Praying - Big or little requests

[Kelly]

I keep hearing from several sources to pray for EVERYTHING I want. Up until this time, I've personally felt that when praying for things FROM God, one should only pray for very 'important' things (heal a sick relative, etc). Lately, I've been hearing that we should pray to God for everything we want. More money, a nicer home, a better job - a friend of my wife's asked her to pray that she find a close parking space at the mall (and was serious).

I think that my desires are tiny compared to the needs of others out there. I know that God is infinite and can do anything for anyone at anytime. I just don't feel right praying for worldly things when others in the world are suffering, going hungry, unable to openly worship God, etc.

Thoughts?

 

[allieisme]

Praying to God, should be your time, your time to ask or tell whatever you want.

Your requests are neither to big, nor to small for God. When I pray, it might be silly to some, but I'll ask for my headache to go away.
Dont be afraid to ask for whatever you want, just know, that it might not always be the answer your expecting when you get one.

 

[Super Gnat]

Don't restrict your prayers to requests, either. You can tell God about your day, or just praise Him, or thank Him for stuff. And nothing about you is ever insignificant to God. Don't let anyone ever tell you that.

 

[Kelly]

Yes, I give lots of praise and thanks for everything I have. I am pretty happy, of course we all could use a bit more in the finance dept. but I still feel wierd praying for it when people are struggling with real troubles all over the world. Thanks all!

 

[cyberwing]

Dearest Kelly,
We do not have our next breath without His providing it! HE is Our Provision in ALL things. So taking small requests is fine, it shows Him you trust Him in all things!
Now as to the suffering in the world. This Kelly is the result of rejection of God. Plain and simple. Rejection of God brings about all this, by letting the enemy rule and reign. Give a poor man Jesus and he is no longer poor. Jesus will provide for him, I've lived it, I know it to be true.
I have also seen many wealthy people with their noses and intellects stuck in the clouds looking down on Jesus and those they call 'fools' who follow Him and they can't see the wretchedness of their own spirits. They deserve your pity as much as the people who have no money.
Money is a tool, nothing else. Too many worship it instead of the Lord who gives us the ability to make and use the tool.
So don't be afraid to ask for small things in your life, Jesus is worthy of thanks for EVERYTHING HE does. I can't walk without Him holding my hand! When we get to this point we will have more peace too for we cease trying to do anything in our own power. We start trusting Him for everything. The earth is HIS and HE made it.....
Pray for those that struggle. Our wonderful Chinese Brothers and Sisters are suffering for The Faith. They deserve our prayers and love in a big way. Our African Brothers and Sisters too are suffering for their Faith. I wish I could stop the pain for all of them, 'I' can't. Prayer Kelly is more important than we have been taught. Jesus says the prayers of the saints are used in Revelation. Click on the attachment below to view it larger. This painting shows that more is loosed in the heavenlies than one might expect...."Prayer Warrior: The Dispatcher" is the name of this painting. I did it to show people how important prayer is!
So thank Him for what He has done for you and then pray for those less fortunate, help where you can. Let Jesus care for the bigger picture, you and I are not able, HE IS!
~Cyberwing

 

[fieldmouse3]

I pray about everything, because being totally honest with God is something that's become more important to me. Not that I LIED to Him before...there were just times when I'd try and cover up my feelings or wishes if I thought He would rather have me different in some way.

 

[Gamecock]

Call me a legalist, but we are taught to pray in a manner that glorifies God, begs forgivness, petitions for growth. I never saw where it says pray for money, happiness, etc.

BTW, with God, there are no big things, it is all little....

 

[Twig]

I have a hard time with this issue too. I was raised to pray only for others in their hour of need. I was told that God knows all and He knows what we need and He automatically provides what is needed according to his will.
As an adult I've changed churches and love being where I am now however I have been told over and over again to pray for what I want because God likes to hear that faith come to Him from us. I give Him all the praise and glory for only He is worthy and I don't want to disappoint Him in an fashion. (although I know I fall way short all the time) I'm very grateful that He sees clear through straight into my heart.
Twig

 

[Kelly]

I have also heard that you should always pray with his plans in mind. "If it is your will, please help me find a better job" God puts challenges and roadblocks down in front of us when he wants to move us in some direction.

 

[wonder111]

I have also heard that you should always pray with his plans in mind. "If it is your will, please help me find a better job" God puts challenges and roadblocks down in front of us when he wants to move us in some direction.

absolutely! sometimes the spirit intercedes and that is in line with the will of God. If we are honest, we can usually tell if a prayer is our own selfish want or if it is Gods will. That's a good idea to pray "if it is your will" and then trust and leave it to Him.

 

[Knight]

The importance of prayer is not what you ask for. Rather, it is that you spend time communing with God. Now this does not mean that we can say anything to God just as long as we're talking to him. Prayers should be respectful and always submissive to God's will.

Look at the way Jesus prayed in the garden prior to his crucifixion.

Luke 22:42
42"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Jesus prays that the Father will release him from the pain he knows will come. However, he remains submissive to the Father's will.

Look to Jesus also on how we should pray. The Lord's prayer is a wonderful example of the attitude we should have in our prayer life. Have you ever heard of the acrostic ACTS?

Acknowledgement - Praising God for who He is and recognizing His authority
Confession - Confessing sin in your life.
Thanksgiving - Praising God and thanking Him for what He has done.
Supplication - Requests.

Now, should requests be "big" or "small?" I really don't think it matters as long as you are willing to submit to His will. Personally, I don't pray for a lot of the little stuff since most of it is really a convienence thing.
For example, If I was to pray for a close parking spot, it would be because I'm too lazy to walk across the parking lot. I can easily see God saying no to that one. Now, if I had my daughter with me and she had a cold when it was pouring rain. All of a sudden I have a less than selfish reason for making the same prayer.

I mean no disrespect to people who do make these kinds of prayers. It's just not my style. One of the things I do is I try and interact with God throughout my day. I have my formal prayer time and then simply talk to Him during the day.

 

[Twig]

Many times I have asked gone to help me except His will. I find it hard to believe that all Christian except God will all the time without question. When my 12 year old son died I had a lot of questions. Since then God has shown me a lot of things that I never knew and I know that I have a great desire to help ppeople who are grieving. However there are times even today that my flesh will take over and I will get so down because I miss him so much. Does this make me a bad Christian? Please don't get me wrong, I love God with all my being and would never want me son to come back here. I love knowing that he is with The Father but there are times................
As a Christian I believe that when Jesus was on the cross dying for our sins God turned away because He hates sin so much. However as a mother I believe that it must have hurt Him so much to see his Son suffer so . I would truely like so feedback on this issue.
Thank You,
Twig