Why ask others to pray for you

[Mary7]

When I ask God, in prayer, for something I believe that He hears me.
Why, then, does almost everyone beg people to pray for them in prayer chains etc.
Are our prayers not enough?

It almost feels like He won't answer unless I reach a quota of x number of people praying.
Why is this necessary? He hears me. Does He have to be persuaded?
'ok she now has 15 people praying so now I will answer' or ' no she only has 3.. sorry, not enough.

I am very familiar with all the scriptures telling us to pray for others but I have never understood WHY this is necessary for that person's prayer to be answered.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Prayers being answered only if --

God willing and the creek don't rise.

Seems the Holy Spirit wishes for us to pray for others -- always best to be obedient.

I as a simple little man I do not question when the Bible tells me to pray for others and to ask them for prayers when needed.

It's very common and appears to be what Christians do regularly.

And what does God do with those prayers? That would be up to Him.

Can we name it and claim it?
No.

M-Bob

 

[prodromos]

When I ask God, in prayer, for something I believe that He hears me.
Why, then, does almost everyone beg people to pray for them in prayer chains etc.
Are our prayers not enough?

It almost feels like He won't answer unless I reach a quota of x number of people praying.
Why is this necessary? He hears me. Does He have to be persuaded?
'ok she now has 15 people praying so now I will answer' or ' no she only has 3.. sorry, not enough.

I am very familiar with all the scriptures telling us to pray for others but I have never understood WHY this is necessary for that person's prayer to be answered.

We pray for each other because that builds LOVE between members of Christ's body. We ask others to pray for us because it humbles us to place our needs in the hands of our brethren. Growth in love and humility each draws us closer to God.

 

[Mary7]

Can we name it and claim it?
No.

M-Bob

I certainly agree with you on that

 

[Mary7]

But why do we have to have other people praying when God already hears us. I know that we are told to pray for others but some of the ones I pray for is for their salvation and they are not praying for themselves.
Do I HAVE to have others praying for me before God will answer? I don't believe so.. yet we all say 'oh! pray for me ! I am going thru a bad time' as if my turning to the Lord is not enough.
It's almost like.. He will not answer if I dont meet a quota so 'better safe than sorry'.

 

[prodromos]

Perhaps God wishes us to grow in humility in order to become more like Christ.

 

[Goatee]

Not everyone prays. So, its good to pray for those in that situation.

Also, Jesus said to love your neighbour. Isn't it wonderful that you can pray for them with a loving heart?

 

[Mary7]

Perhaps God wishes us to grow in humility in order to become more like Christ.

I don't mind asking others. My question is.. why is it necessary if we can go to the Father ourselves and ask.

 

[Mary7]

Not everyone prays. So, its good to pray for those in that situation.

Also, Jesus said to love your neighbour. Isn't it wonderful that you can pray for them with a loving heart?

And I do pray for others... daily. But for the ones that are christian with a specific need.. why is their prayer not enough?

 

[God bless Joshua]

But why do we have to have other people praying when God already hears us.

It often happens that God doesnt want to listen to people anymore.
Jeremiah 11:14 "Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.

If it was not for Moses who pray for the hebrew, God would have already exterminated all the Jews.
Numbers 14:11-19

The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? "I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they." But Moses said to the LORD, "Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst, read more.

Deuteronomy 9:25-29 "So I fell down before the LORD the forty days and nights, which I did because the LORD had said He would destroy you. "I prayed to the LORD and said, 'O Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 'Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness or their sin.

Because of Moses's mercy and prayers God forgive the Jews.

So its our duty to pray for our weak brethren or we may just ignore them and they will disappear in darkness, we dont want it to happen do we ?

Praying one another cause we may also go weak and need other's prayers.

 

[Mary7]

It often happens that God doesnt want to listen to people anymore.
Jeremiah 11:14 "Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.

If it was not for Moses who pray for the hebrew, God would have already exterminated all the Jews.
Numbers 14:11-19

The LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? "I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they." But Moses said to the LORD, "Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst, read more.

Deuteronomy 9:25-29 "So I fell down before the LORD the forty days and nights, which I did because the LORD had said He would destroy you. "I prayed to the LORD and said, 'O Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 'Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness or their sin.

So its our duty to pray for our weak brethren or we may just ignore them and they will disappear in darkness, we dont want it to happen do we ?

I totally agree with that but to be more clear, I am asking why I myself must ask others to pray for me when I have already asked the Father. And why do others ask me to pray when they have already asked the Father.
I pray for many who are not asking but that is not my question

 

[prodromos]

I don't mind asking others. My question is.. why is it necessary if we can go to the Father ourselves and ask.

