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Why are their prayers for such things on this board?

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Posted by: rswarts

Look at the birds of the air... they do not sow or reap... or store in barns.. yet our heavenly father feeds them. Is there any man or woman among you, who by anxious thought, could add a minute to your life or a foot to your height.. why the concern for your riches and material things. Consider how the lily's grow in the field. They do not work, nor spin... yet even Solomon in all his splendor was not attired like one of these! How little faith you have.. you ask 'What are we to eat?", 'What are we to drink?", 'What are we to wear?' when all these things are for the pagans to run after, not for you! Set your mind on God's kingdom and his justice above everything else and the rest will come to you. You have stored your treasure here on earth where there is rust and moth to devour it... and thieves to steal it. Store your treasures in heaven where there is no rust, nor moth, nor theif to steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
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How little faith you have! No man can serve two masters for he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to one and despise the other! You cannot serve both God and money!


This is what I see here... "Please pray that I get my car back now!" or "Please pray that my electricity is turned on back now!" or "Please pray for money! I need money!" or "Please pray, I need a new job!" and it sickens my heart....

These are things, as God said, for the pagans to run after... they pray to their gods and cast spells for riches when, in the words of St. Francis, we must learn to be humble and modest creatures, like the larks in the field who are but content with a sip of water and a few berries.

We too could be happy if we live as they live, content with little, singing and thanking the Lord who created us. Though we be cold and hungry sometimes, we should rejoice in our simplicity and in being without. In our obession for providing warmth and food for ourselves and our families, I feel we forget that God provides for the birds and creatures of the forest. Is it not so that He will provide for us as well, being that we are his favoured ones? Worry not over these things, and be content with what is! Open your hearts to Sister Poverty and your mind to Holy Spirit, that He may illuminate your soul.

I beg all of you to think about my words, and the later words of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lived his entire life content with little. Strive to be a beggar... Christ was a beggar... and do not indulge in prayers for money or warmth or food. If it be in your capacity, earn money to buy food for your family, but do not indulge in prayers for things not within your capacity (such as having God force the repair of your electricity or the repair of your car which you think Satan must have broken... I too have had a broken down car, before... but it wasn't Satan who broke it. It was because the car was old and imperfect, it was of this earth and being a treasure of earth, it was devoured).



-Robert


Posted by: StarChilde

Christ was not a beggar. As far as people asking prayer for the things which you see as worldly, and not necessary to pray for... prayer is an effective tool in storming the enemy, & even though the prayers may seem worldly to you, they are a part of that person's life, and thus important to them. Poverty is NOT my sister, & I do not feel it is pagan to want the essentials for my family.
Although I do agree with you about satan not being accountable for every bad thing that happens to us, we are to be in communion with God, & these things being a part of daily life, just get prayed about.
I have other tasks needing done which warrant my attention now, & at this time, am unable to give a longer reply, so pray that this will suffice in a reply for now.


Posted by: Shawn

Wow, it makes me sad to think that anyone would think this way.
I mean seriously, what good would God be to me if I could not ask for His help in my life with my daily needs.
There is nothing I have that He has not given me. I know that sounds like a weird statement, but it's so true.
Didn't He provide the mana for the isrealites when they left?
Didn't He provide a sacrifice for Moses?
Didn't He provide a donkey when Jesus needed it?

I don't know about your God, but I do know that my God gets a smile on His face when He sees me coming to Him in need and not rellying upon myself.
If I can't trust Him to provide my daily needs, how could I ever trust Him for salvation, healing of loved ones or myself, or any other "major" needs?

Maybe it's different for you, but I KNOW that my faith grows each and every time I goto Him with a need, whether I see the answer right away or not.

By your statement of faith, it would be a sin that we are praying for the finances for more servers to handle the traffic of this site, as that's a trivial matter by reading your thread. Would it be wrong for me to pray to have the power turned back on in order to continue praying for people on this site? Somehow I think not....
I beg to differ on your theology there, and would hope that someday you may at least understand where I personally am coming from.
My Lord delights in helping me through and providing for me each and every day. He loves it when I come and ask Him for help.

