Prayer for others vs. for self

[LovebirdsFlying]

I'll be the first one to admit I could be thinking incorrectly and speaking out of pain.

It seems that the Lord hears and answers when I pray for others, but not when I pray for myself. I've had an unspoken request weighing on my soul, to the point of sheer agonizing torture, for years now. I pray about it and pray about it and pray about it, and nothing has changed. Not even slightly. I'd share what the request is, but at this moment, it's too painful to talk about, and I don't want to cry right now.

Also, I notice God often does hear and answer others when they pray for me. (So I would welcome it if you please do, but I didn't post this in Prayer Wall because I'm asking for more than prayer.) And, as mentioned, He hears and answers when I pray for others. But when I pray on my own behalf, it seems all I hear in response is spiritual crickets.

Is there something morally wrong with praying for myself? Is it best to stick to praying for others, and let others pray for me?

 

[Michie]

I'll be the first one to admit I could be thinking incorrectly and speaking out of pain.

It seems that the Lord hears and answers when I pray for others, but not when I pray for myself. I've had an unspoken request weighing on my soul, to the point of sheer agonizing torture, for years now. I pray about it and pray about it and pray about it, and nothing has changed. Not even slightly. I'd share what the request is, but at this moment, it's too painful to talk about, and I don't want to cry right now.

Also, I notice God often does hear and answer others when they pray for me. (So I would welcome it if you please do, but I didn't post this in Prayer Wall because I'm asking for more than prayer.) And, as mentioned, He hears and answers when I pray for others. But when I pray on my own behalf, it seems all I hear in response is spiritual crickets.

Is there something morally wrong with praying for myself? Is it best to stick to praying for others, and let others pray for me?

Jesus prayed for Himself in the garden before His Passion. He often went off to Himself to pray. The whole of Scripture is full of personal prayer requests. Read through and you’ll see. There is nothing wrong in praying for yourself. We just need to accept that sometimes the answer is not yet or no. Or He may have something better in mind.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

Is there something morally wrong with praying for myself?

Absolutely not. We all have needs. Even though we are saved, we still live in sinful flesh, and the demons attack us constantly. True, satan knows we cannot lose salvation, however, we he will make it as hard as possible for us. We need God to help us from satanic attacks, our fallen flesh and from the attacks from the world. Our minds are in constant war between our flesh and spirit. Yes we are saved, be we still need to walk with God, if you do no pray for yourself, how do you find God's will in your life? Yes we have the scriptures, but those have to be interpreted by the Holy Spirit. We all have to grow in love and faith, and God will never deny such request if we ask humbly and honestly of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

but not when I pray for myself

Maybe He does answer your prayers, but when God answers our prayers differently that we are expecting, or His answers are not what we want to hear, we often believe that God does not answer us. God also has a perfect timing for His answers, and you never waste your time waiting patiently on God's word, even if it takes years.

It is also possible you pray for the wrong things. Check with the scriptures, especially the Lord's prayer, and study it in details as the Lord's prayer is how Jesus wants us to pray.

Either way, humble your self and ask God, be sensitive to His word, God wants you to learn His will in your life, and how else will you learn it apart from the prayer

 

[BobRyan]

I'll be the first one to admit I could be thinking incorrectly and speaking out of pain.

It seems that the Lord hears and answers when I pray for others, but not when I pray for myself. I've had an unspoken request weighing on my soul, to the point of sheer agonizing torture, for years now. I pray about it and pray about it and pray about it, and nothing has changed. Not even slightly. I'd share what the request is, but at this moment, it's too painful to talk about, and I don't want to cry right now.

Also, I notice God often does hear and answer others when they pray for me. (So I would welcome it if you please do, but I didn't post this in Prayer Wall because I'm asking for more than prayer.) And, as mentioned, He hears and answers when I pray for others. But when I pray on my own behalf, it seems all I hear in response is spiritual crickets.

Is there something morally wrong with praying for myself? Is it best to stick to praying for others, and let others pray for me?

According to scripture -- Paul prayed for himself and Christ also prayed for Himself.
Hezekiah prayed for himself -- and the sun went backwards to confirm his answer was on the way.

the Bible tells us to do both.

Am praying for you.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I'll be the first one to admit I could be thinking incorrectly and speaking out of pain.

It seems that the Lord hears and answers when I pray for others, but not when I pray for myself. I've had an unspoken request weighing on my soul, to the point of sheer agonizing torture, for years now. I pray about it and pray about it and pray about it, and nothing has changed. Not even slightly. I'd share what the request is, but at this moment, it's too painful to talk about, and I don't want to cry right now.

Also, I notice God often does hear and answer others when they pray for me. (So I would welcome it if you please do, but I didn't post this in Prayer Wall because I'm asking for more than prayer.) And, as mentioned, He hears and answers when I pray for others. But when I pray on my own behalf, it seems all I hear in response is spiritual crickets.

Is there something morally wrong with praying for myself? Is it best to stick to praying for others, and let others pray for me?

Paul prayed to relieve the thorn in his side. The Father did not answer his request and said "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." We don't all get a direct answer like this however, His will be done. My prayers are there for you sister.
Blessings

 

[disciple Clint]

I'll be the first one to admit I could be thinking incorrectly and speaking out of pain.

