I have a really negative reaction to people who say they will pray for me.
I have always felt it, even when I was in a religion as a child. I've never understood why I couldn't pray for myself, and why people felt that if they prayed for me it would somehow work better. I am not religious, in fact over the years I have become anti-religion of any denomination. I do know I have a relationship with my higher power, and it may even be the God I grew up with. I know I am not alone in this world. When I pray, it is usually for understanding or strength, not a Christmas list of wants. My son, who is in a church, says I am being over sensitive so I am asking here, am I? Is it wrong to reject unwanted prayer intercession and how do I say that without being mean. I am serious about wanting an opinion.
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As Christians, we pray for others in a selfless way, adding our prayers to your own. In no way does a Christian intend to disparage or imply that your prayers are insufficient or 'defective'. We pray for others, quite simply, because we follow the example of Jesus himself, who commanded that we love, sustain and encourage one another.
I have noticed that many times come Christians offer to pray for someone in a setting or at a time that makes the person we intend to comfort UN-comfortable; I don't think we intend to provoke such a reaction, but do so unthinkingly or clumsily. It is wrong of us to do so, but I would ask you, on your own part, to forgive us when we do this; as is the case with many things in life, our intentions are good, but our execution poor.
