Praying for frivilous things

[Peter North]

Hi christianforums,

Nice to see this place is alive and kicking. I haven't visited for months, but I probably should. (To learn soemthing )

Anyways, I was wondering what God thinks about praying for frivilous things? For example, I was getting ready for hockey last night, and I said a little prayer "Lord, please let me score lotsa goals tonight. Amen."

I know the Lord hears all our prayers, and the only thing is we do not ask to gratify the desires of our sinful nature. Now, you can probably say that scoring goals is gratifying the desire of pride, etc, but what about things like "Lord, please let my sister bring a chocolate cake instead of a vanilla one, because many people here do not like vanilla. Amen." and "Lord, please give me strength to cut this huge lawn and make it easier. Amen."

I suppose it is subject to interpretation as to what you believe counts as "frivilous" but when God created us, I am sure he knew our heart's desires, and preferences for certain things, and that we would obviously pray for those things.

When I sit down for a lengthy prayer session, I follow the ACTS rule for myself:

A= Adoration - praising God for his mercy and goodness.

C= Confession - tell God that you humble yourself before Him and you are far from perfect, and to ask his forgiveness through His Son's blood.

T= Thanksgiving - thank the Lord for all the bountiful blessings you have.

S= Supplication - asking God for things.

 

[Milla]

I don't really see God as much of a micromanager, so I guess I don't bother praying for "things". Generally I just ask that I and others be granted the strength, wisdom and serenity to deal with whatever the issue is.

 

[ToxicReboMan]

Hi christianforums,

Nice to see this place is alive and kicking. I haven't visited for months, but I probably should. (To learn soemthing )

Anyways, I was wondering what God thinks about praying for frivilous things? For example, I was getting ready for hockey last night, and I said a little prayer "Lord, please let me score lotsa goals tonight. Amen."

I know the Lord hears all our prayers, and the only thing is we do not ask to gratify the desires of our sinful nature. Now, you can probably say that scoring goals is gratifying the desire of pride, etc, but what about things like "Lord, please let my sister bring a chocolate cake instead of a vanilla one, because many people here do not like vanilla. Amen." and "Lord, please give me strength to cut this huge lawn and make it easier. Amen."

I suppose it is subject to interpretation as to what you believe counts as "frivilous" but when God created us, I am sure he knew our heart's desires, and preferences for certain things, and that we would obviously pray for those things.

When I sit down for a lengthy prayer session, I follow the ACTS rule for myself:

A= Adoration - praising God for his mercy and goodness.

C= Confession - tell God that you humble yourself before Him and you are far from perfect, and to ask his forgiveness through His Son's blood.

T= Thanksgiving - thank the Lord for all the bountiful blessings you have.

S= Supplication - asking God for things.

Hi Peter,

When I pray I can't stop thanking our God for everything. Thats all my spirit knows how to say.

I don't ask Him to be with me, because I know He is already with me. I really don't ask for things that many people might ask for.

Peter, nobody is in a position to judge you for your prayer. Not anyone on this earth at least. God would rather you be sincere than a liar.

Now if you ask for something that is not necessarily guaranteed such as your mother's health (just an example only), I would add sincerely, "but not my will, but your will be done Father"

Father in heaven knows what is best for all of us. He knows better than we know.

 

[silentpoet]

God has commanded us to bring our requests to Him. God also has commanded us to pray alot. I do not see any prayer as frivolous as long as one is trying to put something under God. I mean that if we are truly asking for something from God we are surrendering the control of that gift to him. But that is only one aspect of a good prayer. In reality I do know that there is a time God gives us for prayer and a time for more active communion with His will.

 

[Peter North]

Hi again, thanks for your answers.

I was also wondering, my post only generated 3 replies. Is there a forum that has more activity than this one I should be posting my questions at?

 

[Lutherrunner]

I don't really see God as much of a micromanager, so I guess I don't bother praying for "things". Generally I just ask that I and others be granted the strength, wisdom and serenity to deal with whatever the issue is.

Well put!.....that is generally how I feel too.....

 

[dvd_holc]

Phil 4:4-9
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

​

Math 6:25-27
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Although, a big part of the message in this not worring...but there is God taking care of the needs. God is not absent from us in life in all it's aspects. Therefore, there is nothing I would not pray over. God is the One who gives all things to us. He gives what he choices; nonetheless, there is nothing I would stop from asking him while I am in pure in heart and with thanksgivings. Sports events, driving, etc...yet we aren't to grow anger with God when something does not go our way. As Christians we aren't takers as that is selfish, yet God is in control...the person who gives all things...Ask humblely...don't put a block in between you and God as he has not put one between you and him...

 

[Celticflower]

Sometimes you need to be careful about praying for "frivilous" things. Prayers can be 2 sided. If you pray that you score a lot of goals you are in essence praying that the goalie for the other team have a bad game.

Read Mark Twain's "The War Prayer" for a striking example of this idea.

 

[ctay]

I usually pray for safety or guidance or help someone get better, never really asked for material things. I might get something out of the ordinary when I least expect it but never prayed for it.

 

[IgnatiusOfAntioch]

I wouldn't worry about it. Sometimes we think the concerns of children are trivial, but they are serious to them. In God's eyes, I'm sure that we are all children. Ask what's on your heart.

God Bless.

 

[dvd_holc]

Duet: 8:10
10When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

 

[ImSoBlessed]

Sometimes you need to be careful about praying for "frivilous" things. Prayers can be 2 sided. If you pray that you score a lot of goals you are in essence praying that the goalie for the other team have a bad game.

Read Mark Twain's "The War Prayer" for a striking example of this idea.

well god has favor on his children and thats not fair but i love it.....his favor is on my lfe night and day....somebody might be more qualified for a job but because of God's favor i will get that job. is that fair? no..but guess what life isn't either.

 

[dvd_holc]

I would also add that what we think is fair is subjective to our belief of the subject. God has a purpose for all things. In his purpose he knows what will happen if someone makes a choice. As such he is present in all thing and does all things for good. If we think something is good we should pray for it...if we aren't praying for good then God will never answer our prays...

 

[£amb]

1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hear us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.


We need to remember when we pray, that it is in His will...not ours. I'll admit that I have prayed for minor things, and they were'nt answered. After I read these verses, I understand why. I was asking God to grant me a favor in my needs and not by what He can provide. Alot of my prayers can end up being 911 prayers or selfish. We are to pray constantly, but prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth but rather as a means of getting God's will done on earth. I'm not saying that God doesn't listen or answer prayers, but I know in my life, He waits for me to truly humble myself to Him.

 

[dvd_holc]

Amen ImSoBlessed & Lamb,

I totally agree...I just want the world to know that all things come from God and we don't have to block ourselves from asking him in pure of heart.