Petitionary prayer

[didymus]

I’ve always had sort of a problem with the idea of praying for what we want.

This was brought home because I’ve been diagnosed with a serious medical condition and my family and many others are praying for me. But if God has a Plan, set from eternity is He going to change His mind?

What if I wind up in the same hospital room with someone who has the same condition but has no one to pray for him?

It seems funny to say “Thy will be done” but then pray, “will this”.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Didymus, I completely understand how you feel. I have also been dealing with a medical issue and recently had a talk with my spiritual director on exactly this subject. He asked if I had prayed about it and I said I had prayed that I’d be able to accept it and whatever outcome there would be. He asked if I had prayed for healing and I said no. Why not? There were several reasons. Why should God pay attention to my trivial concerns (and when you think about all that’s going on in the world, the state of my health is pretty trivial). Besides, God already knows what I need and doesn’t need a reminder. Besides, it seems so selfish to pray for myself rather than for someone else.

Suffice it to say that by the time I left I was convinced that praying for what I really need would be a good thing. So I threw myself into my Father’s loving arms and begged for what I needed. I needed his healing in whatever way that might come. It was incredibly humbling. I felt like a little child, so powerless to do this on my own. But it also felt so right. God really did care and did want me to turn to him in my need.

Certainly I don’t want my relationship with God to be totally based on gimme, gimme, but in addition to other forms of prayer and other aspects of our relationship, asking is also a good thing. He does care.

 

[schaeffer]

When I pray for others, I commend them to their god.

I cannot know what is best for them so that is how I handle it.

 

[chefmomster2]

I’ve always had sort of a problem with the idea of praying for what we want.

This was brought home because I’ve been diagnosed with a serious medical condition and my family and many others are praying for me. But if God has a Plan, set from eternity is He going to change His mind?

What if I wind up in the same hospital room with someone who has the same condition but has no one to pray for him?

It seems funny to say “Thy will be done” but then pray, “will this”.

God’s plan for mankind will proceed, but this does not mean you cannot be healed! Mankind’s acts of free will constantly interfere, but God arranges all things to maintain the Plan for us. We are not predestined in that way. God will heal you, if that is His will. And, if He does, it is not for us to question Him. We must accept humbly and with great gratitude and adoration.

Pray for healing according to His will. He may cure you, he may give you the patience and strength to endure, he may give you the faith to remain in sanctified grace throughout your ordeal so that when you are called to absolute healing you may be with Him eternally. There are so many ways to be healed! Be open to it all!

First, don’t worry that God should attend to another sick person rather than yourself. Love is not diminished when it is given to someone, it is increased! There is never a shortage, nor does God have limits on His commitment, or energy, or attention to each of us individually and particularly. He protects even the sparrow, remember? Just remember all of those others who need God’s help. There is nothing so big that God cannot do it!

Don’t feel badly about asking for all you need. The CCC tells us:

2736 Are we convinced that “we do not know how to pray as we ought”?23 Are we asking God for “what is good for us”? **Our Father knows what we need before we ask him,24 but he awaits our petition because the dignity of his children lies in their freedom. We must pray, then, with his Spirit of freedom, to be able truly to know what he wants.**25

I heard a story once that went something like this:

A man died and went to heaven :heaven: where he was greeted by God and accepted into the Kingdom. The man was overjoyed! As God walked with Him towards the man’s room in God’s mansion, he noticed many piles of treasures and gifts beyond his wildest imaginings. :hypno: Some were piled up to the ceiling and others contained only a few items. He couldn’t help but to be sad for the people who had only tiny piles waiting for them. Finally, he saw one inscribed with his name. He asked God, “Lord, what is this room loaded with treasures? What is this huge pile labelled for me?”

“My son,” God said, “I love you with an everlasting love. I waited every day, attentive to your needs. Those were all of the gifts I had for you had you only asked!” :doh2:

Ask and you will receive- in His way, in His time, in accord with His will. I will pray for you too! :flowers:

 

[the_phoenix]

What if I wind up in the same hospital room with someone who has the same condition but has no one to pray for him?

Then you can pray for him.

And I will pray for you.

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.