I want to be less selfish

[Daily Miracle]

When I pray, my prayers tend to revolve around myself and the things I need. I keep trying to include prayers for others, but my reasons tend to be for my own good.

I pray for God to help me pray better...and again, that's about ME.

ME ME ME. I hate that!

I guess I don't know how to pray for others, or what their needs might be. When I consider praying about the war, after thinking about the families on both sides, the death, injuries, etc...the end result is a prayer for "world peace". That sounds so general to me, like I'm not praying sincerely, but generally.

I want to pray better, and even though I pray for my own needs, I'd be more satisfied with my prayers if I could be less selfish...or at least include the same number of prayers for others as I pray for myself.

How do you pray for yourself without letting God think you are the only person you think about?

 

[JesusInMyHeart]

-- we should pray for God to change everything, including us, if necessary -- so that God's will can be done, so that God's love can triumph, so that war, and neglect, and waste, and selfishness, and arrogance can be destroyed forever.

-- pray for what God wants. "Not my will, but thy will, be done, Lord..." That's one of the deepest, prayers there is. "Thy will be done..." was also Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. "I pray that you take this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, by thy will be done . . ." (Matthew 26:39)

-- pray for the things that are in your heart

-- It's OK to pray for our own needs, for the things we need every day.

-- pray for forgiveness, and for help to forgive.

-- pray for strength, to overcome temptation, and to be delivered from evil.

-- pray for others..that are in need of strength, direction, peace and God's love...etc and etc...

To pray for all those things, is to pray the way Jesus taught us.

 

[MeetJoeBlack]

Hi

Our Father in Heaven knows everything, He knows even your prayers before you say them. He knows your heart He knows you are not praying for yourself, so be glad

 

[Daily Miracle]

You hit the nail on the head with me. "God's will". Even though I have a strong committment to God, and I'm putting forth much effort, I'm still selfishly praying for what I want...the way I want it to happen. It seems that no matter how much I reword my prayers to God, the end result is that I still revolve them around me. I keep telling myself that He knows I'm trying to pray better for others.

I thank God and praise Him in my prayers, and many of my prayers are just for His glory without asking Him for anything. It's the other prayers that I'm struggling with. In my own thoughts, I want good for everyone, but in my prayers, I forget to be gracious to others. I'm not too selfish in character, and it's making me angry that I am selfish in my prayers.

 

[Lilly of the Valley]

A good idea is to as soon as you figure out you are focusing on yourself too much, immediatly pray for someone. Also, try to say a prayer here and there about someone. It doesn't have to be long. You can start with one person, then gradually increase it. Eventually, it will become a habit. Also, continue to ask the Lord to to help you. If you need, you can even hang the names of people you want to pray for around your home or put little reminders around your room or in your notebooks to remind you.

 

[Sketcher]

If you want to become less selfish in your prayer life, get to know someone else really well and ask God to show you what to pray for.

Some people I know have a "prayer board" in their rooms. It is a bulletin board with thier friend's pictures on it. And it serves as a reminder to pray for that person.

 

[Daily Miracle]

Thank you everyone. I really needed help to think outside the box on this one. I guess when this topic is on my mind, that should be my cue to think of others and say a prayer while it's on my mind.

 

[JesusInMyHeart]

Pray for others...

I also pray for people I do not know...If I'm walking down the street and pass a passerby...I ask for blessings and protection over them...Or if a friend calls and is feeling down or there are some problems, after I finish on the phone...I pray for them...Riding on the bus...there are always people getting on and off...I pray for them also...If family members call..and there is a need of prayer...I will pray for them...

As the Lord speaks to your heart to go in prayer for someone...pray as His Holy Spirit guides you...