Shouldn’t I Be Praying for My Soul Rather Than for Material Things?

Questions about whether we should be praying for our souls rather than for material things, why we need to pray about decisions, whether the devil can hear our prayers and tempt us with “answers,” and whether it’s okay to pray for someone’s death rather than healing.

 

• Shouldn’t I be praying for my soul rather than for material things such as a house or a new job—i.e., a diet version of the prosperity gospel?
• If I’m faced with a decision to do something that’s a good thing and doesn’t violate anything in Scripture, why do I need to pray about it to see if it’s something God wants me to do?
• Can the devil hear our prayers, and if so, will he tempt us with “answers” to those prayers?
• Is it okay to pray for someone’s death—i.e., for God to release them from suffering rather than for his miraculous healing?