Prayer or Gossip?

I know reading this article is a setup from God Himself. This week has been a hard one. I let go of my friendship with someone of 3 yrs. Plus, things weren't that much greater with my mother. I only want to be accepted by my mother. She spends more time correcting me than she does complimenting me. It hurts so bad to be taken for granted by both people. I end up talking about them to other people around me instead of pray.
I now realize that God knows the both parties completely. That's why I should go to Him in prayer even more. I've just always felt (flesh) that He won't understand b/c I'm "wrong" for being hurt. Thank you for this article.... I'm beginning to "get it" now.


-Fayth<><

This article brought to mind the time when my Sunday school teacher stopped someone in their tracks once when they were sharing a prayer request because they were providing too many details and he told them they didn't need to go that far. We definitely need to realize that gossip can be disguised as a prayer request and we need to avoid that tendency. We also need to avoid speculation about others because we can't know their motives or their heart.

Thanks Dr. Rosa for an honest assessment on prayer. This was a well written article that speaks to the real issue behind much of what doesn't happen in the average church prayer meeting. Truly God knows the need but sometimes it is therapeutic to share minute details with a confidant. Biggbob hit the nail on the head as he shared about the frustration of focusing only on the sick.

The damage that is done to one who has risked sharing some of their most painful secrets to a fellow believer in confidence is enormous. Broken confidences only wound the hurting soul more, thus minimizing the willingness to risk sharing again.

I often assure those asking for prayer that it is not necessary for them to divulge intimate details in order for me to pray for them, I explain that God is already aware of the need they have and that if they are uncomfortable about sharing something with me then I am still able to pray and God is still going to respond.
I too have often experienced when a prayer request turns into speculation and gossip, yes even within Church where we are supposed to rise above the sin of gossip. It is very distressing to hear one's private details exposed for all to speculate on, and it is something Jesus Himself often spoke against.
Please, fellow believer's, if someone entrusts you with a confidence, DON'T break it, even when the aim is to seek prayer for that individual. The damage that is caused both to the Church and to yourself is beyond measure. Trust that God is in charge, He does not require our interference.

I think there is a fine line between prayer request and gossip in the local church. Many times Wednesday night prayer meeting becomes nothing more than a sick report. I once had a pastor who made great strides changing this. He would ask for a sick report and would spend even more time asking for specific spiritual needs. He is gone and we are back to the old way. It is difficult to change. I hate to say this, but "prayer time" in the the local church can be so lame. I would like hear others experience and maybe what was done to change this. I believe there are some practical steps can be taken. Asking someone for a specific prayer request for themselves may be a start.