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printDoes God Get Bored by My Prayers?
“Am I supposed to pray once and leave it in God’s hands? I feel like I’m bugging him to death by asking every day all day long. Still praying for a job for my older daughter.”—Lesa
This is a prayer request that came into OurPrayer.org and after praying for Lesa and her daughter, I wanted to answer her question.
There’s a story in the Bible sometimes called the Parable of the Unjust Judge or the Parable of the Importunate Widow (Luke 18:1-8). It describes a woman who kept coming to the judge again and again, asking for justice against her adversary, until he finally gave up. “I will give her justice because she keeps bothering me,” he said. “Otherwise there will be no end to it.”
The story addresses a quandary about prayer. If God knows what we want, why do we bother praying for it? Why doesn’t he just give in? Why keep asking?
Perhaps it’s because we’re meant to be a little like that importunate widow. We need to do the asking to prepare us for the answer he’s ready to give us. We need to focus our attention on the big picture he’s always ready to show. As for ever being bothered by all this importuning, all our bugging, our endless praying, I think of something a therapist friend said when I asked him, “Do you ever get bored hearing all that talk?”
“When I hear people in pain, I could listen for hours,” he said, “and I do.”
Wouldn’t God do the same? Wouldn’t you? My mostly grown kids could come to me any time of the day or night and I would want to hear from them, especially when they’re worried and struggling. Wouldn’t our heavenly parent be like that too?
Lesa, pray as much as you want. Pray whenever you can. Don’t be discouraged. Thank you for sharing your prayers with us. May they all be answered.
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Rick Hamlin is the executive editor of Guideposts magazine and the author of 10 Prayers You Can't Live Without. To learn more about the book and explore your own prayer journey, watch this video.
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Your Comments (21)
The purpose of prayer is not to change things or to change our situation, but to change us. We are the ones that need changing.
Prayer lifts us out of ourselves and gives us God's perspective. Prayer changes us, not God.
The Pilot of the airplane has invited us to come and sit up in the cockpit with Him and what a nmagnificent view we get when we accept His invitation.
May God give us all a heart for prayer no matter how difficult our circumstances and troubles are, and may He teach us how to pray. God bless everyone.
Rev Carla Golden, if God is nothing more an indwelling spirit that resides within all of us, then we're all in big trouble.
Do you know how stars form or how an acorn can contain all the information to grow into a huge oak tree? Do you know how tender grass shoots are able to push through hard soil or do you know the exact distance from the sun that the earth has to be to sustain life? Do you know how many plankton are in the ocean or how many blades of grass there are in your nearby green space?
Are you able to keep the blood pumping through your own veins?
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" Proverbs 14: 12
"But believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." Acts 16: 21
Some times we are not ready for God to answer our prayer. He is saying wait. When the time comes and the right job or what ever we have asked for comes along and we are also ready he says Yes here it is and it is just what we need.
I do believe in the power of prayer and believe me I flood God with the same old prayers and there is usually several things to add. I have so much going on in my life right now, I'd think God would get crossed-eyed and say, oh no, not him again, but I know better. HE is always willing to listen and HE wants us to pray, not just at night, but all day long. HE is my constant companion and though HE may not answer or help me at the moment, I know HE will answer. Sometimes we are so busy going in circles, we don't hear HIM, that is why we need quite time at night or day or both to be still and listen, talk to HIM and know HE is always there for us.
Yes am impressed with the story of unjust jugde and help us do the same until today to keep on praying without stop.
I have the problem of my son he smooks he drinks he dropped school he cannot do anything at home rather than stealing at home to buy cigarretes and beer.Iam very worried what kind of person he will be,if we parent'ts dies where can he live with? No one accept him among our relatives. He is 30years old now we have been praying for him since 2000 until now.
I ask for prayers i hope one day my son will change to be a normal person. I always remmember the story of this woman that at the end she received what she wanted.
I know that everything is possible with God.
Please, Please, Please, help me with prayers! some people says that may be he has bad spirits.
Anna Njoloma Chikakuda.
Your son is a man now, not a child. It is time to let go. We come into this world to learn lessons and to evolve spiritually. It is now up to your son to change or to live with the consequences of his actions. We all need to learn that lesson. Keep praying for him and do not enable him to continue with his current behavior. You were right to not let him live with you.
Rev Carla Golden....if God is "in us" (where does this idea come from?) doesn't that limit God. Isn't that just a material/mortal man....physical idea from this 3 dimensional realm? Aren't we created in the image of God which is spirit? Isn't it more correct to think of us....ourselves in God....like a drop of water that helps to create the ocean? Aren't we more like the rays or sun beams are to the Sun?
Desire is prayer. God does not have an auditory ear like a human being he knows everything without our even having to say it or before it is said.
Keep on praying. God is in control and governing harmoniously.
God bless!
Rev. Jill, yes, I agree that we are also in God as well as God is in us. Jesus also tells us that the kingdom of God is within us. What does that mean to you? Paul said, "Christ in you the hope of glory." As for limiting God, it is the concept of God as a man sitting on a cloud that is limiting. It has been said that God created man in his image and then man returned the favor. We need to stop seeing God with human characteristics such as jealousy, anger, etc. What happened to God is Love, or as Jesus said, "God is spirit?"
