some degree.
The human mind is a wonderfully powerful tool capable of magnificent feats with enough belief and clout behind it. Thats not to say that we can say bend space-time (would be cool) but, imo, if you believe praying will help and do so you may very well get results to some degree.
Its like those people told by doctors they have a few weeks to live, but refuse to accept that and live for months or years afterwards.

Just my 2 cents.

[finman]

If you want to know about prayer, it is best to speak to a Christian who really understands about it.

[peterpink]

Why won't God heal amputees?
Answer at: http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com/god5.htm

[Colorado]

I believe in prayer and pray from time to time for understanding and guidance. God has carried me through some absolutely horrible depressed, destructive years of my life where I made heinous decisions and I hope He will continue to guide me through the rest of my life. I feel that God made me whole and a human cut me. I choose now to restore what is mine and aim to get my body back to His design. I have not specifically prayed about restoring but feel God is on board with my efforts. I choose to modify my body back to how it was when I was born. I think it pleases Him.

Colorado

[cresco]

If praying helps you stay focused and motivated, sure why not.

Remember to always stay positive...

There are many miracles that happen through prayer...

People prayed for peace and crimes went done, there was the Emoto rice experiment which you can find on YouTube.


Use your words/thoughts wisely. Think positive when restoring and keep imagining how awesome it would be to have a full foreskin...

It'll keep you happy and it'll keep you motivated.

[Omerta86]

If you want to know about prayer, it is best to speak to a Christian who really understands about it.

I know this thread is over a month old, but I'm studying to be a minister(not Priest), so... If you're Christian(or Jew, I know the old texts fairly well) and have any questions about this fire away.

I OBVIOUSLY prayed to ask God if it was the right thing to do. And, basically, I started restoring, and haven't felt guilty once. But, that may not be God's message to you. You ask him, with heartfelt earnest, that if it's the right thing to do, that he guide you in the right direction.

Anyway, here to help, not just be helped, Omerta.

[DPX1]

Every night. That and a prayer to help me end circumcision.

We'll see what happens :\

[peterpink]

While praying may make the person praying feel better, valid evidence about the efficacy of prayer is lacking. In the search for truth about whether the supernatural exists, anecdotal evidence (i.e. personal experience alone) is inadequate. Despite what it says in the NT, this study showed prayer does not work as predicted, which is what I would expect after observing what happens in believer's lives. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569567
Believers who believe in belief will, of course, continue to believe what feels good to them personally regardless of contrary evidence.:)

[Majestic Maleness]

Yes, I prayed to God to give me my original foreskin, complete with ridged band and everything. I didn't really believe it when I did it. I didn't get it. I'll keep wearing my TLC tugger.

[Omerta86]

Do not doubt the power of prayer.

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt... You can say to [a] mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." -Matthew 21:21-22

Listen, when I was born, I was bleeding on my brain. The doctors said I had little chance to make it through the night. My mom called my great grandfather, who was also a minister, and they and their church prayed about me. The next morning the doctors checked on me and I was alive. So, they gave me a scan. Not only could they not find the point I was bleeding from, but all the blood that had accumulated was gone! But, they told my mom and dad that because of the pressure from the blood that was there before, that I was lucky to even walk, and that I would be mentally damaged from the trauma to my brain. Not only am I alive today, I can walk, talk, and think with full 100% clarity and precision! I play guitar, I swim, I practice MMA... I enjoy all the capacities of any other person!

Also, I started going deaf in one ear from my years of music, so I prayed about it for years, and I realized one day that my hearing was completely restored!

So, to those scientific studies that say prayer worsens someone's outcome, I have this to say: I wouldn't be here today if God hadn't healed my brain, because the doctors certainly could do nothing to save me!

If he could change the physical damage to my brain, there is no reason he couldn't heal your crotch, except for lack of faith. Me? I only prayed if it were right or not, because I think this exercise would be a good character builder, plus He has not given me the thought to pray for the healing, but he did give me the freedom to do this.

I'm not saying you have to be a Christian to pray, or that you have to pray at all, nor am I trying to convert anyone. I'm saying that if you mockingly pray, or even half-heartedly pray for something, you will not get it. Period. You have to have utter, 100%, Earth moving faith.

-Omerta

[indoro]

wow that's a great personal story. ya I believe in prayer. I have seen God do amazing things in my life too. I'm encouraged to find guys of like faith restoring. I've just started restoring the past few weeks so i am encouraged to find guys of christian faith doing something that is i guess a bit unusual. Peace

[GinoMan2440]

Hmm, gives a new meaning to "cross taping."

HA! I see what you did there!......

[GinoMan2440]

Do not doubt the power of prayer.

