Shouldn't Pray about that!

[Kaynil]

This is something I have been thinking about. I have some friends who often ask me to pray for her, which I am more than happy to do, for the most part. Sometimes it is stuff like wisdom when is time to take a big decision, patience, that some illness passes, they for the most part, makes perfect sense to me and I am happy to obligue. I've had times though when their request makes me question if there is a line between what it is okay to pray for and what isn't. I don't really like to reject praying for the person but I admit I don't always go with the angle they ask me to go if I feel it goes against my moral compass. If possible I try to be honest, if it is something I don't think it is correct to pray for depending the situation I'd try cto make them consider a different angle, for example instead of praying for someone to lose a competition because she shoved or insulted someone, I'd try to make them seem taht is holding grudges and that it might be better to pray for that someone to get insight on how their actions affected others so they become better people. if it is something more black and white for me, like asking me to pray for luxury material posessions, I'd probably just say I don't feel comfortable praying about that.

I would like to hear your input on this. If you think prayer is fine no matter what or if there are subjects or things where you just think that is not correct to pray for. How do you deal when a situation like someone you care about asks you to pray for something you don't feel comfortable praying about or are not sure if it is right?

 

[Josiah]

Some of MY thoughts....


1. IMO, prayer is always surrounded by "if it be your will." Whether we say it or not, CERTAINLY no one wants anything that is against God's wise and loving will. "Help me rob this bank" may not be an appropriate prayer.... or maybe just one rather automatically not going to be given a thumbs up.


2. IMO, I'm not opposed to praying for something - quite specifically - unaware it if is God's will. Reason? I think God hears the heart and not just the words.... the Holy Spirit is praying with us in groans too deep for words... Maybe I pray for a bigger, nicer house.... and I suddenly find I'm very happy and content with the home I have. Did God answer the prayer? Of course! Just not in the precise way my WORDS expressed (but perhaps my HEART wanted to be happy and feel blessed by my house - something that may not have happened simply because I got another house). I don't get TOO concerned over the words..... God hears more than our words.... God often understands our request FAR more than we do. Maybe the one praying for help robbing the bank really wants financial security or contentment with "daily bread?"


3. When possible, I understand a prayer request to be less a request to pray (something they can do well themselves) but as a ministry request. They are reaching out for care, support, love. Although MAYBE the appropriate response is correction or a swift kick in the _______ (a little accountability). I'm keen that sometimes the way God answers the prayer is by moving those doing the praying to respond to it. But a caution: MY experience is that a FEW are not above using prayer requests in an manipulative way, perhaps to garner sympathy or some other desired response. Be a bit cautious of that, but don't let it cripple you. ONE of the reasons prayer partners are important is that they can minister to you in the situation. Prayer is not meant to take the place of action/ministry/love, more often it directs and motivates it. We may pass by a starving person and say "I'll pray for you." But I'm not sure that's what Jesus has in mind with prayer.



Just my half cent


- Josiah




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[NewCreation435]

This is something I have been thinking about. I have some friends who often ask me to pray for her, which I am more than happy to do, for the most part. Sometimes it is stuff like wisdom when is time to take a big decision, patience, that some illness passes, they for the most part, makes perfect sense to me and I am happy to obligue. I've had times though when their request makes me question if there is a line between what it is okay to pray for and what isn't. I don't really like to reject praying for the person but I admit I don't always go with the angle they ask me to go if I feel it goes against my moral compass. If possible I try to be honest, if it is something I don't think it is correct to pray for depending the situation I'd try cto make them consider a different angle, for example instead of praying for someone to lose a competition because she shoved or insulted someone, I'd try to make them seem taht is holding grudges and that it might be better to pray for that someone to get insight on how their actions affected others so they become better people. if it is something more black and white for me, like asking me to pray for luxury material posessions, I'd probably just say I don't feel comfortable praying about that.

I would like to hear your input on this. If you think prayer is fine no matter what or if there are subjects or things where you just think that is not correct to pray for. How do you deal when a situation like someone you care about asks you to pray for something you don't feel comfortable praying about or are not sure if it is right?

God doesn't always give us what we want. He gives us what we need. So, the best way to pray for your friend is that God's will is done in her life. Paul prayed very different kind of prayers than what most of us pray. For example see Colossians 1:9-11

 

[tango]

This is something I have been thinking about. I have some friends who often ask me to pray for her, which I am more than happy to do, for the most part. Sometimes it is stuff like wisdom when is time to take a big decision, patience, that some illness passes, they for the most part, makes perfect sense to me and I am happy to obligue. I've had times though when their request makes me question if there is a line between what it is okay to pray for and what isn't. I don't really like to reject praying for the person but I admit I don't always go with the angle they ask me to go if I feel it goes against my moral compass. If possible I try to be honest, if it is something I don't think it is correct to pray for depending the situation I'd try cto make them consider a different angle, for example instead of praying for someone to lose a competition because she shoved or insulted someone, I'd try to make them seem taht is holding grudges and that it might be better to pray for that someone to get insight on how their actions affected others so they become better people. if it is something more black and white for me, like asking me to pray for luxury material posessions, I'd probably just say I don't feel comfortable praying about that.

I would like to hear your input on this. If you think prayer is fine no matter what or if there are subjects or things where you just think that is not correct to pray for. How do you deal when a situation like someone you care about asks you to pray for something you don't feel comfortable praying about or are not sure if it is right?

Something that is questionable is the sort of thing you'd have to decide for yourself whether to pray for. Sometimes that is clearly not on is the sort of thing that could create awkward situations but is probably best avoided however awkward it feels (I'm thinking of the "God, please strike this person down with 1000 horrible diseases because they were so mean to me" kind of prayer that rather flies in the face of what Jesus said about forgiveness).

Personally I'd feel more comfortable saying "God, please can I have a Mercedes" than "God, please strike this person down". At least with the Merc there can be more to it than wanting to show off, whereas asking for someone to be harmed would seem inappropriate in all but the most exceptionally rare of circumstances. If what you're looking for is for God to be little more than the big brother who hits the person who hit you, in my opinion there's little point even asking because we are called to forgive. Maybe to pray for peace and forgiveness for the friend who wants revenge would be a better option?

 

[tango]

We may pass by a starving person and say "I'll pray for you." But I'm not sure that's what Jesus has in mind with prayer.

Very true, as James put it there's not much value in passing someone who is cold and hungry and saying to them "be warm, be filled" when what they need is some warmth and some food.

 

[Albion]

Kaynil, If you think the request is made on behalf of something questionable, just pray that God will lead the person to do the right thing.

 

[Lamb]

If someone asks me to pray for something I'm uncomfortable with I just reword things so that I tell them what I'm willing to pray for. It will still sound good to them

 

[Andrew]

Honestly, I pray the Lords prayer only, it's because I believe God knows your heart, so you can keep in mind all the things you want to pray for and God will know, it makes things so much easier... I used to speak in tongues and that's ok too I guess (if you believe in that) but I believe God knows what you are going to pray for either way, the Lords prayer is gift from Heaven and I'm well with that