Are you in the habit of sharing your issues with others before bringing them to the Lord? It is scriptural to have others pray on your behalf. However, many of your concerns can be brought to God without a middle person. You can take your troubles directly to the Lord and share them with Him privately. Afterward, if you’re still uneasy about something, it may then be the better time to ask others to pray with you. God loves when His children seek Him first through prayer rather than seeking others first.

On the flip side, are there those who perpetually come to you with one urgent prayer request after the next? They’ve fallen into the habit of asking you to pray for them repeatedly? If so, perhaps the next time they ask you to pray, you can politely ask them if they prayed to God first.

People can easily form a pattern of running to others with their troubles while overlooking the opportunity they have to seek God first. Be watchful that you don’t become someone’s mini-god. Instead, point them to the One who knows their troubles. If needed, pray with them, teaching them to pray. As they take their troubles to the Lord, you can share in the joy God brings them.