Hi smimik!  Good to see you back!

My mom and I were just having this discussion yesterday!  It's a good question.

For me, when I say "I'll pray for you." it is something I do right away.  (partly because it is on my mind then, and I wouldn't want to forget)   However, often, I find myself thinking about that person/situation time and time again and I believe that in thinking about them and sending positive energy and healing for them, is like a prayer.  Perhaps not a formal prayer, but I think that God knows our hearts and understands the prayer within us.

When I tell someone that I will keep them in my prayers, I am offering a more formal prayer that will continue over a period of time.  Until their crisis is over???  How will I know when that is.    Probably not, unless I am in constant contact with them and know what specifically they are needing me to pray for. 

Like BusyMom, I pray at the time it is posted so that I don't forget but for posters I know that are in a long time struggle, I think of them often and offer more constant prayers. I don't always post to the thread that is asking for prayers - just because.

I am the same way I pray at the time and pray again as the name pops into my mind.

Greetings!

And "hi" smimik.

I'm pretty much the same as those posted above.  If someone on Wondercafe, or in real life, asks for prayers, I prayer as soon as I have been made aware of the need . . . otherwise I am afraid if I say "I will pray" . . . and don't pray right away, I will forget.  Then, I continue to pray as the person/situation comes to my mind.  My prayers are directed to God as I know and understand God to be.

Hope, peace, joy, love . . .

      Food for thought when we say " I wIll pray for you " 

    When we say ---I will pray for you ---What does that do to the other person's confidence --are we saying then that we have more power in getting prayers answered than the person your praying for . What makes us think that we can get the answer for that person or help that person any better than they can help them self through praying themselves.

  There are guidelines to getting prayers answered and we all can get answered prayers if we follow God's rules for answered prayer.No one person has more power to answered prayer than another as it depends on certain criteria , according to God's word. 

 Proverbs 15:29 :"The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous."

John 9:31 : "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."

Psalm 66:18 :"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me"

Mark 11:25-26 : "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

God knows what is in our heart when we pray so MOTIVE is a big one . 

 There is intercessory prayers that we can pray for another but we again must be in right standing with God to be effective in praying for a person. We must follow his rules.

  " Your in my prayers" --to my mind says that we acknowledge the person's pain they are going through and it lets the person know they will be in our thoughts after we part. 

   Blessings

Whoooaaaa!!!!!

Sometimes it can be a way of covering their own backside.  A number of years ago, I had a rather unethical colleague spread disparaging and false remarks about me and my wife (I was close to information that would expose him for certain misdeeds).  After a final meeting with this person, he said he was 'praying for us'.  I told him I prefer he didn't because I doubt he was praying to God (he ended up eventually resigning in shame).  Depending on who its coming from, I usually take it with a grain of salt or at face value.  I asked this same person if he was praying for me, or preying on me.  Your response certainly calls for discernment.

I don't like being prayed for. I once had a colleague who told me she would pray for me to find Jesus. She wasn't the first person to say that to me but for the first time I'd had enough and spoke up. I told her it offended me - that she thought she had any right to do that. I told her not to bother, that Jesus and I were cool with the relationship we have, and she'd best pray for something worthwhile - like sick kids or world peace - than waste a prayer on me.

I also don't tell people I'll pray for them. I don't see the point. They're in my heart and thoughts very often, but a blatant prayer... I've never been comfortable talking to God that way. I keep it quiet, and know that at any moment God hears what I'm feeling and thinking and I don't need to give it any more energy than that.  

Doesn't this one mean forgive yourself as God will forgive you? I interpret it that way. Just saying.

Mar 11:25		And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
	Mar 11:26	Other ancient authorities insert verse 26, ["But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your tresspasses."]

Hi -Footprints 165--This is R_S_V- I hope it helps. Airclean33

     airclean33

  Thanks for the clarification on footprints165 question. It is so important according to scripture to forgive all people  (Mark 11:25–26). In plain language, this means that if you have a grudge against anyone, your prayers go no higher than your head, ...

  Matthew  21 V 21-22  : Tell us that as long as we believe and do not doubt what we ask for in prayer it shall be given unto us. This scripture is huge because it does not say only certain things will be given to to in prayer but it says  V 22 And whatever you ask for in prayer , having faith ( confidence ) and ( really ) believing , you will receive    Amplified Bible

  John 14 V 14   Jesus speaking -- And I will grant  whatever you shall ask in my name .

  Again we need to follow instructions to get answered prayer .

  Blessings