Feeling like I'm in a 'pray-off'

[DL82]

I know that some of my friends, who are evangelical Christians, are praying to God for me to realise the error of my ways in becoming Catholic, and to stop before it’s too late.

At the same time, I’m praying for the wisdom to be able to witness to them and lead them into a fuller understanding of the Christian faith.

If they were praying to a different god, I wouldn’t be phased by this at all, as I expect opposition from the world, the flesh and the devil.

But this is opposition from other Christians, and that’s quite a hard thing to deal with, especially since it’s through evangelical Christianity that I came to study the Bible and put my trust in God, and that’s led me to where I am now, where I’m ready to trust also in the Church that Christ founded and that gave us the Bible as a guide to the truth.

I suppose really all of us are praying with the same intent, that God will lead us into the fullness of His truth, we just have different preconceptions of what that Truth is.

I still feel uncomfortable about this. What should I do? I’m basically causing these friends to pray to God for something that is against His will.

 

[amills]

Think of God as your parent who wants only what is good for His children. If a child asks for something that is not good for the child or the child’s siblings the parent will guide the child to the good. How much more then will Our Father in heaven guide us when one of his children perhaps prays for the wrong thing.

 

[archangel63]

Funny how they are in “opposition” to you.
They are making you feel bad for seeking God. That should tell you something is wrong with their approach right there.
Tell them you are not in “opposition” to them.
Wish them peace in their pursuit of God.

Perhaps they are the ones who need to change.
Next time they pick on you, tell them you’ll pray for them…sounds like they need it.

 

[richardsgirl]

Hi,

I know just what you mean. It can be very hard to feel that separation, and opposition from other Christians. It’s so against the unity God would want for us. But, try not to let it get to you: keep doing what you’re doing, trusting your own instincts on the Catholic Church; just because they think they’re right, doesn’t mean they are!

But this is opposition from other Christians, and that’s quite a hard thing to deal with, especially since it’s through evangelical Christianity that I came to study the Bible and put my trust in God, and that’s led me to where I am now, where I’m ready to trust also in the Church that Christ founded and that gave us the Bible as a guide to the truth.

Have you tried directly telling them how uncomfortable it makes you feel, being singled out for prayers and looked upon like a ‘lost sheep’? The words you used in this post beautifully express the debt you owe them in your journey of faith, and how becoming Catholic is the next natural step as it means joining the true Church founded by Jesus. If you said that to them, I doubt it would change their minds but it would at least make them think.

 

[Mordocai]

they can not pray against God’s Will, in fact the Lord is probably redirecting their intentions to themselves

we dont pray to sway His Will, but to know and accept it.

 

[Cranch]

I still feel uncomfortable about this. What should I do? I’m basically causing these friends to pray to God for something that is against His will.

DL82 - You are not “causing” anything. Repeat three times: “I am not responsible for my friends’ prayer intentions, just as I am not responsible for anything else they may believe.” God holds you and them in His hand. Let Him sort it. By all means pray for them when you can, but please do not let this cast a shadow over your joyous journey into the Catholic Church! God bless.

 

[emily47017]

dear jesus,

this situation is really uncomfortable. i trust in you to help them find the true faith; meanwhile, please sort out this conflict for me, and lead us all to a place of equanimity with each other.

amen.

 

[puzzleannie]

I know that some of my friends, who are evangelical Christians, are praying to God for me to realise the error of my ways in becoming Catholic, and to stop before it’s too late.

At the same time, I’m praying for the wisdom to be able to witness to them and lead them into a fuller understanding of the Christian faith.
ill.

God will hear each prayer in the spirit in which the person praying intends, he hears the heart, not the words. If you are both praying sincerely from the heart for someone you care about to listen to God’s Word and obey, those prayers will be answered, but like all prayer, in God’s way, not in your way, or not in their way.