Question about prayer

For the Christians out there:

This has to do with praying that someone will do something you want them to do but that he or she may not be interested in, e.g., quitting smoking.

In the Pagan traditions, there exists the ethical rule that you do not perform ritual or pray to try to change someone's will on a particular matter. It's considered wrong and a bad use of spiritual effort.

Does the same concept exist in Christian prayer? I know people who pray for others who, say, are in the process of going on the wagon, or who want to. But what about those who may not want to stop drinking? Is it considered to be unethical to pray to change someone's will?

Were I in that situation, I wouldn't pray to change their will, but I would pray that they recognize that they have a problem. That's the first step to recovery anyway, really.

A little sidestep around the issue. Pagans do similar things with negative magick. You don't necessarily do ritual asking that the abusive husband fall down a mine shaft to his death, you ask that he leave the victim in peace or that he receive his due return on his activities in the world. The negative energies he's spread in the world tend to do the rest.

pray to "change someone's hearts", and in fact, they would have plenty of Biblical examples to justify it with.

I think any ethical considerations would depend on the denomination - personally, I tend to pray for strength and/or acceptance when faced with something I don't like, rather than praying for the external to change. And I can trace that attitude to reading "The Hiding Place" in sixth grade, but can't say as I ever heard much discussion along those lines in Church.

but Sufis have a healing prayer. When someone is ill, be don't pray about the condition, but rather for the person, knowing that God knows what needs to be done. Perhaps this concentration would help you.

Well said, and thanks.

that I LOVE your xmas hello cthulhu (forgive bad spelling)!

no kidding. Even when they were playing other Christian Schools - who were praying that God would give THEM victory in the football game.

even though I am Christian and just pray white light surround the person. I figure that covers it all.

I have seen fundies pray for people to suffer until they convert.
Christians of every flavor I have seen pray for gods intervention to get other people to do what they want in a kind of"for your own good" cocercion,lose weight,stop smoking or whatever. I have seen it many times. It's one of the reasons I am not Christian anymore.

will change.

One needs to be careful that you aren't being holier-than-thou ("please let them stop being so pretentious and recognize my superior intellect!"), but praying for someone to protect their health by stopping smoking seems like a fine idea to me.

Mostly, though, I would say the important thing to pray for is that you be a good role model; that God help you with the issue, and to accept whatever is going to happen. And pray for strength and healing for those affected. And maybe instead of praying that he stop smoking, pray that he be able to conquer whatever "demon" it is that draws him to smoking - there might be some need of spiritual or psychic healing due to past trauma or unresolved issues, etc. (not necessarily, but could be).

Mostly, I think it works best when prayer is directed inward. But healing prayers and intercessions for others are always okay.

http://psalm121.ca/whatpray.html

A. Thanksgiving - Giving thanks to God for all things in your life. We are commanded to give thanks in all circumstances. Being thankful is being grateful for his protection, provision, blessing, and most of all for his Son.

B. Petition - We ask God for the things we need in our life. Give us our daily bread. Give us the things we need to survive, a roof over our heads, employment etc. Petitions are usually self orientated, presenting our personal needs to our Heavenly Father, in trust that He will provide.

C. Prevailing Prayer - fervent consistent insistent prayer until a breakthrough takes place, whether in your personal life, or for someone else (intercession). Example Believing for emotional or physical healing.

D Intercession - Love on its knees in prayer, for others. Pleading on behalf of the needs of someone else. Standing in the gap, that is, praying prayers of repentance, etc., identifying yourself with the sins of those for which you are in prayer.