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt... You can say to [a] mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." -Matthew 21:21-22

Listen, when I was born, I was bleeding on my brain. The doctors said I had little chance to make it through the night. My mom called my great grandfather, who was also a minister, and they and their church prayed about me. The next morning the doctors checked on me and I was alive. So, they gave me a scan. Not only could they not find the point I was bleeding from, but all the blood that had accumulated was gone! But, they told my mom and dad that because of the pressure from the blood that was there before, that I was lucky to even walk, and that I would be mentally damaged from the trauma to my brain. Not only am I alive today, I can walk, talk, and think with full 100% clarity and precision! I play guitar, I swim, I practice MMA... I enjoy all the capacities of any other person!

Also, I started going deaf in one ear from my years of music, so I prayed about it for years, and I realized one day that my hearing was completely restored!

So, to those scientific studies that say prayer worsens someone's outcome, I have this to say: I wouldn't be here today if God hadn't healed my brain, because the doctors certainly could do nothing to save me!

If he could change the physical damage to my brain, there is no reason he couldn't heal your crotch, except for lack of faith. Me? I only prayed if it were right or not, because I think this exercise would be a good character builder, plus He has not given me the thought to pray for the healing, but he did give me the freedom to do this.

I'm not saying you have to be a Christian to pray, or that you have to pray at all, nor am I trying to convert anyone. I'm saying that if you mockingly pray, or even half-heartedly pray for something, you will not get it. Period. You have to have utter, 100%, Earth moving faith.

-Omerta

And just to dovetail off of what he said, let's not forget that Faith is a gift. Ephesians 2:8 says that faith is a gift of God. If you don't have it, it's because God hasn't given it to you.

[peterpink]

There is no evidence that any of the ancient gods heal amputees. Circumcision is a type of amputation. Why won't God heal amputees?
See the answer at: http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com/god5.htm

[GinoMan2440]

There is no evidence that any of the ancient gods heal amputees. Circumcision is a type of amputation. Why won't God heal amputees?
See the answer at: http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com/god5.htm

Not gonna lie, that's pretty sad that you find it compelling, the only Christian I know who would find that compelling is looking for an excuse to leave the faith in the first place and probably isn't truly a Christian to begin with. Nobody here is dealing with the sovereignty of God on these issues. Honestly I don't expect to regrow a foreskin in one day with all it's amenities by divine intervention. What I do expect is for the Holy Spirit to minister in my pain as far as my circumcision and not being able to keep the gift of a whole body from infancy. and I expect that my life will be ordered so that my restoration would be only what I can bear to endure. God ordained that my circumcision would take place, He ordained that I would take a long time to get consistent with my restoration efforts. and I pray he's ordained that I would carry it out to completion. and he did so all to his own glory before the foundations of the world. So I don't worry because His glory works to the good of those, like me, who are called according to his purposes.

So if you want the real reason that "God won't heal amputees" it's because we were all ordained on the basis of his will to be and do all that we are and do and we can do no other. And just so you're aware, every once in a while, God actually does heal an amputee in response to prayer. He still heals the sick, and he still mends broken hearts, and guess what, it's all for his own Glory, and he deserves it.

[sakura88]

yes I'm praying every day for my restoration
and I'm asking god to make me like an intact men soon
and I believe that god is helping me

before I did my first pray I didn't find any comfortable way to restore and I didn't get any good result but after I prayed to God I was able to wear a T tape for more then 4H and I get new skin and I'm feeling that I'm not alone, god is supporting me

[peterpink]

And just so you're aware, every once in a while, God actually does heal an amputee in response to prayer. He still heals the sick, and he still mends broken hearts, and guess what, it's all for his own Glory, and he deserves it.

Can you give just one medically authenticated case of a real amputee (i.e. a person who has had a limb amputated) being healed by prayer?

You have not answered the question. You have just changed the meaning of the word amputatee to equal to a 'sick person' or a person having a 'broken heart' (which is a metaphor and not a medical condition) to avoid the reality that prayer does not restore limbs etc. Those outside religion call what you have done the 'apologist dance'.

[sakura88]

any way I believe that praying to god could help me to be more patient and optimistic, then god could help you to find the best way of any thing you want

[GinoMan2440]

Can you give just one medically authenticated case of a real amputee (i.e. a person who has had a limb amputated) being healed by prayer?

You have not answered the question. You have just changed the meaning of the word amputatee to equal to a 'sick person' or a person having a 'broken heart' (which is a metaphor and not a medical condition) to avoid the reality that prayer does not restore limbs etc. Those outside religion call what you have done the 'apologist dance'.

Nobody get's "healed by prayer" they get healed by God and he uses whatever means he see's fit. You see, he's sovereign and can do whatever he wishes with his creation. Nobody changed the meaning of "amputee" I threw in sick and broken-hearted people as a bonus because he heals them too. Since you insist on medical authentication of that which the medical community will never authenticate, you are making an impossible request, however I can give you an incident corroborated by four separate witnesses who wrote about the incident contemporary with it's occurrence. A man's ear was accidentally amputated during the arrest of Jesus and Jesus after rebuking the amputator reattached the ear miraculously. All four gospels written by four separate authors all corroborate the event. You can't dismiss the incident because it happened 2000 years ago without dismissing all history and the incident does indeed "count". That will never be enough for you though because your worldview is too small to allow for the existence of a sovereign deity, Namely the triune God of scripture.

