How is it possible to pray for every single person on earth if everyone has problems?

Question

Is it selfish and ignorant to just pray for people you just know like family, friends, people in media?

Answer 1

you asked more than one question, but okay. Is it selfish and ignorant..when you are praying for someone else, someone other than yourself it is not usually selfish although if you benefit from what you are praying for, for them because a piece of it is going to trickle down to you, then it could be. For example, if you prayed that the newcaster found a better job in a city that pays more because you were next in line for his position, there would be a little selfishness there. I said a little because you did not just pray for him to leave his post so you could take it, but you prayed for him to earn more money, so you would be praying for both of you. I do believe I know what you are saying tho, if we pray for just the people we know and love or those we admire, then aren't we sort of praying that blessings come to people we favor and isn't that selfish. The answer is no and yes. No, because you are still praying for somebody other than yourself but yes, it is a little selfish to pray for your favored people and not others in need TOO.

When I say my prayers I do the same thing you are talking about in the beginning of your question and I pray for my loved ones and so forth. I believe as parents and aunts, uncles, spouses of others it is our duty to do that, not to mention that we can't help it because we love those others dearly and want the best for them. --But then I go on to pray for someone else who I do not know as personally or not at all, to be precise. I ask in my prayers that anyone who is in great peril in anyway, be immediately helped and then I add that everyone who is in need be helped by God. That is part of how we can pray for everybody who is in need.

There are other times too tho that I pray special prayers. By that I mean that everytime I hear an emergency vehicle-whatever it is, i don't even have to know if it is a squad car or a fire truck or an ambulance, but when I hear a siren, I pray that wherever that vehicle is going that all in it and its way be helped and not hurt.

That may sound silly but if you think about it, plenty of times those vehicles are in accidents along the way to help someone or someone darts out in front of one, or perhaps an animal does.
Sometimes those who go to assist another get injured by those they are trying to help or by others in the situation, sometimes a person is wrongfully arrested, or convicted, sometimes a patient dies enroute to a hospital and so forth.

Then too, there are times I will hear from tv or something over the internet that someone has asked others for prayer and I will pray for them, often just once, sometimes several times, but if alot of people do that it is very effectual and brings God glory.

There are times too when I will say a prayer everyday for a week for all of the people with cancer and another week in their place I will pray for all the people with addictions to recover and for their families to be healed. Another time it is for the homeless and so on.

It is good and encouraging when you pray if you get a note book and list what you prayed for and the date and then go back when your prayer is answered and put the date your prayer was answered too. I like checking my book, it always surprises me how we otherwise overlook all of the settled prayers. Then is a good time to say a prayer of thanksgiving, thanking God for all He has done specificly that we asked Him to.

So there are not only prayers of intercession that request something of God, but prayers of thanksgiving too, and sometimes we forget I think that not all prayer is some formatted one we learned in school. I love my siamese and very often when I pet or hug one that is prancing all over me, I will say aloud (ofcourse when God and I are alone, not in public)-ooooh thankyou God for making this darling and giving him to me! That is a prayer too. When someone says "Oh God, what a beautiful sunset!" They have just prayed and often do not realize it. So yes, you can easily and quickly pray for everyone, with just a few words, and there are many different kinds of prayer, do not forget the prayers of thankfullness either. If you do those little things you will never have to worry about leaving anyone out or being selfish.

lastly, years ago I used to end my daily prayers with "and please bless everyone in need of prayer, especially those who do not realize it." Many of us do not know what tomorrow will bring and not all tomorrows are good ones and ofcourse there are those who do not believe in God or know He can help them so that is an important prayer too. I have unitentionally neglected that one for a long time, thank you for reminding me; and May God bless you! (That by the way, was a prayer too.)

Answer 2

No, it's not selfish. Of course it's natural to think first of praying for those we know of. Truthfully, as long as we're praying in the first place it's a step closer. If you feel the need to pray for others, then do so. As said above, follow you're heart. You can try just generalizing when you pray, too. Instead of pointing out every problem or person who needs prayer, you can ask that all of those who need help may please have some. That's what I do. ^_^

Answer 3

for some weird reason, with all the needy people in the world I could pray for, I especially pray for the palistinians, I dont really know why there are a lot of oppressed people, even in this country,I dont know where this is comeing from , but every night I pray for them, and the other neighbors of israel.now. I think inside that I know that something very emportant is going to happen over there soon, what i do when I pray for every one, is I see the whole planet in my minds eyes ,and I see gods light come down from heaven and just ingulf the whole world with its light, and I KNOW that god is with us all, even if we wont be in the spirit so we can know his will,

Answer 4

Pray for people collectively. While you're at it try praying for all the other creatures we share Mother Earth with. Just let go and be thoughtful of others and pray with your heart.

