Do You Really Pray For Others When You Say You Will?

[quieth3art]

I have an almost continuing conversation going with God all day long, kind of like He's looking over my shoulder at everything that I do. So, if someone asks me to pray for them, I'll say, "God, You know what this person needs, right?"

In my nightly prayers I simply ask God to look out for all of those He knows are in need. I have a terrible memory for names, but I know He doesn't. He knows what and who has been going through my life all day.

I have deep faith that God works all things for good, even if what is happening at the moment seems/feels/is terrible. I almost feel that asking God to change something is like asking Him to change His plans or that I am assuming He's forgotten someone and we all know God never forgets any little thing. So, mostly, I try to confine my real prayer time to thanking God for working His will in our lives.

~L

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God....

[Guest lovinghim4ever]

I have been praying for the men on Mt. Hood,a nd was saddened by the fact they found one of them dead a few days ago.

Me too!

[Marnie]

Do I scripture refs.....no.

But the way I look at it is if you're not praying from the heart, why pray at all?

God knows the heart and if the heart's not in it, He knows that. What you're basically doing is giving lip service and nothing else. If I can't be sincere about what I'm praying about, why waste the time?

I know that sounds harsh, but it's the way I feel. It's either 100% or nothing. It's like being a little pregnant...you either are or you're not.

I take my prayer's very serious. I never pray for things....for myself or others. All my prayer's have to do with things that are spiritual in nature.

When I do pray for others, it is their spiritual needs that I ask the Father to look into...the same goes for myself.

It has nothing to do with how you look at it. What does the Bible say?

Pray without ceasing.--1 Thes. 5:17

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.--2 Tim 1:3

Nobody, not even Paul was in the mood to pray 100% of the time. Yet he prayed "without ceasing." There is such a thing as simply being obedient to what the word says. Your view, praying when you "feel" like it, has no basis Scripture. Basically what you are doing is approaching God on your terms, not His. Unless He has given you a special revelation apart from the rest of us.

Also, we are, in fact, told to pray for things, not just people.

Give us this day our daily bread.--Mat. 6:11

What you have said doesn't sound harsh, it sounds misinformed and arrogant.

[other one]

Confession is good for the soul, so here goes my confession . . .

I have often been guilty of not praying for someone when I said I would. I would get so wrapped up with other stuff that I would forget to pray for those I said I'd pray for. I tried making a list, but that didn't work. I would lose it and couldn't remember what I had written on it. Then, MY forgetfulness would make me wonder if others forgot to pray for me when I asked them to.

Now when someone asks me to pray I pray right then; even if it's just a quick prayer or a silent prayer. God doesn't care about the length or the volume of our prayers. He cares about our sincerity when praying. So, I keep my word by praying right away.

When I read a prayer request on these boards I pray while I'm reading or at least before I reply. That way my reply is honest and sincere.

Okay, I'm curious. Has anyone else ever experienced this, or am I the only one?

Not in a really really long time.

[Shy Christian]

I do it right away or I will forget, too.

[EricH]

I am like Marnie. I send up an immediate short prayer, then pray more later if it comes to mind

[Guest man]

Also, we are, in fact, told to pray for things, not just people.

Give us this day our daily bread.--Mat. 6:11

What you have said doesn't sound harsh, it sounds misinformed and arrogant.

Our daily bread is the Word of God. The Word of God is not a thing.

The things I say may sound arrogant but I am by no means misinformed. If I was, my prayers would not be answered.

And He does answer many of them, not all, but most.

So you can think what you will, it doesn't matter. I know what I'm doing....more then most.

[Guest man]

I have an almost continuing conversation going with God all day long, kind of like He's looking over my shoulder at everything that I do. So, if someone asks me to pray for them, I'll say, "God, You know what this person needs, right?"

I tend to do this a lot.

I am fully aware that He is always there. I talk to Him off and on all day long. I talk to Him more then I do anyone else.

[ted]

I've adopted a method that I heard about from somewhere down the line.

Basically, if someone asks me to pray for them, or if they ask about being put on a prayer list, I grab their hand and say "ok, why not right now?"- and then say the prayer right then. That way, I don't forget, and it also sometimes shows people that we can give our prayers to God whenever the need arises. No need to wait!

I will also continue in prayer later, as needed.

t.