There's no dance going on here, You just will never accept truth no matter how well attested it is if it means a sovereign God exists who judges humanity for their sin. It's this for which you need to repent. Your fundamental supposition is that because of evil, there must be no God and because you accept this as an axiom, even if God healed an amputee right before your very eyes, you still would not believe. You would think of some way to explain it away or attribute it to some quantum mechanical event or something else, anything but a sovereign omnipotent triune God.

If you want a more detailed analysis of the problems with the premise you've presented, I'd just point you to this article: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/01/30/feedback-god-heal-amputees

Good luck, I expect your response will be just repeating the contents approximately of your last post despite a straight answer being given and the lack of "dancing" by the "apologist".

[Nosaj]

I know in Dr. James Bigelow's book, he said he as a kid he prayed that God would heal him and restore his foresking, but God's answer to that prayer was "no, you are going to have to restore it yourself."

I have never expected my foreskin to be restored through prayer and/or faith healing.

I've always know it would take physical means.

To those on this board who do believe in prayer, do you ever pray you'll have divine guidance to find the restoration method that's right for your own individual situation, and that it will succeed.

I suppose if I tried praying, it wouldn't hurt me.

I might try it, and report on how things go.

Meanwhile, I'd like to hear from any of you board members who do believe in prayer, and pray about matters related to your restoration efforts.

I never prayed, but as a child, I would occasionally wish I could be mended. Sometimes, I would pull what I had left forward until it looked like I was intact, and hoped it stayed that way.

[GinoMan2440]

I would be remiss if i didn't also mention that prayer doesn't have a 0 effect on the one offering prayer. How many of us on this forum have forgiven our parents as just trying to do whats best for us but though well-intentioned mistaken. How many of us have learned to be at peace with whats happened to us as we restore through prayer.... i have.

[TheRifleman]

Thanks for the replies, Nosaj & GinoMan2440.

Next month, it will be TWENTY YEARS since I finally started attemptiing FR in ernest, & I feel like I have made no progress whatsoever.

I'm 20 years old, and 20 years closer to the end of my life, and time is running out, and I am becoming more and more desperate, and I am considering praying about my FR efforts, although I would not dare to mention it, or Intactivism, or FR in general to any of the spiritual people that I know, because some, or even many of them might be Bible Thumpers who would quote the Apostle Paul as speaking against FR, although he did plainly condemn MGM.

Also, some of my praying friends could very possibly consider FR to be "perverted," as some non-spiritual people also do.

In addition to praying, I am also considering self hypnosis as an aid to my FR efforts.

As much as I love Dr. Bigelow and his wonderful book, and his poineering efforsts as an Intactivist, and FR advocate, I'm sorry to say that a lot of men reading the book might conclude that FR is an easy thing to do.

It is an extremely difficult thing to even attempt, and after 20 years, I have had virtually no results to speak of.

I know that prayer itself is not going to give me success in my FR efforts, because it takes DOING to get results in FR.

But, again, I am so desperate to find which methods would work for me.

[slickskin]

Thanks for the replies, Nosaj & GinoMan2440.

Next month, it will be TWENTY YEARS since I finally started attemptiing FR in ernest, & I feel like I have made no progress whatsoever.

I'm 20 years old, and 20 years closer to the end of my life, and time is running out, and I am becoming more and more desperate, and I am considering praying about my FR efforts, although I would not dare to mention it, or Intactivism, or FR in general to any of the spiritual people that I know, because some, or even many of them might be Bible Thumpers who would quote the Apostle Paul as speaking against FR, although he did plainly condemn MGM.

Also, some of my praying friends could very possibly consider FR to be "perverted," as some non-spiritual people also do.

In addition to praying, I am also considering self hypnosis as an aid to my FR efforts.

As much as I love Dr. Bigelow and his wonderful book, and his poineering efforsts as an Intactivist, and FR advocate, I'm sorry to say that a lot of men reading the book might conclude that FR is an easy thing to do.

It is an extremely difficult thing to even attempt, and after 20 years, I have had virtually no results to speak of.

I know that prayer itself is not going to give me success in my FR efforts, because it takes DOING to get results in FR.

But, again, I am so desperate to find which methods would work for me.

I also feel misguided since I was given the impression that a full restoration takes 2-3 years. It's been over two years for me and I'm still only ci-3.

Prayer won't grow back the foreskin, but if it gives some solace, then why not? Praying and visualizing helps keep me focused and remember what I'm working for. But doing the tugging makes all the difference.

[TheRifleman]

Thanks for the reply, slickskin. You put into words what I feel and wanted to say.