A Lack of Prayer

[Ray12614]

Ok . . . So I am going to publicly expose an failure in my Christian life that I have recently revealed to me by the Holy Spirit . . . Namely an lack of prayer for other people, for my pastor(s), and generally all types of prayer including intercession.

I have been an elder for many years, and in various leadership capacities, and have served the body of Christ by doing various things that an leader and servant would and should do.  Yet . . . many times people I love . . . especially pastors I have left 'exposed' due to my lack of intercession for them and other people in the churches I have been a part of over the years. Frankly, IF I had been attentive to pray as the Spirit asked me to do over the years there would have been less calamity and heart ache for people I loved dearly. I hereby publicly repent of that failure in my life, as I have repented to God for not covering people in prayer and intercession.

This also includes praying for my country and those that were elected in our republic of states. Even IF some of us are unwilling to become involved in political processes and prefer to let the enemy steal our input into government, that does in no way let us off the hook of praying for our elected leaders. Enough said about that less this new thread is turned into an 'O how I hate Trump' thread.

My point is this; Since I have learned how to take prayer more seriously, and have answered the call to pray for all men as scripture commands us to do I now see areas of prayer that I never saw before, which is, as I see it,  a good thing.

So . . . how about you ? ? ? Has this happened to anybody else on Worthy

[Sower]

39 minutes ago, Ray12614 said:

My point is this; Since I have learned how to take prayer more seriously, and have answered the call to pray for all men as scripture commands us to do I now see areas of prayer that I never saw before, which is, as I see it,  a good thing.

So . . . how about you ? ? ? Has this happened to anybody else on Worthy

I often may find myself in a talk/prayer with God that others may seem at an inappropriate time.
Then in my mind I justify it thinking on what God says, Pray without ceasing. Take every thought captive.
The only way I can rid myself of ill thoughts towards someone that offended me is to pray for them. It works.
The older I get the more I depend upon God and the more the conversations.
When contemplating questions in the things/situations in my mind  it's the word I have hid in my heart that answers.

Old age genders a thankfulness and gratitude for what's still working in this old tent.
This, for me, creates an awareness of those less fortunate and inspiration to intercede for them. 
And I think on the fact everybody is fighting battles (like my own)  I know nothing of. 
This also works to generate empathy for prayer of needs unknown.

 

           Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. 

                         The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Thanks Ray.
 

[Ogner]

I pray for people constantly.  I even included a prayer for people in my signature

1 hour ago, Ray12614 said:

Namely an lack of prayer for other people,

 I pray for people constantly. I even included a prayer for people in my signature. 

I have an expanded version of a prayer based on the Bible (Matt. 6 and 7; Luke 11) (Ps. 108 and 138) (Jer. 18:21-23; Lam. 3:64-66). It’s a pity I can’t show you my favorite daily prayer.

[ayin jade]

8 hours ago, Ogner said:

I pray for people constantly.  I even included a prayer for people in my signature

 

Since you  brought it up, I think your sig line prayer is not good. You are essentially praying for calamity for others. We are to forgive others, not harbor ill will. It seems you have bitterness in you. I know it is difficult to let go of anger towards others but it needs to be done. 

The hardest thing Ive had to do is pray for (not against) the man who murdered my brother in law.

You should be praying for the salvation of those who hurt you. 

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, ayin jade said:

Since you  brought it up, I think your sig line prayer is not good. You are essentially praying for calamity for others. We are to forgive others, not harbor ill will. It seems you have bitterness in you. I know it is difficult to let go of anger towards others but it needs to be done. 

The hardest thing Ive had to do is pray for (not against) the man who murdered my brother in law.

You should be praying for the salvation of those who hurt you. 

Good call, @ayin jade This is why we have Oversight Ministers. I've edited some of Ogner's Signature. It's still a bit petulant, but an improvement. May God bless us all with wisdom and insight as we fellowship in the love of Christ for His Ekklesia.

[In the Clouds]

Prayer brings blessed reassurance that the Lord is always present and He hears me, really hears me and my petitions and Thanksgiving.  It makes for a contentment of resting in the Spirit/spirit. Praying for others is very healing and an act of love.  Love God, love others.

[AnOrangeCat]

12 hours ago, Sower said:

I often may find myself in a talk/prayer with God that others may seem at an inappropriate time.
Then in my mind I justify it thinking on what God says, Pray without ceasing. Take every thought captive.
The only way I can rid myself of ill thoughts towards someone that offended me is to pray for them. It works.
The older I get the more I depend upon God and the more the conversations.
When contemplating questions in the things/situations in my mind  it's the word I have hid in my heart that answers.

