Is praying too much a bad thing

[NINA84]

Hello!
This past year I truly met Christ in my life and I 've been spending a lot of time praying, and sometimes I don't feel like doing anything else, especially when I am on my own.
I work all day long from 8am to 7pm, and pray at least 5 times a day, when I'm back home I still have a lot of university work and papers to write, but I have deeper issues in my life in addition to career plans, and I really feel that I need to pray, I often spend all the evening talking to God. As a result my university work doesnt improve, and It's moreless procrastination, which is a sin.

Sometimes I even have to lie to my collegues about why I won't have lunch with them, because I feel the urge to hide away to be with the Lord or read the Bible and just have snack instead of having lunch with my team.
Doing so, I still sin because I don't want to share my faith at work, as I live in a very secular organisation where we are all scientifics, and I would lose my credibility.

So, do you think praying too much is wrong, in the sense that it can lead to a relative passivity, waiting for God's will in one's life.
I don't care anymore about power struggles at work, I don't want to fight to stay.

 

[Shulamite7]

If you have an urge to pray, then go ahead. It is a good thing. But then the Lord looks at the heart. Its not about praying Lord, Lord all the time but you should have the urge to please Him in all areas of your life. Also make sure you are not skipping your duties to others when you spend too much time in prayer alone. Faith and deeds go together.

If you love me you will keep my commandments. Thats what Jesus said.

Then also as christians aren't we called to witness to others about Jesus. Even though you are in a secular atmosphere you could try by witnessing to those who don't know about Jesus or the so called christians about how Jesus saved you from a dangerous situation. In your own way, however small, you can witness about God. Anything that you went through however big or small, you can make it known to them, and let them know how God has brought you out of that situation. Who knows, you might touch and change someone for the better with your true story.

 

[DADDY LOVES ME]

Hey

Can I ask if you pray in tongues?? When we receive the Holy Spirit and receive the gift of tongues, we can ask the Holy Spirit to pray for whatever it is that HE thinks we need, rather than us depending on our own thinking, desires, guilt etc to lead us in our prayer life. When we pray for what WE THINK we need, there are many times that this does not match GOD'S intention for us, which then leads to us thinking 'whats wrong with me! Why is God not answering my prayers!' However, when we pray in the Spirit, He is within us and knows what we really need, and can interceed for us, through us praying in tongues.

You say that you are from a scientific background, and there is a scientific experiment on youtube which you should find interesting and would someday 'back up' your faith to your colleagues. Its called ' medical study proves Holy Spirit praying'.

 

[dysert]

Hello!
This past year I truly met Christ in my life and I 've been spending a lot of time praying, and sometimes I don't feel like doing anything else, especially when I am on my own.
I work all day long from 8am to 7pm, and pray at least 5 times a day, when I'm back home I still have a lot of university work and papers to write, but I have deeper issues in my life in addition to career plans, and I really feel that I need to pray, I often spend all the evening talking to God. As a result my university work doesnt improve, and It's moreless procrastination, which is a sin.

Sometimes I even have to lie to my collegues about why I won't have lunch with them, because I feel the urge to hide away to be with the Lord or read the Bible and just have snack instead of having lunch with my team.
Doing so, I still sin because I don't want to share my faith at work, as I live in a very secular organisation where we are all scientifics, and I would lose my credibility.

So, do you think praying too much is wrong, in the sense that it can lead to a relative passivity, waiting for God's will in one's life.
I don't care anymore about power struggles at work, I don't want to fight to stay.

The Bible says to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17), so I don't think you can pray too much. However, you shouldn't be lying or shirking other commitments either. Since we're told to pray without ceasing, then obviously we have to be able to do that while also doing other things (eating, working, etc.). I have to conclude, therefore, that you can be in the spirit of prayer and also be having lunch with your friends or doing your schoolwork. Prayer doesn't always have to be out loud or happen only when you're alone. See if you can maintain a spirit of prayer even while engaged in other activities. I think this balance will be healthier.

 

[disciple1938]

what dysert said is pretty much correct. If you could pray too much then Jesus would be guilty because he never spoke or did anything without checking it out with the Father first.

 

[Peripatetic]

The only kind of praying that the Bible discourages is "babbling" (ie. praying with a lot of words in order to make the prayers more effective).

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." -Matthew 6:7

That said, prayer should not be used as an escape from other responsibilities or missing too many opportunities to love our neighbors. I find that I can fit quite a bit of daily prayer during down time, waiting in line, walking down the hallway, etc.

 

[insurchoftruth]

Praying too much is certainly bad for the flesh, and good for your heart or spirit. But we should be careful, not to allow our prayer time to prevent us from doing other things for God. Prayer must be the top priority for a christian' by the help of the Holy Spirit, without neglecting other duties and things we have to do for God.

We all stumble and let things come to us which prevent us to pray more, but by the help of the Holy Spirit, we can pray more.

 

[paul1149]

We can't pray too much, but we can pray amiss. James 4.3 tells us those prayers won't be rewarded because their motivation is our own pleasure. This is where conscience comes in(1Tim 1.5, 1.19, 3.9). We have to walk circumspectly and make sure all our bases are covered (Eph 5.15-17). The object isn't for us to feel good in prayer, although all else being equal that's awesome and to be desired. The object is to be doing the Father's will. Sometimes that's inner court stuff like praise and worship and thanksgiving and adoration. But sometimes we need to be in the outer court, where we minister to others, and where character is hammered out.

You're young in the Lord, and probably finding your way. It's great that you have such a desire to be with Him. Pursue Him with diligence, testing your motivations along the way, and He will keep you from falling and guide your steps to good success.

The disinterest in your circumstances may be something you need to deal with with the Lord's help. But it also may be a sign that there are adjustments that need to be made in terms of direction. As you wait on Him your way will be made clear, and I will pray it is so.

 

[asiyreh]

Define praying?

 

[dcb1101]

Never!