Please don't take my reply negativelly. It is not an attack, just a description of how this person believes the Lord likes to provide for him.

p.s.
welcome to the prayer board!


Posted by: rswarts

I am sorry for that explosion... I just read some of these prayers on this board and think to myself "Wow... these prayers are very materialistic."

There was one who was praying that God make her landlord repair her electricity NOW! Using the word "now!" alone makes it seem as if the person is demanding God to do this... whether it be His will or not.

I go to God in many things. If I am suffering, I turn to Him for comfort... if I am sad, I turn to Him for joy. If I am hungry, I pray to Him for food. If my car is broken down, however, I don't pray to Him to fix it... for that will come in due time. I thank Him for providing me with brothers and sisters in Christ who are generous enough to help me... if my electricity is out, I do not demand to God that it be repaired now... I take that time to be reminded that there are people without and that I am lucky to have this resource and the ability to pay for it. If you want to live life free, take your time... go slowly -Donovan. Be patient with your brothers and sisters and rejoice in life itself.

It is sad in this society when people have taken their needs far beyond the actual necessities for life. Be content with little. Clothing to cover my back, a little food to fill my stomach, water to fulfill my thirst, and brotherhood... If we are praying for things not of ourselves, such as finances to supply this website, that is not sinning. However, if I pray for finances to fulfill a luxury in my own life, such is giving into money... such is giving into materialistic desires that we pass off as "necessities".

I don't take your post negatively at all... I just am discouraged when I see people praying for things that seem very materialistic to me.

God Bless

-Robert

P.S. I have been here for quite a while


Posted by: rswarts

Christ was not a beggar... that is why he went from town to town relying on the generosity of those there for food, shelter, and companionship... Embrace Sister Poverty and conern yourself not with things of this world. God will provide. I was just dispairing when I read someone demanding God to repair her electricity... it made me sad...


Posted by: angelofthelord

Jesus said, "Ask in my name and the Father will provide". You may ask why we HUMANS ask and plead for our jobs to call us back to work, as to why we pray for our cars to run, why we ask for every need that we need to live, but let me ask you something? Where in your bible does it say we are not to ask the Father for our blessings?

Numerous accounts in the bible state that even though the Father knows what we need before we ask of it, He still wants us to ask. What would have happened if the lepers didn't ask to be healed by Jesus? What would have happened if the blind man didn't ask Jesus to see? What would have happened if lame didn't ask Jesus to heal them? What would have happened if sinners didn't ask GOD to forgive our sins?

NO. I disagree with you. Jesus told us on numerous occations throught Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to ask for those needs that are on our minds in HIS name and trust HIM and they will be provided unto us.


Posted by: rswarts

All of your examples were of people asking for healing by God. Through healing, God calls to us to serve Him. Through health, we are able to submit to His will more fully.

However, it is sad for me to read of someone demanding God to answer his or her prayer in supplying them with a luxury. In the end, that is what electricity is... a luxury... and that is what an automobile is... a luxury... Pray for things of heaven... and be content what is given to you on earth.

Quote:
Originally Posted by angelofthelord
Jesus said, "Ask in my name and the Father will provide". You may ask why we HUMANS ask and plead for our jobs to call us back to work, as to why we pray for our cars to run, why we ask for every need that we need to live, but let me ask you something? Where in your bible does it say we are not to ask the Father for our blessings?

Numerous accounts in the bible state that even though the Father knows what we need before we ask of it, He still wants us to ask. What would have happened if the lepers didn't ask to be healed by Jesus? What would have happened if the blind man didn't ask Jesus to see? What would have happened if lame didn't ask Jesus to heal them? What would have happened if sinners didn't ask GOD to forgive our sins?

NO. I disagree with you. Jesus told us on numerous occations throught Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to ask for those needs that are on our minds in HIS name and trust HIM and they will be provided unto us.



