Prayer - One time or continually?

[HumbleMan]

Good afternoon, y'all :wave:

Just wanted to get folks opinions/beliefs on this subject. When we pray for an individual, or for a movement from God, do we say our prayer and let it go into God's hands, or do we come back to it often, praying for the same thing until something moves?

Thanks!

[newbeliever02072005]

I pray everyday for my husband's salvation and also for me to be guided in the right direction in raising my children. Those are the two things I pray for continually.

Other requests I might pray once, three or even 20 times. Just depends on when the spirit is laying their names upon my heart.

[£amb]

Good afternoon, y'all :wave:

Just wanted to get folks opinions/beliefs on this subject. When we pray for an individual, or for a movement from God, do we say our prayer and let it go into God's hands, or do we come back to it often, praying for the same thing until something moves?

Thanks!

We should keep praying and not give up. In Luke 18:1-7, Jesus told a parable to show us to always pray and not give up. Also, in Luke 11:5-13, it gives a story about being persistent in praying for something. Most of the time when we keep praying for something, it changes our motives for the prayer. We can get into selfish praying to God and want answers now, but the more we pray and spend time in His presence, our motives change so His will can be accomplished.

[2Blessed2BStressed]

We should keep praying and not give up. In Luke 18:1-7, Jesus told a parable to show us to always pray and not give up. Also, in Luke 11:5-13, it gives a story about being persistent in praying for something. Most of the time when we keep praying for something, it changes our motives for the prayer. We can get into selfish praying to God and want answers now, but the more we pray and spend time in His presence, our motives change so His will can be accomplished.

ITA. As we pray, we must remember to ask for God's will to be done. Sometimes our will may 'deviate' from God's will, but His will is ultimately what's best for us.

[Sword-In-Hand]

My opinion is to keep praying on a subject. Remember the parable that Jesus spoke of the friend who knocked on his friend's door late in the night. The friend didn't let the man in because he was a friend, but he let him in because he was persistent in his knocking. So I think we should be persistent with our petitions.

[MrJim]

I tend to agree with the others. I've had this discussion before, and the thought was-"Am I just reminding God as if He forgot?" but the essence of prayer isn't just asking for stuff it is communing with God. I expect God views "time" differently than we do, so for us it's like, "Gee, I've prayed this hundreds of times for dozens of weeks, maybe I should just leave it in His hands now" but if still burdened to pray about it then do it!

[HumbleMan]

I myself tend to agree with the sentiments so far. I was asking, because like Menno said, sometimes I feel like I am not trusting God if I keep praying on the same thing over and over. I felt like "God is omnipotent and He knows the desires of my heart".

But OTOH, I feel unfaithful to those I've promised to pray for if I don't keep praying until something happens. I almost feel it would be flippant to pray for a sick child once, and let it go.

This question comes from my OCD-like nature concerning time management. My prayer time has gone from 15-20 minutes a night to sometimes an hour because of all the needs I'm praying for right now.

Thanks for the answers so far....

[arunma]

We should keep praying and not give up. In Luke 18:1-7, Jesus told a parable to show us to always pray and not give up. Also, in Luke 11:5-13, it gives a story about being persistent in praying for something. Most of the time when we keep praying for something, it changes our motives for the prayer. We can get into selfish praying to God and want answers now, but the more we pray and spend time in His presence, our motives change so His will can be accomplished.

What do you know? I was also thinking about the parable of the persistent widow!

[ZiSunka]

Good afternoon, y'all :wave:

Just wanted to get folks opinions/beliefs on this subject. When we pray for an individual, or for a movement from God, do we say our prayer and let it go into God's hands, or do we come back to it often, praying for the same thing until something moves?

Thanks!

I'm a big "pray without ceasing" kind of girl. I'll keep praying away until something is resolved or until the Spirit tells me to stop.

[£amb]

What do you know? I was also thinking about the parable of the persistent widow!

Beat ya to it...:P

[SonOfThunder]

my 2 penneth worth

I pray fi it comes to mind..figure that is The HOly Spirit
also I keep a little book and write in it when I pray for something and tick it off when it happens

sometimes it is years

sometimes never

sometimes right away

I dont think we shock God with our continual prayer or lack of faith for HIm to step in. So I don't sweat asking

James

[ZiSunka]

Imagining that God is like a good father, he doesn't mind if we ask for something over and over again, but he hopes that won't be the only time we talk to him. If, "Daddy, can I have a pony, can I have an X-box, can sister have a barbie playhouse with all the furniture" is the only thing you ever say to your dad, he's going to feel hurt that you only think of him as a vending machine. If all you ever say is, "Daddy, will you feed me today?" he's going to think you don't trust him to meet your needs. If you keep saying, "Daddy, will you fix this?" he's going to think you don't believe he will work things out for your good.

Sometimes you need to talk to him about other things, too. Just chat with him, daddies like that best of all.