Other people praying for you

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
MsMediator

MsMediator

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2022
1,396
990
113
In the event of a misfortune, some people have an entire army of people praying for them (i.e, huge family, friends, friends of friends, church, etc.), whereas others may not have anyone praying for them (i.e., no family or friends, does not/unable to attend church perhaps due to disability, etc.). Assuming both individuals are praying equally with the same fervor, is the lonely person's misfortune less likely to be resolved by God because no one or not many people are praying for him?
 
MsMediator said:
In the event of a misfortune, some people have an entire army of people praying for them (i.e, huge family, friends, friends of friends, church, etc.), whereas others may not have anyone praying for them (i.e., no family or friends, does not/unable to attend church perhaps due to disability, etc.). Assuming both individuals are praying equally with the same fervor, is the lonely person's misfortune less likely to be resolved by God because no one or not many people are praying for him?
Click to expand...
That's an interesting and important question.

Are both people praying with the same degree and breadth of understanding? People can pray fervently, "Lord, please help me" but be unaware of spiritual things that are blocking the prayer or the response. Having many people praying raises the likelihood that the unseen things are getting addressed. God didn't intend His saints to live in isolation, and this is part of the reason why.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says,

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

and Psalm 68:6 says, "God sets the lonely in families".

Hebrews 10 puts it this way:

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

For those who are unable to gather for some reason, believers are called upon to reach out and include them. Jesus touches on this in Matthew 23 and 25.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MsMediator
KJV; James 5:16-20

{5:16} Confess [your] faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
{5:17} Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are,
and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained
not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
{5:18} And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and
the earth brought forth her fruit. {5:19} Brethren, if any of
you do err from the truth, and one convert him; {5:20} Let
him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the
error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide
a multitude of sins.
 
Dino246 said:
That's an interesting and important question.

Are both people praying with the same degree and breadth of understanding? People can pray fervently, "Lord, please help me" but be unaware of spiritual things that are blocking the prayer or the response. Having many people praying raises the likelihood that the unseen things are getting addressed. God didn't intend His saints to live in isolation, and this is part of the reason why.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says,

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

and Psalm 68:6 says, "God sets the lonely in families".

Hebrews 10 puts it this way:

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

For those who are unable to gather for some reason, believers are called upon to reach out and include them. Jesus touches on this in Matthew 23 and 25.
Click to expand...

Yes, in this scenario both people are equal in that sense with the same degree and breadth of understanding. I think the reality is some people do not have anyone praying for them for whatever reason in a substantial way (extreme scenario, most everyone they know are nonbelievers). There is a difference between someone praying for you as part of a big group, versus someone consistently praying for you. Recently, I was involved with this dilemma where a woman asked other women to pray for her husband over an addiction, and these women thought she should pray for her own husband and that they do not have endless time to pray for everyone's husband (i.e., the wife is responsible for praying for her husband, not other women). This is just one type of example, but I do think it is reality that many people even if they are part of a church do not have anyone praying for them in a significant/heartfelt way due to level of the relationship and time constraints. My view, is that such a person would not be disadvantaged by God even though he don't have a lot of people praying for him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2ndTimeIsTheCharm and Dino246
MsMediator said:
In the event of a misfortune, some people have an entire army of people praying for them (i.e, huge family, friends, friends of friends, church, etc.), whereas others may not have anyone praying for them (i.e., no family or friends, does not/unable to attend church perhaps due to disability, etc.). Assuming both individuals are praying equally with the same fervor, is the lonely person's misfortune less likely to be resolved by God because no one or not many people are praying for him?
Click to expand...

It’s a great question. The interesting thing is, God is moved by faith. Whether alone or in company. God created us for community and we do need each other, however, there are seasons people go through where they find themselves alone. To say the lonely person is less likely to be resolved doesn’t fit scripture. Yes, Two or more are gathered in His name, He’s there. 1 chases a thousand, 2 ten thousand. But we have to be careful to not create theology based on a few passages. The Bible also says He is a Redeemer, a Restorer, He gathers the broken hearted, He’s close to those who are abandoned or forgotten. There are so many scriptures showing God is with those in need. We should ALWAYS remember, Jesus left the 99 to find the 1. In my experience, I have seen an army of people who rarely pray as a lifestyle or connect with God at all, yet in times of crises they all come together and pray for someone who is in an emergency, and nothing happens. I have seen 1 person’s prayer give the biggest breakthroughs ever for someone in crises. The difference is that 1 person consistently sought God, worshiped, read the word, and prayed for others all the time and not just himself. Where the army of people went to church Sunday, but their lifestyle had a big void of Jesus. Personal relationship with God is the main thing. Is praying in a group important? Make sure you have the right people. Praying with Pharisees are different than praying with a converted tax collector. Just got to seek God and find His peace. Until then, don’t stop seeking Him. 🙏
 
  • Like
Reactions: MsMediator
MsMediator said:
In the event of a misfortune, some people have an entire army of people praying for them (i.e, huge family, friends, friends of friends, church, etc.), whereas others may not have anyone praying for them (i.e., no family or friends, does not/unable to attend church perhaps due to disability, etc.). Assuming both individuals are praying equally with the same fervor, is the lonely person's misfortune less likely to be resolved by God because no one or not many people are praying for him?
Click to expand...
Interesting question...

There is also whether God will answer a prayer for one, but does not want to answer that prayer for another, because it would wind up being detrimental... And whether somebody prays so hard for something that God gives it to him anyway, even though it will not be the best thing for his life. (I've been there.)

But that's all beside the point. You're asking this question with the assumption that ALL else is equal. They both need the prayer answered equally, it will be beneficial to both their lives equally, etc. and the only difference between the situations is how many people are praying for each person.

I dunno. And that's a long post just to say I dunno. But it IS an interesting question. I'll start thinking about it while I'm at w*rk today and see if anything comes to mind.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MsMediator
@Lynx

KJV Luke 18:12-14

{18:12} I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I
possess. {18:13} And the publican, standing afar off, would
not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote
upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
{18:14} I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth
himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall
be exalted.
 
MsMediator said:
In the event of a misfortune, some people have an entire army of people praying for them (i.e, huge family, friends, friends of friends, church, etc.), whereas others may not have anyone praying for them (i.e., no family or friends, does not/unable to attend church perhaps due to disability, etc.). Assuming both individuals are praying equally with the same fervor, is the lonely person's misfortune less likely to be resolved by God because no one or not many people are praying for him?
Click to expand...

When asking for Prayer its wise (for me) to get those that know faith. Its not the number of people praying that gets GOD to hear. Not about prayer.... this man of GOD was in this city over seas and God told him to go do something.. share I think it was. He said lord I can't no. He told the lord 3 time no and the lord said "I don't have anyone else here". We forget.... we might be the only Jesus some will get to see.

As for pray... I can't pray for all but where I stop someone else picks up.. all over the world someone IS praying for you. They are never alone.. to have the king of kings lord of lords with you.. never leave you never forsake you. Yeah... if only they could see in the Spirit.. be shocked. Sometimes getting believers to pray yet don't know how.. not praying His word ..it can get really confusing.
 
@Blade yes you are right. Don't matter how many people you bring with you, God is going to do what he is going to do.

When your prayers line up with God's will, he will give it to you.

But, Jesus said we really don't have to even ask really, because God already knows. Just forgive those who trespass against you.
But to add with that, Jesus did say to pray for all things. There is something I might not understand correctly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back