Posted by: Shawn

Quote:
Originally Posted by rswarts
I am sorry for that explosion... I just read some of these prayers on this board and think to myself "Wow... these prayers are very materialistic."

There was one who was praying that God make her landlord repair her electricity NOW! Using the word "now!" alone makes it seem as if the person is demanding God to do this... whether it be His will or not.

I go to God in many things. If I am suffering, I turn to Him for comfort... if I am sad, I turn to Him for joy. If I am hungry, I pray to Him for food. If my car is broken down, however, I don't pray to Him to fix it... for that will come in due time. I thank Him for providing me with brothers and sisters in Christ who are generous enough to help me... if my electricity is out, I do not demand to God that it be repaired now... I take that time to be reminded that there are people without and that I am lucky to have this resource and the ability to pay for it. If you want to live life free, take your time... go slowly -Donovan. Be patient with your brothers and sisters and rejoice in life itself.

It is sad in this society when people have taken their needs far beyond the actual necessities for life. Be content with little. Clothing to cover my back, a little food to fill my stomach, water to fulfill my thirst, and brotherhood... If we are praying for things not of ourselves, such as finances to supply this website, that is not sinning. However, if I pray for finances to fulfill a luxury in my own life, such is giving into money... such is giving into materialistic desires that we pass off as "necessities".

I don't take your post negatively at all... I just am discouraged when I see people praying for things that seem very materialistic to me.

God Bless

-Robert

P.S. I have been here for quite a while


It's important to remember that people are all at different levels of maturity in the Lord, and the way they express themselves, while sounding like demands, can be quite genuine. I know that even I can sound quite demanding at times, and I'm sure the Lord deals with me when I get out of line.
As to praying for vehicles etc, let me give you two very personal examples, that I am not soon to forget.
I remember being at a church on the final night of a very long revival. We were out packing up dad's car so that he could leave the building, I believe somewhere close to 11pm.
Dad got in to leave, and the car was totally dead. Not a battery, but dead.
I remember everyone standing around just waiting to see how dad would deal with it. Would he loose his temper, or would he turn to the Lord.
Right there on the spot, dad began to pray for an immediate solution, not one of those "if it's your will" type of prayers, but more I need this now type of prayer.
We got a ride home that night, seeing no answer yet.
It was only a matter of days that a brand new car was sitting in the driveway, as a gift from another church.
WOW WHAT AN ANSWER!

It couldn't have been more than a couple of years ago, that dad and my brother steve were traveling up the blues mountains in Idaho, pulling the motorhome trailer when the truck totally gave up. They were on the way to preach to many small towns that had never had the opportunity to hear dad preach.
Well as I hear it, dad and my bro began praying for an immediate solution.
To put a long story short, he left Idaho with a brand new truck, care of many people in the meetings he held.
Even better, How about the prayers for finances to come in immediatelly for the mission trip to Africa last year? Going to Africa was not a "necessity" for daily life, yet it was a huge desire of my father to bless the Lord by ministering.

I am not one of those "prosperity" type of believers, hoping that anything I want the Lord will give me. I do however strongly believe that there are times when it's important pray for an immediate answer.

You are correct. You can live without electricity, a car, or other same type of things. Do people on this site sometimes sound demanding? Well yes they do, but it's not really our job to judge them in that. That's the Lord's job.
Who really knows... He may be quite pleased to have person x coming to Him for an answer, even if they do sound somewhat demanding. It may be a huge step for them to have taken, where they would not have even thought of asking the Lord before.

I know that we, the staff at anointed, are quite pleased to have people coming here and posting their needs.
Would we prefer they try to sound a little less demanding? Yes, but that's not our job. Our job is to pray for them, and to hope that by leading by example that maybe some would learn a little.

This post is more to answer to those people that may have read the original post and were worried about even posting a prayer request due to feeling it was not a necessity.
There trully is no prayer request to small or unimportant for the Lord, and if they are asking out of greed, well we allready know how that is going to be answered.


Posted by: rswarts

Thanks for your response Shawn. I still am leaving here with a lot of joy and a little bit of sadness.

