P
Brother you are right it is wrong to ask for something that the Lord Himself has already promised to His believers. Your friends may be showing what is truely in their hearts. By asking the Lord to be with you when He has promised to be with us until the end of the age, is like calling the Lord a liar or to say that He does not have to power to complete and do what He says.
Don't forget not all that name the name of the Lord are not automatically His.
Where does my help come from?..it comes from the Lord. So taking a step of faith or calming a fear or trying to be the person God wants you to be in a situation and you say Lord be with me is wrong? We are to call upon the name of the Lord in any given matter that applies. I don't find that to be offensive at all. To ask the Lord to be with you is a mature relationship response...☺