It irritates me when people give commands to God when they are praying. I have observed that some people say things such as "Lord , go to the hospitals or Lord heal right now in the name of Jesus" or Do this or Do that". It seems to me that we should come into God's presence with trembling and thanksgiving along with humility especially when praying. I have often wondered if these same individuals give commands to their bosses and supervisors. It just doesn't seem right to me to give God who is a sovreign commands while praying. I personally believe that prayers are ineffective especially when they are not according to the will of God. Does anyone else out there have any other observations about praying and how we can improve it?

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2001

Answers

I agree with you 100%. I used to excuse it as the abbreviated imperative/interrogative: "Lord, we ask that you stop by and see about..." But over the years I have heard in our Gospel music lyrics that frankly I have had to change to make consistent with His, not our, Will.

He is the Potter. We are the clay.

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2001

In the Ultimate Prayer Lesson, Our Lord taught us to pray. "Thy Will Be Done", not "If It Be Thy Will." Contrary to popular belief these prayers are not one and the same but two separate and distinct petitions. The first expresses agreement and acceptance that our prayer is in line with that of our Father, Friend, and Creator and therefore we are ASSURED of it being granted. We need only consciously realize its fulfillment in our own physical being and environment. The latter is the realization that we are, in fact, out of sync, emotionally, spiritually, or physically with the Ultimate Will of God through the imposition of our own will. Thus, we yield our will to His. If sincerely prayed, both hallow His Name. Both recognize His power and desire to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything we may think or ask. Our Lord, on different occasions, prayed both of these petitions. Since God always knows the intent with which our prayers are made and He alone sees and knows our heart and our thoughts afar off, we would do well to leave the method, form, and yes, even the language of prayer between the believer and God where it rightfully belongs.

-- Anonymous, February 23, 2001

Hotep (Peace),

You are so correct...Jazzman, there is something skewed about our thinking...G-d is Omnipresent---so G-d is in the hospital room (whether we ask or not) and/or with us in the time of challenge. The problem is that we don't know it. We ask G-d to do this and that out of ignorance.

I believe that we must pray with fervor...association lead to assimilation. The more we commune with the IAM, the more we take on the nature of the Spirit. And stop begging so much for worldly things. Often times the reason we are in the storm is because we were hard headed and needed a life lesson.

In Love and Light, Brenda

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

Jesus prayed to his father before raising Lazerus from the dead saying, "Father I know you hear me, because you always hear me, but because of the people who stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou has sent me."

Our personal communication with God is just that personal. Peter asked Jesus to teach them to pray. And Jesus gave them a model in which to pray. That doesn't mean we have to only say a prayer in that manner.

Jesus said to Peter because of his confession of faith. "Behold I'll give you the keys to the kingdom, whatsoever you bind in earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose in earth shall be loosed in heaven." That is quite a bit of authority that believers have. And I don't say that loosely.

There are so many scriptures about us asking of God. One is that we can speak to the mountian be moved and cast into the sea and it will be done.

We have been called his friend. And somtimes we can even act like a kid and cry Abba Father. You know how children are, sometimes they can be down right demanding.

So I feel people have different ways of expressing themselves while communicating with God. I think I'll let God decide what is the right or wrong way to express.

In Christ, Carmen

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

I was delighted that there were others out there that stood in agreement with me on this issue of prayer. I was also educated by others who were in disagreement with me about giving our sovreign God commands while praying. I hope that ministers will preach more about prayer because it is so crucial in our relationship with God.

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001