Is this thinking wrong or sinful?

I think it is strange that you would think that someone might need to be punished or be sick. But if you don't want to get punished or be sick I don't think you should be praying for that to happen.

I think what you're referring to is intercession, or interceding on someone's behalf. I've heard it done before, but it should be with the right motive and with purity of heart.

CanIHunt said:

I read a sad story about children that were sick and prayed to ask God to watch over them. I found myself saying, "if someone needs to be punished or sick, have it be me and not them". Of course I would rather not be punished or sick and I know that Jesus took the punishment for our sins.

Is it wrong to think like this? I don't want to anger God and get myself sick or punished because I prayed wrong or thought wrong about this. Obviously I would like myself and the children not to be sick!

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

Brother, such a mind set is not only honorable, it is scriptural. Do you remember in Romans 9 when Paul mentioned his kinsmen, the Jews. He said he would rather be accursed if it meant they came to Christ.

The mind you describe is a mind touched and influenced by God.

Blessings,

Gideon

Hello =) I agree with gideons300.


Romans 9

King James Version (KJV)


1 I say the truth in Christ,
I lie not,
my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren,
my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites;
to whom pertaineth the adoption,
and the glory,
and the covenants,
and the giving of the law,
and the service of God,
and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers,
and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came,
who is over all,
God blessed for ever.
Amen.


Also, parents also say that instantaneously when something horrible happens to their kid. "God, why them and not me? Take me and not them. Let me suffer and not them." Very common words with parents of a child with a terminal illness or catastrophic injury.

God bless =)
ragamuffin love

i think we pray that the lord .." in us "take it from them to put it upon the cross ..not on us .
be wise in what you pray. God answers prayers .
my good wife was so concerned about the rashes on new baby last year she cried to the lord that he give it to her instead ..such was her mothers heart .. our baby was healed and a rash broke out all over my wifes arms .. i kid you not .
she was overseas when this took place . when she returned and showed me the rash and told what happened .i did all i could do ..i prayed "as a husband" .. and the lord healed her also .. {if a wife makes a deal without consulting her husband ,a husband can cancel that deal ..its a biblical precept and God honors his own word above all else ..thats what came to my mind when it all happened }
some may think that is a strange tale .. but think how much her faith in God to answer prayer has increased

read "Reece Howells intercessor " he taught (and practiced ) the principles of faith in intercession and the precepts of identifying with the suffering of those you pray for .

CanIHunt said:

I read a sad story about children that were sick and prayed to ask God to watch over them. I found myself saying, "if someone needs to be punished or sick, have it be me and not them". Of course I would rather not be punished or sick and I know that Jesus took the punishment for our sins.

Is it wrong to think like this? I don't want to anger God and get myself sick or punished because I prayed wrong or thought wrong about this. Obviously I would like myself and the children not to be sick!

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

You did nothing wrong, in fact by saying "that should be me" Let this child's sickness come upon me. As Christians who follow Christ, we want to be like Jesus in that we want to take other's punishments, sicknesses, diseases, sin upon ourselves, like Christ wanted to do and did for us, so you were being "Christlike" in your desire/wish. Wanting to take others suffering upon ourselves...

God Bless!