Comments on: The Vaule of Prayer (Requests)

By: CheezChoc

CheezChoc — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:38:50 +0000

Makes sense. Got it now.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:00:59 +0000

Quester—

Well said–that’s very true.

By: Quester

Quester — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:51:40 +0000

Cheez,

Fair enough, but when someone tells me that they’re stressed about a job interview, or a surgery, or something else where I can not be of practical assistance and any advice I give would be redundant and perhaps patronizing, saying “my thoughts are with you”, “best wishes” or “good luck” are really not distinguishable from saying “I’m praying for you”. All it really means is “I care about you and what happens to you” in a slightly indirect, and thus less threatening manner.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:20:26 +0000

Cheez—- (#31)

I think the majority who do pray also contribute and ask God to use those contributions to really help people. We do what we can, but ask God to heal and comfort also. At least that’s my take on it.

By: CheezChoc

CheezChoc — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:39:36 +0000

I get that, but maybe that’s where the problem lies for me. If I can’t really do something to help, the prayer seems useless.
Whenever I hear people say they’re praying for Haiti or Chile or whatever, I want to tell them to get busy making donations instead.

By: Quester

Quester — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:09:50 +0000

Tidus,

I’m glad you’ve found some things to help you here. Please check out our Community Site linked to in the top right corner of the screen (when you’ve scrolled up considerably). Doubt is not fun, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of, unlike unjustified certainty. *grin*

Cheez,

It’s a sign of solidarity that can boost confidence and morale, if not provide actual, practical, help.

By: CheezChoc

CheezChoc — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:26:19 +0000

I honestly cannot fathom why some friends and fam keep emailing me prayer requests. I don’t understand what the praying is supposed to accomplish on behalf of someone else, whether I know that person or not. In the past week, one asked for a prayer because she thought she had internal bleeding (it turned out to be too many beets at dinner–file that one away for future reference!), one had a friend whose sister was killed by a gunman (horrible, yes, but again, what good does a prayer do from me or anyone else?), and others were asking for prayers for someone who was in the final stages of cancer (what can I say except that I hope her family is compassionate enough to see to it that she gets a lot of pain meds–no cure possible at this point unless there is a miracle–and that is another issue).

By: Tidus

Tidus — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:15:33 +0000

It seems that this site offers ‘prayer request time’ .
I feel welcome to express my ideas and opinions without the irrational fear of being labeled as ‘heretical’, ‘lacking in faith’, or ‘misunderstanding the nature of [the Christian] God’. Here my ignorance is not due to the carnality of my mind/heart, but rather my naivety or lack of knowledge. Sincere and well-written posts (esp HeIsSailing’s A Confession- I want to Believe June 2007) encapsulate much of the angst that prevents me from expressing doubts that Christians tend to blow off. You guys are helping me to understand and for that I’m grateful. Thank you.

By: Shadowfx

Shadowfx — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:16:01 +0000

When I was in High School, my sister was diagnosed with Leukemia. She was only 9. She was a Chistian and had all the faith in the world that God was going to heal her. The whole church was praying for her. My Father, who was something of a skeptic, having grown up wih a Fire and Brimstone preacher for a father, found a faith healer and went to him in the hopes that it would heal his daughter. It was a rollercoaster ride and in the end she died when she was about 12.

By my reading of the scriptures, she should have been healed (if you have enough faith, ask and it will be given unto you). So after that I lost my faith in the power of praryer for a very long time.

By: orDover

orDover — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:48:08 +0000

I’m sure elaine just google “prayer requests” looking for a place to dump her worries. I wonder, does she do this because she feels like God isn’t really hearing her, and is comforted by the idea of REAL eyes reading her words? Or does she do it hoping that more people will pray for Frank and Isabelle and that Helen finds accommodations?

I actually think that the entire concept of prayer requests can be used to demonstrate that even ardent believers don’t have as much faith as they’d like us to think. It isn’t enough for them just to “lay it at the foot of the cross,” to “let go and let God” through private prayer. They need other humans to hear their woes and wishes. They need to be comforted by real arms and relieved by real words of encouragement.