I want it NOW

[Yuanshen]

I saw a prayer request on the internet. Here is a small part of it.
I would like to know your opinion of it.



"Please pray for me that my needs for peace, companionship, satisfying sex, security, affection, appreciation, shared reality, respect, community, ease, comfort, joy, romance, celebration, health, adventure, peaceful communication, connection, stability, loyalty, commitment, faithfulness, exclusivity, reliability, courage, support, encouragement, devotion, adoration, shared values and lifestyle, and beauty be met NOW."




Should God be prayed to in this manner?
What do you think is the right way for praying?

Yuan

[HaReb]

Can we have a web-link to see the context in which this was written?

[Yuanshen]

This is the whole prayer request:


Sandra Apr 12th, 2008

I am deeply lonely and have left an abusive relationship. Please pray for me that my needs for peace, companionship, satisfying sex, security, affection, appreciation, shared reality, respect, community, ease, comfort, joy, romance, celebration, health, adventure, peaceful communication, connection, stability, loyalty, commitment, faithfulness, exclusivity, reliability, courage, support, encouragement, devotion, adoration, shared values and lifestyle, and beauty be met NOW.
I am so utterly exhausted at being alone and taking care of everything all by myself. I feel like I am broken - please pray for me to stay strong and to respect my needs and settle for nothing less.


This is the link to where the prayers are:

http://www.prayerrequestsite.com/prayer.html?offset=10




yuan


(I didn't want to put the whole prayer on because I thought I would be doing something wrong that the moderators would not like)
I thought also it might seem like gossip, when that was not my intent.

[Kris10leigh]

I personally think prayers should be private, especially prayers of this nature. It is a conversation between a person and God and we should not judge.

When I pray I feel like I have a conversation with God and that He knows my heart.

[A_Pioneer]

Suppose she could be a product of one of those "Challenge God" Ministeries. Sounds familiar to some of their comments. :confused:

My bible says the Father knows what you need.

It says seek first his Kingdom and righteousness and all this shall be added to you.:amen:

[HaReb]

Thank you for the link - it helps to see these things in context. It is an interesting prayer - several 'themes' permeate the person's situation: relational issues, security and strength to continue. Certainly the psalmists moaned at G_d and wanted the thing they spoke of 'now'! I guess this woman feels so down that she, too, wants to see G_d act NOW. Understandable, though some of her requests might seem a bit 'odd' to us in our cool, calm and 'just about hanging together' world!

My belief is that if G_d is only there for the good times in life - the times we get it 'right, correct and proper' then he is no use to anyone. Scripture, however, shows us that he is big enough to take our ranting and raving our down times and our elation. He is big enough to listen to the excessive demands we place on him and deal with them with love and encouragement. He is big enough to listen to the cries for help from those who don't, perhaps, get the wording, or even the intention behind their prayers, 'right' in the eyes of their fellow humans.

Maybe her prayer request is a heartfelt call to him out of desparation - G_d will answer it. Maybe her prayer is one of those let's-go-for-it-if-he's-there-he'll-answer type of prayers - G_d will answer it.

G_d answers prayers from seeking hearts!

We just need to pray for her in all her sense of need, and possible failure.

[Yuanshen]

Suppose she could be a product of one of those "Challenge God" Ministeries. Sounds familiar to some of their comments. :confused:

My bible says the Father knows what you need.

It says seek first his Kingdom and righteousness and all this shall be added to you.:amen:


Is the challenge God place the one that says give God 30 days to do something in your life?

I challenge God to save everyone in China in 30 days.

Won't happen. He calls everyone in His own time. I think anyone who challenges the God of the universe is boasting and not remembering he is sovereign.

yuan

[Yuanshen]

I guess I do not know how to pray, except that I would just be happy with whatever God would give me. I hear so many people say that we need to tell God what we want, and I am confused by all the different prayer methods that to me sound like demands from a selfish child rather than a humble person bowing down in fear in God's presence.

yuan

[visionary]

Every child of God is heard even those who pray selfishly. God just doesn't give them what they want, He will do all things to His glory. He will teach them in the Way they should go and in the way they should ask too. Just think of this prayer as one who is beginnning the journey of wisdom and knowledge of God. They are not going to sound like perfect saints, but they will sound like needy children, who know not better.