Answer 5

Doubt it's selfish... you can just pray for those who come to mind I'm sure you won't be looked down upon if u don't include everyone else

Answer 6

If the bible was truthful, it would be pointless to pray since it claims God knows our needs and will provide as he sees fit regardless what is prayed.

And if the bible is not truthful it is pointless to pray.

The only conclusion is that prayer is pointless and a waste of time.

Answer 7

Consider Jesus’ prayer recorded in John chapter 17. He said this prayer in the presence of his disciples on his last evening as a man. What sort of petitions did he direct to his heavenly Father?

Jesus stressed the common goals and the shared hope of those present. He mentioned the glorification of Jehovah God’s name and the making known of the Kingdom. Jesus emphasized the value of a personal relationship with the Father and the Son, based on knowledge of the Scriptures. He spoke of separateness from the world, which would brace his followers for opposition. Christ also asked his Father to protect the disciples and to unite them in true worship.

Yes, Jesus emphasized unity. (John 17:20, 21) Earlier that evening, the disciples had engaged in some immature bickering. (Luke 22:24-27) In prayer, however, Christ sought not to censure but to unite. In the same way, family and congregation prayers should promote love and seek to overcome friction between individuals. Those being represented should be drawn together in unity.—Psalm 133:1-3.

This unity is manifested when those listening say, “Amen,” or “So be it,” in conclusion. For this to be possible, they have to understand and be in agreement with everything said. It would be unfitting, therefore, to mention in prayer a subject that is unknown to some present. For instance, an elder who is representing a congregation in prayer might seek Jehovah’s blessing on a spiritual brother or sister who is seriously ill. But it normally would be best if he did so only if the overwhelming majority of those he is representing know the person and have heard about the illness.

Notice, too, that Jesus did not itemize the personal needs of each member of the group. Doing so would have involved mentioning intimate matters known only to certain individuals. Personal concerns are a fitting subject for private prayer, which can be as extended and as intimate as desired.

We can also fittingly pray that fellow Christians ‘do nothing wrong, but do what is fine.’ (2 Corinthians 13:7) Such a loving, unselfish prayer shows that we really want them to continue living in divine favor. The apostle Paul wrote: “We always pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling and perform completely all he pleases of goodness and the work of faith with power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11) Epaphras prayed that Colossian Christians might “finally stand complete and with firm conviction in all the will of God.” (Colossians 4:12) Although such words were directed to anointed Christians, our prayers today can rightly express similar sentiments in behalf of all those devoted to Jehovah.

We can pray concerning our fellow worshipers’ spiritual health. If some become spiritually sick, the appointed elders properly pray for them and with them, seeking to bring about their recovery. The disciple James wrote: “The prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up.” (James 5:13-16; 1 Samuel 12:18-25) In our private prayers we can mention fellow believers by name and express the wish that they remain “healthy in the faith.” (Titus 1:13; 2:1, 2) Of course, it is wrong to pray for those who willfully reject God’s atonement provision.—Hebrews 10:26-29.

There is power in prayer. It accomplishes much with God. The person who is righteous in the sight of God is accepted by Him, and his prayers are heard. The apostle Peter said: “The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous ones, and his ears are toward their supplication.” (1 Pet. 3:12) The apostle John described the efficacy of prayer, saying: “This is the confidence that we have toward him, that, no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us. Further, if we know he hears us respecting whatever we are asking, we know we are to have the things asked since we have asked them of him.” (1 John 5:14, 15) And the fact that prayer for a brother can mean life to him is shown by John: “If anyone catches sight of his brother sinning a sin that does not incur death, he will ask, and he will give life to him.” (1 John 5:16) Thus, everyone in the congregation (as John says, “anyone”) should show this loving concern for such an erring one, approaching God in prayer on his behalf.

Answer 8

I don't care who you pray for just don't waste your time praying for me cause I assure you your prayers are unwanted.

Answer 9

Exactly! This is why we atheists say that this does not make sense. If god is so almighty, why must we pray? Why can't god make things better himself?

Answer 10

God knows what we need long before we ask for it