How do you stop praying?
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
United States
April 17, 2007 10:02am CST
This may sound kind of off-beat, but I am very serious and confused. There are so many people, places, and situations that need our prayers that I don't know how to shut off or end my prayers.
This began when I was a child and my grandmother was very ill and in the hospital. I was about 8 years old and got down on my knees at my bedside and began to pray for her. During my prayer I realized that my best friend's grandpa was also sick, so I added him to my prayer, then I started to think of all the other grandmothers and grandfathers that might also need prayer so I prayed for them.
Now, as an elderly woman my prayers have gotten more sophisticated; but....
I don't mean for this to be a battle of religious beliefs. In my opinion we all pretty much pray to the same Guiding Force anyway.
This is not a new question for me but one that I have been too embarrassed to ever ask anyone. After yesterday's events at Virginia Tech I realized that I need help (perhaps professional, and if you feel that I should seek that, don't hesitate to suggest it, I can take criticism).
During my silent prayers for the students, staff, families, friends, and community of the shooting the need to keep going continued. How could I stop with that?
There are countless others that are suffering. There are those suffering from war, disease, hunger, and on & on.
This is but a glimpse of what I am trying to say and I hope you can understand my meaning.
If so, and you have dealt with this, please suggest how to stop prayers without feeling the guilt that I have left someone out.~Donna
12 people like this
27 responses
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
18 Apr 07
I never thought of this as a problem before! I "pray" all day, just kind of keeping a running conversation going. I think of that as part of having a close personal relationship with the Gods, and not as a problem.
However, I suppose from your standpoint, it's not a feeling of closeness that keeps you doing it, but guilt. Which isn't healthy. So what if you left someone out? That doesn't mean that whatever deity you're praying too doesn't know they're there! Besides that, all these people you are praying for are in your heart and in your mind, and therefore have been brought up to diety by you anyway whether you say it or not!
On a side note, I do believe you are one of the sweetest human beings on the planet. Seriously, you're lovely, and it makes my heart melt just to speak to you. =p
4 people like this
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
18 Apr 07
I would consider you a prayer warrior! And if you remember someone after you pray, pray again. That is what I do, so often my list goes on and on, prayer for family and friends, the neighbor down the street, the neighor's sick father, a friend of a friend who needs a job, I think our brain's are geared to associate one thought with the next.
So just keep praying, and remember it brings you closer in relationship with Him.
@xbrendax (2662)
• United States
18 Apr 07
You are right, there are a lot of people out there that need prayers, but always remember you are not the only one who is praying for them, if you feel you've left someone out, others will pick up the slack and continue praying! At the end of your praying, simply say: God if I've left someone out, YOU know who they are and may you bless them with your guiding light, ahmen.
@cliffhanger1069 (29)
• Philippines
18 Apr 07
let me say this with boldness and confidence that you are one of the most endangered species. meaning very rare where you can find someone in this world who is very prayerful like you who touched by the Holy Spirit to pray for family, others and even your country and the world. God has given us gifts and talents or skills to use for His Glory. and one of those that you've got is the gift of prayer which is the most powerful weapon against evil. don't you know that God listens to your prayers? even Jesus prayed, He even wept, because His heart is grieving. God is well pleased to hear prayers from His creations. and here's the thing, God also sends His angels to rescue someone because somebody is praying for that person. so don't feel guilty by stopping your prayer. just ask God for wisdom to understand those that confuses you and definitely he will. because He is a God that is full of wisdom and gives it generously to those who seeks it without finding fault. consequently you will discern and learn when to stop your prayer. the Lord Himself will let you. so bear this in mind, you are not sick and you don't need to ask for a professional help.
3 people like this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
18 Apr 07
I think this guiding force, as you say (good tem, by the way!) would know what was in your heart. While you are going through the formula of asking for help about specific problems, I am sure the way you feel in general is being conveyed at the same time. That you ask this question shows the depth of your consideration for others and your compassion. I am sure that is coming through loud and clear when you go thrugh your prayers.
4 people like this
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
18 Apr 07
When I am praying, I usually start off with including my family and closest friends and then I would say something that would include everyone else in my prayers. It can be very tough to end a prayer and do not feel there is anything wrong with stopping praying for the day or evening. Just mention before ending your prayer that you are thinking and praying for everyone that is hurting right now, whether physically or mentally or both and for everyone else in the world that you are thinking about. If you mention everyone than you are not leaving anyone out.
3 people like this
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I understand what you mean completely.
The world is a mess.
What I do is make a general prayer for anyone who needs praying for. For anyone who needs help or guidance. I know they know who needs it and can help. That is how I deal with the guilt.
I will and do ask for those individuals that I know needs the help and that are on the forefront of my mind (such as those families and friends of the murdered at Virgina Tech.
I hope this helps - and I don't think you need perfessional help. Your just a wonderful woman with a huge heart.
3 people like this
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
18 Apr 07
I have a similar if not the same affliction. I start praying for one thing and then end up asking God about a dozen similar things. I think we need to realise that God's will is God's will and we need to add on to our prayers that ultimately what we are praying for is God's will to be done and for us to fit in with the execution of that will. I also think that we need to actually do something that alleviates a small. tiny part of the suffering in this world. Of course I wish I could practice what I preach all the time and I am sure you do much more than me!
