Praying for life extended

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Why do we pray for life to be extended? Shouldn’t we pray for God’s will instead? Shouldn’t we be exicted at the chance to see our Heavenly Father?

If someone is having brain surgery for example, why do we pray for them to have a successful recovery? Seems like we would pray for God’s will to be done rather than to save their life? Wouldn’t praying for their continued life be selfish?
 
I like to look at Christ’s prayers while he was undergoing the agony in the garden. He prayed for deliverance but trusted that his Father would guide him to the plan they had agreed upon.

Praying for what seems right to us, in our human perspective, is only natural and never wrong if you’re heart is in the right place, but also understanding and praying for God’s will to be done and to ask for the grace to trust His decision has always helped me work through tough situations even when I know my prayer may not be answered in the way I think I “want” it to be. I hope that helps
 
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ppcpilot:
Why do we pray for life to be extended? Shouldn’t we pray for God’s will instead? Shouldn’t we be exicted at the chance to see our Heavenly Father?

If someone is having brain surgery for example, why do we pray for them to have a successful recovery? Seems like we would pray for God’s will to be done rather than to save their life? Wouldn’t praying for their continued life be selfish?
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I would always say it’s best that God’s will be done and that probably would be the preferred method or prayer… but, when you looking at your infant struggleing for breath, or undergoing heart surgery you have a tenancy to be just a little selfish… and it doesn’t have to be a child…

it’s just not a one size fits all answer for me… how about you? 👍
 
When it comes to surgeries and the like, I always pray that if it’s His will, to make them better, but if it’s not His will, to give them the strength to endure whatever is going to happen…to be able to unite their will to His.

Of course nothing has ever happened to anyone close to me, so it’s always been easy to pray that way. I fear that if something tragic should happen to someone close to me, my ability to pray that prayer would be tested, but I hope and pray not.

JELane
 
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ppcpilot:
Why do we pray for life to be extended? Shouldn’t we pray for God’s will instead?
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We should always pray for God’s Will over our own. Of course our will does not desire to have those we love leave us, but never the less it is up to God and we should pray for His will first.

Jesus gave us the most perfect pray to offer to The Father - “The Our Father” If we meditate on the actual words we are indeed praying for The Will of Our Father “Thy Will be done”.

It is a tough thing because we are all very willful human beings (especially when it calls for something being taken from us!) But if we want to become holy we must accept the Will of God and yes actually pray for it.

There is a story where a woman is praying to God for the life of her husband and God replies if your husband lives he will lose his soul.

God’s ways are not our ways!
 
Our church bulletin this weekend mentioned that we should question God’s decisions in our lives, and also argue with Him from time to time, as people that have an intimate relationship will have heated dicussions; God wants us to be that intimate with Him. I guess thats where the selfish part of praying for someone to get better fits in.
 
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ppcpilot:
Our church bulletin this weekend mentioned that we should question God’s decisions in our lives, and also argue with Him from time to time, as people that have an intimate relationship will have heated dicussions; God wants us to be that intimate with Him. I guess thats where the selfish part of praying for someone to get better fits in.
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We can certainly do this, but this is just plain silly behaviour. The advice you were given is to act like a spoiled child who doesn’t get their own way! I’ve seen a few of them around and I can personally tell you aside from breaking the 4th commandment. They are rude, obnoxious and liked by no one.

God is our loving Father, He is all that is perfect. What we want and what is best are 2 different things.

Those who want to question and challenge “The Will of God” are playing with fire. As for me, I will do my best to accept His Will as it comes from my Father, who loves me more than any on earth.
 
I wonder why a Catholic bulletin would print such a thing? They referenced Moses and Abraham.
 
I agree that we must, in all things, pray for God’s will to be accomplished.

But God also knows our hearts and our desires. He wants us to share our feelings with Him, even if we feel mad, ashamed, frustrated or abandoned. I think this is where it is alright to share with Him what we are feeling, but to do so respectfully as we would with our earthly fathers, not ranting and raving like a toddler, but as we would in any mature relationship.

