Feeling selfish

[Lom]

Hi everyone, recently when praying I find myself questioning whether I should even be praying for my own needs when there are so many other people around the world in desperate need of help and salvation, am I wrong to feel selfish? Has anyone else ever experienced this?

 

[ResidentAlien]

Hi everyone, recently when praying I find myself questioning whether I should even be praying for my own needs when there are so many other people around the world in desperate need of help and salvation, am I wrong to feel selfish? Has anyone else ever experienced this?

Yes, been there done that.

 

[seoulsearch]

Hi everyone, recently when praying I find myself questioning whether I should even be praying for my own needs when there are so many other people around the world in desperate need of help and salvation, am I wrong to feel selfish? Has anyone else ever experienced this?

Hi @Lom,

I can totally relate to this.

I was adopted as an infant and later as an adult, I went back to the orphanage I started in, and it was utterly heart-breaking. It got to a point where I would be thinking that to buy anything (a coffee, shoes, etc.) seemed wrong because it could be going to a hungry, needy child that I had seen with my own eyes and personally held in my own arms.

So I've asked God for many years to teach me the proper balance in my life. It's something I always struggle with, and I think He's been very faithful in doing so.

I have a certain amount budgeted for my old adoption agency that I'm at peace with, so I feel I'm doing what I can.

And God has taught me to pair my regular prayer time with things I have to do everyday anyway (like dishes,) so I have times where I can regularly pray for both myself and others. I feel that God specifically directs some of my prayer time to be for others I either really want to pray for or that He puts on my heart.

I think the Bible also has many good examples for us to follow of prominent Biblical people who prayed for their own needs. Hannah, Abraham, and many others prayed for sons; David often prayed over his own situations; Paul prayed for both himself and for others in times of dire need.

One thing I love about God is that yes, He is very concerned about others -- but He is just as concerned about us. While we are to pray, serve, and give, God does not want us to neglect ourselves, either (such as the command to rest, etc.)

I hope God will show you a balance for yourself as well! God cares about not just everyone around you, but also you as a person, and He ENCOURAGES us to go to Him with our every worry and concern:

"Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." -- 1 Peter 5:7

God bless you for how much you care about others!

I hope He will also reassure you that YOU matter to him as much as everyone else, and that He WANTS you to share your needs with Him anytime.

 

[Lom]

Hi @Lom,

I can totally relate to this.

I was adopted as an infant and later as an adult, I went back to the orphanage I started in, and it was utterly heart-breaking. It got to a point where I would be thinking that to buy anything (a coffee, shoes, etc.) seemed wrong because it could be going to a hungry, needy child that I had seen with my own eyes and personally held in my own arms.

So I've asked God for many years to teach me the proper balance in my life. It's something I always struggle with, and I think He's been very faithful in doing so.

I have a certain amount budgeted for my old adoption agency that I'm at peace with, so I feel I'm doing what I can.

And God has taught me to pair my regular prayer time with things I have to do everyday anyway (like dishes,) so I have times where I can regularly pray for both myself and others. I feel that God specifically directs some of my prayer time to be for others I either really want to pray for or that He puts on my heart.

I think the Bible also has many good examples for us to follow of prominent Biblical people who prayed for their own needs. Hannah, Abraham, and many others prayed for sons; David often prayed over his own situations; Paul prayed for both himself and for others in times of dire need.

One thing I love about God is that yes, He is very concerned about others -- but He is just as concerned about us. While we are to pray, serve, and give, God does not want us to neglect ourselves, either (such as the command to rest, etc.)

I hope God will show you a balance for yourself as well! God cares about not just everyone around you, but also you as a person, and He ENCOURAGES us to go to Him with our every worry and concern:

"Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." -- 1 Peter 5:7

God bless you for how much you care about others!

I hope He will also reassure you that YOU matter to him as much as everyone else, and that He WANTS you to share your needs with Him anytime.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, it was very thoughtful and has certainly given me a lot to think about. I’m learning every day and it’s very reassuring and helpful when I can see other Christians have navigated this path also. God bless you as well

 

[seoulsearch]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, it was very thoughtful and has certainly given me a lot to think about. I’m learning every day and it’s very reassuring and helpful when I can see other Christians have navigated this path also. God bless you as well

You are most definitely not alone!!

I'm glad you felt comfortable with sharing and know that we all have struggles with balance.

May God bless you in your walk, and please keep us posted on how it's going!

