How do you pray?

[Budge]

I know I pray in very personal fashion now. Talk to God everyday and all the time.. I am in a Bible study now we are doing one about how to pray. I am learning new things about Praise prayer and praying for other people. Do you all have any good hints about a good prayer life?

I know I am more private in my prayers. I tend to be a closet prayer and hopefully with time I will pray aloud with those I pray with at church. One thing I do is a kind of a running conversation prayer. What do you all think of that? I used to worry that one could bug God with too much--even in praise--like thats a nice tree and look at those clouds God or I hope this person is alright etc etc ..., but my preacher said that no concern is too great or too small even.

Bible verses on Prayer:

[In Context|Read Chapter|Original Greek]
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Jas 5:16 - [In Context|Read Chapter|Original Greek]
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1Pe 4:7 - [In Context|Read Chapter|Original Greek]
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Acts 6:4
[In Context|Read Chapter|Original Greek]
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

[joint heir]

I pray very casually too....I pray to my Father...I did not have a great natural father....but I have a perfect spiritual Father...

He has met so many needs that I never got met.....but I am more than blessed..at least my earthly father is a christian and he is now repenting of his sorrowful state.....


sometimes I just like to sit in His presence and listen....that is how I get close to people and to God..just sitting with them.....and listening..sometimes things are silent and sometimes He speaks...but all is beneficial...

sometimes I need to just get quiet and just be with God...

I do the obvious petitions

I rarely "enjoy" group prayer....because I feel as most people just pray what sounds good and poetic instead of what is from their heart

[TonyLee]

Originally posted by joint heir

I rarely "enjoy" group prayer....because I feel as most people just pray what sounds good and poetic instead of what is from their heart

I am the same way. I have nothing against others praying together, but I feel so inadequate around others. There are many times that I do not feel like praying, so there must be something wrong with me enters my mind. Those many months of doubting being saved did not help it either. I do feel more mechanical when everyone is asked to come to the front for prayer. (again there is nothing wrong with it, but I prefer by myself.)

Tony

[Mercy4Me]

I am more a personal prayer as well.

Though me and mom do pray togather often.

I just like to talk to the Lord, whether I am driving, or sitting around the house etc.

There is a certain blessing, praying in groups. The conference taught me that. There were quite a few of us, just pouring ourselves out before God, and it was awesome. I would love to have that kind of prayer time every day, even though I am a rather quiet person. Just something about the Spirit of God moving among His people...

[ChristineMarie]

prayer circle tonight in the chat......9pm est

[aboundingjoy]

At the AoG I am going to sometimes the pastor directs us to take the hand of someone near us and pray for them--Without necessarily discussing their needs --just praying that their needs will be met--

It has been some of the sweetest moments at that church for me.

Once I just felt such warmth and love come over me from the perfect stranger who was holding my hand and praying with me.

And once I happened to be sitting next to teenager who has been seriously burned--It was wonderful to have him praying for me and to be praying for him.

So I do think I like "group" prayer of that nature, and I love the scripture about wherever two or more are gathered together--There is power in prayer.

If we just knew how to pray as we should and steadily sought meaningful prayer, I think life would be so much easieer for us--at least for me that is true.

Sometimes I just try to be still and I find that to be prayer.

And I like the idea that to work is to pray, because I have to work, and when I have to do something I'd rather not be doing, I try to think of it as prayer and lots of times as a chance to pray.

When I don't pray fairly steadily and constantly, I am just a mess, and totally get out of sorts with the world in general.

[aquamom]

I have struggled with what prayer truly is for sometime now. When we are small, we are taught that God answers prayers and that we can bring anything to Him and ask Him for what is on our hearts and expect Him to answer. I believe that God answers prayers, but unless we are praying according to His plan and will, then I really feel we are at cross purposes with Him and those answers will confuse and frustrate us.


I have learned from the death of my first son, to the death of my first husband then to the death of my mother these three things:
God's will is sovereign, He wants us to give our every desire to Him and that He loves us beyond our comprehension.

From there I have come to believe that prayer is two things-our daily connecting with God in order to grow in knowledge and wisdom in who He is so that our love for Him multiplies; and the second thing is that prayer is active- don't ask if you are not prepared for God to use you as part of the answer.

