Is Physical Pain During Prayer Wrong?

heron · Sep 3, 2005

I feel an inner emotion that wells in me and seems to rest in my body, so I can sense what God is trying to accomplish without it being totally in my mind.

I can sense a burden, but I haven't noticed actual pain...it's much more in my spirit. I'm cautious of building any more than observation on something that's not mapped out in the Word...even though I believe there's much more out there than we know. It's worth sharing experiences, though.

IKTCA · Sep 3, 2005

Friend Heron, (I wish I could call you either Brother Heron or Sister Heron, though)

After reading your post, I realize the hidden danger of sharing experiences. In this instance, we may unknowingly give a false impression to some believers as if physical pain was the sign of assignment/anointing/calling. I thank you for bringing it up to our attention.

Rupert

heron · Sep 3, 2005

My caution comes from time spent with some unbelievably powerful spiritual warriors. Many times, they slipped into a pride or competition where they tried to get too deep into the mysteries of God, and forgot to use the Word as their plumb line. While trying to help people, they pushed others down and stifled their potential, insisting on clinging to elitist theories and carrying out warfare/healings on their own.

As iktca said, some might think they're doing something wrong if they're not feeling it. Prayer is useful in any situation, no matter what it feels like.

(sister) heron

Pac Shady · Sep 3, 2005

Sounds like burden bearing to me. I get it alot too, mainly emotionally. Funny thing is, I get it whether or not I'm praying for someone, I could just be walking around in town one day, and pass someone who is feeling suicidal, and I'll instantly feel their pain as my own, even without an exchange of words or even looks. Definitely comes in handy with prayer, I reckon it's a type of discernment, or knowledge or something, lets you pinpoint things to pray for you might not normally pick up on.

'Shady

heron · Sep 3, 2005

shady,
I think that's exactly what it's about--prayer--for me, anyway.

Grl4Christ987 · Sep 3, 2005

When I was interceding for my ex I literally felt a sharp pain go through my entire being...before hand I would only feel it in my tummy. I believe that to be that what we are standing in proxy for is actually coming to past.

In Christ,

Kimmie

honorthesabbath · Sep 3, 2005

FrankFaith said:
What about Jesus praying so hard that he sweat droplets of blood in the garden. Science says that that is a result of extreme stress...and something tells me he wasn't just praying prayers for himself... I think that that would definately qualify as intercessary prayer.

I don't know if we can call what Jesus was experiencing as "stress". Since the true meaning of stress is a lack of faith in God. Jesus had the weight of the world upon His shoulders--He was in fierce battle. Now if the OP had been, "Does anyone sweat blood like I do when I intercede in prayer", then perhaps I could better understand. But having a shooting pain rack ones body while in prayer just makes no sense to me. I have interceded many hours for loved ones and friends--agonizing prayer--and never experienced those "pains" you talk about. Perhaps this is just a "Pentecostal" thing.

honorthesabbath · Sep 3, 2005

iktca said:
Epaphras is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf so that you may stand mature and fully assured of everything htat God wills. (Colossians 4:12) (NRSV)

laboring fervently in prayers (NKJV)

To those who are called to pray for the church,
It is God's will that we pray in the Spirit. Let us encourage one another to pray diligently. Some labor proclaiming the gospel of Jesus, some by becoming a leaning shoulder for weak believers. But laboring in prayers is our share. Let us accept this calling with thanksgiving and praise. I enter your names in my prayer book. Also, remember me in your prayers.

Brother Hungree:
You knelt to pray and worship, but the headache stopped you. I suggest that you petition to the Lord to remove the headache so that you can pray and worship, for the inner urge came from above.
Rupert

"Wrestling and laboring" are not the same as feeling sharp physical pain rack the body. Let's be careful not to put into scripture that which ISN'T there.

heron · Sep 3, 2005

...could be gas pains from changing positions.

IKTCA · Sep 3, 2005

heron said:
...could be gas pains from changing positions.

I second that.

Pac Shady · Sep 4, 2005

honorthesabbath said:
I don't know if we can call what Jesus was experiencing as "stress". Since the true meaning of stress is a lack of faith in God. Jesus had the weight of the world upon His shoulders--He was in fierce battle. Now if the OP had been, "Does anyone sweat blood like I do when I intercede in prayer", then perhaps I could better understand. But having a shooting pain rack ones body while in prayer just makes no sense to me. I have interceded many hours for loved ones and friends--agonizing prayer--and never experienced those "pains" you talk about. Perhaps this is just a "Pentecostal" thing.

Should just point out, while stress is often caused by a lack of faith in God, it's not "by definition". After all, a bridge with 100 trucks driving over it stresses, is that because the bridge doesn't have enough faith in God?

Stress is a strain, a tension, caused by different factors. ut yes, it is often caused, in us humans, by a lack of faith. ut stress could also be caused by other factors, and faith does not necessarily come into it in all cases.

'Shady

heron · Sep 5, 2005

I didn't mean to undercut the conversation with my gas pain joke. It wasn't totally in humor, though...I used to have a gym teacher that gave us exercises for gas pains while running. People might even breathe more air in when they intercede. But continue, it's an important question to clarify and share experiences over.

Christina M · Sep 5, 2005

Pac Shady said:
Should just point out, while stress is often caused by a lack of faith in God, it's not "by definition". After all, a bridge with 100 trucks driving over it stresses, is that because the bridge doesn't have enough faith in God?

Stress is a strain, a tension, caused by different factors. ut yes, it is often caused, in us humans, by a lack of faith. ut stress could also be caused by other factors, and faith does not necessarily come into it in all cases.

'Shady

I heard the best definition of stress the other day!

Stress is caused by knowing what you should do and not doing it!

i.e. One is stressed because they are overweight. But they keep eating...saying "I know I SHOULD go on a diet, but I can't"

or

One is stressed because they don't have much money. But they keep spending too much....saying "I know I SHOULD stop spending so much, but I can't"

or

One is stressed because they are in a toxic relationship. But they stay in it....saying "I know I SHOULD do something about this, but I can't".

Pac Shady · Sep 5, 2005

Christina M said:
I heard the best definition of stress the other day!

Stress is caused by knowing what you should do and not doing it!

i.e. One is stressed because they are overweight. But they keep eating...saying "I know I SHOULD go on a diet, but I can't"

or

One is stressed because they don't have much money. But they keep spending too much....saying "I know I SHOULD stop spending so much, but I can't"

or

One is stressed because they are in a toxic relationship. But they stay in it....saying "I know I SHOULD do something about this, but I can't".

I like this one:

Stress is caused when one's mind overrides the body's basic desire to beat the living hell out of someone who desperately deserves it!

'Shady

Is Physical Pain During Prayer Wrong?

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