Forgive them for they know not what they do.

[Tishri1]

:blush: I feel like this may have been for some small intimate prayer forum not for us to see


to answer the question though she is asking for prayer not praying, she is desperate and in a safe place with her freinds so I think when her friends pray they will seek to pray for their broken friend according to Gods will and His word


She should believe that her ABBA is that intimately concerned for her that he will hear her NOW but I dont think she intended to get the answer NOW.....

Now that we have heard the request we should pray as well ....I am praying Abba's peace in her life and a strengthening in her being to be able to wait on Him for direction, and hear his voice of love and the counsel He has for her:groupray:

[Ivy]

At first I confess I felt a little chary at the word "NOW".... but in the context of this lady's life, it made sense. I think she's crying out to the Lord, maybe saying "How long, O Lord?".

I'll remember her in my prayers, too.

[Yuanshen]

At first I confess I felt a little chary at the word "NOW".... but in the context of this lady's life, it made sense. I think she's crying out to the Lord, maybe saying "How long, O Lord?".

I'll remember her in my prayers, too.


Can I ask you a question, Ivy?

This person is not married asking for romance and a good sex life..NOW. Do you not see a problem with that? If this person was asking for a same sex romance with good sex, NOW, what would you think?

I don't know how to pray exactly, but I think we are not to pray like that and people should be rebuked for praying like that. If Peter or Paul heard someone praying like that, I think they would be indignant.

I hear so many rude prayers. We should be praying remembering His sovereign will, not boasting or demanding. God will not listen to a prayer that boasts or demands. We need to be humble and inquire about His will.

yuan

[Tishri1]

its kinda turning into gossip here..... trust that her friends will know what to pray, how would she feel if she found this with us strangers discussing her private things:)

[ozell]

I saw a prayer request on the internet. Here is a small part of it.
I would like to know your opinion of it.



"Please pray for me that my needs for peace, companionship, satisfying sex, security, affection, appreciation, shared reality, respect, community, ease, comfort, joy, romance, celebration, health, adventure, peaceful communication, connection, stability, loyalty, commitment, faithfulness, exclusivity, reliability, courage, support, encouragement, devotion, adoration, shared values and lifestyle, and beauty be met NOW."




Should God be prayed to in this manner?
What do you think is the right way for praying?

Yuan



Mt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11: Give us this day our daily bread.

12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.


Jn 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

[Yuanshen]

its kinda turning into gossip here..... trust that her friends will know what to pray, how would she feel if she found this with us strangers discussing her private things:)


I'm sorry. I didn't want to have anyone know who the person was the said the prayer; I thought I would be ok with just showing a part of it, and then someone asked to see the whole prayer, which I did not want to do. Perhaps just delete the whole discussion for the best.

yuan

[HaReb]

What's the problem - none of us know the person, do we? So how can it be a sort of invasion of her privacy. We are just talking about an annonymous prayer. She will never know what we have said (unless anyone finds her and tells her) and we will never know and nor do we need to ever know, how it all worked out for her, other than to pray for her. G_d knows who she is.

[Yuanshen]

What's the problem - none of us know the person, do we? So how can it be a sort of invasion of her privacy. We are just talking about an annonymous prayer. She will never know what we have said (unless anyone finds her and tells her) and we will never know and nor do we need to ever know, how it all worked out for her, other than to pray for her. G_d knows who she is.


I am not sure if there is something wrong or not - after all, her prayer is right there in a prayer room for anyone to see, including us. But would she want anyone discussing it? But I have a feeling that there were others besides me who read the prayer and thought it was a bad prayer.

