Struggling with prayer

[Saved_by_Jesus]

I've only been saved for a short time now, and I have always struggled with praying for other people. I simply cannot come up with the words to say in prayer!

I know that prayer is simply talking to God in my own way, but I've never been a good conversationalist at all, so I just don't know what to say.

My pastor told me that it is Ok to just pray for people silently, but I just don't feel right doing that.

This has greatly limited my Christian growth, and I know how dissappointed God must be in me because of this.

It greatly distresses me, and makes me feel so very jealous of other Christians who pray such beautiful prayers, even if they are short and simple prayers.

I've even tried memorizing prayers for certain occassions like when someone is sick....but then when the time comes to pray for someone, I panic and totally forget.

Over the last couple of years, I've totally avoided praying for people unless they ask me to, and after they do it once, they sure don't do it anymore! LOL

I'm so scared about this, because praying for people's needs is a huge part of living a Christian life-so I don't know what to do!

And yes, I already know that praying is nothing more than talking to God, but I'm not a good conversationalist anyway, so I struggle even with talking to other people.

What can I do, and how can I overcome this fear of praying for other people?

[Creed]

Saved,

As I read your post, I kept thinking of my young son and his quest to learn to ride a bike. To him, it's a scary thing (skinned elbows and bloody knees). But the more we put him in the saddle, so to speak, the more confident he becomes.

Also, what comes to mind, when you're praying for someone's need, it's not about you. It's about them, their need, and God who's the only One who can do something about it. When someone cares enough to pray for me, I don't give a hoot if they stumble, stutter, or are only able to mutter, "Lord, help!!!!" The important thing is that He listens whether the prayer be eloquent or not. Blessings to you!

[spiritman]

I've only been saved for a short time now, and I have always struggled with praying for other people. I simply cannot come up with the words to say in prayer!

I know that prayer is simply talking to God in my own way, but I've never been a good conversationalist at all, so I just don't know what to say.

My pastor told me that it is Ok to just pray for people silently, but I just don't feel right doing that.

This has greatly limited my Christian growth, and I know how dissappointed God must be in me because of this.

It greatly distresses me, and makes me feel so very jealous of other Christians who pray such beautiful prayers, even if they are short and simple prayers.

I've even tried memorizing prayers for certain occassions like when someone is sick....but then when the time comes to pray for someone, I panic and totally forget.

Over the last couple of years, I've totally avoided praying for people unless they ask me to, and after they do it once, they sure don't do it anymore! LOL

I'm so scared about this, because praying for people's needs is a huge part of living a Christian life-so I don't know what to do!

And yes, I already know that praying is nothing more than talking to God, but I'm not a good conversationalist anyway, so I struggle even with talking to other people.

What can I do, and how can I overcome this fear of praying for other people?

When ever I'm praying for someone and I don't know what to say. I usually just ask God to meet their needs what ever they maybe.

[Trusting Jesus]

Your pastor is correct in saying that prayer is just talking to God. Somehow it always seems as if we should have beautiful words and lofty sentences. I, too, really admire people who can put their thoughts together and say beautiful prayers. It isn't necessary to speak out loud unless you really feel you have to. If the person you are praying for is right there with you it's probably better to speak out loud, but God hears our thoughts:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us [fn] with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit [is], because He makes intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. Romans 8:26-27

You might try writting down what you want to say. For instance if you have a friend who is having trouble with children write down what the child is doing wrong, their need to know Jesus, your friends love for their child, etc. Then when you pray talk to God about each of the things you wrote down. Thank Him for his love and submit to His will.

God wants us to talk with Him and he doesn't care if you stutter, stumble, or get the words wrong. He is listening to your heart.

<>< ><>

Nathele

[Saved_by_Jesus]

Saved,

As I read your post, I kept thinking of my young son and his quest to learn to ride a bike. To him, it's a scary thing (skinned elbows and bloody knees). But the more we put him in the saddle, so to speak, the more confident he becomes.

Also, what comes to mind, when you're praying for someone's need, it's not about you. It's about them, their need, and God who's the only One who can do something about it. When someone cares enough to pray for me, I don't give a hoot if they stumble, stutter, or are only able to mutter, "Lord, help!!!!" The important thing is that He listens whether the prayer be eloquent or not. Blessings to you!

Thank you.....yes, I get what you are saying. I need to "get in the saddle" more. I need to FIND more opportunities to pray for people, and just "wing it".

[Saved_by_Jesus]

Your pastor is correct in saying that prayer is just talking to God. Somehow it always seems as if we should have beautiful words and lofty sentences. I, too, really admire people who can put their thoughts together and say beautiful prayers. It isn't necessary to speak out loud unless you really feel you have to. If the person you are praying for is right there with you it's probably better to speak out loud, but God hears our thoughts:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us [fn] with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit [is], because He makes intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. Romans 8:26-27

You might try writting down what you want to say. For instance if you have a friend who is having trouble with children write down what the child is doing wrong, their need to know Jesus, your friends love for their child, etc. Then when you pray talk to God about each of the things you wrote down. Thank Him for his love and submit to His will.