My struggle comes from not always seeing where God is working and knowing what His will is.

Linda

[Bluwingolive]

contemplative prayer - God hears my thoughts all the time - so, I try to create a silent space so I can hear God.

[Marcia]

I talk to Him about whatever is on my mind. My prayers are conversational in nature -- sometimes out loud and more often silent ones running through my mind.

Oftentimes I just find myself praying and realize it about half way through. :)

[Budge]

Thanks everyone I enjoyed hearing how you pray. many of you do it the same way.

I do the running conversation thing too, and end up feeling kinda dumb when I catch myself saying something like, "You know God, I really like these shoes, but I'm not sure they go with what I'm wearing," or something equally shallow...


:lol :lol Thats me! I asked a friend if it was wrong the other day to pray to God about getting a parking spot. She said--No Budge! (God has answered those parking spot prayers many a time) She said as long as your motives are good. (I want close place to park so I can walk in)

[GreggInDC]

I always wondered if others had the on-going conversation with God going on in their head. I do this too. However, my train of thought often gets interrupted and I find myself trying to remember where I left off with Him.........

A friend recently told me that the Bible explains how we should pray (although I've never read that myself.) She said that we should bow (prostrate was the word she used) in deference to Him and that we should vocalize our prayers (a low whisper if we wish to keep it from other's ears.) There is power in our spoken words.

Has anyone ever heard of that?

[awackywabbit]

One of my favorite ways of praying is by taking a walk with God. I usually go down to my local beach with my Bible, and sit on the sand and meditate on a few verses. Then I get up and walk up and down the beach talking with God, usually not aloud but ocassionally.

[Christina]

I do the running conversation thing also, almost constantly. I'm always talking to the Lord. I do wish I was better at sitting quietly and listening for His voice.

I don't like group prayer at all. I'm too self concious. I'm hoping to be over by the time I get to heaven. ;)

I also pray for "irrevelant" things like a parking space or things like that. I've found these types of answered prayers have really built my faith for the big important requests.

One thing I've been working hard on is expressing my thanks to God for both small things and big ones. I thank Him for the beautiful blue sky, my sweet husband or my eyesight, whatever comes to mind.

[sklippstein]

Originally posted by awackywabbit
One of my favorite ways of praying is by taking a walk with God. I usually go down to my local beach with my Bible, and sit on the sand and meditate on a few verses. Then I get up and walk up and down the beach talking with God, usually not aloud but ocassionally.

ha, I do the same thing! I also pray to him while I am working or even while I am driving. But I do try to take some time to go into my room and talk to God privately and take some time to be quiet to hear him.

[artgeek]

in the last year, my prayer life has changed a lot...

i've left behind a lot of the "christianese" praying stuff, like saying "Lord" or "Jesus" after every other word... I think he'll know if i'm talking to him. ;)

I've taken to talking with God like a dear friend. I try to be very honest with him... often I'll start my prayers with "Hey, God."

it's awesome though... 'cause I find i'll talk to him about the smallest things or the biggest things or whatever. and it's really given me a confidence that I CAN talk to him about whatever, and he'll welcome me. even if I get mad at him and yell and cry and say nasty words... he'll listen, and he'll welcome me back, and i'll say sorry, and we'll go on. :)

God's great. I like him a lot.

[7Rock]

I also believe we can speed up Christ return for us by praying for him to come quickly. He taught that in the Lord`s Prayer, "Thy Kingdom come".

We should also pray to the Father "in Jesus name". This means we should pray for what Jesus would pray for. Just like if you buy something for your employer on their account. You are buying something in their name that they want you to buy. You don`t go and buy whatever you want from their account.
He promised he would take care of all our NEEDS.

[HVAC]

Most of the time mine are:
Running conversation. Casual. Like talking to a very close friend.

I am also very uncomfortable in group prayer. But not because of the lack of privacy, but from the volumne of some of the other participants. I'm a quiet prayer.

I also have a problem praying for others. Not praying for others in the sense of praying for their needs, but like in giving thanks for a group at meal time or in asking God's blessing for the offering while standing in front of the whole church. My mind just goes blank.