It isn't necessary, but it is beneficial. God only wants what is best for us.
It also permits others to act in love towards you by giving them the opportunity to do so. If you didn't ask, you would be robbing them of that opportunity.

 

[Goatee]

And I do pray for others... daily. But for the ones that are christian with a specific need.. why is their prayer not enough?

Why shouldnt we pray for everyone? Why leave christians out?

 

[Mary7]

Why shouldnt we pray for everyone? Why leave christians out?

I do pray for Christians also but I do not understand why people request prayer if they have already gone in prayer to the Father

 

[Divide]

I totally agree with that but to be more clear, I am asking why I myself must ask others to pray for me when I have already asked the Father. And why do others ask me to pray when they have already asked the Father.
I pray for many who are not asking but that is not my question

These are good questions that you're asking. I've asked similar questions before and never have got a conclusive answer. Scripture says ask and you shall receive, you have not because you ask not, I will give them the desires of their heart....and other scriptures too. We've been given such authority in Jesus name, and He promises that as we walk with Him that nothing will be withheld from us.

But every time someone gets sick or something, it's all hey please pray for me...as if another is higher up and more able to have prayers answered or something. That isn't right I think.

Intercessory prayer is something different I think, and we are to be intercessors for others, but that doesn't sound like what you're asking about.

I get sick. I ask, pray for me...why is this necessary? Or is it? Can I not boldly approach the throne and say, Lord, please take this sickness from me...? Myself.

Interesting questions, and there is an answer. I just don't have it.

 

[Mary7]

These are good questions that you're asking. I've asked similar questions before and never have got a conclusive answer. Scripture says ask and you shall receive, you have not because you ask not, I will give them the desires of their heart....and other scriptures too. We've been given such authority in Jesus name, and He promises that as we walk with Him that nothing will be withheld from us.

But every time someone gets sick or something, it's all hey please pray for me...as if another is higher up and more able to have prayers answered or something. That isn't right I think.

Intercessory prayer is something different I think, and we are to be intercessors for others, but that doesn't sound like what you're asking about.

I get sick. I ask, pray for me...why is this necessary? Or is it? Can I not boldly approach the throne and say, Lord, please take this sickness from me...? Myself.

Interesting questions, and there is an answer. I just don't have it.

Yes! You understand my question! Why can I not just boldly approach the throne.. why do I have to feel that someone else's prayers are more potent, better and are ALSO required?

 

[FireDragon76]

It's not absolutely necessary you ask other people to pray for you. If you don't feel being lead to ask other people to pray for you, don't.

 

[“Paisios”]

When I ask God, in prayer, for something I believe that He hears me.
Why, then, does almost everyone beg people to pray for them in prayer chains etc.
Are our prayers not enough?

It almost feels like He won't answer unless I reach a quota of x number of people praying.
Why is this necessary? He hears me. Does He have to be persuaded?
'ok she now has 15 people praying so now I will answer' or ' no she only has 3.. sorry, not enough.

I am very familiar with all the scriptures telling us to pray for others but I have never understood WHY this is necessary for that person's prayer to be answered.

I think that it is helpful and profitable for us and for those whom we ask to pray for us. God hears our own prayers, and doesn’t need to hear from many, but He wants us to pray for each other. It connects us to each other, demonstrates our love for each other, and brings us into greater fellowship with each other, which pleases God. God doesn’t even need us to ask for our own needs - He knows them before we ask, and could choose to grant them (or say “no”) even if we never prayed for it.

It is for our benefit, not His need, that we ask for prayer and pray for each other.

 

[Divide]

Yes! You understand my question! Why can I not just boldly approach the throne.. why do I have to feel that someone else's prayers are more potent, better and are ALSO required?

I've come up with a couple theories. Scripture does speak of ways that our prayers are hindered. So maybe, at times, our spirit knows this, that maybe we have some sin in our lives or something, and that we would need to have others also pray for us...?

The other thing is where scripture talks about, where two or more are gathered in His name, and are in agreement in what they ask, that it shall be done. So I think that when we come together, our spirits merge together, and there is some sort of geometric progression to the amount of power available from God for the purpose or task at hand?

I'm kinda reaching there, but I dunno. I'd like to hear an answer to these questions also.

 

[Divide]

It's not absolutely necessary you ask other people to pray for you. If you don't feel being lead to ask other people to pray for you, don't.

Your statement brought something back to me in my memory...I once heard a Pastors message, wherein he said that he learned that we are not even supposed to pray for others...unless directly instructed to by the Holy Spirit...I took that with a grain of salt because it was a new concept for me...I mention it because, who knows?