All of your examples were great acts of generosity by your parish to your father, as well as his strong desire to preach the Truth to all people. I just despair, sometimes, when I read a prayer and it seems overly demanding of the Lord who has given us so much.

-Robert

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn
It's important to remember that people are all at different levels of maturity in the Lord, and the way they express themselves, while sounding like demands, can be quite genuine. I know that even I can sound quite demanding at times, and I'm sure the Lord deals with me when I get out of line.
As to praying for vehicles etc, let me give you two very personal examples, that I am not soon to forget.
I remember being at a church on the final night of a very long revival. We were out packing up dad's car so that he could leave the building, I believe somewhere close to 11pm.
Dad got in to leave, and the car was totally dead. Not a battery, but dead.
I remember everyone standing around just waiting to see how dad would deal with it. Would he loose his temper, or would he turn to the Lord.
Right there on the spot, dad began to pray for an immediate solution, not one of those "if it's your will" type of prayers, but more I need this now type of prayer.
We got a ride home that night, seeing no answer yet.
It was only a matter of days that a brand new car was sitting in the driveway, as a gift from another church.
WOW WHAT AN ANSWER!

It couldn't have been more than a couple of years ago, that dad and my brother steve were traveling up the blues mountains in Idaho, pulling the motorhome trailer when the truck totally gave up. They were on the way to preach to many small towns that had never had the opportunity to hear dad preach.
Well as I hear it, dad and my bro began praying for an immediate solution.
To put a long story short, he left Idaho with a brand new truck, care of many people in the meetings he held.
Even better, How about the prayers for finances to come in immediatelly for the mission trip to Africa last year? Going to Africa was not a "necessity" for daily life, yet it was a huge desire of my father to bless the Lord by ministering.

I am not one of those "prosperity" type of believers, hoping that anything I want the Lord will give me. I do however strongly believe that there are times when it's important pray for an immediate answer.

You are correct. You can live without electricity, a car, or other same type of things. Do people on this site sometimes sound demanding? Well yes they do, but it's not really our job to judge them in that. That's the Lord's job.
Who really knows... He may be quite pleased to have person x coming to Him for an answer, even if they do sound somewhat demanding. It may be a huge step for them to have taken, where they would not have even thought of asking the Lord before.

I know that we, the staff at anointed, are quite pleased to have people coming here and posting their needs.
Would we prefer they try to sound a little less demanding? Yes, but that's not our job. Our job is to pray for them, and to hope that by leading by example that maybe some would learn a little.

This post is more to answer to those people that may have read the original post and were worried about even posting a prayer request due to feeling it was not a necessity.
There trully is no prayer request to small or unimportant for the Lord, and if they are asking out of greed, well we allready know how that is going to be answered.



Posted by: JeriRose12

What about the model prayer?

Plainly, it says:

Give us this day our daily bread


That is not a qusetion, not even asking. That is TELLING God to give it to us.


~JeriRose~
Finding HIM in 2004


Posted by: akabezalel

Hi Robert!

Yes, There are times when I am wondering where people are coming from and there are some requests that I cannot answer because I just want to whap the person up side the head to wake them up!

Others are writing the requests in a language that is not their mother tongue and they come across as demanding in English when in their own language they would be appalled at how demanding they sound!

Yes, some are being demanding two year olds and need to be dealt with by the Father! BUT, that is generally not our job here.

Immaturity is something that will pass in its time and these same people will look back and wonder at themselves and at some of the answers they received.

To me it does not matter where they are now, it matters to me where they are going from this point onward.

Are they going to turn toward God because they were prayed for with compassion and love or are they going to turn away from God because they were scoffed at for pouring their heart out in a child like or demanding request?

Does it pain God's heart that his children do not trust Him more? Probably, He answers anyway.

Unlike earthly parents He doesn't get angry at us pestering Him over and over again like my 4 year old grandson saying Gram-ma over and over and over and over and over! with the same request, question or demand... Thank God!

I lose it with Wess sometimes and he is just being a child... immature, demanding, and lovable.

