What do you think of imprecatory prayers? It's like praying that something bad happens to someone. Sometimes when I pray, I find myself uttering things like "May all his hair fall off" or "I hope Lord he gets E.D." or something like that. Is that bad?

I think that feelings of ill will do more damage to the person harboring them. Of course it's easier to say than to put into practice. When Bridger's father brought his new girlfriend into my hospital room (without even knocking) to show off his son, well there was definitely some feelings of ill will. But I try to let most things go, giving myself a day or so to steam about it. Not to say that I forgive and forget everything, but I try to put the unpleasant stuff out of my mind. I would let karma take care of him and spend your time praying for more important stuff...like having an easy time potty training your son...

By the way, your son is adorable!

How about praying that someday you can get past what this person has done to you and to maybe someday be able to see him and say "you no longer have power over me" I can imagine how hard it would be to get there I will pray for that for you. In the meantime prayers are to me messages of hope to make things better for yourself or someone else NOT that I think God will punish you for feeling this way I just hope you wont waste your prayers on bad things I really dont think God works this way. Also when someone has done wrong to me I try to pary that God will show them the error of their ways so they wont treat another that way.

Thanks B's Momma and normajean for your inputs. Actually my desire is really for my ex to realize the wrong he has done -- and I know for a fact that the only way he can realize this is if he faces some kind of consequence or punishment (like an ED or something, LMAO). I dont want harm to befall upon him, I still care about the guy, I just want him to learn a lesson so he wont go hurting other people again. But I don't stress myself out -- I just tell God my thoughts. when I'm praying, it's as if talking to a friend venting and saying "I hope he loses all his teeth" or "I hope his computer gets virused."

I remember that in my frustration I asked God that he wont have peace at night. A week after that he mentioned to me that he has been drinking a lot at night because he is unable to sleep. So does this mean God answers imprecatory prayers?

Anyway, but you're both right. The best option is always forgiveness -- it releases you from bondage of bitterness, and that's when healing takes place. But "forgetting" is almost impossible.

quote:

Originally posted by Dawn Butterfly:
.... Sometimes when I pray, I find myself uttering things like "May all his hair fall off" or "I hope Lord he gets E.D." or something like that. Is that bad?

LOL...although I can totally relate....I too, have to resist the temptation to do things like that. Is it wrong?

Well this is what the Bible says about it:
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" ...

As far as things happening when you pray them, Well...again: You decide:

"Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Having put these various concepts into practice over the years...I am very careful (not perfect at it) to not say things I will regret or that will come back to bite me.

Hope that helps, Dawn.

So why David prayed for destruction on his enemies in the Psalms??

LOL kidding Paul... Yeah I know that was the Old Testament... we're already in the New. LOL, I've no excuse to pray for ED then.

Anyway thanks, I'm really at peace with my situation. I dont know why, once in a while, I just can't help uttering those things. God help me...

Your only human we all have nasty thoughts sometimes. The important thing is what we do about them. Don't be too hard on yourself. And remember if you ever do get to the forgiveness stage it s for you not for him.It dosn't mean you have to like him just that your not letting him have any more power over you.

Dawn ..THAT's a great question, and historically has been very open to interpretation. Mostly being referred back to (as you did) the comparison between Old and New Testaments.

Here you can find one of the "better" (IMHO) interpretations of that "issue" or question.

How come David can ask for the destruction of his enemies?

I'm listening to this CD, "How to live your best life yet", I think its called.
Something that was said there made sense to me and makes me feel better. He said that God is aware of when your treated badly, but its HIS job to keep track. We just have to live in joy, and let God take care of the rest. There is some purpose to what happens even it doesnt make sense to us right away, we just have to have faith.
It's kind of hard to have faith sometimes. I wonder, "Its been all this time, and shouldnt he get some of his now?" But I know it will come. I've also learned to be careful of what you wish for, you might just get it.

Thanks Paul... that was a good read on righteousness. Reminds me of the gospel presentation they trained us to do during youth camp.

Three things that struck me in that article:

• "THESE PSALMS THAT CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENEMY ARE NOT FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER TO PRAY."
  
  
• "IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WE ARE TOLD TO PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES, NOT PRAY FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION AS DAVID DOES HERE."
  
  
• "BECAUSE DAVID IS UNDER THE PERIOD OF THE MOSAIC LAW, HE PRAYS FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION. WE ARE UNDER A PERIOD OF GRACE, SO WE MUST PRAY FOR GRACE TO DESCEND ON THEIR LIVES."

Now this opens up more questions for me why the seeming difference in the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. In the OT, God commands Israel to destroy her enemies -- and even rejected Saul as king of Israel when he spared the king of the Amalekites and some sheep and oxen (1 Samuel 15) but in the New Testament, the God of the OT who once commanded Israel to bring destruction upon her enemies suddenly tells us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, walk the extra mile, etc.

This has been one of the recurring questions in my head -- and I have yet to find the answer. :sigh:

Okay, sorry... the discussion has made a theological turn. Any pastors or Bible scholars in here??

normajean and sane one... thanks for your words of advice. I guess from my response up there, I just realized that perhaps the reason why I go through these praying for ED stuff is caused not by my failed relationship with my ex, but more on my relationship with God. I dont know Him that well to not know His heart, so I am not able to pray "according to God's will" but I only pray "according to my will." LOL

Okay thanks guys... now I realized I have a deeper problem here.

Again Great questions...with not a lot of time to answer them right now, I'll try to suffice with this:

The God of the OT & NT are not different.

The plan of grace had already been put into action ...you can read that the prophets of the old Testament eluding and propehsying the coming messiah all throuhought Torah. And the plan of believing in that Messiah was already in effect, time had no bearing. Simultaneously the sacrificial law was also still in place, and since as God in unable to sin, he is either light or darkness...he cannot be both. So, when he gave instruction, there was NO room for disobedience; he could not "fudge" on his own instructions. Since no one really could be "perfect" the plan for "grace was put into effect".
If not for that...very few people would ever be "clean enough" to be received by God. ...Wow..talk about a theological turn...LOL this conversation could take hours.

So after the plan of "Grace" was executed, when God looks at you...he sees the covering of his "Son" (and the sacrifice made) NOT your sin.

I know this is really fragmented and I dont want to sound like that creep that keeps coming in here...LOL

quote:

Originally posted by paulj_in_phx:
since as God in unable to sin, he is either light or darkness...he cannot be both. So, when he gave instruction, there was NO room for disobedience; he could not "fudge" on his own instructions. Since no one really could be "perfect" the plan for "grace was put into effect".
If not for that...very few people would ever be "clean enough" to be received by God.

WOW Paul... you just summarized the whole message of the Bible in a few sentences! Now I'm beginning to understand... grace (effected in the New Testament) is the answer to God's requirement of perfection (seen in the Old Testament). Did I get that right?

Anyway... I'll just PM you for more theological questions, LOL. and yeah, I remember "that creep that keeps coming in here"... let's not encourage him to post more LOL

quote:

Originally posted by Dawn Butterfly:
I remember "that creep that keeps coming in here"... let's not encourage him to post more LOL

We'll just get Old Testament on him.

quote:

Originally posted by binarian:
We'll just get Old Testament on him.

LOL...I LIKE THAT!!