Prayer dilemmas

[Dropship]

Firstly, should we pray for people even though they've said they don't want us to?
For example, a few years ago a chap who ran a net gaming forum said he was having to close it down because his time was fully taken up by looking after his sick wife who needed a heart/lung transplant, so I asked him if he'd like us to pray for her.
"Thanks but no thanks" he replied, "she's got people looking after her"
So should we have prayed for her regardless, even though he didn't want us to?

Secondly, a lady once came into a religious forum and asked us to pray that the marriage of her and her partner would be a success, so of course forum members said "Yes".
But she later admitted it was a lesbian relationship and she was amused at having suckered us into praying for them.
So should we pray "blind" for people or ask them to give us more details first so that we'll know exactly what they want us to pray for?

 

[Angelina]

Firstly, should we pray for people even though they've said they don't want us to?
For example, a few years ago a chap who ran a net gaming forum said he was having to close it down because his time was fully taken up by looking after his sick wife who needed a heart/lung transplant, so I asked him if he'd like us to pray for her.
"Thanks but no thanks" he replied, "she's got people looking after her"
So should we have prayed for her regardless, even though he didn't want us to?

Secondly, a lady once came into a religious forum and asked us to pray that the marriage of her and her partner would be a success, so of course forum members said "Yes".
But she later admitted it was a lesbian relationship and she was amused at having suckered us into praying for them.
So should we pray "blind" for people or ask them to give us more details first so that we'll know exactly what they want us to pray for?

I pray for people who do not want me to, all the time. At the end of the day, our prayers go up to God who knows all things. He will either answer our prayers or he will not. Our job is to pray. God does all the working out of those "prayers of the saints" :)

 

[Angelina]

It's very much like giving money to a street beggar who is needing food or giving money to a charity or tithing. We don't know where that money will end up. It's not our business to know these things. Our business is to give as the Holy Spirit moves us. Our part is over. Those who receive will have to contend with their own conscience and of course - God, who knows the beginning from the end. :)

 

[Pearl]

I don't ask but have sometimes said to people 'I will pray for you' and they usually say 'Thank you'. Nobody has ever said not to. Also I pray for people and situations that I hear about, again without asking. But I usually ask God to meet their needs as I do not know.

 

[Matthias]

Firstly, should we pray for people even though they've said they don't want us to?
For example, a few years ago a chap who ran a net gaming forum said he was having to close it down because his time was fully taken up by looking after his sick wife who needed a heart/lung transplant, so I asked him if he'd like us to pray for her.
"Thanks but no thanks" he replied, "she's got people looking after her"
So should we have prayed for her regardless, even though he didn't want us to?

Secondly, a lady once came into a religious forum and asked us to pray that the marriage of her and her partner would be a success, so of course forum members said "Yes".
But she later admitted it was a lesbian relationship and she was amused at having suckered us into praying for them.
So should we pray "blind" for people or ask them to give us more details first so that we'll know exactly what they want us to pray for?

In both scenarios you presented, I would pray for someone as lead in my spirit by my Father’s spirit to pray and leave it in his hands.

What about the reverse situation? Has a non-Christian ever asked you if you would like he or she to pray for you? Has a non-Christian ever told you that he or she was praying for you? If so, what would you say to that person?

I’ve had those reverse experiences - with Jews, Muslims, and I’m sure others that aren’t instantly coming to mind.

 

[Taken]

In both scenarios you presented, I would pray for someone as lead in my spirit by my Father’s spirit to pray and leave it in his hands.

What about the reverse situation? Has a non-Christian ever asked you if you would like he or she to pray for you? Has a non-Christian ever told you that he or she was praying for you? If so, what would you say to that person?

I’ve had those reverse experiences - with Jews, Muslims, and I’m sure others that aren’t instantly coming to mind.

I’ve had a muslim ask me to pray for them

 

[Matthias]

I’ve had a muslim ask me to pray for them

I have too. I did. I hope you did too.

Has a Muslim ever asked you if you would like he or she to pray for you? If not, what would you say if they did?

 

[Dropship]

..Our business is to give as the Holy Spirit moves us. Our part is over..

Hmm.. if a gay or lesbian couple asked me to pray that their partnership will be a success, the holy spirit would almost certainly move me to say to them "Sorry no can do, you'll have to pray to God yourself"..:)

 

[Pearl]

Hmm.. if a gay or lesbian couple asked me to pray that their partnership will be a success, the holy spirit would almost certainly move me to say to them "Sorry no can do, you'll have to pray to God yourself"..:)

You could agree to pray and then pray that they would see the error of their ways.

 

[Dropship]

..What about the reverse situation? Has a non-Christian ever asked you if you would like he or she to pray for you? Has a non-Christian ever told you that he or she was praying for you?..

Nope I wouldn't want them to pray to their tinpot "gods" anyway because their "gods" don't exist and their prayers are therefore as useless as blank ammunition, so they might just as well whistle dixie for all the good it'd do..:)

 

[Angelina]

Hmm.. if a gay or lesbian couple asked me to pray that their partnership will be a success, the holy spirit would almost certainly move me to say to them "Sorry no can do, you'll have to pray to God yourself"..:)

I would pray God's divinely intervene in their lives and that he becomes real to them in a mighty and powerful way. No-one can dictate to me how I should pray on their behalf. I follow God and pray his will....:)

 

[Dropship]

Hmm.. if a gay or lesbian couple asked me to pray that their partnership will be a success, the holy spirit would almost certainly move me to say to them "Sorry no can do, you'll have to pray to God yourself"..:)

You could agree to pray and then pray that they would see the error of their ways.

