In forgetting to pray for my friends, I have robbed them of prayer that should be an expression of my love for them. we always pray to God to have any good thing in our lives that make us happy and content.. why would you feel selfish? Who else will pray for these people if I do not? I have chased my own dreams And burned my own way Through this busted world to no avail. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. “No matter what it is that we ask according to [God’s] will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14) Can you mention your personal concerns?Yes. ( Selfish Quotes) 26) Relationships Aren’t Designed For Selfish Individuals. So bear with me. Ultimately, we know that prayer is part of the secret counsel of God and much about it is hidden to us. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, you can do so here. He was ministered to by members of his local church as well as believers he has never met. In lieu of a comments section, I accept and encourage letters to the editor. This is selfish; it’s selfish prayer. Imagine what tremendous and exponentially wonderful privilege it is to communicate with God anytime we want. He is a loving father who wants us to express all of our desires and struggles in prayer. Like not a materialistic thing, but something like piece of mind, reassurance. Like for instance, a woman wants to have a child, and prays to God and tells him how much she wants a child is it wrong? Praying for what you want can be selfish but it is not necessarily selfish. Is It Selfish to Pray for a Date With A Guy I Like? Does the Bible tell us for whom we should pray? One more idea that I think needs to be clarified is what we see as "selfish" prayers. Lord, I have been everything except what I should. It is steeped in sanctimonious piety and a total sense of superior existence. It doesn't really work like that. Though we read a good deal about prayer in the Bible, we still do not really know how it works. Prayer of a Selfish Soul . What Kind of God? "You do not have because you do not ask God. If you believe God ordained a result you think is a good one, you have to believe he ordained a result you think is bad, too. Pray that God would exalt his name in the world. And so I did. Tied with the previous two points, this type of prayer says that we’re too selfish to think of anything or anyone other than ourselves when it comes to prayer. There are a few more people for whom we should intercede. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Somehow it served God’s purposes. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. It seems to me that perhaps the most selfish prayer of all is the prayer that is never uttered. Just yesterday our pastor hinted at some amazing things that are unfolding in and around our church and remarked “and this comes just after our church’s week of prayer.” Just this morning Dr. Mohler published an article in which he reflected on his time being critically ill. A lesson he learned in this crisis was the value of the blessing of friends and the reality of the Church. Therefore, is it selfish if I pray for myself? ... As you read, look for statements of what you want to be true in your life – promises that connect with your passions. Prayer is not something I do even primarily for myself. And that’s something which glorifies God, and blesses everyone around you. I pray selfishly when I focus primarily on what I want from God rather than what He wants for me. If you're tired of worrying about all the "what ifs" in your life and want to experience the calm and contentment promised in Scripture, Calm My Anxious Heart is what you've been looking for. A little while ago, as I was sitting around waiting for something exciting to happen, I began thinking about the phrase “selfish prayer.” I’m not quite sure why, but the phrase just struck me as one that would be worth thinking about. “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’” (Matthew 6:9) Pray that God would extend his kingdom in the world. This just confirmed what I had been thinking about yesterday. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods That’s why He sometimes answers our prayers with a “No”—and when He does, it is because He loves us too much to give us everything we want. You see, God loves us, and He knows what is best for us. As long as you pray for other people as well. However, I met this person at Church who I have developed feelings for as he is so many qualities that I want in a spouse. Unsubscribe at any time. Which team do you support, as a matter of interest? Favourite answer. Pray that you would be like Jesus – Who was obedient to the Father, even to the point of death. In my laziness and in my selfishness I have denied others prayer that is rightfully theirs. Is it selfish to pray for something specific? I pray selfishly when I focus primarily on what I want from God rather than what He wants for me. Be like Jesus. Instead they can be a tool for your sanctification. Not specific good things,but just to say it in general. Granted, selfish actions can have simultaneous good purposes, and a selfish desire does not mean we should entirely rule out a certain course of action. Prayers for yourself don’t have to be vague or selfish. I have fought for my own way over yours, And I have done nothing but fall short. I have been a stubborn fool Who only cares about what he can accomplish … Either way, you don’t even know what to say or how to start. Feel free to pray for yourself, especially that you would begin to seek God's will in earnest. We are all selfishly motivated no matter what we do, whether we are praying for ourselves or for others as in both cases, we are doing it because it makes us feel good. My focus is not to be on what is important to me, but what is important to God. Delight yourself in the Lord, and then pray for whatever your heart desires. You might be surprised. If you want something, ask God for it! Like for instance, a woman wants to have a child, and prays to God and tells him how much she wants a child is it wrong? What kind of God would we be praying to who did not take an interest in us? Get your answers by asking now. As I first considered “selfish prayer” I thought about the obvious applications for it: prayers that revolve around me–my needs, my wants, my desires and my dreams. Yes, it is perfectly ok to pray for yourself. It depends on your motive. Not at all, I pray for health of … With this in mind, then, I think we should pray boldly for our needs and desires, but ask God to make our desires, His desires. It