Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

If the use of the word "please" when praying is meant as an expression of a genuine added degree of urgency or intensity to the words or requests spoken by the individual offering the prayer, I would say that it would not be prohibited or condemned by the Bible.

At the same time, since Jesus also indicated that God is aware of our needs even before we pray (Matthew 6:8) (which, to me, would also encompass our perception of those needs and the importance we attach to them), the addition of that word (while it would not be prohibited or discouraged from a Biblical standpoint) would also not be necessary solely for that purpose.

I would further say that the use of the word "please" should be motivated by, or associated with, a true sense of humility on the part of the praying individual in approaching God, rather than something that is viewed as a desired or required word from the standpoint of some sort of "formula" for prayer that is designed to "get God's attention" or to influence Him in some way.

June 26 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Frederick Thomas Rom 3:4 ...let God be true...

What does the Bible say about saying, "please," when we pray?
Is it scriptural to say "please" when we pray? 
Luke 11:1 - 54

KJV - 1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Greetings Mkg and son Mogobo Kgomo,

For a moment I thought it was tradition to use the please word to show respect but I have copied some scripture where the “please” word was used to request from God our Father.

Exo_4:10 Then Moses said to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." 
Exo_4:13 But he said, "Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will." 
Exo_32:32 "But now, if You will, forgive their sin--and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!" 
Num_11:15 "So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness." 
Jdg_6:39 Then Gideon said to God, "Do not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more; please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground." 
Jdg_10:15 The sons of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day." 
Jdg_13:8 Then Manoah entreated the LORD and said, "O Lord, please let the man of God whom You have sent come to us again that he may teach us what to do for the boy who is to be born." 
Jdg_13:15 Then Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "Please let us detain you so that we may prepare a young goat for you." 
Jdg_16:28 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." 
2Sa_24:10 Now David's heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly." 
2Sa_24:17 Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, "Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father's house." 
1Ch_21:17 David said to God, "Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father's household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued." 
Amo_7:2 And it came about, when it had finished eating the vegetation of the land, that I said, "Lord GOD, please pardon! How can Jacob stand, For he is small?" 
Amo_7:5 Then I said, "Lord GOD, please stop! How can Jacob stand, for he is small?" 
Jon_4:2 He prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. 
Jon_4:3 "Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life." 
Mar_5:23 and *implored Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live." 

Thanks for that question. It confirms why we pray respectfully.

Brother Frederick

June 26 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report