Thanks for the reminder that prayer is the means by which we attune ourselves to the Lord. Maintaining constant verification that his instrument is on pitch is what every musician does. And so our prayers keep us focused on and on pitch with the Lord. How important is that. Thanks again.
I wonder when we will stop talking about God as a supreme being sitting on a cloud in the sky watching our every move and deciding when to grant our wishes. It is sad that ministers keep propagating this idea of separation. God is an indwelling spirit which resides within all of us.
I your prayers aren't answered, how do we know God is saying "no", or if he wants us to persevere.
I ask for alot of prayers it was nice to read that it is ok to keep asking ! I have been asking for prayers from Guidpost since my son was a baby he is 31 now . When he was a baby i would write my prayer request by hand and mail them in .... I trust the prayer warriors at guidepost and i Thank you Guidepost for always being there for me it is true where two or more are gathered together God is in the mist of them
I believe that God honors the "fervent" prayers of His faithful people. The word "fervent" tells me that we need to pray those prayers in a manner that tells God we really care about what we are praying to Him about. So be "fervent" in presenting your desires to Him, and he will honor your prayers. He has promised this to us.
This is the day that the Lord has made.I start my day with prayer and the readings of GOD'S word. I thank GOD for what I have and what I do not have I know that if HE wants us to have what we ask for HE will give it to us in HIS good time.Dear Linda I know that life can be very lonely somtimes but HE will send someone to you to comfort you when you least expect it. Pray to Jesus for comfort and support and I know that you will feel less lonely and more comforted. God loves you and so do I. Cynthia
God always answer my prayers.It might not be that moment but it will happen.
I would like prayers for my brother-in law. Who has stage 4 cancer. Your prayers I would like to be on going if you could. He is the best brother-in- law I have. I always wonder why this illness takes the life of a good person. I am going to be positive because God is giving Him a Gaurdian Angel He took Home my Sister in May of the year very unexpectedly. I am so saddened by the loss of her. I really think that God had a plan. I loved my sister very much, she was with and illness as well. Sometimes I think God makes a choice I wasn't very happy with at all. I am asking for your Prayers and support for my brother-in-law during this time. Our family would be most thankful and grateful for all prayers. I believe in miracles very so. With a Gaurdian Angel with him and he is doing very well with type of cancer he has, I believe that God will work his Mircales for him. He has a wife my sister. Please, God I ask today that you take good care of my brother-in -law. Heal him if you will of all sickness and make him whole again. In the name of the Father the Son and the Holly Ghost Amen. Thank you all you for everyone. I am grateful.
"Lean not unto thine own understanding but trust in the LORD and he will make straight your paths." Prov 3:5
Linda, my heart and prayers go out to your and your brother-in-law. I'm sure by now you've read the news this week hat chemotherapy actually causes the spread and acceleration of cancer by turning healthy cells into cancerous ones...and with state 4, it's highly unlikely the doctors have recommended it anyway. I pray for the wisdom of the doctors to recommend for your BIL to get off the deadly chemotherapy treatments and to flood his system with nourishing, healing nutrients in the form of freshly squeezed juices, blended smoothies and blended soups. His immune system needs to be bolstered, and there is no better way to destress than with prayer and meditation. God bless.
Hello, I believe that God hears every pray I ask. It is all in His timing. But I am about to turn 60 next year and I lost my best friend and husband of 28 years in 2004. I have never remarried and I we were divorced where I lost him so I have moved on with my life. I AM ready to start a NEW beginning but I am waiting on God's timing and not sure when that will be. I don't go looking and I do go about my everyday life doing for others like I have always done this is something I enjoy doing . Does God place age on putting a wonderful Christian person in my life. This is something that I want in my life. I have been alone for 5 years now. I am gratefully asking for your team to bring to my life a kind, compassionate, Christian, happy, giving, trusting, understanding, cute, honest, healthy, Christian man for me. I told God that I would wait for Him to bring this man to me. I have kept my word as a Christian woman. Being alone in this world isn't any fun. I want to have someone to do things with. Charity things with, possibly a mission trip. I am wanting to do a children's hospital. Thank you for the prayers.
I AWAYS START MY MORNING WITH THE LORDS PRAYER,CH.6 VE.9-15! THEN I PRAY FOR EVERYONE ELSE.THEN I ASK FOR WHAT I NEED. THANK YOU LORD FOR TEACHING US HOW TO PRAY!
I pray for the same things, in the same way all the time. My prayers begin with sincere thanks for my children and all the things in our lives, large and small, that give us peace, comfort and joy. I pray for the continued good health and happiness of my children, family and beloved friends. I pray for the strength and wisdom to know how to navigate though a relentlessly grim divorce. I pray for the serenity to remember how blessed I am, despite my worries.
Far from boring or monotonous, the words of my prayers are familiar and comforting, like the lyrics of a favorite song that I am always happy to hear. I think that God recognizes my voice. I hope so.