God wants us to talk with Him and he doesn't care if you stutter, stumble, or get the words wrong. He is listening to your heart.

<>< ><>

Nathele

That's an interesting idea-writing it down. Will try that. Thank you. Won't work for "on the spot prayer requests", but I can figure out things to say in advance I guess.

[Blien]

I've only been saved for a short time now, and I have always struggled with praying for other people. I simply cannot come up with the words to say in prayer!

I know that prayer is simply talking to God in my own way, but I've never been a good conversationalist at all, so I just don't know what to say.

My pastor told me that it is Ok to just pray for people silently, but I just don't feel right doing that.

This has greatly limited my Christian growth, and I know how dissappointed God must be in me because of this.

It greatly distresses me, and makes me feel so very jealous of other Christians who pray such beautiful prayers, even if they are short and simple prayers.

I've even tried memorizing prayers for certain occassions like when someone is sick....but then when the time comes to pray for someone, I panic and totally forget.

Over the last couple of years, I've totally avoided praying for people unless they ask me to, and after they do it once, they sure don't do it anymore! LOL

I'm so scared about this, because praying for people's needs is a huge part of living a Christian life-so I don't know what to do!

And yes, I already know that praying is nothing more than talking to God, but I'm not a good conversationalist anyway, so I struggle even with talking to other people.

What can I do, and how can I overcome this fear of praying for other people?

Have you ever read how people in the Bible pray? Here was Jacob's first prayer. Even though it was his first, it was a PERFECT prayer.

Genesis 32:6-12

6 After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported,

[Guest]

Daddy!

Help!

[Saved_by_Jesus]

I've only been saved for a short time now, and I have always struggled with praying for other people. I simply cannot come up with the words to say in prayer!

I know that prayer is simply talking to God in my own way, but I've never been a good conversationalist at all, so I just don't know what to say.

My pastor told me that it is Ok to just pray for people silently, but I just don't feel right doing that.

This has greatly limited my Christian growth, and I know how dissappointed God must be in me because of this.

It greatly distresses me, and makes me feel so very jealous of other Christians who pray such beautiful prayers, even if they are short and simple prayers.

I've even tried memorizing prayers for certain occassions like when someone is sick....but then when the time comes to pray for someone, I panic and totally forget.

Over the last couple of years, I've totally avoided praying for people unless they ask me to, and after they do it once, they sure don't do it anymore! LOL

I'm so scared about this, because praying for people's needs is a huge part of living a Christian life-so I don't know what to do!

And yes, I already know that praying is nothing more than talking to God, but I'm not a good conversationalist anyway, so I struggle even with talking to other people.

What can I do, and how can I overcome this fear of praying for other people?

Have you ever read how people in the Bible pray? Here was Jacob's first prayer. Even though it was his first, it was a PERFECT prayer.

Genesis 32:6-12

6 After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported,

[Believer1997]

I've only been saved for a short time now, and I have always struggled with praying for other people. I simply cannot come up with the words to say in prayer!

I know that prayer is simply talking to God in my own way, but I've never been a good conversationalist at all, so I just don't know what to say.

My pastor told me that it is Ok to just pray for people silently, but I just don't feel right doing that.

This has greatly limited my Christian growth, and I know how dissappointed God must be in me because of this.

It greatly distresses me, and makes me feel so very jealous of other Christians who pray such beautiful prayers, even if they are short and simple prayers.

I've even tried memorizing prayers for certain occassions like when someone is sick....but then when the time comes to pray for someone, I panic and totally forget.

Over the last couple of years, I've totally avoided praying for people unless they ask me to, and after they do it once, they sure don't do it anymore! LOL

I'm so scared about this, because praying for people's needs is a huge part of living a Christian life-so I don't know what to do!

And yes, I already know that praying is nothing more than talking to God, but I'm not a good conversationalist anyway, so I struggle even with talking to other people.

What can I do, and how can I overcome this fear of praying for other people?

There are Christians who are so eloquent and seem so easily to say all the right things and pray in a way that seems to reach the very eaves of heaven. I enjoy hearing their prayers and I feel uplifted and blessed by them. I have a friend who is a beautiful Christian and she has Down's Syndrome. Her face is radiant in His Grace. Her prayers are simple and come from the largest heart I know. I remember being at the depths of a serious depression after losing someone I loved and she came to my bedside and curled up next to me and she put her hands on my face and said "God, please love our sissy now - she hurt inside and fix her heart God". That honest, sweet prayer meant more to me than any I had heard or could have prayed myself. Sometimes - we need to hear simple words because those are the ones that our hearts can understand when our minds are in such a state of confusion. Peace be with you.