9 Things You Must Never Pray For (Pencils & Prayer Ropes)

Summary

In this episode, hosts Miloš and Bojan humorously explore the darker side of prayer, discussing prayers that are misguided or even sinful. They caution against praying for harm to others, including wishing damnation or misfortune, and instead encourage praying for salvation and repentance. The hosts also address prayers for personal gain, such as wealth or popularity, and remind viewers that God's will should always come first. The conversation is light-hearted yet thought-provoking, aiming to guide listeners towards a more spiritually aligned prayer life.

Takeaways

• 🙏 Prayer is considered an art and a means of expressing love towards God and others.
• 😄 The hosts, Miloš and Bojan, humorously acknowledge that viewers may be tuning in for entertainment rather than spiritual guidance.
• 🚂 The human tendency to veer off course is likened to being 'off the rails,' affecting the nature of our prayers.
• 📜 The script references the Bible, suggesting that God has specific guidelines for what makes a prayer pleasing to Him.
• 🎭 The hosts playfully suggest that viewers are more interested in hearing about 'other' kinds of prayers, implying those that are less orthodox or even misguided.
• 💸 The video acknowledges the importance of financial support from donors and Patreon, Ko-Fi, and SubscribeStar contributors.
• 🙅‍♂️ Prayers for harm or misfortune towards others are discouraged, aligning with the idea that such prayers are sinful and contrary to God's will.
• 🛑 A strategy to counteract negative prayers is proposed: praying the opposite of one's initial, possibly harmful, prayer.
• 🙏 The importance of praying for someone's salvation, even if they are disliked, is emphasized as a step towards love.
• 🚫 Warnings are given against praying for someone's apostasy, or spiritual downfall, instead advocating for prayers of repentance.
• 💰 The script critiques prayers for material wealth or success in sinful endeavors, suggesting that such prayers are misguided and reflect a lack of focus on spiritual priorities.
• 🙏‍♀️ The hosts encourage viewers to prioritize prayers for spiritual matters over mundane or materialistic requests.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of prayer according to the video?

The primary purpose of prayer is to express our love towards God and our neighbor.

What is the main focus of the video episode?

The main focus is to discuss prayers that go off the rails and are not in harmony with God's will.

Why do the hosts suggest that viewers might have clicked on this episode?

They suggest that viewers might have clicked on the episode to see them criticize other people's faulty prayer life.

What are the hosts' views on the effects of ungodly prayer?

They believe ungodly prayers will not be heard by God, are sinful, and may result in the person receiving the effects of their own evil prayers.

How do the hosts feel about praying for someone's damnation?

They consider praying for someone's damnation to be evil and directly against God's will, equating it to Christian witchcraft.

What is the hosts' advice for someone tempted to pray for someone's misfortune?

They advise praying the exact opposite of what one is tempted to pray for, such as praying for someone's business to succeed instead of failing.

What does the video suggest about praying for someone's apostasy?

The video suggests that praying for someone's apostasy is essentially wishing for their spiritual death and that one should instead pray for their repentance.

What is the issue with praying for repentance or justice by proxy, according to the video?

Praying for repentance or justice by proxy is problematic because it involves praying for someone's suffering with a justification, which is still sinful.

How does the video address the issue of praying for the prosperity of sin?

The video criticizes praying for the prosperity of sin, such as praying for success in embezzlement or immoral activities, and advises stopping such prayers.

What are the hosts' thoughts on praying for money?

The hosts differentiate between simply asking for money out of greed and asking for money while vowing to spend a portion on good causes. They warn against the latter as it can be hypocritical.

What is the video's stance on praying for everyday needs?

The video suggests that praying for everyday needs is not the primary focus of prayer and that one should instead pray for the Kingdom of God.

What does the video consider as 'banal prayers'?

Banal prayers are those that are trivial or superficial, such as praying for a team to win or finding a parking spot, which the video considers to be a poor use of prayer.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 The Dark Side of Prayers

This paragraph delves into the concept of 'dark prayers'—those that may be misguided or even sinful. The speakers, Miloš and Bojan, humorously address the audience, acknowledging that while prayer is a sacred act, humans often stray from its intended purpose. They discuss the types of prayers that are not pleasing to God, such as those for someone's damnation or misfortune, and the potential consequences of such prayers. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of aligning our prayers with God's will and offers guidance on how to avoid making ungodly prayers, such as praying for the opposite of what one might be tempted to pray for evil.

05:03

🙏🏻 Praying for the Wrong Things

The second paragraph continues the discussion on misguided prayers, focusing on prayers that, while not inherently sinful, are motivated by selfish intentions or lack of spiritual depth. It critiques prayers that treat God as a wish-granting genie and emphasizes the importance of aligning our desires with God's will, as exemplified by the phrase 'but not mine but thine will be done.' The paragraph also touches on the redundancy of praying for basic needs when God is already aware of them, suggesting that we should instead focus on praying for the Kingdom. It concludes by pointing out the futility of 'banal prayers' for trivial matters and encourages viewers to explore more meaningful ways of prayer, such as praying for a wide range of people and avoiding superficial fasting practices.

