Hello, new here not sure if this is the right forum, regardless I had a quick question abut prayer. I am still kind of new to the christian way of life. Honestly I am still struggling with my faith more than I prefer to. Sometimes I feel as if we are living in the time before the flood and god has simply given up on fixing things or perhaps wishes for us to destroy ourselves and see the destruction in order to finally change. The world has so many things wrong that I feel as if the right is no longer able to shine.
Enough of that deep stuff, I am still very much trying to speak to the lord and learn to ask for help when I lack the strength or am incapable of facing something on my own. I still feel as if my prayers are based in ego and personal desire, more than actual goodwill. I will often pray for strength and health for my family, I will pray for the wandering souls shuffling around this planet with no direction or purpose, steeping in pain and misery due to their conditions and/or neglect. I will also pray for myself, I won't ask for material things or money or what have you (even though I want success and a good life). I will ask for wisdom, courage, and good health so I may carry on and lead a good life in his world he has created.
That's the problem though, I often feel as if I am praying simply for myself, even though I truly want the other things I ask for, I feel as if my subconscious is making me believe I want those things, so that I can trick god into thinking I'm righteous. I know that if god is omniscient, I am unable to trick him. And therefor I will never receive his help and grace because I am fundamentally flawed in that I am only out for myself.
TLDR: How does one truly pray for good things and not selfish things and have it be authentic in front of the lord himself?
Thanks for hearing me.
Enough of that deep stuff, I am still very much trying to speak to the lord and learn to ask for help when I lack the strength or am incapable of facing something on my own. I still feel as if my prayers are based in ego and personal desire, more than actual goodwill. I will often pray for strength and health for my family, I will pray for the wandering souls shuffling around this planet with no direction or purpose, steeping in pain and misery due to their conditions and/or neglect. I will also pray for myself, I won't ask for material things or money or what have you (even though I want success and a good life). I will ask for wisdom, courage, and good health so I may carry on and lead a good life in his world he has created.
That's the problem though, I often feel as if I am praying simply for myself, even though I truly want the other things I ask for, I feel as if my subconscious is making me believe I want those things, so that I can trick god into thinking I'm righteous. I know that if god is omniscient, I am unable to trick him. And therefor I will never receive his help and grace because I am fundamentally flawed in that I am only out for myself.
TLDR: How does one truly pray for good things and not selfish things and have it be authentic in front of the lord himself?
Thanks for hearing me.
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