God doesn't lose it with me or you or anyone else!

There comes a time in maturity when He tests you and your Faith and many fail the first dozen times through the test!

The good news is God does allow do overs... the better news is that once a test is passed you don't have to take it again!

We all have tests, some are passing their current test, others are not.

I hope that all requests are met with compassion and love and encouragement, no matter where they are.

I want to pray from the heart of God, not how I feel about the request.


Posted by: rswarts

Look at the totality of the Lord's Prayer;

Our father, who is in heaven, holy is your name.
May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not lead us into temptation and deliver us from evil.


That being clarified, how would it be if it said this:

"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD NOW! I WANT IT NOW! DRIVE SATAN FAR AWAY FROM ME! STOMP HIM INTO THE GROUND AND KILL HIM IN MY LIFE!"

There is a big difference between
"Hand me that cup, please."
and "HAND ME THAT CUP NOW!"

That, however, wasn't the point of the message.

I was just reaching out to all of you to strive for simplicity and away from materialistic things.

There is a big difference between asking God for food and asking God to force my landlord to fix my electricity... or to drive Satan away from my automobile so it will run properly, when Satan has little to do with the breakdown of an old vehicle...

-Robert

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeriRose12
What about the model prayer?

Plainly, it says:

Give us this day our daily bread


That is not a qusetion, not even asking. That is TELLING God to give it to us.


~JeriRose~
Finding HIM in 2004



Posted by: StarChilde

Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name: Here you are recognizing God as our Father, our Sovereign God, whose name is Holy, and that he is in heaven & we are moving into His Presence.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven: this acknowledges Kingdom priorities that above all, God’s will should be above ours

Give us this day our daily bread: here one should pray specifically for their needs, and for prosperity

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors: We receive forgiveness by releasing forgiveness to those who have wronged us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Here we ask God to deliver us from the evil power of Satan. We should put on the armor of God, & not give into temptation.

For Thine is the kingdom, & the power & the Glory forever and ever: Here we recognize God & praise Him for being who He is.

The emphasis is put on forgiveness, the composite of all the truth in the New Testament, that we should forgive others, so that God can forgive us. Unforgiveness blocks prayer. You can overcome the offenses of life that come against you. Offenses are when you do not agree with someone, or when we pick up the offenses of others, We can also offend ourselves, & be offended by our own offense. There are 5 things that you can do to overcome offenses.

1.) Do not curse it. Decide not to curse it, or give it more power.

2.) Do not rehearse it.Don’t say it again, When you say it, or rehearse it, it grows on you, and gains power.

3.) Do not nurse it. Begin to release it to God & do not dwell on it.

4.) Must disperse it. Psalms 51:10 David was so concerned about his offenses, that he was afraid that he would lose the presence of God’s Holy Spirit if he did not release the offense. He asked God to “create and renew a right sprit within him” Create is Barah, which is to make something new out of nothing, asked God to renew a right spirit inside him. We must do the same.

5.) God will reverse the offense. The thing that is/was sent to destroy you will become your stepping-stone on grace. The things meant and designed to kill us, God will turn around.


Posted by: JeriRose12

I am not saying that we should say "Now!", though I know I have prayed that in some areas -- more like, "Lord God, please touch Suzanne NOW!" I don't know if I've done this with finances.... I just wrote a prayer where I asked God to rebuke the devourer. Because the Bible says that He will if I am giving God the tithe that belongs to him. I based that whole prayer on the promises of Malachai 3:10 & 11.

What's this about embracing "Sister Poverty"? Where in the Bible does it say poverty is next to Godliness? That's as much of a false teaching as saying "Great gain is Godliness." The Bible says the diligent will prosper! It is the lazy who embrace "Sister Poverty." The Bible tells me I will be rewarded for giving to the poor, that I will be the lender and not the borrower, that he who seeks the Lord will lack no good thing, that my childen will be blessed, that my children will never be begging for bread, that the house of the righteous is full of wealth and riches. that if I honor the Lord with the first fruits of my income, my barns and vats will be full, that if I tithe and give offerings, the devourer will be rebuked. So I pray to that end. Whenever I put up a prayer for financial blessing, a bill to paid, something to be fixed, a new item I need, I pray it because of scriptures like those. Those are my promises! God's Word is true! I don't doubt He wants to provide ALL GOOD THINGS for me, as every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights and it says He provides all things richly for us to enjoy.