It seems that the Lord hears and answers when I pray for others, but not when I pray for myself. I've had an unspoken request weighing on my soul, to the point of sheer agonizing torture, for years now. I pray about it and pray about it and pray about it, and nothing has changed. Not even slightly. I'd share what the request is, but at this moment, it's too painful to talk about, and I don't want to cry right now.

Also, I notice God often does hear and answer others when they pray for me. (So I would welcome it if you please do, but I didn't post this in Prayer Wall because I'm asking for more than prayer.) And, as mentioned, He hears and answers when I pray for others. But when I pray on my own behalf, it seems all I hear in response is spiritual crickets.

Is there something morally wrong with praying for myself? Is it best to stick to praying for others, and let others pray for me?

I am reminded of Paul who did many things for others but found his request for removal of his affliction answered by God with “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I hope this is encouraging to you, hard for me to tell since I know nothing about your situation.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Thank you everyone for the prayers and encouragement.

I can talk about it now without falling apart, so I'll go ahead and do so while that's still true.

Due to a variety of problems, some of which were my own bad choices, and some of which were beyond my control, my children grew up mostly in foster care. They are in my life now, but they came back after they grew up. I have done a lot of therapy to learn better choices, and God has worked miracles in my life. That didn't matter when my daughter, suffering from bipolar disorder and the self-medication variety of addiction, concluded that she cannot be a fit mother for her own children. When she surrendered them, the state would not even consider me. They refused to look at my present, and focused only on my past. My grandchildren were surrendered. I have not been allowed to see them since, and their adoptive parents won't answer letters. That happened when they were preschoolers. The older one has just become a teenager. So that tells you how long ago it was. And it still hurts me just as much as it did the day I lost them.

In addition to my older two children growing up in foster care, my youngest one died at two months old from SIDS.

I have continued to grow and improve in stability. Many changes have been made in my life. Every day, sometimes every hour, I pray about it. Surely there must be a child out there who needs a grandmother. A young parent who needs help. Somewhere. (Not at our church, which is almost entirely composed of senior citizens, and everywhere I turn, I'm listening to somebody talking about their grandchildren. But my husband flatly refuses to change to a younger church. He doesn't understand how much this is hurting me.) So I keep praying, Lord God, please put a child in my life that I can love. So far every child I've known has been taken away from me somehow. Please let me watch one grow.

After all these years the answer remains no. So I suppose I haven't improved enough and I'm still not worthy of it. Therefore I also pray, Lord, if it isn't Your will, then please take the desire away so it won't keep crushing me. Still no. I don't know how much longer I can stand it.

I thought I could talk about it without falling apart. I was almost right.

 

[disciple Clint]

Thank you everyone for the prayers and encouragement.

I can talk about it now without falling apart, so I'll go ahead and do so while that's still true.

Due to a variety of problems, some of which were my own bad choices, and some of which were beyond my control, my children grew up mostly in foster care. They are in my life now, but they came back after they grew up. I have done a lot of therapy to learn better choices, and God has worked miracles in my life. That didn't matter when my daughter, suffering from bipolar disorder and the self-medication variety of addiction, concluded that she cannot be a fit mother for her own children. When she surrendered them, the state would not even consider me. They refused to look at my present, and focused only on my past. My grandchildren were surrendered. I have not been allowed to see them since, and their adoptive parents won't answer letters. That happened when they were preschoolers. The older one has just become a teenager. So that tells you how long ago it was. And it still hurts me just as much as it did the day I lost them.

In addition to my older two children growing up in foster care, my youngest one died at two months old from SIDS.

I have continued to grow and improve in stability. Many changes have been made in my life. Every day, sometimes every hour, I pray about it. Surely there must be a child out there who needs a grandmother. A young parent who needs help. Somewhere. (Not at our church, which is almost entirely composed of senior citizens, and everywhere I turn, I'm listening to somebody talking about their grandchildren. But my husband flatly refuses to change to a younger church. He doesn't understand how much this is hurting me.) So I keep praying, Lord God, please put a child in my life that I can love. So far every child I've known has been taken away from me somehow. Please let me watch one grow.

After all these years the answer remains no. So I suppose I haven't improved enough and I'm still not worthy of it. Therefore I also pray, Lord, if it isn't Your will, then please take the desire away so it won't keep crushing me. Still no. I don't know how much longer I can stand it.

I thought I could talk about it without falling apart. I was almost right.

I am so sorry to hear about the pain you are in. Good news however is that just as you reestablished your relationship with you children when they became adults you can also establish your relationship with your grandchildren when they become 18. Additionally you can become a great grandmother to their children so instead of looking at the people in your church and feeling pain look at them and say soon I will be having the joy they are having now. The good news about life is that it is long enough for us to correct most of the major mistakes we made when we were too young to make wise decisions. Look forward not back God will restore your lost years. Blessings.

 

[angelsaroundme]

Your husband probably feels comfortable around people he's known for a long time. People don't like change either unless they see a reason for it. You do, but he doesn't.

I don't know how you presented the idea of going to a new church to him, but I'd say something along the lines of, "I'd like to try somewhere else just to see how their service is and see some new faces. I doubt we'll enjoy it more than our own church, but it'd be interesting to compare how different it is. If we hate it, we'll come right back here."

That way he won't be as worried that this is a permanent change. He may even be curious how another church might be.