Who knows? I think it's because of the fact that I'm so one on one in my prayer life. One of these days I'm gonna have to just go off and shock everybody at the church with a casual God and Gary conversation for the offering. Something like....

Hey God!

Man what a beautiful day! I thank you for that bunch of flowers on the side of the interstate that distracted me from that car with all the crap plastered on the back. You really have great timing. I thank you for your Son and for your love. Father while I have you here, would you mind blessing this offering thing that we are about to take up? I gotta go now, see you again shortly. Love ya!
Amen.

:lol
That would be a normal prayer for me.


YBIC

Gary

[Sojourner]

Posted by aquamom
I have learned from the death of my first son, to the death of my first husband then to the death of my mother these three things: God's will is sovereign, He wants us to give our every desire to Him and that He loves us beyond our comprehension.

From there I have come to believe that prayer is two things-our daily connecting with God in order to grow in knowledge and wisdom in who He is so that our love for Him multiplies; and the second thing is that prayer is active- don't ask if you are not prepared for God to use you as part of the answer.
My goodness, you have been through some very difficult circumstances! Welcome to RR, I thought your post was very insightful. You're right that prayer is necessary for strengthening our relationship with God. You cannot get to know someone without spending time with them. But we also need to be ready to do what He asks, and to be an active participant in the answer to our prayers.

A long time ago my mom prayed for God to do whatever it took for my older brother to become saved. He was heading in the wrong direction, drinking a lot, living with his girlfriend, being very rebellious. Not long after she started praying in this way, my brother was in a car accident which nearly took his life. After this accident, and many years of recovery, he did become saved. She feels bad for what he went through, and wishes he could have come to salvation some other way, but she also believes that it must have been the last option that God could use to bring him to salvation.

Just one final thought. There is one verse I've been thinking a lot about lately, James 5:16, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." I think sometimes that people don't receive answers to their prayers because there is sin in their life. They aren't living holy lives, and their prayers are hindered because of their lack of "righteousness". Especially when there are specified days of prayers. It isn't necessarily the quantity of prayers that are said, but rather the spiritual condition of the people who are saying those prayers that really makes a difference.

[HaveFaith]

(22a) How should we pray ?

Book 38 Lesson Two • Part IV
When people today call or write about prayer this is the first place that I take them. These are absolutely the best verses on prayer.

Philippians 4:6a

"Be careful (or worry) for nothing;..."

You’ve seen these little wall plaques that say, "why worry when you can pray." Well there’s more to that than meets the eye. We’re not supposed to worry. Now we can be concerned. I think everyone of us have concerns, and we have that right to have those concerns, but we’re not to fret and worry.

Philippians 4:6b

"... but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving..."

It doesn’t do you any good to petition God if you forget to thank Him for it in advance as you pray.. Thanking God is the criteria, that’s the modus operandi for prayer. Make it with thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:6b

"...let your requests be made known unto God...."

He isn’t limiting your request. It can be anything as long as it’s in Godly reason of course, but let your requests be made known unto God. Here we can come, and ask with thanksgiving, but God may say, No! He may say, no not right now, maybe later. He may say, Yes. But regardless how He answers in verse 6, you’ve already got the answer in verse 7. We’ve got the answer to our prayers here in verse 7, and what is it?

Philippines 4:7

"And the peace of God, (no matter how God answers our request) which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Do you see why we don’t have to worry about anything? It’s because we have that peace of God, and that’s what keeps us. I know that’s beyond human understanding. I know we’re all human and we do worry and fret, and get overly concerned, and yet I think most of us have to admit that through all of our tight spots, we came through it with God’s help. Now that’s where we have it over on the world. God never promises us that we’re going to go through life without problems. We’re going to have just as many problems as many in the world around us, but what’s the difference? We have God with us in our problems, we have Him to take us through and we can rest assure in that.

Another Scripture comes to mind in Psalms chapter 37. Now this is from David even under the Law, but I can still go back and use it in application, and it’s a beautiful couple of verses. This passage fits right along this same line of thinking. The peace that passeth all understanding will keep our heart and minds through Christ Jesus. Now let’s look what David writes, and let’s start with verse 5. My what a promise.

