Persistence in Prayer for a mate.... OK or Not??

[newteech]

How do u think God feels about me constantly bugging Him to bring a wife into my life? I mean.... he knows my true needs.... and I want His will to predominate in my life.... so I wonder whether I should be continually praying for Him to find me a mate.

There's one example in scripture (sorry don't remember it exactly) where Jesus uses a parable of a woman coming to a judge on a constant basis. The judge finally grants the woman justice just because she's bugging him so much! Jesus uses this as an example to say persistence in prayer is cool --- but it seems like he may have been referring to persistence for justice. Persistance in prayer to end loneliness might simply be selfish on my part.

What do u think? Are there any better scriptures that will answer this for me?

 

[Living4Him03]

I'm not 100 percent sure on this one...I don't think anyone is, but I know that Jesus often prayed for God's will to be done. I have always thought we should pray for His will to be done above our own. When I pray for a husband I ask God to bless me with a husband if it is in His will and when it is His timing. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I think God likes for us to come to Him with our needs and desires and leave our burdens in His hands. I also pray that God will bring me a husband who I can serve Him with. I believe that God will honor that request. As for scriptures I will have to look for them. If I get a chance to find some scriptures I'll post them.

 

[invisiblebabe]

I see nothing wrong with persistently asking God for our desires..... of course, we have to accept that His wisdom always knows best and we may not always get what we want, when we want it...... but as for asking for a spouse... the Bible says itself that "he who finds a wife finds a good thing." And how 'bout Isaac and Rebekah? Isaac's servant was pretty picky as to who it'd be and the timing when he prayed for Isaac's wife

 

[TriptychR]

I typed in "praying for a wife" on Google to see if there were any good resources on that subject that included Scripture. I didn't really find any, but I did find this one post on a message board. It's a reply to an earlier post:

[font=trebuchet ms, Arial, Helvetica]Andy, I would like to second what Steve said. I have been in the same situation. Over the years I traveled the world looking for my wife. After many years of searching, I told the Lord Jesus Christ that I would do and give anything for a wife. The Lord then spoke to me in the Spirit and said why don’t you do the same for me? The desire for a wife became an idol in my life. After Jesus convicted me of my idolatry, I stated to give up my desire for a wife. After I gave up that idol, he showed me many more idols that had to be removed. A year after I gave up my last idol, I met my future wife. It took ten weeks from the time we met to the time I proposed. We were married six months later. Anybody who was there would testify it was one the most joyful weddings they ever attended. It was a marriage brought together by the Lord Jesus Christ. Andy, when you finally determine that whatever Jesus has for you right (single or married), then Jesus is free to move in your life to bless you. As Steve said, rejoice with what you have: The Lord Jesus Christ. CharlesLink: http://www.fishermen-net.org/_prayer_requests/000000a8.htm

I was going to reply to you completely gung-ho about praying for a wife, but this rattled me a little bit. We should definitely pray for mates, but we need to check ourselves and listen to make sure the request isn't filling our lives.
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[marduke]

I typed in "praying for a wife" on Google to see if there were any good resources on that subject that included Scripture. I didn't really find any, but I did find this one post on a message board. It's a reply to an earlier post:

[font=trebuchet ms, Arial, Helvetica]Andy, I would like to second what Steve said. I have been in the same situation. Over the years I traveled the world looking for my wife. After many years of searching, I told the Lord Jesus Christ that I would do and give anything for a wife. The Lord then spoke to me in the Spirit and said why don’t you do the same for me? The desire for a wife became an idol in my life. After Jesus convicted me of my idolatry, I stated to give up my desire for a wife. After I gave up that idol, he showed me many more idols that had to be removed. A year after I gave up my last idol, I met my future wife. It took ten weeks from the time we met to the time I proposed. We were married six months later. Anybody who was there would testify it was one the most joyful weddings they ever attended. It was a marriage brought together by the Lord Jesus Christ. Andy, when you finally determine that whatever Jesus has for you right (single or married), then Jesus is free to move in your life to bless you. As Steve said, rejoice with what you have: The Lord Jesus Christ. CharlesLink: http://www.fishermen-net.org/_prayer_requests/000000a8.htm

I was going to reply to you completely gung-ho about praying for a wife, but this rattled me a little bit. We should definitely pray for mates, but we need to check ourselves and listen to make sure the request isn't filling our lives.
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wow that is a good read, makes you think too.

