Why are prayers offered by others more effective

[Raphael]

Hai,

Can anyone explain why some believe that prayers are more effective when offered by others. Is it because when we pray for others we do not experience the pressure or burden of the request? And that on the other hand when we pray for ourselves we go through the ups and downs of forms of expectancy? Is there in the bible that explains this?

I personally find it easier to successfully pray for someone else. While for myself .. it seems disappointing. Especially on matters of livelihood and life. Not on health, I can experience or feel it immediately.

God bless,

Raphael

[Woody]

I haven't noticed that God discriminates in this manner.

[Clio]

It's a complex question Raphael, but not uncommon among prayer warriors.

I'm not sure that it pertains to whether or not Abba answers prayers for others more readily than prayers for ones'self, but rather what kind of prayer one is praying.

Praying for others is a very unselfish act, and we're almost always also praying for others that "Abba's will be done". It's much easier to pray for His will when our own emotions, fears, desires, and needs are not bound up in the praying of it.

Also, when we pray for others, especially when our prayers come from a prayer request, we are praying as part of a group, uniting their faith in Abba and His good will toward us. The Bible tells us that the prayers of a righteous man avail much, and we are also told that a husband and wife should pray together that their prayers not be hindered.

When we unite in prayer on behalf of someone else, we are praying the most unselfish kind of prayer, united that our prayers may not be hindered.

When we pray for ourselves, we often enter that prayerful conversation with Abba with preconceived ideas about what the answer to that prayer should look like in fulfillment and how it should be fulfilled. We often have certain expectations in mind, and are fearful of the situation's outcome if those expectations aren't met. It is much more difficult to pray a truly unselfish prayer for oneself, and mean it when we then say, "Nevertheless, Lord, Thy will in all things be done."

Another thing we tend to do in prayer when praying for ourselves is bargain with The Most High. "If You will answer this prayer, I will do...." As though anything we could do might be something that would satisfy a need Abba has like a market transaction satisfies the needs of both parties to the transaction.

Should it please Abba to answer our request, we may miss it altogether because of those preconceived ideas of what His answer has to look like to constitute the answer we wanted. Sometimes something that causes us deep emotional distress can be His answer to a heartfelt plea for blessing... and when we look at what the outcomes are, setting aside our wounded feelings, we can see blessing after blessing being heaped upon us.

Another thing I have noticed is that as prayer warriors mature in Him, Abba is less inclined to bolster their faith with awesome displays of His Power. This is borne out in Luke 22:35 -38 as Jesus gave instruction to His disciples.

(35) And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. (36) Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (37) For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. (38) And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

In Luke 22, Jesus first calls to their attention that they were divinely provided for during His earthly ministry. They did not lack anything. He is reiterating that they will still be provided for, but their circumstances would not be as comfortable as before. They would have to trust even more and perhaps be satisfied with less. Abba would still provide for them, simply because it is a fundamental part of His nature, but things would not be as easy.

In the account of the first Pentecost after Christ's ascension we can see an early example. There were many signs and miracles, and undoubtedly every person present remembered that day for the rest of his life! As the church started out, there were miraculous healings and other gifts of the Spirit being manifested seemingly on a regular basis. However, when we read the accounts of the apostles later in their lives, there are no records of the same public miracles or healings.

Had God left them? Was He displeased with their work? Had they lost their faith? Was He limiting their supply of His Holy Spirit? Were their prayers less honored? On the contrary, they were maturing spiritually, and Abba did not need to bolster their faith in the same way through astounding manifestations of His Spirit.

"Elementary school" was over. Now they were growing up spiritually and had more serious work to do.

Jesus warned the disciples in Luke 22:36 that their responsibilities would be increased, their journeys lengthened, the dangers greater, and the physical costs higher. He would still be with them, but they would begin to be more acutely aware of their physical circumstances and have to trust in Him to an even greater degree.

Christ's instructions in verse 36 are primarily spiritual, but there are true physical principles in them as well.

All or some of these reasons, may be why you feel that Abba honors your prayers for other more than your prayer for yourself. But if you have truly offered yourself for refining in His fire, until all dross be burnt from you, and you present a perfect reflection of Him... Then, His Will is being done in your life, and to move along a different path would take you from the path of Righteousness ordained for you to walk.

Then it becomes, in your heart of hearts, which prayer would you rather Abba answer? The prayer that assures your salvation? Or the prayer for the material/physical/circumstantial something that appears to block your way?

Clio

P.S. Edited to add... and once more I seem to have written a tome.

[Clio]

Does anyone else have thoughts on this? I often think about prayer and the patterns I've noticed in my own prayer life. Does anyone else have anything personal to share?

Clio

[Raphael]

Your very right, Clio, about being unselfish.

But suppose I have this random idea that God loves churning people's stomachs inside out to the very maximum extent of endurance people can endure as part of His protocol of admitting admittance to paradise? Is that a correct idea? I seem to recall wordings in EG & the holy bible mentioning forms of endurance test, testing to the very maximum. Is this protocol of uniform application, applying to all? yea, probably all... and all we have to do is just endure it to the best .. of course always with the so called God’s help or strength .. one thing clear is, the pain is only for you to bear with no share..

Anyway, as I recollect someone saying.. there is truly, no way apart from Gods way ... no other words to say than to wish luck to all venerable test participants!

[Clio]

Your very right, Clio, about being unselfish.

But suppose I have this random idea that God loves churning people's stomachs inside out to the very maximum extent of endurance people can endure as part of His protocol of admitting admittance to paradise? Is that a correct idea? I seem to recall wordings in EG & the holy bible mentioning forms of endurance test, testing to the very maximum. Is this protocol of uniform application, applying to all? yea, probably all... and all we have to do is just endure it to the best .. of course always with the so called God’s help or strength .. one thing clear is, the pain is only for you to bear with no share..

Anyway, as I recollect someone saying.. there is truly, no way apart from Gods way ... no other words to say than to wish luck to all venerable test participants!

I'm sorry you believe that. I've not experienced Abba that way at all. It sounds like a very cruel god you believe in.

There is nothing we can "do" including this enduring thing that gains us heaven.

We are called in Abba to live abundantly in Him. Jesus told us that His "yoke is easy and His burden is light". Perhaps if you explain more about what is causing you pain we can offer more insight.

I do know this. In Jesus there is no, none, zero condemnation. Only forgiveness, salvation, and love. Condemnation and guilt come from the other guy. Praying and wearing the armor of Abba daily helps prevent the Adversary from whispering his lies of condemnation into your ears to whirl around in your mind and cause you pain.

Cling to the promises and believe them to be literal. They truly are literal.

Clio

[Raphael]

Thank you for your kind words of strength, Clio. But I feel it of ill wisdom to expound my personal ordeals publicly.

I am sorry too, for being unable to reply promptly, I have been extremely occupied lately...

Anyway the good news is that I feel God guiding me and that things currently show evidences of it though the journey is still looks far and long.

I do have impressions of myself as battling sometimes 'kind of losing' battles but ever intent on winning the war.

May we all be ever victorious.

God bless you all,

Raphael