Prayer laundry lists

[Jenster]

Hello all! I wanted to get your opinions on prayer laundry lists. What I mean by that is, I've been in Bible studies when we will have a prayer night, and everyone will share about their lives and then give their prayer requests. Some people give a whole long long list of prayer requests, such as "pray that this will happen" "pray that that will happen" "Pray for my sister" "pray for my health." Then we pray for each other.

I've started questioning whether this is the best way to approach the Lord. There is a line between (1) presenting all of our prayers and petitions to God in faith and (2) treating God like a cosmic vending machine ("I put in my request, and out pops my result").

I see that it is good we share our lives and concerns with each other and God. I certainly do not mean to belittle anyone's worries. It's just that sometimes I feel that the prayer laundry list shows that we are thinking a lot about ourselves and our problems.

I *am* interested in seeing women (and men) develop faith in God and intimacy with Him through prayer (respectful prayer, prayer that understands who God is). But I don't know how to express this to anyone, or to explain how prayer could be used in this way, rather than as a check list.

Does anyone know what I mean?

 

[goldenviolet]

there is nothing wrong with this way of sharing needs through prayer requests. i'll bet you aren't the only one who feels this way. i'm going to believe that each person in your study knows God isn't a vending machine.
i'm betting that this is just your ways of emptying out everything at the feet of the Lord in submission and hope. Abba wants us to bear one anothers burdens.
if you want to focus on the praise and more important issues, then take it to Him in your alone time or share in a way that doesn't say to the others that you are on track and they aren't. most importantly, shine that you have this exsperiance with others. good bible studies etc are a blessing. feel blessed and feel blessed that you can love your brothers and sisters by sharing in their struggles. you are loving them as the hands and feet of Christ; which fulfills love one another as i have you... for He interceeds for us.

 

[JPPT1974]

Praying for you all as well as
Knowing what you need and that
We need to ask for it in God's will and time
And not our own!

 

[Jenster]

Thanks, both of you!