Prayer-for what?

I have been involved in Pastoral work for around 12 years now and am struck by the prayer requests I receive as Pastor.

A couple of things stand out:

• Most prayer requests are born out of crisis- sickness, accidents, disease. These are authentic heart-felt prayers that arise out of a genuine cry for God's presence at moments of crisis.
  
• The prayer focus outside of crisis centres around four broad areas: Safety, health, prosperity, and relationships. Safety for car travel, against crime etc, health protection against disease and illness, prosperity linked most often to more not enough never mind less, and relationships either for restoration or for a new one.
  

In reality the prayers often seem a little self-absorbed, even though a I write this I feel I am being so judgemental, but most prayers seem to centre on the self or the extended self of the family and friend circle. I rarely hear a heartfelt cry for justice in churches; rarely hear prayer beyond feelings and desires about self, rarely hear prayer that does not centre on thanks for what I have, or for more of what I want. Rarely hear prayer that invites me to see and engage God's heart for ALL.

Secondly I have noticed that there is a relative paucity of prayer requests that centre on transformation. Prayers that ask- help me/us to be more Christ-like. Yet in reading Paul's pastoral letters to his friends in distant places that seems to be his strongest emphasis- may you be more like Christ.

What is it about our culture, faith, religion, spirituality that has led us in this direction- to this way of praying?

My own prayer life struggles with prayers for physical safety- as pastor I have struggled to make sense of people killed in sad ways, dying tragically whilst having others claim God spared them miraculously- a late connection on a flight, sitting other side of the car etc. etc. God seems fickle!

A friend challenges me with a prayer life that centre's around God keeping love safe in their life- that no matter what happens to them they would remain true to love- for family, self, God and even enemies. That in the face of debilating disease, horrendous accidents, overflowing wealth or grinding poverty, persecution or profound intimacy they would be able to respond with love to all. Somehow this makes more sense to me seems closer to Jesus' heart.