Who would you pray for?

Question

You’re in the grocery store and see a husband and wife walking down an isle. They appear to have two children, a young girl and a young boy. The boy is obviously handicapped and in a wheelchair, but he seems happy. Behind them, is another family, a woman and her little girl. Being a good Christian, you look around you, and decide to approach one of the families and ask to pray for them. Be honest, who would you choose?

Answer 1

Why would you walk up to someone and ask to pray for them?
Are you planning on doing it out loud, right there in front of everybody? Are you one of those weirdos who needs to have his spirituality on public display? Don't feel validated unless the whole world knows how wonderfully devout you are?

If the answer is- No, then you don't need to ask. What you pray for in the privacy between you and your god is your business. If you want to add some family to your prayers at church on Sunday, then do. Why would you feel you had to have their permission or have them know you are doing it?

The only reason I can think of is to boast or feel validated.

Answer 2

Honestly, I'm usually thinking more about the price of produce in the grocery store than praying for those around me (I know...so not "good christian sounding" :)

I doubt that I would choose to approach either family on my own and ask to pray for them. When I do something like that it is because the Holy Spirit prompts me and when that happens He tells me who to approach. Interesting question, though.

Answer 3

The boy is happy, he's accepted his lot in life and is comfortable with things as they are. You mention NOTHING about the other family other then a description of them. Based on that, I would have NO need to pray for either of the two families unless one of them specifically asked me to do so.

Raji the Green Witch

Answer 4

It's hard to get into this since I would probably just walk past them and not pray, but if I did pray for one it would be the family with the boy in the chair.

Answer 5

No need to approach either of them. We do not need permission to pray for anyone. It is our job as Christians.

And to be honest. I would pray for both of the families, that they may find happiness and love within each other and in Christ.

Answer 6

Ephesians 6:18 - 19 18With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

Answer 7

If you want to pray, pray for all of them, but there is no need to speak to any of them about what you intend to do. If a stranger came up to me and asked if they could pray for me, I would be be offended, even if I believed in prayer. It would also make you look like a total fruitcake, which is not going to do the God you're trying to serve any service. You simply don't walk up to strangers and offer to pray for them. Keep it to yourself and just pray for them all.

Answer 8

I would smile at each of them as we passed.
If they need anything more than that, they should ask it of me.

And in any case, "prayer" is not an option.

Conversely, if I were "the man" in either of your scenarios, and you came up to my family and offered to pray with/for us, I guarantee that within 30 seconds, you would get an idea why your invasion is NOT a good idea. I am an excellent teacher. ;-)

.

Answer 9

Why not pray for all three, two families and Yourself. You do not know the whole story about those two families. I am sure you can use some prayer too.

Answer 10

I wouldn't approach a family and ask 'to pray for them'. I would include them in my daily devotions and interactions; themselves a form of prayer, or praise, shared between us. This implicit love is stronger than any Pharisee display.