After our group bible study last night, we separated into small groups and prayed. And there were several requests which made me weep. That one post from mid-December called “Prayer Requests” which invited people to post prayer requests is still getting comments. That surprised me, because this blog is so small – only about 3,000 visitors a month – and where are these people coming from?
It turns out, they’re searching for “prayer requests” and they get sent here. Now think of that for a moment – someone so desperate for prayer they resort to Google – why don’t they go to church? Surely they realize that many people in a church would be delighted to pray for them? Maybe they do realize it. But the problem is that asking for prayer makes you vulnerable. It’s hard to do. You have to expose your heart, you have to say your innermost need aloud – to a person or even more than one person. Asking for prayer is painfully difficult when you’re not practiced at it. When people talk about the need for Christians to be “transparent” – well, this is it. Letting people see right into you where it hurts.
It is painful. But the rewards for doing it are beyond compare.
I have been praying for those who left prayer requests, but on further reflection, I’m no longer praying for the specific requests. I’m praying that God leads them to a church home where they will be ministered to in a personal way.
Before you judge….perhaps you should note that “some” of us DO GO TO CHURCH. The fellowship of others in prayer was why I posted my prayer…..in hindsight I will decline doing so in the future. I will as well pray for you.
That seems a little unfair. Laura was in no way “judging” anyone.
AJ, I’m truly sorry that I offended you. As for judging – if you noticed, in that original post I *also* included a prayer request for myself.
This post represents a change in my thinking on this matter – that rather than asking anonymous strangers on the internet to pray for us (that’s US, me included), we would do better to bring those requests to our home fellowships, where people know us, where they know more of the backstory behind the prayer request, where they can also help in practical ways, and where if necessary they can hold us accountable. An anonymous prayer request online robs us of the experience of being “transparent” with our fellow Christians. It robs us of the experience of being an example to others; when people see us in an ongoing struggle, especially when we are dealing with it in a Godly way, God can use that to minister to other people. Just as Paul’s struggles with the thorn in his side teach the body today, our own struggles have the ability to teach others. Anonymous prayer requests can’t fulfill that purpose.
I in NO WAY intended to imply that everyone who asks for prayer online fails to go to church. Only that they (we!) are “missing the boat” when we do not bring these requests primarily to our home fellowships. AND that people receiving requests online, as I began to do, unless they have unlimited dedication and time to pray, would do better to spend that time deepening their relationships with fellow church members, for exactly the reasons I just stated.
I hope that clears things up. It was not my intent to insult you or anyone else; I just wanted to express a change in my thinking on this matter.
As stated I will pray for you & others regardless of the anonymity, circumstance incarcerated, hospice patients geographical distance (troops overseas)or other individuals not immediately able to attend their “home fellowships” etc.
God Bless You
I need plenty more belief, plenty more power of prayer and more Holy Ghost with me. Please pray also that God gives me gifts of God’s grace.
Please, keep Nebojsa and I in continued prayers for:
- OUR COMPLETE RECONCILIATION
That Nebojsa DOES NOT GET INVOLVED INTO ANY NEW RELATIONSHIP, BUT THAT GOD PUT US BACK TOGETHER AND LET US BE HAPPY AGAIN.
That God somehow works out reconciliation, peace and protecion of our relationship, love and future.
- THAT OUR LOVE FOREVER WILL BE STRONG FOR GOD AND FOR EACH OTHER.
- THAT GOD KEEP EVIL INFLUENCES AND ENVY AND JEALOUS OPINIONS FROM US.
- THAT NEBOJSA STOP THINKING ABOUT NEGATIVE THINGS AND QUARRELLING, TO LET GO OF THINGS AND THAT GOD REALLY BRING TO HIS THOUGHTS GOOD THINGS WE HAD, TIME TOGETHER, THINGS WE SHARED, OUR LOVE.
Please, keep my friend MARINA in prayers:
- That God bring THE RIGHT AND PERFECT PERSON FOR HER, REAL, SUPER, EXTRA GENTLEMAN
- That HER FATHER FINDS NEW JOB.
Thank you very much.
God bless you.
I will pray for you.
Katarina from Belgrade