Read Deutieronomy, Chapter 8. The whole emphisis of that chapter is that God would bless His peoplel in the Promised land, but when He did, they were not to forget Him! God has no problem with us having things (how else could I be on here typing this, without this "thing" called a computer?). This is a ministry God has called me to, and, recently my computer died. I prayed it wuold be fixed (I didn't say "Now!"). I simply put up a list of needs, of which one was "Computer funcitoning properly." I could not figure out how to fix this one, even with help from others, so the owner of this site started a donation deal and they raised enough to get me a computer, so I cuold still come on here and pray.

I have had many, many financial miralces of late, most of them listed here on this site in requests. So, I know that God DOES WANT to give us the things we need. He is not offended when we ask.

~JeriRose~
Finding HIM in 2004


Posted by: FriendOfGod

I believe its just a matter of the motives for your requests. Whether they are selfish or not. You need to put God first, before things. Your greed is not to exceed your need. If I was being demanding about my car I'm sorry. God has dealt with me. Its up to the almighty whether I have wheels again and I humbly accept his will. I know that I have transportation needs, and that so far God has been graceful and faithful providing me with people to give me rides. I have praised God for those rides. I don't think transportation needs are selfish, especially when you need transportation to do God's will and to serve him. I do a lot of volunteer work. I serve my God. It concerns me if that is threatened. It is not all about me. It is about me some and those things that are important for me to do and take care of but mostly It is about God's will. Now, I am resting in God, believing for my car to be fixed in his timing when God knows there will not be someone available to give me a ride to an important place.
Thank you for your advice Robert. Forgive me for being demanding. I know that I have worried about my car and my problems too much and have not always focused on Jesus. I have repented and now I am like Jesus saying if at all possible take this cup of suffering away from me, but not my will your will be done. God Bless you.

Your sister in Christ

Janet


Posted by: rswarts

It is the lazy who embrace sister poverty? To do so is to move towards giving up everything that is earthly and dispersing what you have to those around you. The Bible says that The diligent will prosper, yes... whether you are diligent of things for earth or for heaven is another matter. Those who seek treasure of heaven will prosper in faith and seek riches of the heart will be given riches of the heart. You will be a lender, not a beggar... that is interesting that you relate that automatically to giving of materialistic things...

I was in deep despair when I was reading some of the prayers on here that seemed as if people were demanding God to give them material "necessities" and in my heart, I am doing my best to give thanks to Sister Poverty and be content with bit a little, as the larks are in the field, content with little... For God calls us to be like them. As I said, they do not reap nor seed nor store in barns, yet our heavenly Father feeds them... yet you clearly stated that you will be content with your full barns and vats...


"Do not store up for yourselves treasures of the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon!"

"Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet our heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow! They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. So do not worry saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we ear?" for these are things that the pagans run after, and our heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

"Therefore, do not worry about tommorow, for tommorow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

I am not judging you... I am trying to help all of you and help myself as well. I often follow the prayers of various people here and notice that for some (whom shall remain nameless) the constant prayer is for things of earth... I offer you, instead, to be as St. Francis of Assisi was, in praying for things of heaven and concerning not for things of the earth.

My initial post was not an attack on you, though it may have seemed that way... I was in dispair for what I was reading beforehand... and I was trying to offer my help and display my concern.

May the Word of the Father be with you always!

-Robert


Posted by: angelofthelord

and yet Jesus has said, "ask in my name whatever your need is, and the Father who loves the son will provide for him. For what father will refuse a child if they ask."

Sure God knows our desires & needs but HE WANTS US TO ASK....kinda makes us more dependent on Him...don't you think? Anyway I kinda like asking....