Old age genders a thankfulness and gratitude for what's still working in this old tent.
This, for me, creates an awareness of those less fortunate and inspiration to intercede for them. 
And I think on the fact everybody is fighting battles (like my own)  I know nothing of. 
This also works to generate empathy for prayer of needs unknown.

I quite like this. I've sometimes done the seemingly inappropriate time thing but hadn't considered praying without ceasing. Makes me feel a little better about it looking at it from that angle. Regarding captivity I've found deliberately praying for people I don't like to be a form of that, as well as a form of submission to forgive our enemies. I certainly don't feel it, but similar to you I've found that it does create an important awareness.

I view prayer as communication, so throughout the course of the day I find myself thanking God for various things. This also goes toward creating an awareness of how we've been blessed. I grew up in an environment that taught setting aside a chunk of time daily for prayer. I've come to prefer short but frequent bursts as things in my day bring my heart and mind to God. Both are valid approaches IMO, the latter just works better for me.

[D. Adrien]

I'm conflicted about praying for world leaders. I do pray that they strive for cooperation and not competition and not be warmongers. But also praying that God's will be done is perhaps opposed to some of them not being warmongers. God does use some leaders to punish nations. 

[Ogner]

11 hours ago, ayin jade said:

Since you brought it up, I think your sig line prayer is not good. You are essentially praying for calamity for others. We are to forgive others, not harbor ill will. It seems you have bitterness in you. I know it is difficult to let go of anger towards others but it needs to be done.

The hardest thing Ive had to do is pray for (not against) the man who murdered my brother in law.

Вы должны молиться о спасении тех, кто причинил вам боль.

Biblical Foundation
Dear ayin jade, thank you for your thoughts, but let me clarify my stance with Scripture. In Revelation 6:10, the saints cry out to God: "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 

Likewise, the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:19 says: "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord." My prayer isn’t a curse born of spite—it’s a plea for God to execute His judgment, which is entirely in line with Christianity. As for forgiveness, the Bible doesn’t demand we forgive those who don’t repent or ask for it—Jesus forgave the repentant (Luke 17:3-4) but condemned unrepentant hypocrites (Matthew 23). I leave judgment to God, not to myself.

The Dictatorship of Suffocating Love
Secondly, I’ve noticed that modern Christian circles have established a sort of dictatorship of "suffocating love." Natural human emotions—self-respect, a thirst for justice, anger against evil, the drive to defend one’s interests or dignity—are practically treated as forbidden, almost like breaking some unspoken code. If you don’t constantly smile and radiate endless kindness, you’re accused of "bitterness" or "lacking love." It feels like if these people had the power, they’d burn alive anyone who dared to express anything short of blind love. Thank God they can’t, but the pressure is still there. Human nature is being suppressed for the sake of an artificial utopia where real emotions have no place.

 Masculinity as "Toxicity"
Lastly, in the West, even basic masculinity is now branded as "toxic." "Masculinity isn’t a threat—it’s the foundation of order; a man must be strong to protect his family and society." Dircumstances demand that men be protectors—soldiers, police officers, heads of households. Yet this "dictatorship of suffocating love" deems any display of strength or displeasure a sin, even a prayer for justice to God—which is absurd to the highest degree. As a result, Western society has descended into schizophrenia: men are expected to defend against evil, yet told there’s no such thing as evil, that we must love and forgive everyone preemptively, even without their repentance. Lack of love has practically become a crime. The choice is stark: either a weak, effeminate pushover or "toxic masculinity" that’s condemned and punished. This is a utopia that’s destroying what it means to be human.

[Ray12614]

5 hours ago, D. Adrien said:

I'm conflicted about praying for world leaders. I do pray that they strive for cooperation and not competition and not be warmongers. But also praying that God's will be done is perhaps opposed to some of them not being warmongers. God does use some leaders to punish nations. 

I understand you being conflicted. We have been taught in western culture that we should stay out of politics and world governmental affairs, which essentially has 'neutered' the church so we are no longer influencing the world governments around us. Some say 'Well if we get the culture around us saved, then government will inevitably be changed' That is true, however at the same time we need to ask ourselves how that is working for us. Is it God's fault? Obviously NO! So we must not be going into 'All' the world including our various governments. For countries who are dominated by dictators, then we need to pray for those leaders knowing that God can go where we cannot.

Also, My understanding is that we need to be specific regarding what we are praying for, otherwise we could just pray an general prayer to 'Bless all the hurting children, and save all the people of the world' and we would be done . . . right?

Just asking questions