 

[NotmebutHim]

Hey OP,

This may sound Christian-platitudinal, but I try to listen to what the Holy Spirit brings to my mind to pray for.

Depending on what He reminds me of, I'll pray for myself, my family, people around the world, my friends, my coworkers, my fellow church members, etc. Many prayers are some combination of those things.

Romans 8 says that we don't always know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit searches our hearts and makes intercession for us. I believe God hears our prayers even when we can't put them into the proper words.

Having said all that, I totally understand that "selfish" feeling you're referring to.

 

[Lom]

Hey OP,

This may sound Christian-platitudinal, but I try to listen to what the Holy Spirit brings to my mind to pray for.

Depending on what He reminds me of, I'll pray for myself, my family, people around the world, my friends, my coworkers, my fellow church members, etc. Many prayers are some combination of those things.

Romans 8 says that we don't always know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit searches our hearts and makes intercession for us. I believe God hears our prayers even when we can't put them into the proper words.

Having said all that, I totally understand that "selfish" feeling you're referring to.

Thank you for your reply, this is very reassuring to me & I will make sure to read Romans tonight

 

[Lynx]

Hi everyone, recently when praying I find myself questioning whether I should even be praying for my own needs when there are so many other people around the world in desperate need of help and salvation, am I wrong to feel selfish? Has anyone else ever experienced this?

John 16:24 says until now you haven't asked for anything in my name. Ask so you can get, because I want your joy to be full. (NRLT - New Revised Lynx Translation)

 

[Lanolin]

Kind of
I've always been told I'm selfish by my mother and siblings for speaking up about my needs so when its kind of engrained in me, that I ought to be thankful for a roof over my head and food in my belly.

So in praying to God, it's enough to thank Him for all the blessings you've received, and also pray for those blessings to extend out to others. And He can help you do that (in practical ways) . You know you are blessed, someone must have prayed for you at least once to be saved and have help, so you can 'pay it forward' to pray for others.

If you go to the prayer forum, there's plenty of people who ask for prayers. Sometimes those needs are pressing, but God always manages to answer them at the right time.

Have you read the book of Job. It was only when Job prayed for his friends, God relented and helped him see that really Job had been blessed throughout his life, not because of what he did, but because of what God did to give him grace. Really Job was tested when he lost all his wealth, health and family, because he'd never known what it was like to be in need. Then God restored everything Job had taken away from him.

Jonah also prayed for others (in the whale) and God released him. Till Jonah found he wanted shade, that he could pray for his needs that God had already provided him previously, and that was what others could have. Something so basic you may take for granted, can be a lifeline for someone else. Really we don't need all that much, all we really need is His salvation and it He will deliver.

Oh and Jesus as well as praying for himself prayed for his disciples. He cared so much for them that he didn't want to lose them even after he had to go away and be crucified. (and resurrected)
So yea the more you pray for others, the more God can bless, and you will be blessed too.

 

[Lom]

Kind of
I've always been told I'm selfish by my mother and siblings for speaking up about my needs so when its kind of engrained in me, that I ought to be thankful for a roof over my head and food in my belly.

So in praying to God, it's enough to thank Him for all the blessings you've received, and also pray for those blessings to extend out to others. And He can help you do that (in practical ways) . You know you are blessed, someone must have prayed for you at least once to be saved and have help, so you can 'pay it forward' to pray for others.

If you go to the prayer forum, there's plenty of people who ask for prayers. Sometimes those needs are pressing, but God always manages to answer them at the right time.

Have you read the book of Job. It was only when Job prayed for his friends, God relented and helped him see that really Job had been blessed throughout his life, not because of what he did, but because of what God did to give him grace. Really Job was tested when he lost all his wealth, health and family, because he'd never known what it was like to be in need. Then God restored everything Job had taken away from him.

Jonah also prayed for others (in the whale) and God released him. Till Jonah found he wanted shade, that he could pray for his needs that God had already provided him previously, and that was what others could have. Something so basic you may take for granted, can be a lifeline for someone else. Really we don't need all that much, all we really need is His salvation and it He will deliver.

Oh and Jesus as well as praying for himself prayed for his disciples. He cared so much for them that he didn't want to lose them even after he had to go away and be crucified. (and resurrected)
So yea the more you pray for others, the more God can bless, and you will be blessed too.

Thank you for taking the time to reply & share your story along with some very good advice. What a joy it is that I have found like minded people that I can speak with