Psalms 37:5

"Commit thy way unto the LORD trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass"

Maybe not in our timing, but in His. Isn’t that a promise? My I’ve gone through trying times myself, and I just about wear that verse out. But do you know what it means to commit something? It means you take it to God and leave it with Him. I think I’ve given this example before. Regardless what you think of the Post Office, I think most of you just go and drop your letter in the mail slot. Do you go home and for the next week fret and worry whether it got to it’s destination or not? No. Because as soon as you dropped that letter, what did you do? You committed it to the Postal Service to take care of it. You don’t go home and lose sleep over worrying if the letter got there. Because you’re assuming that it will. You committed it, and you let it go at that. Now this is what verse 5 means.

Psalms 37:5

"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

When you have a need, a problem, or concern, you simply commit it to the Lord. You take it to Him, and you leave it there, you don’t hang on to it. If you hang onto that letter, it never will get down into the mail, because you’ve still got it. But if you let it go then it’s committed. The other verse I like here in this chapter is verse 7.

Psalms 37:7a

"Rest in the LORD,..."

Do you know what it means to rest? It means to relax. Turn those concerns over to Him, don’t hang on to your problems. But rather "Rest in the Lord."

Psalms 37:7b

"...and wait patiently for him:

See, we’re in a society of instant gratification. Give it to me now Lord, I’m in a hurry! No we have to learn to "wait patiently for him."

Psalms 37:7b

"...fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."

Boy we see that every day don’t we? We look at the young ungodly world around us, and all their prosperity, and wealth, and wonder, "Why?" Don’t worry about that, because those are things that are in God’s hand. But our responsibility is to commit our way unto the Lord, trust in Him and let Him bring it to pass in His own time. Some times it takes a lot longer than we think. It may take years, but God will do it in His own time.

Book 40 Lesson Three • Part III

Colossians 1:12

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (or prepared us) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:"

Now let’s look at giving thanks to the Father. I’ve had several questions lately, it’s funny how they sort of come in groups, and the question is, "Is it appropriate to pray to the Father in this age of Grace? Well I taught it on television, and had forgotten when I taught it but I found it the other day, so I’m going to have you turn back to Ephesians chapter 5, because maybe some of you or some of the listening audience wonder about praying to the Father, as the Lord’s prayer instructs us to do. Yes that has not changed. This is as clear cut an answer as you can get.

Ephesians 5:20

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ:"

Isn’t that exactly how we do it? So it’s still appropriate today, yes we do pray to the Father, and we do all in the name then of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we’re going to see that relationship in the Trinity in little later verses, but for now come back again to Colossians chapter 1. So Paul as he prays to the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ he has thanked God, the Father that He took these Colossians out of paganism, out of darkness, out of the chains of the satanic powers and translated them into the heavenly kingdom. Now what’s happened to the Colossians has happened to us. We too have been translated from a position in darkness, and we are now citizens of the heavenly kingdom. Now Paul does not make a big a do about our kingdom relationship, because after all that’s primarily associated with the nation of Israel.

Book 41 LESSON THREE * PART IV

Colossians 3:17

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

Now there’s the process again, as Paul also gave it in Ephesians on how we’re to pray. I still have people ask, "Are we still supposed to pray in the name of Jesus?" Absolutely! Come back with me to Ephesians chapter 5. You’ll see this is plain English, this is the process.

Ephesians 5:20

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father (how?) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"

Now that’s the Scriptural instructions, and Paul says the same thing here in Colossians. Now looking at Colossians again.

Colossians 3:17

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

By the Lord Jesus, because after all He’s the One that’s at the right hand of the Father, He’s the One that’s the advocate, He’s the One that is the intercessor, and it only makes common sense. In fact another verse comes to mind in I Timothy chapter 2. Again it’s a good admonition for all of us.

I Timothy 2:1-5

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2. For kings, (our government) and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honestly. 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. 4. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of truth. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

Oh aren’t you glad you don’t have to go through a priest, or a religion, but you have clear access into the throne room.

