How much information does a person need?

Since you asked...

First, your local church has a prayer time.
This is good.

Then, you are not critical from a complainer's point of view but you see your church as poor and needy and are concerned from love. This is good.

In your private prayer, perhaps you should bring your Church before the Lord and ask for re-vitalizing a refreshing of the Spirit of God.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

Sometimes "prayertime" can be "gossiptime".

Sometimes people who like to "share alot" need to be integrated in a small group of people who can help them.

 

We also have a Wednesday night prayer list. Ours is only one page, front and back. Yes some have been on the list for years, but they need prayer, many are nursing home residence whose membership is in our church, or shut in from our church. We do not discuss every person on the list each Wed. only updates to health, people care. New people are added, sometimes their prayer request is told, sometimes not, sometimes thye request that the reasons not be shared, we honor that. we do not discuss the list at every other meeting like Sunday school. We are supose to pray for people, not gossip, so I have no problem with a prayer list, or even a long one, but discussing every name isn't necessary, even knowing what their being prayed for isn't necessary, God knows, thats all thast needed. we mainly only share the need for our own people, in our church. There is a reason it's called prayer meeting. Maybe on Wednesday, you should start off with a praise report, see if people follow.

 

I think when you pray for others it has to come from within you. It cannot be just words. I relish the thought that someone will, or that they are praying for me, for everything, not just my health. But about everything, and anything. Lift me up! I want you too! I want to always be in Gods sight. I am like a little child who wants all of God's attention. And when I am sick, I want more. When I am happy I want more. When I am well, I want more of well. I can not get enough of God's love. I need it. I want all the intimacy I can get with the Lord, all the blessing allowed, and when I am in need, all that there is for God to keep seeing me and fill that need.

But when I am in need...whatever the need....I need to know that those who are praying; to add me to there list of things to be prayed for. But I want you to pray from your heart. Not just words. But mean it. Know when you pray it really will be heard, and answered.

Worshiping God is trusting everything about Him. Trusting that those I pray for will be heard. Trusting that God has the answer. Not just for me, but for all His children, and all there needs. Bringing it all to Him.

Bringing others to the Lord is an unselfish act. Not praying for others is selfish. While a three page list of people, and their needs seems draining, and tiresome, and takes time from your personal worship....praying for those others is suppose to be part of your worship. Try praying joyfully, knowing even in all the persons needs, God will hear, and it will be according to God's plan and His will. Give God all the Glory for that.

See others as tho they were Jesus. See others as you were Jesus . Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Jesus came for the lost. If all were saved there would be no need for Him to come.

What if you needed my prayers, and I said "gosh this is just too draining to get into, It makes me depressed, think I will pass." Friend you would not want that. Nor would our Father.

It isn't always about what we get out of something, or how much we give. It sometimes is about how we give.

Sherrie

 

I'll tell ya what one of my peeves is about church prayer prayer requests. The "unspoken prayer request" Does your church have these. If one doesnt get specific how can one prayer about it? If its that personal that it cant be mentioned then just keep it between you and the Lord. All they (unspoken prayer requests) do is cause others to gossip and guess as to what it could be and false rumours start to fly. I just think they are silly.

 

I agree with Dr. Bob. I don't think we "NEED" to know ANY of the details ... God knows them all. The 'unspoken' prayer requests have left-out details for a reason. We don't need to know the details. Lift the person up in prayer and let God do his work.

 

Dear friend,
Our Lord prayed often and long. Sometimes He prayed all night. Had you ever wondered about the content of His prayers? I can only imagine that His prayer list was in volumes instead of pages. I shall praise His holy name forever for John 17.

 

Once upon a time there was a psychiatrist who counseled people all day long for a living. He had a new patient one day, which happened time and time again in his career, so when he went home he didn't even mention it. But his wife said her best friend had just signed up with him! The psychiatrist could not, as a matter of professional ethics, discuss the case with his wife. But the next session he was a lot more attentative to the session than he would have been otherwise.

Now those who feel that when they pray to God they must specify lots of details are showing less faith and trust than the wife of that psychiatrist. One wonders if they really feel like they can trust God to run things without their directing His every move!

 

There is scriptural precedent for being specific in prayer, that is only possible from an informed position. However, I believe there is also a requirement to respect confidentiality, failing to do so "spiritualises" the gossip that ensues!

Can I suggest we need a balance between the 2 extremes? "moderation in all things"
yours Jon