Prayer: To be specific or not? (Full Version)

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contentment16 -> Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/9/2008 6:30:46 PM)

Should you be very specific when you pray? Like for a job. mate, etc. What if you desire the "wrong" thing?

So basically, how specific are you when you pray? Do you know a scripture that details your method?

bless~



SavedByGraceMD -> RE: Prayer (7/9/2008 6:48:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: contentment16

Should you be very specific when you pray? Like for a job. mate, etc. What if you desire the "wrong" thing?

So basically, how specific are you when you pray? Do you know a scripture that details your method?

bless~

I think depending on the situation, it is ok to pray for a specific thing, like your examples.

But more often than not, I think we should be praying to just let Gods will reign in our life. Let His will become our own, you know what I mean. Not my will but yours be done type of prayer, since He already knows what we desire, what we want, and more importantly, what we need.



naomigo -> RE: Prayer (7/9/2008 6:50:45 PM)

he knows our wants before we even ask.and he knows whats best even if its something we want and dont get. he,s our heavenally father he knows what we need and will provide.



LCannon -> RE: Prayer (7/9/2008 6:51:33 PM)

God encourages prayer in all forms even selfish and self-serving ones. However we should allow the Author of Blessing to modify or even change the thrust of our limited perspective to His eternal perspective. I always think of Daniel 9 in this context. I would love to hear how his prayer changed in tone through the 21 days.



contentment16 -> RE: Prayer (7/9/2008 7:08:10 PM)

Yeah but we still need to communicate with Him. I know the Lord has told me to pour out my heart to Him.

I just need to know what I can ask for specifically because I cannot excercise my faith effectively without understanding what is allowed in subjective requests.....



Liveloved -> RE: Prayer (7/9/2008 7:12:17 PM)

I see prayer different than most.

For me, prayer begins and ends with God. It is not about me. It is about Him. So I pray His word. I pray His word for me, for the world, for my friends, for those who are not my friends, for whoever He brings to mind. I use the psalms as my prayer book.

He knows what needs to be said. He knows what needs to be prayed over. Pray His word. He's given you a prayer book, the Psalms. Use it. Bless ya![:)]



contentment16 -> RE: Prayer (7/9/2008 7:15:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Liveloved
Pray His word. He's given you a prayer book, the Psalms. Use it. Bless ya![:)]


I can dig that[:'(]



tapestry -> RE: Prayer (7/9/2008 7:16:08 PM)

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Matthew 7:7 - "Ask, and it will be given to you;

Matthew 7:11 -If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

This to me appears that God expects to hear our requests. He wants us to ask.
When our children ask us for something they are very specific. They don't just say, "well I would like a skate board, anyone you think will do" No, they cut out a picture, they show it to us and tell us what color, shape, pattern, wheel type etc etc. They put the picture on thier bedroom wall and dream about it, trusting that thier parents will pay attention and get that one.
We are Gods children and He also expects us to ask Him about and for those things we are excited about and dream about.



mvic -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/9/2008 8:09:13 PM)

We should pray for what we need, not what we want. Sometimes, He will say "No" or "Not yet". We should learn to be patient, since He knows what we are asking for may not be the best thing for us at this point in time.



luv2prayzHim -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/9/2008 8:29:22 PM)

I am not trying to be judgmental here because the Lord has been dealing with me and my prayer life. If there is no need to be specific then how much time do you spend communicating with Him? A simple, 'Lord, bless my day and guide me in all I say and do. Be with my family a friends. Amen.' cut it then? I mean what's the point in praying if He already knows that I need a job, or my child needs healing, or my family is lost, or I think you get my point. I think He longs to hear from us. How many of us long to hear from our children?

Someone said that when our children ask of us they are very specific - which lead me to think of a prayer somewhat like this: Where are you going? No where. What are you doing? Nothing. Who were you with? No one. I know as parents we wouldn't be happy with that kind of conversation.

I say be specific. So when God answers a specific prayer you can give specific testimony. It's always much more exciting to hear when God answered specific requests. It shows that He is interested in the little things.