 

[songz777]

Well it is Gods will that you should PRAY and PRAY PRAY and PRAY PRAY and PRAY PRAY and PRAY PRAY and PRAY until He kundely answers. Jesus said "men/woman should always pray and not give up" God expects you to pray and rattle that heavenly door with revernence and yet vigor. He wants to hear you say "I wont let go until you bless me" LIKE Jacob. He wants you to pray and pray so that He can refine your request, and have fellowship with you, and cause you to grow even more. Ive been praying for 2 decades, and through all my waiting I love the Lord eeply and wont give up. So keep on praying.

Bless you john

 

[invisiblebabe]

Amen to what TriptychR posted So long as we want intimacy with Christ more than we want intimacy with anyone else (although we ARE to desire intimacy with other people.... we are created to be relational beings), we are free to ask for our desires.

Although personally, I would like thing with my future husband and me to develop gradually... ten weeks from meeting til engagement would be a bit much for me

 

[Captain_Scott]

does not the bible say to be constantly patitioning prayer?

 

[mina]

I don't think it's wrong to continually ask God for things. Talking to God is never a bad thing. Just be sure that youare praying that God's will in this matter will be revealed to you as well. Marriage is a very important thing and it doesn't hurt to pray about it. Prayer in all things is a good thing.

 

[OhhJim]

I don't think it's wrong to pray and ask God for something. I do think that God is smarter than us, and knows what we need better than we do. I think we need to consider the possibility that we'd be better off single than married, even if we don't realize it. Sometimes, you know, God actually does know what He's doing!!

 

[seek2find]

God's your father, and just as any child, I think it's ok to let your wants be heard. I don't see it as a weakness or pestering God if I keep asking for something. If anything, that shows sincerity with your desire, and as TriptychR pointed out, just don't let that become your obsession. I pray for the Lord to keep my eyes and ears open, because sometimes if I want something very badly, I forget about other things I could be focusing my energy on. He knows you want a mate, so trust that he will know when the right time is.

 

[christiangal522]

I'm struggling with this same thing. If God already has an answer and doesn't think I am ready for my husband, why pray?? I mean, why be persistent about it if GOd's mind is already made up...why bother?
I know that prayer is important but if God's not going to be altered in his decision because his will is first, then what's the point of praying about it??

(I know this sounds like blasphemy but i'm just trying to figure it all out)

 

[KeilCoppes]

I'm struggling with this same thing. If God already has an answer and doesn't think I am ready for my husband, why pray?? I mean, why be persistent about it if GOd's mind is already made up...why bother?
I know that prayer is important but if God's not going to be altered in his decision because his will is first, then what's the point of praying about it??

Good question. A simple and yet profound answer - because God says so.

Many people have difficulties accepting that scripture addresses things from both divine and human perspectives. From the divine perspective God will do all His holy will. From a human perspective we are called to pray and to wrestle with God - not to get our own way, but to request His blessings. If we can't pray 'Thy will be done', then our will has become an idol.

Even Jesus prayed. Why was that, when He was God already and knew all things? Because He had a human nature as well. It is a mystery. And yet we know that He did and that even more, He taught us to pray. Why should we pray? Because our Lord says so.

Do we always get it or understand? No, but isn't that a lot of the point in obedience? To do things because our Lord calls us to and in faith? There are many things in life that we can't puzzle out, but when we obey God, then He is pleased in His own time to smile on us and bless us. When we don't obey, why should He?

Our goal is to pray to God in praise and to request things acceptable to His will that would glorify Him even more. All the way from "Hallowed be Thy Name", to "Thy will be done". Why pray? To deliver our petitions to our holy Lord who already knows them so that we glorify Him as He directed. And having opened the depths our hearts to Him in love, we can leave the ultimate end of things to Him, receiving that peace that passes our understanding as we work in obedience.

His will be done in heaven and on earth. For His is the kingdom and the power and the glory - and so we say amen. Walking forward in trust and obedience and not having to know _all_ the details of the future - that is the essence of faith.

 

[wvmtnkid]

I think we should also pray because even though God ultimately knows the outcome, sometimes it takes us, as humans, a while to accept that outcome. In praying, I may not change God's mind, but God sure works on me to change my heart and my mind. I think that is why it is important to pray "thy will be done." I can pray for something, but God could open my mind and heart up to other avenues that I might not have realized before praying. The more I pray and talk with Him, the more willing I am to go the way He has for me. So, what I started out praying for may not be what I ended up with, but I am even more blessed because I have been persistantly asking God for His will, which is so much better than anything I could have sought out for myself.