Boy we have a lot to pray about

[Bill in Oregon]

Just thinking about how often prayer requests come up on this forum -- and how often illness, disease, injury and heartbreak intrude on the lives of our forum friends, their relatives, kids, grandkids, siblings, parents, dear friends ... even if prayers aren't requested.
Many see little to zero value in "intercessory prayer." Others are a bit more open minded. As my late Aunt Clara Beth said, looking straight into my eyes as was her habit, "I don't think it hurts." Some see it as an unwanted obligation, feel guilty if they don't respond, "Aw, geez, did you have to ask me?" kind of thing. Others toss up a quick few words "toward heaven" and call it good. Sort of a rote but not truly heartfelt exercise. I'm guilty of this, especially on Net forums. It's hard to truly throw heart and soul into a prayer for someone you have never met, don't even know what they look like, don't really know the extent of their affliction, maybe not even their name. Is a half-hearted prayer better than none at all? I don't know.
But I do know that a request for prayers -- IF I LET IT -- can be an opening for me to unstick myself from whatever meaningless thing I am doing, clear my mind for a few moments and ponder the privilege of attempting communion with the Author of this Universe, who sent us his Son. I think God loves to hear from us. I think it makes Him smile when we try to reach out from our flickering points of dim light to the source of all light.
I have to work on this. Typing "Prayers up" after a quick "Lord may it be your will that so-and-so will recover from this or that" is too easy, even if I go to my knees. Or maybe I am just a spiritual sloth. (Wait, I love sloths and I am absolutely certain God does too.) The test for me is and always should be, "Bill, did it come from your head or from your heart?"
I'll try to do better guys. I promise.

[jeepnik]

Even the smallest, shortest, quietest prayer is heard. The act of typing "Prayers Up" is in fact a prayer. Amen at the end of a prayer is traditional. But I don't think even that is necessary. Prayers come from the heart, words are just a way of expressing what you feel. Your heart does the praying, not your head.

[piller]

Just an opinion. I think that HE listens when you intentionally talk to him. I think HE listens when you talk to others, and is using all your behavior to know you. HE seems to care more for you to try, and to show love for all in the way that Jesus taught. Praying for others when it does nothing for you seems to me to be exactly what Jesus taught.

Each of us can have our own opinion of this.

[Paladin]

Even the smallest, shortest, quietest prayer is heard. The act of typing "Prayers Up" is in fact a prayer. Amen at the end of a prayer is traditional. But I don't think even that is necessary. Prayers come from the heart, words are just a way of expressing what you feel. Your heart does the praying, not your head.

I concur.

[gamekeeper]

Even the smallest, shortest, quietest prayer is heard. The act of typing "Prayers Up" is in fact a prayer. Amen at the end of a prayer is traditional. But I don't think even that is necessary. Prayers come from the heart, words are just a way of expressing what you feel. Your heart does the praying, not your head.

+1

[mickbr]

All good thoughts go somewhere, even the written words can assist a fella reading it to feel better and maybe thereby make better decisions, and thats god at work too.

[Ysabel Kid]

Even the smallest, shortest, quietest prayer is heard. The act of typing "Prayers Up" is in fact a prayer. Amen at the end of a prayer is traditional. But I don't think even that is necessary. Prayers come from the heart, words are just a way of expressing what you feel. Your heart does the praying, not your head.

+3

I find I usually say a quick prayer, right on the spot. Then in my evening prayers I often say... "please help all those who have asked for prayer for themselves and others". God knows.

[geobru]

I find I usually say a quick prayer, right on the spot. Then in my evening prayers I often say... "please help all those who have asked for prayer for themselves and others". God knows.

Right on!

[AJMD429]

.
I pray maybe once a week or less to ASK something, and never for myself. Only for others.

On the other hand I may be silly, but I give a short prayer of 'thanks' probably 20-30 times a day, just for the little things (or big ones) that I might otherwise take for granted.

I once heard an atheist explain why he felt that prayers STILL are helpful, so if an atheist thinks so, why would I doubt it...!

[Dieselman]

Well said