Is this ever a good prayer...is it godly love?!

[Barb]

This question has been burning on my mind for a couple of days...

Is it ever a good thing to pray for the unsaved or backslidden, "Lord, whatever it takes...whatever you have to do, save 'em?!"

When I was a backslider, people wouold come to me and say that they were praying that God would not let me sleep until I came back to the Lord. Having heard this spoke before about other folks, I never took it any other way than that folks cared.

However, not long ago I heard my former SS teacher and mentor say that this is NOT love, and should never be prayed, much less told to the individual in need of salvation.

So what do you think...is it a sign of love or not?! Is there any biblical precedent for praying in this manner?!

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by Barb

This question has been burning on my mind for a couple of days...

Is it ever a good thing to pray for the unsaved or backslidden, "Lord, whatever it takes...whatever you have to do, save 'em?!"

When I was a backslider, people wouold come to me and say that they were praying that God would not let me sleep until I came back to the Lord. Having heard this spoke before about other folks, I never took it any other way than that folks cared.

However, not long ago I heard my former SS teacher and mentor say that this is NOT love, and should never be prayed, much less told to the individual in need of salvation.

So what do you think...is it a sign of love or not?! Is there any biblical precedent for praying in this manner?!

If it's prayed in love and faith...it's all good.

[missdkendall]

Well, I think it is a good prayer. I hear my grandma pray this prayer to this day. She explains it like this...... The prayer to keep them awake at night, is so they toss and turn thinking about the wonderful life they are missing out on living for Jesus, and how happy they were, and how peaceful they could be. However, it is not something you want to run and tell them!!!!!! It could make things worse. Backsliders are sometimes hardest to win back to the Lord because they are so bitter. Trust me, I was there, I know. I know my grandma prayed that prayer for, me, and I am so thankful she did. I wouldn't trade this life living for Jesus for anything in the world.

So I guess I agree, but disagree at the same time.

[Mrs. LPW]

I call it tough love.

Seriously though, I have prayed prayers like that.. but I don't tell folks I'm praying they won't sleep, or that they'll lose their job, or that they'll come to the end of their rope.... or whatever it is I'm praying. I might tell them after they're saved... but usually not while they are in the world.
For one thing, if God doesn't interrupt their sleep, it doesn't look good on God or me! HA... but being saved now... knowing what you know... aren't you glad someone prayed that way for you?

I don't know your former SS teacher.. but maybe she was never away from God, or maybe she doesn't have a relative that it kills her to think that person is lost.
If I spend even a few minutes thinking on my lost relatives, I pray Lord do whatever it takes... because what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?

I pray hard for my children right now.. they are small and their life is ahead of them if the Lord doesn't come back soon. I pray often, do whatever it takes to me... but let my children be saved. I don't want them to have a life of heartache before coming to the Lord and living for him... but if... and I pray it never does.. but if the day comes that they are grown and outside of the "ark of safety" you'll hear me praying "don't let them sleep". And I'll be praying it with all of my being.

Just my two cents!
(I guess that means I don't agree with your former SS teacher )

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Barb

This question has been burning on my mind for a couple of days...

Is it ever a good thing to pray for the unsaved or backslidden, "Lord, whatever it takes...whatever you have to do, save 'em?!"

When I was a backslider, people wouold come to me and say that they were praying that God would not let me sleep until I came back to the Lord. Having heard this spoke before about other folks, I never took it any other way than that folks cared.

However, not long ago I heard my former SS teacher and mentor say that this is NOT love, and should never be prayed, much less told to the individual in need of salvation.

So what do you think...is it a sign of love or not?! Is there any biblical precedent for praying in this manner?!

Barb, I don't think it's a good idea to pray down trouble into someone's life "to get them saved." The Bible says it's the goodness of God that brings about repentance. If anything, the better idea would be to pray down God's goodness into the lives of those who are unsaved, backslid, or whatever condition they find themselves in.

Originally Posted by Rico

I don't think it's a good idea to pray down trouble into someone's life "to get them saved." The Bible says it's the goodness of God that brings about repentance. If anything, the better idea would be to pray down God's goodness into the lives of those who are unsaved, backslid, or whatever condition they find themselves in.

Preach it Rico. Preach it.


I think people who pray trouble into folks lives need a good swift kick of the same trouble they're praying about... maybe it'll knock some sense into them. (TIC)

Seriously... what's wrong with "God... show them just how much you love them! Woo them with your love"? Why do we have to ask him to do bad things to them? That's just dumb...


I know a preacher who says his mom used to pray that bad stuff on him. "God if he ever backslides, break his leg, God! Hurt him!"
That's stupid.

[MissBrattified]

Well, I certainly don't think you should tell someone that's what you prayed--if you did.

As for the "whatever it takes" prayer--I think its a moot point, anyway. Just pray for them. God knows the person best, and He knows whether or not they need a gentle tug or "tough love" to get them where they need to be.

[Ron]

Putting them into the merciful hands of God is the safest way!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Ron

Putting them into the merciful hands of God is the safest way!

Right. Years ago I started praying, "God, tell me what you want me to say. Tell me how you want me to pray for this person." I certainly don't know. I could never know what is actually in a person's heart. The outside persona will not let on, many times, what is in the heart.

[Timmy]

What's the difference? Pray however you want!

Is God dumb? Will he actually afflict someone with insomnia, just because someone prayed for it? If I pray that someone will break out in hives till they get saved, will God obey me?