Possible to misuse prayer requests?

[Rascalking]

My friend and I got into a unique discussion today during our workout.

Brief question-is it possible to misuse prayer requests at church by asking for too many of them? Does that sort of “weaken” them?

 

[AlanFromWichita]

My friend and I got into a unique discussion today during our workout.

Brief question-is it possible to misuse prayer requests at church by asking for too many of them? Does that sort of “weaken” them?

I don’t think it would weaken them, but it might annoy people in certain situations. For example, sometimes at one meeting people go on and on about the details in their prayer requests, to the point where frankly, I don’t want to hear it. If that happens, maybe it would weaken them if people lost focus.

That’s just brainstorming. (or brain “cleaning” ) I’m not sure I’ve addressed your question adequately.

Alan

 

[Rascalking]

Oh, I agree 100 percent! Some people go into detail that makes me want to scream, “Where is your dignity?! Keep it private for goodness sakes?!”

My buddy said it’s probably just the actions of a drama queen. I find them so hard to ignore, because drama queens are among my biggest pet peeve.

 

[PatriceA]

Do you mean one person is asking for too many prayer requests or is it the same prayer request being made too frequently or a combination of both or does a certain group seem to have a “grocery list” of prayer requests?

 

[Rascalking]

Do you mean one person is asking for too many prayer requests or is it the same prayer request being made too frequently or a combination of both or does a certain group seem to have a “grocery list” of prayer requests?

First off, I should have said I mean NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE by asking this question.

One person making a HUGE amount of them. I’m talking 5 or 7 a day. Prayer requests for everything. Very few are repetitive.

 

[Miserys_Fence]

I’m actually glad to see this post–I have often wondered just the opposite, if I’m being “lazy” by lumping my related requests into a general grouping.

For example, asking for prayers:
–for my arthritis
–for the tendon I injured in one foot
–for my knee, still weak from surgery
–for my cataract surgery
–for the rash on my arm…
(I’m an old woman; I could go on like this for hours…)

Instead, I’d ask for one prayer, “for my health.”

Miz

 

[PatriceA]

First off, I should have said I mean NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE by asking this question.

One person making a HUGE amount of them. I’m talking 5 or 7 a day. Prayer requests for everything. Very few are repetitive.

I think it would depend upon the person and circumstances surrounding the prayer requests. Some situations, it might be reasonable for someone to make that many requests. But there can be others that its not so much about the need for the requests, but to grab the attention of the group, i.e. drama queens. I lose patience with people that make requests but then seem to do very, very little outside of that request to help their own situation. So, yes, I do think it can be a misuse of prayer requests in certain situations.

Plus someone else brought up the fact about too many details in prayer requests and that too to me can be a misuse. There are times it can feel more like gossip about other people rather than an actual prayer request. Sometimes too many details in a prayer request can be an invasion of privacy.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I’m actually glad to see this post–I have often wondered just the opposite, if I’m being “lazy” by lumping my related requests into a general grouping.

For example, asking for prayers:
–for my arthritis
–for the tendon I injured in one foot
–for my knee, still weak from surgery
–for my cataract surgery
–for the rash on my arm…
(I’m an old woman; I could go on like this for hours…)

Instead, I’d ask for one prayer, “for my health.”

Miz

I like the way you said that. Sometimes people want to know more details, but personally I’d rather sit down over coffee or something and discuss it rather than during prayer requests.

Alan