Pew Forum Prayer Poll

[Mimi]

Financial Woes Top Americans' Prayers

New York, October 22, 2008... More evidence that grave financial concerns are foremost in Americans' lives today is revealed in the results from a new poll conducted by Guideposts.com.

When asked, "What are you praying for these days?"

32% answered: "Financial Relief" making it the top response...significantly outpacing the
#2 response "United States and our leaders" cited by 20% of respondents. Additionally,
15% of respondents said they were praying for a "New Job" making the combined "Financial Relief" and "New Job" nearly 50% of all respondents' prayers.

The survey was conducted between 10/13 and 10/19 among 2522 online respondents.

[Wally]

I wonder if anyone admitted to praying for a new heart, and the fruit of the Spirit manifested in their lives?

[Sister Dee]

I wonder if anyone admitted to praying for a new heart, and the fruit of the Spirit manifested in their lives?

I, too, was wondering at the lack of request for spiritual blessings.  It would be interesting to know if any of the respondents did.  On the other hand, since it was a poll, perhaps these kinds of things were not even included.  Just mark the appropriate box. 

[Lewis]

I can not recall ever hearing a prayer in our own churches where I live, asking God to create in us a new heart and renew a right spirit within us, nor asking for the fruit of the Spirit, forgiveness of sins, spreading the gospel, a wakeup call in our lives to shake us from our sleep, or a preparing of our hearts to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The prayers usually go like this...help us throughout the week, help so and so get better, help this or that person with find a job, help us to be good christians, bless the speaker... and that is usually it. Nothing wrong with praying for the sick or for someone to get a job, but the prayers that deal with the heart and a changing of the life is what is lacking.