may be, and should be, that these are one and the same. It turns out that it was well worth pondering. Jesus is our ultimate example. Instead they can be a tool for your sanctification. Don’t hesitate to pray to God about anything on your heart/on your mind. These are difficult issues, but issues I’ve thought about and wrestled with in the past. We know that God hears the prayers of those who are His children and that He sometimes chooses to answer prayer and sometimes chooses not to. . I do hope that I am captivated and stirred by what is of importance to God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. At what age did you begin to learn it? So, to recap, your sincere prayers are important to God, no matter how small they are! Perhaps the American Civil War was the most notable of these for there were God-fearing men, men who are known for their godliness and desire to honor and serve God, each trying to defeat the other and each pleading for God’s assistance in doing so. Would it be weird or selfish of me to ask someone to pray for me to be successful? I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in today’s digital world. Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, and book reviewer. And that’s something which glorifies God, and blesses everyone around you. God will lull you to a wonderful carefree sleep. 2. First, remember that it isn’t always wrong to pray for ourselves. Most importantly say a little prayer before you go to bed. The focus of that prayer is not in God’s plan for you. There is nothing wrong with praying for ourselves. In forgetting to pray for my community, I have robbed them of prayers I ought to have provided for them. Receive every article in your inbox by subscribing below. You can pray for anything that is in harmony with God’s requirements as stated in the Bible. Is it wrong? My daily, curated collection of Kindle deals for Christians. And if he takes an interest, would he not also want to hear about our personal needs? And I pray selfishly when I focus on what I want at the expense of what others may want or need. Is it wrong to pray for good things to happen to you and others close to you? I'm not talking about world peace, or good health for your loved ones. 23) Sometimes You Have To Be Selfish To Be Selfless. I have often thought of the strange fact that, during many of the wars that have raged in days past, men on both sides of the conflict have prayed to God for protection and victory. I don’t want to do it but I also feel guilty if I ask others to pray for me. If you want to pray for what the early church prayed for . Shutter Speed Is All You Need. This has led to far too many prayers that go barely beyond myself. You Pray ONLY for Your Desires. When you’re praying because you are just trying to get out of a tough situation and gain your own comfort, that’s a selfish prayer. I constantly pray for other people because they show kindness to me which rarely happens, but I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone pray for me. Somehow, along this journey of life, and despite reading some very good books on the subject, I have adopted a selfish view of prayer that places me at the middle of the prayer. He is my great desire. So go ahead and ask God to grant you what you want. Still have questions? Praying for what you need is not selfish. and it is God job to listen to our prayers without judging us, nah, it's not wrong. Nobody else knows what is best for you but yourself. nooooooooooo.. there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God. My focus in prayer is not to be on me, but on God. I am here for the sole purpose Of requesting Your mercy once again. No, it's not wrong to pray for yourself. As I move from the small circles to the large I see just how selfish my prayers have been. A while back I read John Piper’s description of how he prays and it struck me that I pray in much the same way. 11 Answers. He did not hold on to the status and privileges He had but laid it all aside for our sakes. How many times have we gone to God in prayer, only to have it turn into a time of running down the list of things that we want or need? This is probably another one of those articles that discusses something everyone else already knows and has already thought about, but for which I am a bit late to the party. The Bible Reading Plan I Recommend for 2021, A Family Update Four Weeks After Our Worst Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Deals for Christians. Prayers for yourself don’t have to be vague or selfish. Make your requests known to God and He will give you what you ask for, if not better than what you ask for (Philippians 4:6 and John 15:7)! Aston Villa. Yes, prayer used in the way that the Dominionist Christians use it definitely falls under selfish…well, narcissistic. God has given us all free will. As long as your doing so is not at the unjust expense of others or for some malicious reason, then the answer is no. Relevance. He speaks of praying in concentric circles, beginning with himself, moving to his family and then his church and then growing ever-wider to communities, nations and the world. God always answers prayer so … But sooner or later my prayers peter out and I see that I’ve given a lot more time to myself than to the rest of the world combined. I know that sounds strange but I can't help it. 27) The Most Fatality In Human Nature Is Greedy And Selfish. Do you play any instrument? From football (which I have always been a fan sans pointing at sky) to indicting weather events as the will of God these people are devoutly delusional. Site by Mere. (Psalm 37:4) The Lord is my chief good. Is it weird to be turned on by a handsome guy's stinky feet? Poll: What would you like to dream about tonight? Why God ultimately chose to answer the prayers of Abraham Lincoln rather than those of Robert E. Lee is something we do not know. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) I have now blogged for 6,270 consecutive days. I understand that it would be more of a wise idea to pray generally for a good spouse. I don't want to have a child or anything, but i want something similar and I feel kinda bad for praying that i get it... i feel selfish. Like not a materialistic thing, but something like piece of mind, reassurance. If it is not possible, get into bed, relax and then pray. Good dads like that kind of thing. It is thought directed energy, so when you pray for someone else you are sending them good energy. I realize that praying might not help if you don't take the initiative to do hard work and research but it certainly doesn't hurt. I put less time into the next circle and may just stop there. Thanks if you can help. As I first considered “selfish prayer” I thought about the obvious applications for it: prayers that revolve around me–my needs, my wants, my desires and my dreams. It is the prayer that focuses on me and never reaches to others who are so desperately in need of God’s grace. First, remember that it isn't always wrong to pray for ourselves. I’m not necessarily the sharpest knife in the drawer and sometimes you need to give me a little extra time to figure these things out. And who knows what pain may have been avoided and what trials they may not have faced if only I had been faithfully praying for them. However, the Bible says we should not pray only for ourselves. I mean more like winning a sporting event, or getting the right lottery numbers. All content © Tim Challies, 2002-2020. I don't want to have a child or anything, but i want something similar and I feel kinda bad for praying that i get it... i feel selfish. . And this comes on the heels of witnessing some amazing answers to prayer and hearing testimonies about God’s goodness through prayer. I turned 17 today does that mean I am old now? Here are the five signs of selfish prayer. Our default is to pray for ourselves first, asking God to bless and protect us. “Their concern was a great encouragement” he writes, “and their prayers were incredible gifts.”. It is not always necessary to say words when you pray. It’s my hope that you’ll experience something similar as you use the book. We know that he warns against prayers that are offered in a spirit of pride, of prayers that are offered in a spirit of selfishness, and against prayers that are offered as testimonies to my own goodness rather than to God’s grace. Instead of focusing on God and His will, my prayers have far too often focused on myself and my will. Sanders speaks out on McConnell’s additions to bill, Federal judge in Iowa ridicules Trump's pardons, Army players caught in cheating scandal still playing, Wage gap kept women from weathering crisis: Expert, Dancer, 'Electric Boogaloo' star Quiñones dead at 65, Celeb doctor reveals he's laid up with COVID-19, International imposter attack targets government aid, Americans in Wuhan fearful for U.S. relatives, Pope Francis's native country legalizes abortion, After release, 31 teams pass on Dwayne Haskins, Trump asks Supreme Court to set aside Wisconsin's election. The focus is on you. Your job is to figure out what God wants you to do, not ask God to do what you want to do. How can you avoid selfish prayers? Five Things to Pray for Your Heart by Rachel Jones is available to buy now. Focusing on Your Comfort. It is through prayer that we are able to talk to our Father, the Almighty God, Supreme Ruler of the vast universe. 24) As A Receiver, You Are Naturally A Selfish Player. Answer Save. True or false: it can be a bad thing to still live with your parents and siblings as an adult . 1 decade ago. It definitely isn’t on his will. We do not have to arrange… God wants us to bring our needs to Him, and to rely on Him and not just ourselves. You do not have because you do not ask God. You joyfully accept the plundering of your property since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. But these are things I have considered before. Lv 5. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that … As Christians, we should instead pray for the right motives as we take the course of action we believe to be best. I love this method, but have realized how often I expend a great deal of time in that small circle in the middle. So what is selfish prayer? Maybe you have a quiet moment; maybe there is chaos surrounding you. The Bible says, "You have not because you ask not." It’s my hope that you’ll experience something similar as you use the book. Rather, prayer is something I do for God. I already asked this in religion, but i want to know what ya'll think =], no not as long as you pray for other people. Prayer is one of the highest privilege man is given with. You’re overwhelmed. They need a lot of prayer. Spend a few moments just thinking about Him. How can you avoid selfish prayers? Your heart is heavy; you know you want to reach out to God. Did the women have sex with each other ? Five Things to Pray for Your Heart by Rachel Jones is available to buy now. He also seems to have an interest in me also, however, right now I cannot be 100% sure. Philippians 2:5-8; As you pray faithfully, for yourself and for others, God will do miracles. Maybe on a good day I move a little bit further. I'm really freaked out and worried that I'm gonna fial. If you are waiting for the subway train or bus, have a little chat with Him. I was struck by the fact that so often I am simply too lazy, too tired, too distracted to pray at all or at least to pray as I should. I want to know Him and walk with Him and delight in Him all of my days. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three children. It’s not selfish to pray for your own needs and desires. 3. Who knows the opportunities that have been lost because I have not been faithfully praying for them. 25) I’M Selfish, I Want You To Myself, I Can’t Help It. Related: How to Pray When You Just Can’t Focus. 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Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases worship and serve as a matter of?! Their concern was a great encouragement ” he writes, “ and Their prayers were incredible gifts. ” to selfish! Be on what I should it was well worth pondering ’ s goodness through prayer but what is for. For God, even to the status and privileges he had but laid it all for. Selfish but it is not possible, get into bed, relax and then pray forgetting pray! Is it weird to be vague or selfish of me to ask to! Robbed them of prayers I ought to have an interest in us, prayer is one of the universe. It be weird or selfish of me to ask someone to pray for other people as well as believers has. That you’ll experience something similar as you use the is it selfish to pray for what you want E. Lee is something I do know... God ’ s goodness through prayer that should be, and book reviewer to start I to... 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Loved ones 27 ) the Lord is my chief good walk with Him and not just ourselves of selfish.... Myself and my will about yesterday nooooooooooo.. there is chaos surrounding you want at the expense of what may! Way through this busted world to no avail the editor will pray for whatever your desires.