What does the bible say about prayer?

I have always been obsessed with
this quote from the bible "wherever 3 or more of you are
gathered in my name I will be there", (as a child I would
desperately look around the room at church to try to spot God,
because, as I understood it there were certainly more than three of
us, so He should be there somewhere!) This quote always gave me a
strong feeling that God has given us the power as Christians to heal
the world.

When I was a kid I always looked for friends to
pray with, I remember that I was always giving the subject of our
prayer, like about helping the children who go hungry. I have always
enjoyed going to church, because for me it was the perfect occasion
to be able to pray for a cause with so many other people.

As
I got older I realized that I needed to develop a personal
relationship with Jesus, and I did not know what to say while in
prayer with Him. So I just used the time to tell Him about my day. I
knew that my friends were using these moments with Jesus for
personal requests (for their grades, friends, boyfriends etc) But
even if I understood this, I never felt that I had the right to
address a personal request in my prayer. Even if I had a bad day, I
thank God for giving me the challenges of that day, instead of
asking Him to make tomorrow better for me.

I would really
like to have your input on that. I really believe that prayer is a
powerful tool that God gave us and that the bible tells us that we
should use it to make a better world.


Don't you think that as Christians we
have the responsibility to address by prayer the world's problems to
God? And that the bible tells us that the more we will pray together
the more God will listen?

Personal prayers are no sin, as we read through the Bible, we read many personal prayers addressed to God.

TheLORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made (Ps 145:13-21)

Even Jeremiah prayed

Heal me, O LORD and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved, for you are my praise (Jeremiah 17:14)

When we face worldly problems we can call on God and this is the promise He made with us

and call me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me (Ps 50:15)

So when I find myself struggling financially or for any other reason, I remember this promise of God

The LORD our God is near to us whenever we pray to Him (Deut 4:7)

Yes I would agree with you that I would also not pray for a girlfriend, rather I would pray for spiritual things that can be of any benefit to others who are in sickness and disease, who are in pain, misery and suffering, who are being tormented by satan.

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure thoe with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received. (Mathew 10:7-8)

But I find no problem to seek God's help and protection when we go through difficult times.

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Cor 1:3-4)

God bless you and your family

Oh, I defenitly agree with you that praying for yourself is not a sin!

It just seems to me that the bible also strongly advocates praying with others and praying for others not only praying for yourself, and sometimes I think that people may lose that idea.

just an update, but I just found this website that is all about the effect of group prayer (actually they call it simultaneous intercessory prayer) and I think that is what I was talking about more or less. Not that we shouldn't pray for thanksgiving or pray for God's help, but more that we should be praying for God's intercession in our world's problems. The website is www.unitedinprayers.net , let me know what you think.

rcalo wrote:Don't you think that as Christians we have the responsibility to address by prayer the world's problems to God? And that the bible tells us that the more we will pray together the more God will listen

Your question I answered, that praying for personal needs is not wrong. This what Jesus said about praying

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (Mathew 6:5-6)

I hope that your question is answered as our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ answered your question some 2,000 years ago.

God bless you and your family

Yes, you are right, but He also advocates us coming together in prayer:

"wherever 3 or more of you are gathered in my name. I'll be there." Mathew 18:20

and

"If two of you agree on anything you ask God for, it shall be done for you by my Father in heaven” Mathew 18:19

Dear rcalo

I did not say it is wrong, many people assume that praying for personal needs is wrong. I agree and believe what the Bible says in Mathew 18:20.

God bless you and your family