Comments on: Saying "I’ll pray for you" and then not.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:26:38 +0000

I’m with Carter. If I say I will pray than we either do it right then together, or I do it immediately when I walk away, or I just don’t say it at all.

By: I Side-Hugged Jon Acuff | Ponderings of a Christian Skeptic

I Side-Hugged Jon Acuff | Ponderings of a Christian Skeptic — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:15:30 +0000

[...] In the blog, Jon Acuff, pokes fun at some of the silly things that we Christians enjoy, such as “saying ‘I’ll pray for you’ and then not”, “Fearing the Rapture would come before you lost your virginity,” and, of course, the [...]

By: Savna

Savna — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:30:16 +0000

I always ask to pray for them right then and there. That way I won’t forget and chances are I will remember their reaction or the deep conversation we had after they realized I was serious which will provoke me to think about them later and want to send up another prayer.

By: L

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:10:37 +0000

Wow. Lots of insight you guys have shared. I always believed others when they said they’d pray for me, AND I honestly always wondered, how long or how many times does one keep praying about the same thing (e.g. if you know someone’s having a certain issue)? Once a day? Until they get an update from the person?
I don’t like telling people I’ll pray for them because I’m afraid I’ll forget. I’m more likely to say it to someone in an email if they’ve just told me about a bad situation, and I try to pray about it specifically soon after I’ve sent the email. I may pray about it a few more times over the next few days as it comes back to mind.
I do identify with Craig though, feeling like I “should” do it and feeling that nagging guilt if I don’t. I think it’s because we don’t feel sincere enough if we have to make a conscious effort to remember them instead of being absorbed in our own lives all the time. We feel guilty that we don’t really feel their pain. (I’m just speaking for myself here.)
Which brings me to my next point/question. Do we tell people we’ll pray for them, just because it sounds like the decent thing to say? Otherwise why add something to a to-do list we’re not going to fulfill?

By: L

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:53:55 +0000

eh… then no need to even say “I’ll pray for you”, since the thought already popped into our heads. RIGHT?

By: karldomogalla

karldomogalla — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:28:24 +0000

Pray right away, or don’t say you’ll do it. And also, I think we need to keep in mind that we need to ask if there is something ‘tangible’ that we can do.

By: Beks

Beks — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:14:51 +0000

seriously. I was doing my Jesus Time and I came across the saying you’ll pray and then not. It’s the same as lying. But you don’t really think about it. Soooo glad I dug in deeper into God to find the truth. he never fails with that.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:51:11 +0000

I have a horrible memory, so yes, this used to be me. A few years back I started praying the way Carter does, immediately after parting ways, and whenever I think about them later (if I do!).

By: Sheri

Sheri — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 23:48:42 +0000

I don't say "I'll pray for you" because I know it won't happen. I'm too lazy, self-involved etc. So, I started telling people that "I've been thinking about you," or "You've been in my thoughts." My son told me that's just as empty as not praying. "What good does it do someone to think about them?" he asked me. "Thinking about someone doesn't move God on their behalf." So I've become pretty non-committal in this area. Sad, but true.

By: Cheryl Wainwright Floyd

Cheryl Wainwright Floyd — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:04:44 +0000

One time, a lady at the real estate office, who was an unbeliever, was having panic attacks and all kinds of issues and I said I'd pray for her. Do you know, she came up to me at the company luncheon – in front of the Jehovah's Witness sitting next to me – and said – you haven't been praying for me have you! So, of course I didn't want to ad lying on top of not doing what I said I'd do – especially PRAYING – so I admitted I hadn't been. She responded with – I knew it, because nothing had happened!! She had more faith that my prayers would have moved her mountains than I did! I told her I'd pray for her from then on, and I still do when I think about her – gonna pray right now matter-o-fact. AND, I'm going to include eagles just for some insurance. Holy Awesome Amen, Praise the Lord.