Here are my thoughts, not an absolute truth:
Actually I'm praying for myself . I need prayers more than you. I'm more sinful.
The worst is when people say "I'm praying for you" but they mean it in a condescending way
Just I feel on occasions, rare occasions, that "I will pray for you" has a kind of patronising tone. That the one praying is closer to God, therefore the prayer is more likely to be heard.
As far as I'm concerned, I only pray for people who request it. If someone shares about an issue without asking for prayers, I just listen and I won't pray for them. Doing so would feel as if a friend needed to vent about their marriage and I would go behind their back and talk to their spouse. The very least would be to ask:
"would you like me to talk to him/her?"... and I wouldn't do that unless we were very VERY close friends.
I do pray for myself but I prefer praying for others and I do pray more for others (who have requested it) than for myself, not because I think they need it more than I do but because praying for myself feels kinda selfish to me.
I read recently not to treat God like an ATM. Like someone who gives out prizes or luck.
Actually, Jesus said God is like an ATM somehow... an ATM we can withdraw Holy Spirit from
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13)
Now, most people request prayers only when they have an issue and this is in my opinion the wrong way to consider God like an ATM: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). From this point of view, we all need prayers, all the time.
Do you really want me to pray for you? Really? As if I know God better than you?
I do believe in group prayers, not because some people know God better than the others but because we share the work, like when you move and some friends help you carry your things and your furniture. It doesn't mean anyone is better at moving than the others, it simpler is quicker. Also, some furniture are so heavy that you just can't carry them alone and you need some help. One person hence cannot do their own removal alone whereas four people can easily do four removals.
Jesus told us to pray for each other.
Can you give the verse reference, please? Did Jesus say we should pray for others even though they didn't request it?
