Over-Praying

"Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed."
Proverbs 16:3


Is there such thing as over-praying? Last night during my cell group discussion, we discussed about whether or not we should pray for every and single thing. For example : "God, please help me with my pimples", "God, should I take on that job", "God, should I help my friend who need to borrow money", "God, should I go for a short mission trip", "God, should I cut my hair", "God, should I buy the red or black car", "God, should I buy the unit at 10th or 11th floor?" 

You get the gist.

So, during the discussion, I realised that generally for men, they won't pray for every single tiny bitty thing. Because not everything has to be prayed beforehand. God has given us humanly wisdom to decide for ourselves. But they will pray the big items. 

But for ladies, we believe it is alright to pray for every single thing. (I myself prayed for God to hep me lose weight, which He answered. I also prayed to help me when I had my pimple outbreak). 

God yearns to hear from us. God yearns to talk with us (not "to us" or "talked to", but "with"). So I think it is alright to talk with Him about everything. However, not praying for everything, I feel, it doesn't mean that you are a bad Christian. 

I used to wonder, if God indeed wants us to pray for every single thing before we do anything, that would mean that we have no brain to think, no will and power to decide. We just ask God for to make decision for us. And that theory sounds so wrong. Because God doesn't create us to be stupid. God created humans in HIS IMAGE! We are given cleverness! So Proverbs 16:3 comes to my mind. 

Note that it says "commit your actions" and "your plans will succeed". What does this sentence imply? It implies that YOU ALREADY HAVE A PLAN! AND YOU COMMIT THEM UNTO THE LORD. 

If we were to ask God before we do anything, then the verse would be "Commit yourself to the LORD and He will give you the plans". 

So in short, God gives us humanly wisdom to create a plan, and then you PARTNER WITH GOD, to make this plan into actions.

God bless.

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