Keywords

💡Prayer

Prayer is a form of communication with God, expressing love and devotion. In the video, it is identified as 'the art of arts' and a central aspect of Christian practice. The script discusses how prayer can go 'off the rails' and the importance of aligning prayers with God's will, as well as the potential negative consequences of improper prayer.

💡Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The video script is framed within a Christian context, addressing 'siblings in Christ' and discussing the implications of prayer within this religious framework, such as praying against God's will being considered 'evil'.

💡Ungodly Prayer

Ungodly prayer refers to prayers that are not in accordance with divine will or teachings. The script warns against the effects of such prayers, stating they may not be heard by God in the way the petitioner intends, and could be sinful or lead to ironic consequences.

💡Repentance

Repentance is the act of feeling regret or remorse for one's wrongdoings and seeking forgiveness. The video encourages praying for others' repentance instead of their downfall, suggesting it as a more virtuous and God-aligned form of prayer.

💡Damnation

Damnation is the state of being condemned to hell, often as a result of sin. The script strongly advises against praying for someone's damnation, equating it to 'Christian witchcraft' and emphasizing that it goes against God's desire for all to be saved.

💡Salvation

Salvation in Christianity refers to the deliverance from sin and its consequences. The video script promotes praying for the salvation of others as a positive and loving alternative to praying for harm or damnation.

💡Apostasy

Apostasy is the renunciation of one's faith or religious principles. The script warns against praying for someone's apostasy, equating it to wishing for their spiritual death, and instead encourages praying for their repentance.

💡Proxy Prayer

Proxy prayer involves praying for someone else's misfortune or pain, often justified by a perceived need for repentance or justice. The video criticizes this practice, suggesting that it is a form of sinful prayer and should be avoided.

💡Prosperity of Sin

Prosperity of sin refers to praying for success in sinful endeavors. The script mentions praying for embezzlement to succeed or for sinful desires to be fulfilled as examples of this, advising to stop such prayers.

💡Material Needs

Material needs encompass basic physical requirements such as food, clothing, and shelter. The video script suggests that while God knows our material needs, Christians should focus more on praying for spiritual matters, such as the Kingdom of God.

💡Banal Prayers

Banal prayers are trivial or superficial prayers that lack depth or spiritual significance. The script criticizes such prayers, like asking for a team to win or finding a parking spot, as they do not contribute to a meaningful prayer life.

Highlights

Prayer is described as the art of arts and a means of expressing love towards God and others.

The humor in acknowledging that the audience may have clicked for entertainment rather than improving prayer life.

The recognition of human imperfection in prayer and the acknowledgment that it can go awry.

Scriptural references to the type of prayer that is pleasing to God, contrasting with the podcast's focus on 'other' kinds of prayer.

The irony that the podcast's success may depend on discussing the faults of others' prayer lives.

A call to action for viewers to support the channel through Patreon, Ko-Fi, and SubscribeStar.

The concept of 'ungodly prayer' and its potential negative effects.

The assertion that certain prayers are not heard by God due to their nature.

The classification of certain prayers as sinful and the suggestion that they may boomerang back to the pray-er.

A discussion on praying for someone's damnation, which is considered contrary to God's will.

The idea of praying for the salvation of those we hate as a first step in loving them.

The notion of praying for someone's death, pain, or misfortune as a form of hateful prayer.

A suggested 'hack' to prevent hateful prayers by praying the opposite of one's temptation.

The critique of praying for someone's apostasy as a form of spiritual death wish.

The concept of 'praying by proxy' for repentance or justice, which is seen as a justification for praying for suffering.

A critique of praying for prosperity in sinful endeavors, using the example of a horse thief praying during theft.

The caution against praying for money with the intention of using it for personal pleasure.

The critique of praying for one's will to be done, likening it to treating God as a wish dispenser.

The suggestion to always end prayers with 'but not mine but thine will be done' to align with God's will.

The critique of praying for everyday needs instead of focusing on the Kingdom of God.

The concept of 'banal prayers' for trivial matters, which are seen as a poor use of prayer.

A call to action to watch another video for better prayer practices and a reminder to subscribe.

Transcripts

Prayer is the art of arts, the primary means by which we express our love towards our God

and our neighbor.

But that is not why you clicked on this episode, now is it?

Hello our siblings in Christ, I am Miloš and I pray for you.

And I’m Bojan, who prays that the Lord does not hear Miloš’ prayers for you.

We аll had some prayers that went…

well, off the rails.

That is fine, us humans are off the rails type of creature.

We do not live in harmony with our Father, and therefore, our prayer can and does go

haywire.