SonInMe1 -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/9/2008 8:42:26 PM)

James 4:1-3

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?
4:2
You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.
4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.



Walker311 -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/9/2008 11:15:59 PM)

Scripture says that He knows what we need before we ask. God also knows what is best for you and I. If we ask for the wrong things, He may grant our prayers anyway to teach us.

Scripture says that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much and if our hearts are in the right place, we will have a better understanding what we should pray for. God helped me pass a test recently that I should have flunked even though I prepared as best that I could. I spent a great deal of time praising Him because I knew that He heard my prayers.



Preludeian -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/10/2008 12:00:00 AM)

When I pray I ask for general things for the most part. Protection, Guidance, Wisdom. Then, I pray for the same for others in my life. Now, sometimes in throughout the day I will 'conversate' with him and ask him specific things within my heart. This way, when I get my answer I know exactly what question he's responding to. Sometimes we ask for things that can be answered immediately and sometimes we ask for things that will take time. Always remember .:. The Lord's hands move like the hands of a clock. PERFECTLY on TIME.



truthrevealed -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/10/2008 12:16:47 AM)

I was ALWAYS taught, growing up, to be specific in prayer. When God grants your SPECIFIC petition then you'll know it was Him answering your prayer. God hears and answers those prayers that are according to His will(I john 5) so I don't worry about asking for something He doesn't want me to have because He's sovereign enough(and loves me enough) not to give me what I should not have.
God is a personal God who desires our fellowship. I believe He delights in granting our petitions(yes, according to His will)and doing for us above and beyond what we ask because He is our Father. I certainly agree that we should pray his word and VEHEMENTLY disagree that we should only pray what we need and not what we want......I don't serve that type of God.........AND as you grow in God your wants BECOME his wants......and He wants and gives GOOD gifts to His children........those who will RECIEVE it by faith........



TheBibleTRUTH -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/10/2008 12:19:05 AM)

Philippians 4:6
6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

The word supplication means "specific prayer." So absolutely pray for specific things! Just be sure that you aren't asking for stuff you don't need. Your needs and wants need to be in line with Gods word.



mvic -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/10/2008 7:12:07 AM)

Praying is having a conversation with God, and listening to Him of course.

I find myself praying silently several times in a day. For example should I meet someone and they are busily telling me about their health, their visit to hospital and so on ... I silently pray for them that God may give them strength to go on, to bless them etc ...

The best prayers are those said on behalf of someone else.



tapestry -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/10/2008 7:23:50 AM)

so our kids should only be asking us for what they need? No kid does that, they are more likely to ask for what they want. As parents we decide what we will give to them. Our heavenly Father is the same (we are made in His image). God wants to hear it all, our needs, our wants, our desires, our dreams etc, etc. Yes, He does know all this, but He still wants to hear about it.



makarizo -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/10/2008 7:25:10 AM)

Rom 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

let the Spirit intercede, and God will take care of the details.



contentment16 -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/10/2008 11:41:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheBibleTRUTH

Philippians 4:6
6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

The word supplication means "specific prayer." So absolutely pray for specific things! Just be sure that you aren't asking for stuff you don't need. Your needs and wants need to be in line with Gods word.



where do you get that definition of supplication? Merriam Webste ronline does not say that [;)]



contentment16 -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/10/2008 11:44:31 AM)

I wish there were a more specific scripture/example in scripture to explain the specificity question?[>:]

Although, in my spirit I decided to be specific on the particular inquiry that led me to start this thread.

many blessings~



OneJohn410 -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/11/2008 1:50:48 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: contentment16

I wish there were a more specific scripture/example in scripture to explain the specificity question?[>:]

Although, in my spirit I decided to be specific on the particular inquiry that led me to start this thread.

many blessings~


If it's been mentioned already, my apologies, but I think it hasn't, because I don't know a more specific example than Luke 11:1-4. In the NLT, Jesus' instruction to His disciples on how to pray reads:
"This is how you should pray. Father, may Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation."

That may not look very specific, because it can be said quickly... there's no breaks when distraction or tiredness enter in... whatever. It is highly specific, though, and at the same time makes me think about Jesus' instructions as to how you should pray. That you arent' out on the street corner where everyone can see and hear you as you thrill in the sound of your own voice while you pray on and on and prove your goodness to the whole town. The Holy Spirit is part of your prayers too, and the Bible assures us that the Spirit is groaning away in the manner that God understands and hears- that in this temporary life we lack the knowledge of how to even excuse ourselves and capture God's attention. That to me is an awesome blessing, and that when asked I can audibly say something in English that those around me let me know they appreciate when I'm praying unpractices and right then and there. I can barely do that when I'm not praying.

Praying the wrong thing... and getting it and then thinking God gave it to you to learn a lesson, or punish you for being naive. Hey, I get some deep and discomforting thoughts like that too. One thing I don't think I'll find myself doing is praying about something and then in prayer specifically requesting for God to provide healing to someone in the way I spell out... that things be returned back to how they were. I don't like the thought of praying God into a box where the only way I figure He can answer is to do what I request, or that situation A happen so that someone in it can see something and realize he/she needs to take action such and so. That's a level of specificity I don't want a part of.

OneJohn410



Roberta_ -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/11/2008 1:59:20 AM)

I think prayer can be either way.

Some prayers in the Bible are very detailed. Others are like Peter when he stepped off the boat. When he knew he was going under, he cried out, "Help!"



contentment16 -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/11/2008 4:45:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneJohn410

quote:

ORIGINAL: contentment16

I wish there were a more specific scripture/example in scripture to explain the specificity question?[>:]

Although, in my spirit I decided to be specific on the particular inquiry that led me to start this thread.

many blessings~


If it's been mentioned already, my apologies, but I think it hasn't, because I don't know a more specific example than Luke 11:1-4. In the NLT, Jesus' instruction to His disciples on how to pray reads:
"This is how you should pray. Father, may Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation."

That may not look very specific, because it can be said quickly... there's no breaks when distraction or tiredness enter in... whatever. It is highly specific, though, and at the same time makes me think about Jesus' instructions as to how you should pray. That you arent' out on the street corner where everyone can see and hear you as you thrill in the sound of your own voice while you pray on and on and prove your goodness to the whole town. The Holy Spirit is part of your prayers too, and the Bible assures us that the Spirit is groaning away in the manner that God understands and hears- that in this temporary life we lack the knowledge of how to even excuse ourselves and capture God's attention. That to me is an awesome blessing, and that when asked I can audibly say something in English that those around me let me know they appreciate when I'm praying unpractices and right then and there. I can barely do that when I'm not praying.

Praying the wrong thing... and getting it and then thinking God gave it to you to learn a lesson, or punish you for being naive. Hey, I get some deep and discomforting thoughts like that too. One thing I don't think I'll find myself doing is praying about something and then in prayer specifically requesting for God to provide healing to someone in the way I spell out... that things be returned back to how they were. I don't like the thought of praying God into a box where the only way I figure He can answer is to do what I request, or that situation A happen so that someone in it can see something and realize he/she needs to take action such and so. That's a level of specificity I don't want a part of.

OneJohn410


thanks John, duh me [:D]



iheartgmc -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/12/2008 1:33:12 PM)

be careful what you pray for!! in the end, pray that God's will is done and also remeber that the Bible says that God will supply every need. but my revelation on this is that He will supply every NEED but NOT every WANT.

amen.



tapestry -> RE: Prayer: To be specific or not? (7/12/2008 2:10:05 PM)

If God created us with desires and dreams and wants, why then would it not be in His plan for us to talk to Him about them?
My kids talk to me about these things and I love to hear from them. I may not do anything about thier requests and even think they are especially good for them, but I still want to hear from them about them.

If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him
Matthew 7:11

God will not always answer the way we want (and we would be wrong to expect Him to) but He wants to hear from us about everything and anything just the same.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4: 6



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