Posted by: Stratocaster

I agree that asking for "things" are gimme prayers, but I choose to have a personal relationship with my Father God, I generally talk to Him as though He were sitting in front of me as I don't think God cares about thees and thous nor long winded prayers with just the right words, rather I believe that God wants me to have a very personal relationship with Him and pour out my heart. Just as Jesus cried when Mary cried for Lazarus, so He cries with us, He feels our pains and our joys...He must as He lives in our hearts. We are humans with human emotions wants and desires, God expects nothing less of us than to ask Him for our needs regardless of how trivial it may seem to a bystander, our God wants us to have everything, do we get it...probably not, that's part of our growth process, but He does show us how to get it when we ask Him. To not ask Him is to be over confident and yes...self reliant. Didn't Jesus even ask to have the Cup He was about to taste taken from Him? We want what God Wills for us, sometimes that means we have to ask for something. As far as I know, I haven't seen any Scripture telling us not to ask The Father for specific things, in fact Jesus tells us to ask and ask and ask.
All Power, Honor and Glory to our Triune God!!


Posted by: rswarts

Just by reading all of your responses, I understand now that you don't get what I'm aiming at... if you desire to understand, meditate over the passages I gave to you, and study some on the lives of St. Clare and St. Francis as well as all those who gave up wordly possessions for heavenly.

Peace in Christ

-Robert

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stratocaster
I agree that asking for "things" are gimme prayers, but I choose to have a personal relationship with my Father God, I generally talk to Him as though He were sitting in front of me as I don't think God cares about thees and thous nor long winded prayers with just the right words, rather I believe that God wants me to have a very personal relationship with Him and pour out my heart. Just as Jesus cried when Mary cried for Lazarus, so He cries with us, He feels our pains and our joys...He must as He lives in our hearts. We are humans with human emotions wants and desires, God expects nothing less of us than to ask Him for our needs regardless of how trivial it may seem to a bystander, our God wants us to have everything, do we get it...probably not, that's part of our growth process, but He does show us how to get it when we ask Him. To not ask Him is to be over confident and yes...self reliant. Didn't Jesus even ask to have the Cup He was about to taste taken from Him? We want what God Wills for us, sometimes that means we have to ask for something. As far as I know, I haven't seen any Scripture telling us not to ask The Father for specific things, in fact Jesus tells us to ask and ask and ask.
All Power, Honor and Glory to our Triune God!!



Posted by: jedijeb

I have read through this thread an I see some of what Robert is talking about, and I believe it is the definition of "needs" or " necesities" that is hanging people up. We "need" food, clothing, and shelter, but what do we need beyond that. Electricity in nice to have but do we absolutely need it, well my dad lived withtout it till he was 6 years old, so I guess it isn't. Do I need the internet, no, sure it is great to have it so I can come here and share in fellowship with other Christians but if money ever gets tight, it will be one of the first things to go. Do we need a job, now this one hurts to say no but that is still the answer. I know you will say " but that is how I pay for my food" but look at the primitive peoples of this world who have never heard of a career, they stay fed and clothed, maybe it is with grass skirts and animal skins but they are clothed. Do I need a house, hmmmm guess that is no again. A cave would give me shelter from the elements and I wonder how many nights Jesus spent sleeping under a tree instead of in a bed in a house. Just think of Jonah, when he was sitting back watch the people of Ninivah, God didnt build him a house, He grew up a vine to give him shade. A car, that is a biggie too, but I know my grandparents talked over 10 miles to town just to go to the grocery when they were young, they had no car and saved the horse for plowing the ground instead of riding.

