How many times?

[sandybillk]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question, so if I'm wrong, please let me know. Can someone explain to me how many times should you pray for something? Let me explain a little of the situation. My family is going through some very rough times. There is a pending legal issue whose outcome is critical to our future. My husband and I have both prayed for God's mercy and favor for a positive outcome. Due to the court systems being as they are, this could take months to resolve. If we continue to pray daily for God's hand to be placed in this case, are we showing lack of faith? I have placed this in God's hands....should I now stop praying about it? Can someone help me? I do trust God, but I can't seem to get any peace about this.

[other one]

I may be wrong, but I have always thought that the following verse would tell you to pray to him constantly. Don't know if we really need to badger Him about things, but we do need to talk to him about the thigs that are important and to do it daily.... actually all the time.

If it is bothering you maybe you could ask for some peace over it until it all comes out, for it sounds like you are a bit sensitive about it.

Luke 18:1-8

18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. 3 "And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' 4 "And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear me out.' "  6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" 

NASB

*praying for some peace of mind over your situation*

[Guest Fluffy the Cactus]

Be wary of vain repetitions. Besides that, if you've prayed about it, God has heard your request, and He will answer in His time. The answer may not be pleasing to you, but He will answer!

???

[Leonard]

Don't beware repetition; beware 'idle' or 'empty' repetition!

[Gerioke]

Praying to God for anything and everything shows Him that you are dependant on Him for everything. Above all , you should pray that God's will be done.

Edited June 8, 2005 by Saved by Grace

[yomotalking]

I have been praying for someone for a while.

God laid her on my heart.

I prayed. A lot.

But now, God told me to stop. (or I think He did)

So, I prayed until I

a) felt peace

b) felt God telling me to stop praying.

It tells us in the Bible to "Pray without ceasing"

Yomo

[Guest Obtuse Monkey]

I may be wrong, but I have always thought that the following verse would tell you to pray to him constantly.  Don't know if we really need to badger Him about things, but we do need to talk to him about the thigs that are important and to do it daily....  actually all the time.

If it is bothering you maybe you could ask for some peace over it until it all comes out, for it sounds like you are a bit sensitive about it.

Luke 18:1-8

18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. 3 "And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' 4 "And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear me out.' "  6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7 now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" 

NASB

*praying for some peace of mind over your situation*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This sounds like a good idea.

Visualising what you want the outcome to be may help. Importantly, don't forget to prepare for the worse case scenario if you can. The post by FogLight was pretty astute really, consider Job; in the end it's all down to a plan made by God which we can't comprehend.

It comes down to, just don't worry too much about it.

[Guest Zayit]

Continually praying for something is not vain repetitions, and example of vain repetitions to me would be ( and no offence to anyone) praying the rosery, that drives me nuts, and I can imagine how the L-RD sees this. Anyway, this verse might be of better help to you. Remember he already knows what you need before you even do. But asking him for it daily to me is like renewing your faith in Him, and also renewing your request. We are a fickle bunch and we can change, and he has given us the privilege to do so. So asking today for what you asked for yesterday , to me just lets him know that you still want that of Him.

Also by doing this you are coming to him day by day, for your daily needs but also bringing him your burdens, being dependant on Him, this is how he created us, to depend upon him every day for every thing. And doing this everyday, don't say the same thing like: L-rd I need help with this lawsuit thing" but instead, define exactly what you want ( in His will always for the best for everyone) and the thoughts that crossed your mind for that day regarding it, any new developments, things change day by day and you may be praying about the same subject but not in the same 'terms'.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10) These are 'present tense' verbs, not past tense.

You will see that each day your requests do change slightly, and also in doing this daily he can teach you things, show you that what you thought was so important to ask for in the beginning may not be, but something else may be.

Edited June 8, 2005 by Zayit

[Christ's Free Servant]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question, so if I'm wrong, please let me know.  Can someone explain to me how many times should you pray for something?  Let me explain a little of the situation.  My family is going through some very rough times.  There is a pending legal issue whose outcome is critical to our future.  My husband and I have both prayed for God's mercy and favor for a positive outcome.  Due to the court systems being as they are, this could take months to resolve.  If we continue to pray daily for God's hand to be placed in this case, are we showing lack of faith?  I have placed this in God's hands....should I now stop praying about it?  Can someone help me?  I do trust God, but I can't seem to get any peace about this.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd like to give two examples from scripture:

Luke 11:5-10: "Then he said to them,

[WayneB]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question, so if I'm wrong, please let me know. 

Bless you Sandy. You aren't wrong but to be safe...

I moved your question here to protect it from receiving responses from those who do not understand prayer and it's purpose. Only those who profess Jesus Christ can post in the Inner Court.

My advice? Pray without ceasing. [1 Thessalonians 5:17] Prayer is more about a relationship with our Lord and less about getting what we want . Be persistent because in doing so, we humble ourselves before God. Above all things, TRUST in God [Proverbs 3:5,6] and "know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." [Romans 8:28]

May God Bless you richly!

Wayne