I'm tired of prayer times where we spend ore time discussing requests than we do praying. I'm tired of hearing things and vowing to pray for the in private. I'm tired of trying to micromanage a prayer life where I spend more time using my own thoughts to solve problems than I do waiting for the Holy Spirit's guidance.
I long for times where prayer is begun with no questioning or requesting time. I long for people and myself to be comfortable praying openly for things others don't know about. For the comfort to add onto those requests and for the time spent listening for your guidance in those situations. I hate spending 10 minutes asking questions to "best understand how to pray" only to give 4 sentences in prayer. I long for You to lead these times.
I long to be comfortable enough with people that my prayer times don't become interrupted, but instead become joined. I don't want to leave your presence to explain what I'm praying about, but want others to come into the room and feel drawn to pray without pause or explanation.
I long for communal spirituality instead of micromanaged spirituality. Allow me to focus key people around me into this idea, so we don't try and manage each other's needs but instead become communities seeking you and supporting each other.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
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2 comments:
I have been struggling lately with our prayer time during small group. When we go around the room asking for prayer requests, I find people praying for things that I don't believe should be prayed for. To me, they are asking God for what they want, not God's will. Now I realize that everybody does this to an extent, but what I notice is that people are praying for things that they feel is best, when I am sitting across the room disagreeing with what they want. How can we pray for somebody if we don't agree with their request? How should we treat these prayer requests? I feel that my heart is hardened not only to the requests, but to the people asking for this prayer, and I know that I shouldn't act that way. Any advice?
I understand your feelings, and can give you advice on what to do in that situation that might help it improve, but lets have that specific conversation in person as it will be more fruitful then.
A couple things i'll point out publically that might be beneficial for others to think about as they read though....
You said "i find people praying for things that i don't believe should be prayed for." I encourage all people to evaluate what they believe with scripture. Do you have a biblical reason for being annoyed with this prayer request or is it just bothering you?
Random other thoughts, Are we allowed/supposed/instructed to ask God just for His will, or can we ask for things we want?
Is there away, that is healthy and loving, in prayer, to pray for a person's request that you don't agree with?
What do you do when your heart is hardened towards a person?
jak, lets talk in person.
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