I'd say to them "I'll pray for you but only to ask God to cure you of your perversion"..:)

 

[Matthias]

Nope I wouldn't want them to pray to their tinpot "gods" anyway because their "gods" don't exist and their prayers are therefore as useless as blank ammunition, so they might just as well whistle dixie for all the good it'd do..:)

I understand and appreciate the sentiment. They might very well think the same about us and our God.

What do you think the odds are that they would listen to anything that you had to say to them about God and Christ after that?

 

[Dropship]

Let me toss another dilemma into the playpen-
Suppose somebody said "Please pray that i'll win the lottery and become a millionnaire", what should we do?

PS- Here's a prayer for me which you might like to oblige me with- Please ask God to make the woman in the Next store fancy me like crazy..:)

 

[Dropship]

Nope I wouldn't want them to pray to their tinpot "gods" anyway because their "gods" don't exist and their prayers are therefore as useless as blank ammunition, so they might just as well whistle dixie for all the good it'd do..:)

I understand and appreciate the sentiment. They might very well think the same about us and our God.
What do you think the odds are that they would listen to anything that you had to say to them about God and Christ after that?

The founders of their crackpot religions are all corpses in boxes and graves somewhere, but Jesus is not, and I don't care two hoots what Jesus-rejecters think..:)

 

[Matthias]

I don't care two hoots what Jesus-rejecters think..:)

Well, I think they’d pick up on that pretty quickly. Ironically, it might cause them to pray for you even more.

I care what Jesus-rejectors think. Occupational hazard, I reckon.

 

[Taken]

I have too. I did. I hope you did too.

Has a Muslim ever asked you if you would like he or she to pray for you? If not, what would you say if they did?

Yes, of course.

 

[Taken]

@Matthias
Remember back in the day of land lines and the endless soliciting calls with foreign speakers?
So one day I receive a call, he gives his pitch, I ask his physical location. India. I said I’m not interested in his pitch, but asked would he like to hear about Jesus Christ. He immediately said Yes. We spoke for over 45 minutes. He had many questions. Very pleasant enchange.

 

[Taken]

Firstly, should we pray for people even though they've said they don't want us to?
For example, a few years ago a chap who ran a net gaming forum said he was having to close it down because his time was fully taken up by looking after his sick wife who needed a heart/lung transplant, so I asked him if he'd like us to pray for her.
"Thanks but no thanks" he replied, "she's got people looking after her"
So should we have prayed for her regardless, even though he didn't want us to?

Secondly, a lady once came into a religious forum and asked us to pray that the marriage of her and her partner would be a success, so of course forum members said "Yes".
But she later admitted it was a lesbian relationship and she was amused at having suckered us into praying for them.
So should we pray "blind" for people or ask them to give us more details first so that we'll know exactly what they want us to pray for?

God will sort it out. Your intentions were noble, reward for you. The lady’s intentions were deceptive and she was happy about her deception. Her works will be burned.
God is Just.

 

[Matthias]

Yes, of course.

So you must have established a good relationship with the Muslim.

That’s what happened in my case.

One day at work I overheard a conversation about religion between a Muslim co-worker and an agnostic co-worker. It didn’t end well for either of them. When the agnostic left the office I told the Muslim that I would like to talk with him sometime about the God of Abraham. His eyes lit up and he said, “You’re a Christian. Do you believe in the God of Abraham?” I replied that I do. He said, “But Christians are trinitarians.” I told him that I wasn’t a trinitarian. When he heard that, a huge smile burst on his face. He practically screamed, “Oh my God! I’ve been waiting my whole life to speak to someone like you. I have so many questions I want to ask you.” It was the beginning of a friendship.

One day I told him that I had heard that if a non-Muslim asked a Muslim for a copy of the Quran that the Muslim would give the non-Muslim a copy. I told him that I had never read it but would like to. He said it was true, and the next day or two, he gave me a copy, in English. I told him I was sure I would have questions after I read it and he was delighted to hear it.

It took me 5 days to read it from cover to cover. I saw him the day after I finished reading it and told him I had completed reading and had some questions. I remember him telling me how amassed he was, that he hadn’t expected me to finish it so quickly. We had many subsequent conversations about it and how it agreed with the Bible in some places and differed from it in others. He told me that he was praying for me. I thanked him and told him that I was praying for him. He thanked me.

Just a quick anecdote to round out the story.

One day I was speaking with him and one of his Muslim friends. Somehow the Quran was brought up and I casually mentioned that I had read it. My Muslim friend had a displeased look on his face; his friend looked surprised, but didn’t say anything about it.

After his friend left he told me never to say to a Muslim that I had read the Quran. I was surprised and asked him, why? He said that in Islam a person who hasn’t read the Quran in Arabic is like a person who hasn’t read the Quran at all. He was relieved that his friend hadn’t asked me about reading Arabic. If he had and I told him I didn’t read Arabic - which I don’t - then his friend would have mocked and ridiculed me. Just something to keep in mind if you ever read an English translation of the Quran and get into a conversation with a Muslim.