Post by Cindy on Aug 11, 2015 12:01:40 GMT -5
Have you ever noticed that sometimes prayer requests are more a means to gossip then they are to help someone through prayer? We're all sinners and we all have a tendency toward sin, so we have to be careful when we decide to pass on a prayer request for ourselves or another. It's one thing to ask someone to pray for someone's marriage, but quite another to tell all the sordid details of how so and so is cheating on their spouse, or for that matter even that someone is cheating. For one thing, God already knows all the details of the problem, so we don't need to tell Him what they are. For another, being human, we could be wrong, and that could have a disastrous effect on our relationship with the persons as well as on that persons life. We are not to judge others as we don't know what's really in their hearts. Instead, we're commanded to pray for them, asking for God's mercy and grace.
Gossip is when we tell other people bad news about someone else, so if what we are asking prayer for is not exactly what we would say to the people we're asking that prayer for, then it probably shouldn't be said at all. If we know that someone is doing something they shouldn't, then it's our job to pray for them, it's not our job to spread that information to others. If we really, honestly feel that we need more people to pray for them, then we should simply ask others to pray for them because God has laid it on our hearts that they may need it. Again, we don't have to say why. I know it can feel strange at first when we're asked to pray for someone and either don't know the person or have no idea what their problem might be, but I can tell you from personal experience, that if you start praying, asking the Lord to guide you, you will find that it's often easier to pray for others that way then when you're given all the particulars. See, we think we know it all and that we know what's right and how to fix things. The problem is that we really don't, but God does. So when we pray not knowing the particulars, it allows the Lord to show us what the person really needs prayer for the most, instead of what we think they need. I've often been surprised when I have found out the details to something I'd been praying about and discovered that what the Lord had shown me to pray for was something I never would have thought of if I'd known the problem ahead of time. Yet, it turned out that what I prayed for was exactly what they most needed, all because I had to listen to the Lord and couldn't base my prayers on my own knowledge.
Before asking others to pray for someone or something, we need to check our own hearts and determine what our motivation really is. Are we just trying to show people that we know more about what's going on in the life of others? Are we trying to look holy and impress others? Are we just trying to look like we care about someone that others know hates us? Would we say the same thing in front of the person we're talking about? Would they want us to tell others? If someone was asking others to pray for us about this, would we like it? We need to ask ourselves if our motivation loving and if it's to bring glory to God. If our answers aren't an emphatic yes, then we need to keep it to ourselves.
Another thing we should check before sharing a prayer request is whether or not we have all our facts straight. If we were told about it by someone other then who the prayer is intended for, we should talk to the person it's intended for if possible to make sure the facts are right. Of course we also need to remember that we don't need a lot of facts, since the Lord already knows the situation. So if our prayer request is filled with a bunch of "facts", we need to determine just how much, if any of them are really needed.
We also need to be careful about who we're sharing the request with. If the person is known to gossip, then they certainly shouldn't be told about it. Or, if you think the person could be tempted to do so this time for some reason, again, it's better not to say anything at all.
God links gossip with slander and lying and says it is something He hates. He tells us that it all comes from Satan who has been a master liar from the beginning. We are to be truthful always and do and say all things in and with love and for love.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)
Gossip is when we tell other people bad news about someone else, so if what we are asking prayer for is not exactly what we would say to the people we're asking that prayer for, then it probably shouldn't be said at all. If we know that someone is doing something they shouldn't, then it's our job to pray for them, it's not our job to spread that information to others. If we really, honestly feel that we need more people to pray for them, then we should simply ask others to pray for them because God has laid it on our hearts that they may need it. Again, we don't have to say why. I know it can feel strange at first when we're asked to pray for someone and either don't know the person or have no idea what their problem might be, but I can tell you from personal experience, that if you start praying, asking the Lord to guide you, you will find that it's often easier to pray for others that way then when you're given all the particulars. See, we think we know it all and that we know what's right and how to fix things. The problem is that we really don't, but God does. So when we pray not knowing the particulars, it allows the Lord to show us what the person really needs prayer for the most, instead of what we think they need. I've often been surprised when I have found out the details to something I'd been praying about and discovered that what the Lord had shown me to pray for was something I never would have thought of if I'd known the problem ahead of time. Yet, it turned out that what I prayed for was exactly what they most needed, all because I had to listen to the Lord and couldn't base my prayers on my own knowledge.
Before asking others to pray for someone or something, we need to check our own hearts and determine what our motivation really is. Are we just trying to show people that we know more about what's going on in the life of others? Are we trying to look holy and impress others? Are we just trying to look like we care about someone that others know hates us? Would we say the same thing in front of the person we're talking about? Would they want us to tell others? If someone was asking others to pray for us about this, would we like it? We need to ask ourselves if our motivation loving and if it's to bring glory to God. If our answers aren't an emphatic yes, then we need to keep it to ourselves.
Another thing we should check before sharing a prayer request is whether or not we have all our facts straight. If we were told about it by someone other then who the prayer is intended for, we should talk to the person it's intended for if possible to make sure the facts are right. Of course we also need to remember that we don't need a lot of facts, since the Lord already knows the situation. So if our prayer request is filled with a bunch of "facts", we need to determine just how much, if any of them are really needed.
We also need to be careful about who we're sharing the request with. If the person is known to gossip, then they certainly shouldn't be told about it. Or, if you think the person could be tempted to do so this time for some reason, again, it's better not to say anything at all.
God links gossip with slander and lying and says it is something He hates. He tells us that it all comes from Satan who has been a master liar from the beginning. We are to be truthful always and do and say all things in and with love and for love.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)
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