Book 30 LESSON TWO * PART I

II Corinthians 1:11

"Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf." In other words Paul then, and like we do today, realized what really sustained him in his ministry. The prayers of the saints! Never fail to pray for one another. Pray for us, and others in the ministry that God is using to reach hearts. Remember prayer changes things.

Book 41 LESSON TWO * PART I

Colossians 2:13

"And you, being dead in your sins (absolutely, we were as under the control of the old nature, our spirit was completely of fellowship with God and so that’s what Paul says we were in the world. We were dead in sin) and the uncircumcision of your flesh (by virtue of being Gentiles) but hath he (God) quickened (has regenerated our spirit. He has crucified old Adams and has given us a new nature. A new divine nature) together with him, having (already) forgiven you all trespasses."

Before I go back and look at another word, let’s look at Colossians chapter 3, since we’re already in that. And let’s look at verse 13. And again, Paul repeats this twice in two chapters to drive it home. And oh, most of Christendom has a hard time swallowing this, I know they do. But here it is again.

Colossians 3:13

"Forbearing one another, (remember, he’s writing to believers congregated in an assembly) and forgiving one another, if any may have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

Now look at that verse very carefully. Is there any demand in that verse that you forgive your enemy before you can be saved? NO! That’s already done by the Grace of God. You’re forgiven. But now since you and I are forgiven, what should we be ready to do? Forgive whoever we have ought against, whether it’s in the Church or neighborhood or whatever. There is nothing stipulated in Paul’s Gospel, nor his writings that first we have to forgive everybody before we can be forgiven like the Lord Jesus said during His earthly ministry under Law. I had a question come the other day. Someone had heard it and they had missed it. The Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer isn’t appropriate for us today. The Lord’s Prayer was under Law. It was to Israel. And it says "forgive us our trespasses (when?) as we forgive those who trespass against us." Now that’s Law. And absolutely a Jew could not be forgiven until he went and forgave his neighbor. But that doesn’t hold true today. We’re forgiven by the Grace of God. And if we’re forgiven, then why in the world can’t we forgive our neighbor? That’s the teaching.

Book 23 LESSON TWO * PART IV

Romans 8:26

"Likewise the Spirit (the Holy Spirit who is now indwelling us, according to Paul's teaching) also helpeth our infirmities (our weaknesses. There's not much we can do about it because we're dealing with the invisible, in the realm of the Spirit. But let God do it. God can strengthen us in our places of infirmity): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

That verse is kind of hard to comprehend, except to say I think that there will come places in our lives when we just don't know how to pray. We have an idea of what we want, but we can't put it into words. I've told my classes over the years, when you get to that situation, just be quiet, shut up and let the Holy Spirit commune for you. This is not necessarily a tongues experience. That's not what Paul is talking about. But we get to this place where the Holy Spirit actually intercedes on our behalf.

by Les Feldick

Grace and Peace,
Paul

www.havefaith.org
(1a) How do we know the Bible is really the inspired word of God ?
(7a) Why did Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit ?
(10a) How were people saved before Lord Jesus Christ was born ?
(12a) What are the 3 temptations ?
(24a) What is the key to understanding the Bible ?
(6c) What is the unpardonable sin ?
(7c) When was the earth created according to the Bible ?
(8c) How can God send people to hell that have never heard the Gospel ?
(16b) Will we have bodies, know each other, and eat, in Heaven?
(11d) What will happen to America during the Tribulation ?

[Mrs. Hoppes]

I pray from the heart and my "format" if you will, is conversational.

"Heavenly Father, I know You have a plan here somewhere, but this is not funny! Having my van burn the day after putting $1400 dollars in it is not a humerous thing, so could You please let me know what is going on here? Thanks!"

Kinda like that. That was a rather memorable conversation I had with HIM recently.

[Budge]

Mrs Hoppes conversational is good!

Good post Have Faith, Im going to print that one out! and digest it!

[Araxis777]

Talk to Jesus the way you would talk with anyone.I mean like just a conversation.I know what you mean about the bugging part often times I wonder if im bugging God to.I usually ask for the Holy Spirit to come near and lift up my prayers.

I tell ya Jesus is wonderful !

God Bless You!