Link Hudson: unbiblical approach to prayer

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He said, “I pray, ‘If you don’t want me to do it, stop me!'”

When I was in my 20’s overseas, I had an American friend, married, about 13 or 14 years older than I was. He said when he wanted to make a decision, he prayed, “Lord if you don’t want me to do it, stop me.” That sounded like one of the most unspiritual prayers I’d ever heard.

Then we had a chance for a full conversation. He explained what he meant. He illustrated with how he had ended up in Indonesia. He built houses and rented properties for a living, but construction had dried up and the mortgages on his properties were underwater. His wife got one job offer in her home country of Indonesia. So he described what he did (numbers mine.)

1. He studied scripture to determine if there were any principles that related to his decision.
2. He prayed about his decision.
3. He had an openness and paid attention to whether God speaking to him, including through dreams and other means.
4. If he did not get anything specific he prayed for wisdom to make the decision.
5. Then he believed he had received wisdom, made a decision, telling God in prayer, “If you don’t want me to do it, stop me.”

This was quoted in a FB group recently by Link Hudson. In brief summary of the main points discussed in the page:

1. **Decision-Making and Prayer**: The story shared emphasizes a process of decision-making that involves studying scripture, praying for guidance, being open to divine direction through various means, and ultimately praying for wisdom to make a decision. The final step is to trust that if the decision is not right, God will intervene.

2. **Personal Experience**: The narrator recounts advice received from a friend and a missionary, highlighting how it helped in making significant life decisions, including marriage.

3. **Biblical Principles**: The advice aligns with Biblical teachings from Proverbs 3:5-6 and James 1:5-8 about trusting in God’s guidance and seeking wisdom.

4. **Practical Application**: The story underscores the importance of having peace and resolve in decision-making and navigating complex life situations with faith.

5. **Community Interaction**: The post includes reactions and comments from group members, reflecting engagement and agreement with the shared perspective.

I hope this helps! If you need more details or have specific questions about the content, feel free to ask.

During my twenties overseas, I encountered an American friend, approximately 13 or 14 years my senior, who was married and had a unique approach to decision-making. He explained that whenever he faced a significant decision, he prayed, “Lord, if you don’t want me to do it, stop me.” Initially, I perceived this prayer as one of the most unspiritual I had ever heard. However, through an extensive conversation, he elaborated on his method, illustrating it with the circumstances that led him to Indonesia. As a construction worker and property manager, he faced economic challenges when the construction industry slowed, and his mortgage obligations became untenable. His wife’s job offer in her home country of Indonesia became a pivotal factor. He described his decision-making process, which included studying scripture for relevant principles, praying about the decision, maintaining openness to divine communication through various means, and, when no specific guidance was received, praying for wisdom. Ultimately, he believed he had received the necessary wisdom and made the decision, asking God to intervene if it was not the right path.

Here are the additional comments from the discussion:

1. Rasiah Thomas: “Amen! Amen!”
2. Troy Day: “Lord if you don’t want me to do it, stop me.” AKA LAST KNOWN WORDS
3. John Mushenhouse: (No specific comment text provided, just a reaction)
4. Link Hudson: (Replies to Troy Day, content not fully visible in the extracted data)
5. John Mushenhouse: “God’s will and the peace that accompanies it can provide guidance even when our understanding falls short. Trust in Him is key.”
6. Philip Williams: “I think seeking wisdom and being open to divine guidance is essential. Proverbs 3:5-6 perfectly encapsulates this approach.”

7 MORE points that may be considered problematic about Link Hudson:

1. **Unspiritual Prayer**: The prayer “If you don’t want me to do it, stop me” is described as unspiritual by the narrator, which may not align with conventional spiritual guidance.

2. **Lack of Specific Guidance**: The approach relies on a broad, non-specific request for divine intervention rather than seeking specific guidance or signs.

3. **Potential Passivity**: The method can be seen as passive, as it involves waiting for a hindrance rather than actively seeking out or discerning God’s will.

4. **Vagueness in Interpretation**: Depending on external circumstances or signs might lead to vague interpretations and misunderstandings of whether something is a divine intervention or just coincidence.

5. **Cultural and Situational Factors**: The example provided about moving to Indonesia may not resonate with everyone, as it’s heavily context-dependent on the individual’s life and circumstances.

6. **Practical Implications**: Relying on such a prayer method might not provide practical, actionable steps for making decisions in day-to-day life.

7. **Conflict with Personal Responsibility**: This approach can be seen as conflicting with the idea of personal responsibility and active discernment in decision-making.

I hope this helps! If you have any further questions or need more analysis, let me know.