Hello Everyone,
This is something that's been on my mind for a while. I'm posting this in the Singles Forum because we are always told we should be "Using Our Singleness for the Glory of the Lord", and I know many of us do. I love reading the stories here from our dedicated family of singles who are very passionate about the ministries and talents they use to help others, whether it be face-painting to traveling the world serving the poor.
First of all, I am NOT trying to say that ANY prayer is a waste of time, as I believe God hears and considers ALL prayers made in sincere faith. However, I've heard some criticism that many people "just don't know how to pray right" and that "they are basically wasting their (and God's) time." Is this true? Is there a way that we can make our prayers more efficient?
When we pray... What and how should we be praying? Here are some examples:
1. If our heart has a burden for children, what's the best approach? Do you pray, "God, save the children," as a generic catch-all prayer, or do you pray for something specific, or for a specific child? The reason I ask is because of a situation that made me so distraught that I simply prayed, "God, please don't let another child be hit or abused tonight." But it's a very naive prayer, don't you think? More along the lines of magical thinking than being real. I used to drive to work very early in the morning, looking out at my neighborhood and wondering how many acts of domestic violence had just occurred the night before. What should we be praying in such a situation?
2. Are "wide-net" prayers such as "God bless our troops" the best thing to pray, or should we be praying for something specific? In particular, I'm thinking of a young co-worker who was killed during his tour not long after he had gotten married. What would God have wanted us to pray for him in the anticipation of that situation? I know we had no way of knowing, but were all the prayers we sent up for his safety "a waste of time"? Should we have instead been praying for the strength and comfort of his wife and families?
And now as I think about the thousands of other soldiers who guard our freedom every day, what, exactly, should one be praying? That God would end the wars? That everyone would be called home? That they will have the strength to get through and return to civilian life, even if means returning without a limb or full mental capacity? That the families of those who do not return will be able to carry on?
3. Since we have no way of knowing what will happen, should we bypass the specifics altogether, and just pray the "Trusty, Catch-All" prayer of, "Lord, let your will be done?" And of course, this can apply to ANY situation, whether praying for family, church, world events, mission, or personal needs (including the prayer for a Godly husband or wife to be sent our way.)
I admit that when I look out at the world, I feel so overwhelmed that in my prayer life I often revert back to my 5-year-old self: "Lord, please stop the killing/abuse/all the bad things in the world."
The Bible says we should have the faith of a child, but as adults, we know that's just not how it works.
Is there a way to streamline our prayers, or make them more "effective"? If so, what should we be praying?
As I said, I believe God hears and considers even the simplest, most generic prayer when prayed in faith and relationship with Him.
But as believers, do we have a responsibility to somehow make our prayers into "something more" than generic wishful thinking?
This is something that's been on my mind for a while. I'm posting this in the Singles Forum because we are always told we should be "Using Our Singleness for the Glory of the Lord", and I know many of us do. I love reading the stories here from our dedicated family of singles who are very passionate about the ministries and talents they use to help others, whether it be face-painting to traveling the world serving the poor.
First of all, I am NOT trying to say that ANY prayer is a waste of time, as I believe God hears and considers ALL prayers made in sincere faith. However, I've heard some criticism that many people "just don't know how to pray right" and that "they are basically wasting their (and God's) time." Is this true? Is there a way that we can make our prayers more efficient?
When we pray... What and how should we be praying? Here are some examples:
1. If our heart has a burden for children, what's the best approach? Do you pray, "God, save the children," as a generic catch-all prayer, or do you pray for something specific, or for a specific child? The reason I ask is because of a situation that made me so distraught that I simply prayed, "God, please don't let another child be hit or abused tonight." But it's a very naive prayer, don't you think? More along the lines of magical thinking than being real. I used to drive to work very early in the morning, looking out at my neighborhood and wondering how many acts of domestic violence had just occurred the night before. What should we be praying in such a situation?
2. Are "wide-net" prayers such as "God bless our troops" the best thing to pray, or should we be praying for something specific? In particular, I'm thinking of a young co-worker who was killed during his tour not long after he had gotten married. What would God have wanted us to pray for him in the anticipation of that situation? I know we had no way of knowing, but were all the prayers we sent up for his safety "a waste of time"? Should we have instead been praying for the strength and comfort of his wife and families?
And now as I think about the thousands of other soldiers who guard our freedom every day, what, exactly, should one be praying? That God would end the wars? That everyone would be called home? That they will have the strength to get through and return to civilian life, even if means returning without a limb or full mental capacity? That the families of those who do not return will be able to carry on?
3. Since we have no way of knowing what will happen, should we bypass the specifics altogether, and just pray the "Trusty, Catch-All" prayer of, "Lord, let your will be done?" And of course, this can apply to ANY situation, whether praying for family, church, world events, mission, or personal needs (including the prayer for a Godly husband or wife to be sent our way.)
I admit that when I look out at the world, I feel so overwhelmed that in my prayer life I often revert back to my 5-year-old self: "Lord, please stop the killing/abuse/all the bad things in the world."
The Bible says we should have the faith of a child, but as adults, we know that's just not how it works.
Is there a way to streamline our prayers, or make them more "effective"? If so, what should we be praying?
As I said, I believe God hears and considers even the simplest, most generic prayer when prayed in faith and relationship with Him.
But as believers, do we have a responsibility to somehow make our prayers into "something more" than generic wishful thinking?