Please Heavenly Father bless us and keep us safe as we travel home!

[Dusty52]

I cringe whenever I hear this request, and I hear it most weeks
It seems trite and repetitious, (similar to words used in the blessing of food)
If your number is up you are going, it doesn't matter how you pray and what for!
Are there any alternative words we could use?
Do you think we should be bothering God with such trivialities?
Hasn't he got bigger fish to fry?

[Jamescm]

I agree with the sentiment. It's difficult to feel and convey a balance between wanting something repetitiously (even if you're sincere) and letting Him handle things as He will.

It's worth noting one of God's beautiful traits; He can fry all fish, big and small, all at once. He isn't like mortal parents who must prioritize and split their attention and efforts.

[inho]

I think this thread is just a spin-off of your other thread (Heavenly Father Please Bless!). So, let me quote myself quoting Elder Wilson in that thread:

Elder Larry Y. Wilson in April 2018 GC:

"Second, Ensign Blair did not just ask the Lord to solve his problem. He asked what he could do to be part of the solution. Likewise we might ask, “Lord, what do I need to do to be part of the solution?” Instead of just listing our problems in prayer and asking the Lord to solve them, we ought to be seeking more proactive ways of receiving the Lord’s help and committing to act according to the Spirit’s guidance."

This is a very good talk and I like the story about Ensign Blair he told.

Following that advice, maybe one could pray like "please help us be alert while we drive home" or something like that.

[EmmaLee]

How about - "Please let me and my family/loved ones be content and at peace should we die on our way home." (seriously though)

[brianj]

Multiple times every day I pray that my daughter's heart will be softened toward God and me, that she will awaken her testimony and return to church and that she will reestablish a relationship with me. Does the fact that I have prayed for this thousands of times make it repetitious or trite? I sure hope not.

When I think of vain repetition I think of "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name..." or "OurdearkindgraciousHeavenlyFather" (written without spaces because that's how it's usually said). Another big one is "in the name of thy son."

News flash: I don't have a son named Jesus Christ! Therefore, if you are having a one on one conversation with me or giving me a blessing and you say "in the name of thy son" you're going to bug me.

[I AM]

I cringe whenever I hear this request, and I hear it most weeks
It seems trite and repetitious, (similar to words used in the blessing of food)
If your number is up you are going, it doesn't matter how you pray and what for!
Are there any alternative words we could use?
Do you think we should be bothering God with such trivialities?
Hasn't he got bigger fish to fry?

------------
It's NOT bothering God or trivial at all.
and ONLY God knows when your time is up,
and He just might extend it to those who pray and ASK Him to keep them safe.
We need to ASK - ALWAYS PRAY and ASK.
"Ask, and it shall be given you"
there will be miracles in the future simply because you asked with a sincere heart
and have faith that God will answer and give you, His child, what you have asked for.
One who loves Christ and knows Him and has done His will, will ask for
the Lord to keep them safe from their enemies, and you will be invisible to them.

and doesn't matter if it's repetitious, it's where your heart is, if you're sincere and mean it.
Our family doesn't have much food right now, but when I pray for our food
and thank God for it, I MEAN IT, I mean it and express that from my heart every time I pray.
the Lord wants us to totally rely on Him and depend on Him for everything.
pray unceasingly - keep a prayer in your heart, pray and seek His guidance from the Holy Ghost
to direct you in everything you do.

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
John 3:8