Braving the Hot Mess
Check out Braving the Hot Mess on Facebook
  • Blog
  • My Story
  • Documentaries and Videos Worth Your Time
  • Books I Love
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Meditations
  • Affirmations
  • Tracy's Upcoming Events
  • Contact
  • Testimonials

What Is The Difference Between Praying And Begging?

5/23/2017

4 Comments

 
Picture
My friend, Haywood Simmons, posted an intriguing question on his Facebook page. The question was, ​"What is the difference between praying and begging?" He received a number of thoughtful and insightful responses that I want to share with you in this post.

What is the difference between praying and begging? Here are the responses that he received.

-Being thankful first and foremost for the blessings you have been offered before asking for anything!!!


-I consider true prayer as a form of meditation. Since God lives within all of us, praying taps into our subconscious and guides us towards our true power/being.

-For me, prayer involves the wellbeing of all and is done without expectation. Begging comes with an expectation that if you ask enough times or enough people, you will get exactly the item you're begging for.

-For most, there is no difference. If your prayer sounds like it should be sent to Santa, even if it's for something that seems dire, there is nothing wrong with that and it may work. But fundamentally you are saying that you know better than God and that His plan is not as good as yours.

-Prayer and meditation is positioning to open your spirit and connect build oneness with God while acknowledgeing with adoration the many blessing he has already provided while listening how to better serve others as we are covered and served. Begging is positioning and making yourself the focus of request for your own gain that may not have anything to do with your purpose or his will for your life.

-Prayer is simply dialogue with God. It can involve petitioning, but it also involves praise, Thanksgiving, and simply discussion.

-Mindstate.

-For me prayer is more about listening than asking. If I ask, it is usually for guidance, insight, and protection rather than specific things. Prayer isn't about getting so much as understanding and aligning.

-Intention.

-Begging is asking for something now and in this world to fellow humans. Praying could be asking for something now, but it could be here after and its spiritual.

-Praying should be creating, begging is coming from a fear of lack.

-Expectation…when I pray I am confident that God will answer my prayers. Begging is hoping someone will hear your request.

-“Grant me my wishes” instead of “Thy will be done.”

I loved each and every response. So cool to hear people take time to put into words their thoughts on this topic. I've touched on a number of the ideas in the responses in previous posts. Things like gratitude. I begin all of my prayers with gratitude, acknowledging the many blessings that I have in my life. 

The responses also spoke to God's will versus our will and surrendering the outcome. This is something that I also practice in my prayer and in life. I ask for my highest and best good and for the highest and best good of all others as part of this practice. 

I hope this gave you something to chew on as you contemplate prayer, some additional guidance and inspiration. I would love to hear your thoughts on the responses and on what you think is the difference between praying and begging? Please drop me a comment or send me an email.
4 Comments
Simon Wheeler
5/7/2019 05:39:42 pm

I see a strong parallel between the two.
Praying seems to be like having a complete conversation with your imaginary god. Where as begging is asking for something. So begging can be included in praying, as it can be done while you are praying.
‘Please, please my all loving god, don’t let my grandmother die from her pneumonia’ or ‘ Please, please let me win the lottery so I can help my poor brother’. Sounds like begging to me.
But if you thank god first, etc etc, ...then ask for something, that’s praying. Meh.

Reply
Tracy link
5/7/2019 06:29:11 pm

Thank you for your feedback. I love your reference to thanking God first and then asking.

Reply
Susej
3/28/2020 01:19:49 am

Exactly ! .... when people say you’ll be in my thoughts and prayers, are they not pleading/begging within their prayers, on your behalf.

Reply
BellaB
7/9/2022 07:02:12 am

Great article. Very helpful - "Thy Will be Done" are powerful words. I thank God every morning for providing me with good food to eat & a safe / lovely place to live. But the owner is selling the condo so now we have to move. I struggle in my prayers to God, but finally it comes down to surrendering & just trusting God. As you said here - ask for God's guidance & trust His process. Do not allow your own ego, fears or dialogue to skew God's plans. Just be thankful- ask for guidance & wait for His response. Thanks be to God.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archive 

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Picture

      Please sign up to receive weekly new blog posts. 

    Submit
Proudly powered by Weebly