3 people like this
@itkasp (266)
• Australia
18 Apr 07
This is just my opinion though, you may agree or disagree, I think praying is one of the means to communicate and building relationship with God. With praying we can worship God, thank God for every bless that He has given to us, and also submit our request (including praying for others). Pray can be done anytime and anywhere. Praying should not be limited to one time only. Whenever you want to communicate with God, you can pray to God. Don't feel guilty if you left someone out in your prayer, God knows what inside your heart, He just want you to talk to Him.
@ryanphil01 (4182)
• Philippines
18 Apr 07
I would like to quote Mat 6:7-8 (Phi) "And when you pray don't rattle off long prayers .... For your Father knows your needs before you ask him."
Further, Phil 4:6 (Wey) "Do not be over-anxious about anything, .... let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God."
The verses above do not mean that we don't need to pray anymore for God told us also to pray without ceasing, they simply remind us that when we become too glib in prayer we are most surely talking to ourselves.
Whenever I pray, i start with the specifics, the people i know and closed to me, then for everybody, for their safety and guidance and end it with thansksgiving for hearing my prayers.
@little_angel (2458)
• Australia
18 Apr 07
God has predestined some people to be a prayer, and maybe you are on of that people. There is your duty to pray for other people. If you stop it maybe you will feel uncomfortable with yourself. If you can make other people happy why do you stop it.
They are not your responsibility, you just help them and God with do the rest.You only need to pray for them, like you prayed for your grandmother. Let God be your guide and told you which one you must to pray for.
Each people have their own prayer.
God bless you
@sanyah1988 (306)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I understand what you are saying i start and there is no way to stop once you start and frankly I can't stop either there are so many things going on in this world that makes it impossible to stop but I have just simply saved the rest for the next prayer or the next night
3 people like this
@Daquin (46)
• United States
18 Apr 07
Sorry that I need to give the atheist point of view here, but prayer is, in my humble opinion, a way to make the prayer feel better. I was raised Catholic and we prayed every night, but, did it do anything? Not really. The truly righteous people do something. They don't simply kneel in their bedroom and hope for world peace, no, they go out and do their part. I am glad that prayer does nothing because this means people like Fred Phelps have no power whatsoever, but I digress.
The point I'm trying to make is there is no reason to pray other than to make you, yourself feel good about praying. That isn't a bad thing, but, if you really want something to change, then you do something. Volunteer, teach, get the word out. Just don't center everything on religion because, like it or not, that is the reason for many of the wars today.
3 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
17 Apr 07
My prayers have become generalized. I focus on the ones closest to me that I pray for and branch out from there. There was a time when I felt a pang of guilt for not including a specific person, group, place, etc in my prayers. Now that I generalize the prayers I am sure to hit most everyone.
@Lydia1901 (16351)
• United States
24 Apr 07
Well, Donna you keep on praying because it sounds like you are pretty good at it. Sometimes it is hard to stop certain things when you start on them.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
17 Apr 07
No well in the first place I do not believe that you should feel guilty for leaving someone out of your prays and God knows exactly what you are thinking and what s in your heart, and he will be there for you to help you through this with your prays when I have to pray for anyone in this situation I don't say their names I just pray for God to be with all those that are suffering and going through hard times and to send his guiding light to them so that they can recover from all these tragedies that we go through in our lives.
3 people like this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
17 Apr 07
I think you've asked a very good question and one we all have to find a solution to. This is my opinion. You or anyone else are welcome to agree or disagree. I won't be offended. Everyone needs to have their own personal way of praying, this is mine, it may or may not work for anyone else.
We are instructed to pray continually. This doesn't mean to kneel by our bed all day. We pray with our hearts not our knees or hands. All of those people are on your heart for a reason. As long as they are on your heart you will be praying for them. Since this isn't meant to be a religious argument, I won't mention who I pray to but I know that (He) always knows what is on my heart. Even when I am not actively saying the words, I am being heard.
I don't know how to get rid of your guilt because with my way of praying I don't experience guilt so it isn't an issue I've dealt with. All I can suggest is to try my way. I offer no promises or guarantees though.
@zjenikka (292)
• Philippines
18 Apr 07
Hi!! I myself is a very religious person. I got it from my grandparents. When I was still a little kid I used to listen to my grandparents pray. Then they would teach me how to pray. I carry it with me. I sometimes feel what you are feeling, everytime I pray I sometimes feel that I miss out something.. and everyday I had to add on my prayer.... Everytime I have this feeling, I do not feel like stopping in praying instead I just pray to God to help me with my prayer and I'd just feel light.
@annabananna (4)
• United States
18 Apr 07
I have noticed this at times too...howeverI sey aside a certain time for prayer and then I speak whtever happens to be on my mind at the time. Then sometimes during the day I get a thought or concern about someone and than I send a quick prayer for them. It will often turn out that the person needed help right at that time...