I'm sorry but I think it is a bad prayer.

yuan

[Tishri1]

that link is to a totally different website with different members who she obviously trusts with her deepest prayer requests and problems....She never asked us here to see it... Juan if you are signed up as a member there, then what you should do is PM her, and with out accusing her tell her that you are worried about the way she worded her request and would like to talk if she is open to that......If she is not willing to discuss anything with you, then just pray for her in your own prayer closit:prayer:

[Tishri1]

What's the problem - none of us know the person, do we? So how can it be a sort of invasion of her privacy. We are just talking about an annonymous prayer. She will never know what we have said (unless anyone finds her and tells her) and we will never know and nor do we need to ever know, how it all worked out for her, other than to pray for her. G_d knows who she is.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd9/Tishri1/wantitnow.png



(http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=LAq&q=related:christianforums.com/t7132324-i-want-it-now.html)

[Tishri1]

I'm sorry. I didn't want to have anyone know who the person was the said the prayer; I thought I would be ok with just showing a part of it, and then someone asked to see the whole prayer, which I did not want to do. Perhaps just delete the whole discussion for the best.

yuanJuan we may not have a CF rule that fits this thread but maybe it still shouldnt be here, if you as the OP regret it being there you can always ask the Mods team to delete it since your the OP and then you could still discuss the intent of your question with out the personal information included in the thread


some thing like this:

Thread title:
I want it NOW

OP:
I recently read a prayer request and they included the words "I want it NOW" .

Should we pray that way to God or even want God to act NOW?



that way you can still discuss it with out calling her out and having the OP become wrong in different ways:):hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

[Lulav]

I wish someone would define 'calling out' as I keep seeing this repeatedly. :scratch:

IMHO there is nothing wrong with discussing this. This was posted on a public forum and they are allowed to post their names or remain totally anonymous if they choose. Yuan is right in his appraisal of this request and it is good to ask other believers if this should be prayed for, this is important to know. It is not focusing on someone being wrong but on what should we ask the Father for and for others to know how to pray for another, this is just an example.

Yuan you are correct, I would not agree in prayer for someone not married to have romance and satisfying sex. That in essence is being accomplice to someone sinning. Like someone asking for prayer that their bank heist go smoothly because they lost their job.

She states she left an abusive relationship, but does not say if it was a marriage or not. To agree in prayer with this request to me is to condone sin and should not be done.

Adventure, adoration, beauty , these are among the requests which are all self serving and vanity, and of the flesh. Again I would not agree with these or others like them. ( Job 15:31) And the word says that G-d will not hear it ( Job 35:13) nor will he regard it.

The one thing I would pray for is that she receive healing for her relationship and that if G-d wills she will find a faithful and fulfilling marriage where she can receive some of these things, but first and foremost that she seek the kingdom of G-d first , and let him decide what that life for her means.

[Ivy]

Can I ask you a question, Ivy?

This person is not married asking for romance and a good sex life..NOW. Do you not see a problem with that? If this person was asking for a same sex romance with good sex, NOW, what would you think?

I don't know how to pray exactly, but I think we are not to pray like that and people should be rebuked for praying like that. If Peter or Paul heard someone praying like that, I think they would be indignant.

I hear so many rude prayers. We should be praying remembering His sovereign will, not boasting or demanding. God will not listen to a prayer that boasts or demands. We need to be humble and inquire about His will.

yuan

I certainly agree with you that we shouldn't be giving rude & bossy prayers, but we should be praying for God's will.

I actually hadn't read the prayer carefully enough to notice that she was asking for <ahem> as part of her list. I guess I'd still like to give her the benefit of the doubt & hope that she was just crying out to God for a good marriage partner & for all the good gifts that go with that. Hopefully, that is what she meant; that would be the best thing to want & I'm sure God would want to give her that.

[visionary]

I prayers do not have to be perfect before the Lord will listen. The Lord knows our heart and our needs, and what is best for us. The very fact that this person is praying, is a start. She is obviously a long way in the pigpen of life, and just coming to her senses that she needs to come home to her Father. The Father will see more than just her need, He will see her prodical ways, and while she is yet a long way off... He already has His arms outstretched for her return to life in Him.

We will never be righteous enough to pray right. The scribes and pharisee's prayer was doctrinally correct in the eyes of those around them, but Yeshua looked at the poor soul who just pleaded with tears down the cheek, spiritual mouning, and heard the heart. He can work with that.

