Is it a waste to pray against your true feelings?

Sometimes we want to get back at someone who has hurt us and we may have ways in which we can exact revenge. If we follow through, we may have momentary satisfaction. However, if we give it to God, He is able work in the situation in much more effective ways ... He can heal the broken heart and He can deal with the Christian brother or sister who has violated and, truthfully, the restoration of the one who has violated would be the best result if he or she does not reject God's chastening. Trust God to work mightily.


Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
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Obedience as an act of duty is still obedience. Outward obedience may be what God employs to engage the heart.

Once one, anyone receives the new life offered them in the risen Son Jesus, as born new are new in God's Spirit and Truth. Has forgotten (at least are beginning to) what any others have done wrong to them. At least me, and those that do wrong to them after one chooses beleif to God too. I, certainly believe the learning new comes in from God Father only, at least to me, as in Eph 1:13 tells, I am certain I am sealed to see truth as all others are also that do Believe God too, Thank you Father and Son as won for us all. to believe you or not consciously.
I, could name a few, and yet what good will that do, but condemn them and me too? When I know this truth, God decided by Son to not condemn anyone, since that cross of Son. (John 1:29). By the resurrection of Son for us all to choose to believe between God and themselves first. Each one personally, Then the love for their neighbor will be real and sufficient, one then just forgives, because they are forgiven first by God on that cross once for us all (2 Cor 5:16-20) It is not a fight over the Flesh and the Spirit of God anymore, (Eph 6) since Son took away all sin first in Daddy's, PaPa's, Father's, sight first Romans 12:2 time to ask God to see from Daddy's, PaPa's, Father's sight, you think? Yes, truth is, God does just love us all, otherwise God would not have ever sent Son to that cross, you think, thanking God for this gift. If I have to do, then I am under Law before the cross of Son. You decide which side to be on, I have and see love and mercy in Thanksgiving and praise all sin taken out of the way by the one time willing death of Son for us all to be reconciled, forgiven in Father and Son first as if never sinned as in Col 1:21-23 and Col 2 freed from under Laws and traditions of men to love all in truth to forgive, not to get forgiven, by being forgiven first from God 1 John 4:18-19

For me, I repented and believe God in risen Son for me and all others as well, and am thankful for this truth, beyond measure
Now, whenever I sin again as have many times. I. now say thankful for Son Psalm 103:12 as done for us all 1 John 2:1-2, 12, and trust for 1 John 2:27 to teach me new and how law got me in sin again Romans 7 As Father reveals this to each of us in belief eventually, upon Daddy's call not of me or anyone else thanks. I see be willing form God to learn from any and all mistakes made after being born new again by God first. God does it, did it, even as Jesus said, only my Father is good in Matthew 19

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Re: Is it a waste to pray against your true feelings?

● Heb 4:14-16 . .Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we
profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just
as we are; yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace
with frankness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in3
our time of need.

The above tells me that it would be wise to voice one's concerns from the
heart with free, candid, forthright, and sincere expression because frankness
stresses unbridled freedom of speech and the liberty to speak one's mind,
viz: with Jesus on the job, people may speak to Heaven the same as they'd
share personal information about themselves with their wives and/or their
BFF.

So; as an aging Christian whose been around the block a time or two; I'd
say that before speaking with God about certain others, first come clean with
God and tell him how you feel about those certain others-- how you really
feel about them.
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Addressing the hypothetical. There will come a time when you realise why your car was stolen. To know each step the person took before touching your car, to be able to trace each foot step, back to their home, through their day, then week, then month, year and decade. Once you know what led them to your car on that unfortunate day, then you'll pray with genuine emotion.

The curse spread to all mankind, the curse has led mankind to think and do wrong. We have one way out and one way only. Shown to us by and through Love. The curse will be removed soon, but it is not yet, so do not accuse and blame, but rather trust in the Lord, and show Him to all who need Him. This is the only way. The Lord Jesus Christ is the way. He is our salvation and hope, just as much he should be for the thief in your example.

There is one door, therefore show others the way rather than hope they take a wrong turn.