None of these things are necesities or needs. They are blessings which God has allowed us to have, or provided us with to further His kingdom. God allows me to have a job to pay for the things He wants me to have, like the internet so I can come here and learn more about Him or help others to learn and to pray with everyone here. I think our prayers should be more along the lines of " Lord grant me the things necessary to do Your will " and if what is needed is a car and a job then God will provide those things. I used to immediately ask the Lord to restore my electricity when it went out, but now I ask Him, Lord are you trying to quiet things a little so I will spend more time with You. Maybe that car being broken is God's way of opening a door for someone to witness, maybe to whoever will give you a ride while it is broker or maybe the person who is fixing it, but if the car is needed then God will provide the necessary repairs when they are needed. We have to seek God first in all things, even the ones we think are important but may not be.

Another thing I read here stuck in my mind. It is not often at all that I will disagree with sister Jeri, but I have to disagree with the statement concerning " Give us this day our daily bread" as telling God to do something. I truely believe that is a request instead of an order. Give can be a command or a request, and I know that if I used it as a command with my earthly father it wouldn't go over to well. Also if you really look at places in the Bible where people demanded things of God, the results were not good, take for instance when Isreal demanded a king when God wanted to give them judges. God did as they demanded, but how many bad kings did they get? I also must disagree somewhat with the statement that it is the motives with which we ask, because we can ask for the wrong things while having the greatest of motives, as it has been said before, the road to destruction is paved with good intentions. On the other hand I also do not agree with embracing "sister poverty" because to seek poverty may not be what God is asking us to do either. Seeking poverty as a means of lifting ourselves up can lead to a sin of pride in our poverty which is just as bad as the sin of greed. We must not seek either poverty or prosperity, what we must seek is God's will. David was a mad after God's own heart and he was by no means poor, but on the other hand John the Baptist was one of God strongest witness and probably never owned a thing. But they were both in the center of God's will and doing what He had for them to do. So it comes down to " Seek first the kingdom of God, and the rest will be provided for you" and that does't not mean we will be rich, but that God will give us what we need to do what He has designed our lives to do for Him. He will give us the desires of our heart, when the desires of our heart are those which He places there.


Posted by: prophecy

When people pray for money, or food, or electricity, etc., they are praying for God to bless them with these things. They are not actually praying to the things. We are trusting in GOD that HE will supply these things. We are to work for God in ways that He tells us, and work for man to show God that we're not being lazy and asking for something for nothing. The birds and flowers do sow and reap. The birds carry and drop seeds, then they eat the harvest. And they can build their nests. The flowers spread their seed through the wind and they are sown into the ground and grow. Do you work to make money? If so, then are you worshipping money or your boss? No! You're obeying God. We can be content with little, but we can also have faith that God loves us enough to give us more than enough to bless His Kingdom and others whom He leads us to. We can and will worship God. Rich or poor. You are wrong. Christ was NOT a beggar, and He never will be! He had the faith to know that God would provide when He was here on earth. Whether He was rich or poor. And He obeyed God. God doesn't want us to beg. He wants us to obey! He wants us to grow our faith so much that we know, and others know who we are in Him. If others know who we are in Christ then they will want what we have. HIM! God is good with or without things. And we are to praise Him, even if He never blessed us another day in our lives. You are being selfish by not asking God for more than enough. Then you won't have enough for His Kingdom and others. You will only have enough for yourself. Do you have kids? Do you love them? Do you want your loved ones to beg you for love and gifts? The spirit of poverty is not a good spirit. But the Holy Spirit is good. The more we read the Bible and learn what God wants us to do, and obey the Holy Spirit inside of us, the more God will want to bless us. Whether we ask or not. But when we ask, that is showing God that we acknowlede that our blessings are coming from Him, and we have a chance to thank Him. He wants to bless us with wisdom, and love, and even material things. Because He loves us, and we love Him. Just remember, He doesn't want us to beg, or think that we should just have things handed down to us for nothing. All He asks is that we love and obey Him. And we can know how to do that by reading and listening to His Word over and over again. Another thing that helps is to ask Him to give you wisdom and show you where to find wisdom. I pray that you get wisdom, and obey God when He gives you that wisdom. I also pray that the spirit of poverty leave you and every person in this country now in the name of JESUS! Thank You in advance for Your wisdom, and love, and for hearing and answering ALL of our prayer God. AMEN!