Prayer Request Discussion

On the subject of prayer, one time when I was still in the LC, I was going through a number of trials. In a prayer meeting, I simply asked for prayer, without going into much detail. Then several people prayed for me, and I left the meeting strengthened and encouraged.

Then later, the only elder who attended that meeting rebuked me. He said that it was "self" that caused me to ask for prayer. "What was that? Self!" He said it in a mocking and insulting tone. He made me feel condemned for simply making a prayer request. Our prayers were supposed to be "higher" than that, for God's economy.

Years later, I'm in a much healthier church. It is so wonderful to be in a place where I can be honest about my real situation, and ask for prayer. And others open up to me, and I pray for them. We stand together, and pray for each other's needs. There should be no condemnation for being honest about our struggles. I have seen real prayers work, time and time again. Sometimes, nothing changes outwardly, but grace, peace, and healing come within. Other times the circumstsnces do change. Sometimes the Lord does a miracle of deliverance from a negative situation. The LC denies the value, significance, and power of genuine prayers.