Comments on: Making up a prayer request because everyone else has one.

By: mary

mary — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:33:13 +0000

it's more pressuring for me when NO one has a prayer request. because then it's like, oh great, no one's going to say anything, we're all going to sit here with our heads bowed and it's going to be so awkward for everyone, especially the person who just asked for prayer requests. and then we collectively all feel like awful christians with nothing to say to our lord and savior but none of us can talk about it because we're all ashamed. so, if it's been silent for longer than nine or ten seconds, i'll get really anxious and try to come up with something, anything, to break the ice.

By: tnxplant

tnxplant — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:01:35 +0000

We actually left a Sunday School class due to the prayer request time turning into group therapy sessions or a sort of brag-fest (look how great I am at teaching the inner city kids – wow, I just can't get over myself!). It was very uncomfortable and embarrassing. I just tend to be very quiet.

On the other hand, I've had very meaningful prayers with close friends and family during crises or times of joy.

By: Birdie

Birdie — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:34:37 +0000

I find it hard to talk about the things that are really difficult like… "You know that son we lost three years ago? Well, I find that on days like this I still really struggle with that and the effect it has had on my faith. I know most of you think I should be over it by now…" So instead of talking about something like that, I don't say anything.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are others who are afraid to talk about what they really need prayer for because they fear being lectured about not having enough faith. On the other hand, some prayer requests really DO just sound too silly and trivial to say out loud…

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:37:26 +0000

I feel more led to share when NO ONE else is sharing. I guess because I've been the leader, and I hate just leaving them hanging.

By: Saskia

Saskia — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:13:56 +0000

I love it when it's a prayer circle so you know it's your turn and you frantically search for a prayer request (especially when it's a group you don't know very well and do not feel the need to bare your soul to), and then when you've found it, you use the last seconds before your name is called to try and phrase it in a really holy way.

These kinds of things is why I don't like group prayer anymore.

By: Oh Sew Good

Oh Sew Good — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:41:05 +0000

I don't mind prayer requests when there is genuine prayer. I do mind when prayer requests is nothing more than gossip in disguise.

By: sally

sally — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:08:11 +0000

In a similar vein: Come on all you Catholic SCL readers (I know you exist because you've commented here before. Surely you must have made up a couple of confessions in your time, when under pressure to come up with all the dark deeds you've committed? Do tell!

By: frankz

frankz — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:53:56 +0000

hi Jon…this is my first time here…great site…really looking forward to the book release…relating to this post, I remember a family prayer meeting a few months ago…seemingly no one had any prayer requests so my dad came up with gossip disguised as prayers…"Dear Lord, I pray for Jim, help him overcome his laziness and may he pass his Bar Exams this time…you know Lord he failed in the past two attempts..all he's friends have passed it(yeah cos they studied harder)..You said Lord, we will be the head and not the tail…even this time Lord, Jim seems to lack confidence (dumb kid's probably gonna flunk again)…yet I pray Lord, by your stripes we are healed…thank you Lord for the excellent results you have already blessed Jim with…AMEN….by the time that prayer was over, I was rolling over..:)

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:18:36 +0000

Somebody has probably already hit on this, but I'm too lazy to read through all 50-some odd comments.

I usually do prayer requests that are generic, but sound personal enough that people won't press the issue.

"Ya know. Just things with the family."

Don't push it though. There is a fine line between "frustrated and needs prayer" and "distressed and needs counseling".

By: blythe

blythe — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:53:21 +0000

i've been following your blog for awhile now, and i gave you an award today! see my blog for info. :]