There are times when my prayers may have been selfish, but I always tried to end with “But I trust You, Lord, and always want what is Your will.”

It was somewhat selfish for me to pray that my 77-year-old father would make it through open heart surgery; but I wasn’t ready for him to leave this earth yet. I also prayed that if it was his time to go, that God would give our family the strength we needed to get through it. Praise God, he is still with us!

So, be honest and open with Our Lord in what we ask of Him, what our questions are about our faith, what we don’t understand, what we struggle with, what we are failing to do. He knows all of this anyway, He just wants us to share it with Him.

I remember reading of St. Therese where one day nothing was going her way. I don’t remember the details exactly, but I think she was trying to carry something heavy, tripped and fell into a mud puddle. She looked to Our Lord and said “Lord, if this is how you treat Your friends, it’s no wonder you have so few of them!”
 
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Didi:
I agree that we must, in all things, pray for God’s will to be accomplished.

But God also knows our hearts and our desires. He wants us to share our feelings with Him, even if we feel mad, ashamed, frustrated or abandoned.
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You’re right I’m sure crying and begging are not beneath any of us. (I know I’ve been there) And it is not a bad thing. But readily accepting the word of God is what makes us strong.

Let us pray!

Litany of Resignation to the Will of God
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
God the Father, Who hath created me, Hallowed be Thy will.
God the son, Who hath redeemed me, Not my will but Thine be done.
God the Holy Ghost, Who hath offered sanctification, Blessed be the Most sweet Will of God.
Thou Who doest know and foresee all things, Have mercy on us.
Thou Who dost govern and rule all things, Have mercy on us.
Thou Who, according to Thy inscrutable designs, dost effect all things in a wonderful manner, Have mercy on us.
Thou Who dost permit evil in order thence to derive good for the salvation of the elect, Have mercy on us.
In all things and in all possible events, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God.
In all circumstances and disgraces, *
In my state of employment,*
In my affairs and occupations, *
In all my actions *
In my health and strength, *
In my body and soul, *
In my life and death, *
In myself and in those who belong to me, *
In all men and angels *
In all creatures, *
In all parts of the earth,*
At all times,*
For all eternity, *
Although weak nature complains, *
Althought it costs much to self love and sensuality, *
Solely and only through love for Thee and Thy good pleasure, *
Because Thou art my Creator, *
Because Thou art the Supreme Lord of all things,*
Because Thou art infinite perfection, therefore do I say, with all the saints in Heaven, *
With the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God,
With Jesus in the Garden of Olives, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God,
Our Father (silently)
May the just, most amiable will of God be done in all things.
May it be praised and magnified forever! Amen

*Thy Holy will be done, O my God
 
I think it’s OK to ask God for the outcome you really WISH for, so long as you also let Him know that you accept whatever comes as a gift from Him, even if it means the death of a loved one. Our family has recently faced this with my brother in law, only in his mid thirties and with four young children (including a newborn), facing brain cancer. Of course we pray that he is healed; my sister in law is heartbroken at the possibility of having to raise those four babies on her own. But we also know that he may die, and that may be God’s will for our family, and if that happens we will of course accept it.

The most dangerous place in the world to be is outside of God’s will.
 
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Makerteacher:
I think it’s OK to ask God for the outcome you really WISH for, so long as you also let Him know that you accept whatever comes as a gift from Him, even if it means the death of a loved one.
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I agree.

Ask for what you would like and accept lovingly what God does or lets happen in the situation.
 
God is our father and knows that we are just kids. We try and be patient like good little followers, but we still ask for things we don’t really NEED or things that we don’t deserve… “Dad, can I have a bike?” “Dad can I have an ice cream cone?” If a child can ask these things of her daddy why should we feel greedy or selfish asking God for the miricle of extended life? Father knows best and will do whats right, but he wants us to ask. Have you ever seen a kid say, “I know your gonna do what you want dad, I’d like an ice cream, but I won’t bother you for it if it isn’t your will…” No.
God*** is*** our father, and I can’t help but ask ‘dad’ if he will do me a favor.
😉
 
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