Now, God is very specific in the Scriptures what kind of prayer is pleasing to Him, but

we’re not here to discuss that!

We’re here to discuss that…

OTHER kind of prayer.

Let us be realistic here - you did not come here to improve your prayer life.

You came here because you wanted to see us bashing other people’s faulty prayer life!

Now now, Miloš we must not bash people for being curious, especially when we need to

tap into that curiosity to pay our bills!

Speaking about paying our bills, thank you, all of our lovely donors on Patreon, Ko-Fi

and SubscribeStar and our channel members!

Thank you all so much!

If you wanna help us out, the links to all of these is in the video description!

Now, back to our dark prayers.

We might be tempted to pray them, but when you think about it… we really shouldn’t.

The reason are the effects of ungodly prayer.

First, it won’t be heard.

Don’t get us wrong, what you pray for just might happen, but it won’t be on account

of your prayer, but on account of God playing a 6 dimensional chess in order to save as

many people as He possibly can.

Second, such prayer is sinful in varying degrees.

And third, don’t be surprised if you’re on the receiving end of your evil prayers.

God is ever a fan of irony.

Before we begin the list you’re in here for, make sure to subscribe if you want ot

be entertained, inspired and educated… but not in equal measure

Praying for someone’s damnation.

God desires for all men to be saved.

Praying for someone to go to hell is going directly against God’s will in the most

egregious manner.

Simply put, it’s evil.

This is basically nothing short of Christian witchcraft.

Instead, pray for that person’s salvation, regardless of how much you might hate them.

Of course, we shouldn’t hate anyone, but praying for someone we hate is the first step

in loving that person.

Praying for someone’s death, pain, illness or misfortune.

This is just a weaker form of the previous prayer, but no less hateful.

Want a hack how to prevent such prayers in the future?

Pray the exact opposite of what you’re tempted to pray for.

So, for example, if you are tempted to pray for someone’s business to fail, pray for

it to succeed.

Praying for someone’s apostasy.

While you may think that someone’s apostasy would be a boon for the Church, what you’re

essentially wishing for is someone’s spiritual death.

Pray for their repentance and let God sort it out.

Praying for repentance or justice by proxy.

This is praying for someone’s misfortune or pain, but with an added layer of justification.

People who pray like this realize that it is wrong to pray for someone’s suffering,

but they justify it with: “well, so it would bring them to repentence”, or, “God is

just and they sinned, therefore they deserve just punishment, for example, to die of ghonorreia.”

Let your yes be a yes and your no a no - pray for someone’s salvation and leave God to

actually sort it out how He sees fit.

A small note: if God deems someone worthy of repentance, and grants that person repentance

without dropping an anvil on their head, and you feel disappointed over that fact…

well… hate to break it to ya, but you weren’t aiming for repentance in the first place.

Prayer for prosperity of sin.

This is when we pray for something that is brazingly sinful, like for our embezzelment

to succeed, for us to get laid (yes I went there), for us to be the most popular person

ever.

“The Way of the Pilgrim” has a story about a horse thief who prayed the Jesus prayer

during his heists in order to calm himself.

You can remedy these sorts of prayers by stopping them.

Stop it now!

Prayer for money.

Now, there are two kinds of prayer here.

One is simply asking for money.

We want money, we crave it.

That is simply bad.

However, there is a different kind of a greedy prayer, and that is asking for money, but

also vowing to spend a portion of it on something good - like donating it to a church, giving

it to the poor and so on.

As we said in the “Drowning of the Poor and the Rich” episode, it is easy to be

generous with the money we don’t have, and if we’re so greedy to ask the Lord for money,

odds are quite low that we will spend it on others once we receive it.

See what apostle James says: “Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Prayer for our will to be done.

These are miscellaneous prayers that might not be sinful on surface, but are sinful in

their intent.

“Lord, won’t You buy me me a Mercedes Benz!”

“Lord, make the person listening to this subscribe and follow!”

We treat our Lord and God like a wish dispenser.

If you really want something that isn’t sinful by itself, but is also a far cry from

the Lord’s commandment to “seek first the Kingdom and its justice,” always finish

your prayer with “but not mine but thine will be done.”

Prayer for everyday needs.

C’mon.

Your Father in Heaven knows you need food, clothing, shelter.

We need to pray for the Kingdom because He wants to give us so much more than our base

material needs.

Banal prayers.

And we’re here.

If asking for someone’s damnation is a Christian equivalent of witchcraft, this is an equivalent

to a lousy parlor trick.

“Make our team win!”

“Help me find a parking spot!”

The sad fact of the matter is - these are sometimes the only prayers some people utter.

We are only calling them prayers for reasons of teachnicallity.

So let us do better!

Please watch this video on the 50 categories of people you can pray for, or, if you want

to round up your horrid prayer life with equally questionable fasting, watch the Terrible Advice

for Lent.

Do remember to subscribe, it helps out our channel greatly.

Bye!