Place yourself above nobody. Wish for only the best. Place your faith in Greatness and Love. If you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then you are in Him and He in you. If you are in His body, then you must act as Him. He is the embodiment of Love. Be Love, not hate.

You must see everything in a better way. If crime exists, pray and believe it will one day not. If pain troubles you, know that you have a healer. If you must day-dream and hypothesize, then do it with the positive, not negative.

Short answer: Your empty prayers are meaningless, because they are meaningless to you. You feel nothing, hope for nothing, want nothing and your heart is far from your words. Nothing in, nothing out. Prayer is to request something, the definition meaning to seek something. But you cannot seek which you do not wish to see, or else you would never seek. So anything false is an act, a pantomime, and nothing else.

God cannot be mocked. Be only genuine, be only good, be nice, be kind and be lovely.

Sometimes this is true.
Paul's life before and after is a prime example of the rare occasion of enemies of God's people who get saved.

In the case you found, Saul was persecuting Jesus by persecution of His people. I Corinthians 15

9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

However he didn't hate God.
He persecuted them out of ignorance.

And He said to Him, "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.".

Because to be without Him, is to be without Love. You do not have enemies, you have lost brothers and sisters. All were created by the Lord, all need to return to Him. The lost search within the world for something to fill their void, they cram in much in vain. But it will always be in vain because they need the true solution. This is why Jesus said it to Paul.

Love wants to show Love. To attempt to shut out Love would be to kick against the pricks.

I've told God that I forgive some in word because I supposed to pray for them, but my heart's not in it. I was being honest with Him. He knows it.
I had no other reason to turn on some imaginary switch that some people think exists. It was obedience to God only. As His response, He brought supernatural comfort and strength.
That's been my experience and can't find anything contrary in the Scriptures so far.

To obey from a sense of obligation may be an act of faith, trusting that God will meet us is our difficulty and supply our lack. This may not be the case, but often is.

Based on just what you said then yes you should not be praying for them why? "and in my heart I genuinely don't want good things for..." This is where if this was me I would go to Him ask Him to help me to love them. I truly believe this "love your enemy" that love can only come from Him. We get alone we read we pray we keep pushing in till the flesh is gone and were in the spirit. LOL praise GOD He knows all this that your saying.

For me .. it was some family member that far worse then taking my car.. oh so hurtful so evil yet in the mist of that moment He showed me their heart. Their heart was nothing at all like they were acting talking. That I still can't understand. I said that love can only come from Him because in that moment I had this love.. oh all I wanted to was to reat them like royalty. This def of royalty does not begin to describe this love but "giving them exceptional care, attention, and respect, often going above and beyond what is normally expected." I thought what if they treated me like this for the rest of our lifes? Oh I didn't care all I wanted was to love them make them happy. In doing that it was the greatest reward the greatest treasure I could ever get.

Oh I remember right then said out loud "this it what it means to love your enemy". Why show me this 30 years later not right at first. If He had never shown me this.. well that path does not matter. We love as far as can the best we can and He takes over. This kinda love can only come from Him. Maybe be like those that said Jesus I know you can but do you want to? Jesus I believe help my unbelief.

Jesus I need your love for this because I can't I don't want to.. Trust me He knows He can take it. For He would not ask YOU to do something He didn't' already do

Without faith, no one can please God. Isn't this the root of effective prayer? And is love the root of faith or is it that faith is the root of love? Perhaps working this out might put our prayers in their proper order. Thanks for the prompt to think on these things @Hakawaka

I think you left out obedience.
I don't believe you can please God
In disobedience.

I would recommend
When you petition God
You be walking in
Obedience unto him.

Petitioning God
While you're living in disobedience
Most generally
Will not go well for you.

Now if you don't believe it
Then keep asking God
To do something for you
While you're in disobedience.

I might take your advice, but I only hear clanging.

Even a broken clock
Is right twice a day.

How often is a clock right when it's set wrong?

Yes as you know I am in a very difficult time in my life and faith and I can say without a doubt he meets us there and supplies our lack. I am having a time of testing to trust to him

You're clanging is getting louder.

Is this a good time to get the popcorn out...?