[Lulav]

I think, and I could be wrong, that Yuan was more concerned with agreeing with her about these needs, or perceived needs.

[visionary]

I realise that. I also agree with the accessment that they are not the type of prayers that the saints would make. Who said she was a saint? Her prayer indicates she is a sinner, and doesn't even seem to recognise the sinful things she is asking for in her prayer. That leaves us to only assume that she is just starting her journey home to the Father. She is a long way off. My prayer is that she continues to pray and pray and listen to the Lord show her the Way. May she be humble enough to obey Him and grow in Him, and then one day her prayers will be acceptable in His and our sight. I am just glad that she is praying. It is a start... and you have to start somewhere.

[Talmidah]

I realise that. I also agree with the accessment that they are not the type of prayers that the saints would make. Who said she was a saint? Her prayer indicates she is a sinner, and doesn't even seem to recognise the sinful things she is asking for in her prayer. That leaves us to only assume that she is just starting her journey home to the Father. She is a long way off. My prayer is that she continues to pray and pray and listen to the Lord show her the Way. May she be humble enough to obey Him and grow in Him, and then one day her prayers will be acceptable in His and our sight. I am just glad that she is praying. It is a start... and you have to start somewhere.

:thumbsup:

[Lulav]

I realise that. I also agree with the accessment that they are not the type of prayers that the saints would make. Who said she was a saint? Her prayer indicates she is a sinner, and doesn't even seem to recognise the sinful things she is asking for in her prayer. That leaves us to only assume that she is just starting her journey home to the Father. She is a long way off. My prayer is that she continues to pray and pray and listen to the Lord show her the Way. May she be humble enough to obey Him and grow in Him, and then one day her prayers will be acceptable in His and our sight. I am just glad that she is praying. It is a start... and you have to start somewhere. Of course , I understand what you are saying, but I guess I saw what she wrote differently, she wasn't praying, she was asking others to pray that she receive all those things, NOW.

In all good continence I can't and won't pray for this:

I am so utterly exhausted at being alone and taking care of everything all by myself. I feel like I am broken - please pray for me to stay strong and to respect my needs and settle for nothing less.I will pray for what is in green ( and have already) and for her safely, and wisdom and that her brokenness be healed, if that is in G-ds will for her right now, and what her needs really are ( not all those she listed) because the L-RD provides what He thinks are our needs, not what we think. I guess I have seen too many Christian broad casts that teach the name it and claim it and am afraid she falls into this.

I pray HaShem's will be done.

I guess this is what it all comes down to, G-d hears but does he answer selfish prayers? You could ask my husband this, he has a first hand, fresh answer. Today on his way to work after going to the funeral of the father of one of his co-workers,and then to the church and graveside as he was a pallbearer, his car broke down in a seedy part of town because he had gone the wrong way. When he told me this I told him that maybe the L-RD wanted to deal with something with him first being that we were cleaning out the chometzx and this was why. It even broke down in front of a service station and they helped him push it in there, and checked , but couldn't find the problem.

Anyway. he prayed and said the L-RD told him to start the car and go. So he did, and only made it up the road a few minutes and it died again. This time leaving him on the shoulder near a very busy on-ramp to a major highway. So I told him that maybe the L-RD wanted him away from the station where there was safety and help to continue dealing with him, because now all he had was the L-RD. And that's what it was, he was asking for the L-RD to start the car so he could get to work, because he wanted that. When he changed his prayer to , please start it, if you want me to go................., it did and off he went to work. But this was after the service station, and then a policeman at the ramp ( who asked him if he had a gun because he had his jacket folded on the seat, and he told him 'no', and lifted it up 'Just a box of matzah' I gave him to take for next week. The Policeman said he liked Matzah and was raised on it!, ^_^ then once more he stalled out on the highway and a road inspector came along. That's when he figured he was praying in the wrong way and changed it to 'Your will be done', and the car started and took him there and after work, started right up and made it all the way home.

[HaReb]

I just use the AA! :cool:

[Lulav]

:D, if only we had it! But HaShem is much more reliable, by my way of thinking! :thumbsup: