a gentle rant about prayer

[granmahen]

Okay, I want to start out by saying I'm a minister's wife. That said, here goes. I am so tired of public prayers that seem to be preaching to the listeners here on this earth rather than the praising, adoring, thanking or beseeching of God. Yikes and double yikes. I wonder if God feels the same way?

 

[WriterofWords]

Watched the inauguration huh?

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
the answer to your question is already written in the book....
think pharisees...

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

It's something we all have to be aware of.

Even my kindergartner does it: "...and God, please don't let bubby toot on my bed anymore!"

I'll translate, if necessary, for anyone who doesn't know what 'toot" means.

Of course this prayer was said within hearing of the tooting older brother who temporarily lost the privelege of watching a movie while sitting on his sister's bed.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Personally, when someone asks for prayer I stop right then and there and send one up. I don't think God minds.......

 

[granmahen]

My favorite kind of pray-ers are those that stop right there and pray. I confess I don't do that often enough (read rarely) but am trying.

 

[debilorrah]

I am ready to stop and pray when I open the thread. If I don't have time or inclination I wait to open it. I figure people are askin for a reason, so I had better be prepared when I open it.

 

[Felicitas]

Quote:
Personally, when someone asks for prayer I stop right then and there and send one up. I don't think God minds.......

That would fall under the category of beseeching.

I get what granmahen is saying. I too am put off by people who use the occasion of public prayer to make it into a speech about political or social issues, or make the prayer about themselves, or whatever. It defeats the purpose of prayer, in my mind.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
I can't speak for God but I agree with you!

 

[curliet]

I agree with you. Too many people have made the Creator into their own errand boy or Santa Claus. I hear so many "please let our team win the game" and 'Make my car start" and "help us pay the bills". Instead the prayer could be about giving thanks for having been given the talent to play the game, or appreciation for having a car to start with, or the skills to go out and get another job to pay your own bills. I can't believe that God is waiting for us to goof up so that we can be penalized by having our team lose, or our car conk out or our bills get overdue. And, that goes for bigger issues, world and national as well. When will people catch on, that we have already been given everything we could possibly need, and all we have to do is say "thank You" and use our heads to decide how it was meant to be used.