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 Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:39 am
I was thinking about this earlier and I realized not everyone knows how to pray, everyone prays a little different from others, and some may not even know the point of prayer. So I believe it might be benificial to disscuss this with everyone here. Angel Serene has a good prayer format here in the S.I.N.G. thread here: http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=30475Well, how do I pray? I pray to God in two different ways, a somewhat formal way and an informal way. My formal prayers are often requests and thanksgivings. Some times I pray "Thanks God for today and thank you for all that you do for me. . . Please help me finish my school work on time . . . etc." and then I end with "in the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen." My informal prayers are just basicly saying some thing like"Hey God what's up?" and just kinda have a conversation with God. Really the key is just talking with God and asking for guidence. Why pray? As Christians we believe in the Holy Spirit, God within us, which is a gift from Jesus Christ. It is through this Holy Spirit that we are able to pray to God. Now, when talking to God usually you can't hear Him literaly, but you can somehow sense His presence and get a feel of what He wants for you, this is something to keep in mind so as not to exect God to do something that He doesn't always do. By praying you are telling God that you care about Him and want to continue this relationship with Him. A relationship with God is important because He cares about YOU more than He cares about the things you do. During prayer you also admit the sins you commit, so that you can ask God to help you prevent yourself from sinning more. Keep in mind you can't stop sinning completely, the nature of our curse forbids it, but you can try to stop bad habits and live as much of a holy(set apart for God) life for God. Prayer in this way helps you grow closer to God by taking steps to stop sinning. By reinforceing your relationship with God and recieving for guidence in your walk with Christ, prayer is very important in your life with God. I know that's a lot to read, but I hope you find it usefull and share your comments and beliefs, and point out stuff I left out.
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 9:42 am
Here's a helpful tract that helped me better and understand my prayer more deeply smile Secret of Prayer
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2004 3:05 am
Teach me to Pray
Please teach me, Lord ...
I want to know
Exactly how to pray.
I need some words
Which ones are right?
Please tell me what to say.
I've bowed my head
I have knelt down,But ...
should I be upright?
I've closed my eyes,
I've raised my hands,Or ...
should I fold them tight?
Do I stand up?
Should I sit down?
Dear Lord ... what do you like?
Are lights turned on
Or are they off? Maybe ...
candle light?
Wear my glasses?
Take them off?
Be at my desk or table?
Should I whisper?
Speak out loud?
Do I quote the Bible?
What do you think about the time?
Do You prefer the dawn?
Should I pray fast,
Or keep it slow?
Better short ... or long?
I'm new at this
What are the rules?
I want to do it right.
How do I know
You'll even hear
That I am in Your sight?
And while I sat there quietly,
Waiting for some sign,
I heard a gentle voice say,
"Oh, dearest child of mine ...
Do you think I really care
About the time of day,
Or whether you are standing up,
Or kneeling when you pray?"
"I don't care about your posture,
Or about the place you choose;
Just open up your soul to me,
I have no other rules.
Tell me what is in your heart,
And tell me what you seek;
Tell me of your sorrows,
And of those things that made you weak."
"Speak to me in private
About what concerns you most;
I know about your good deeds ...
You have no need to boast.
My child, you don't need lessons,
Just talk to me each day;
Tell me anything you want, dear child,
Anyone can pray."
*disclaimer: I don't know who wrote it, I found it in the B.A.S.I.C. thread posted by keetabirdy... I thougght I'd suit the topic here biggrin All credit goes to whoever wrote this poem *nods*
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:52 pm
I realy don't like it when people pray and they either
1. diss other religions/denominatons
2. praise them self
but what realy boils by pot is when they pray and do it to be funny or please others. in my school (I go to a christian school) when we do the moning pray they do it in a moking voice (like a booming preacher or a realy souther church go'er) they won't take it seriouse that they are talking to GOD surprised
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 7:23 pm
Rain_Phyre I realy don't like it when people pray and they either 1. diss other religions/denominatons 2. praise them self but what realy boils by pot is when they pray and do it to be funny or please others. in my school (I go to a christian school) when we do the moning pray they do it in a moking voice (like a booming preacher or a realy souther church go'er) they won't take it seriouse that they are talking to GOD surprised That kind of goofing around is always a shame. It is obvious they don't respect Him as much as they should. Although, we are all human and sometimes we do things without thinking, which I am very guilty of. So it is all ways good to try to forgive even those that mock prayer. As for dissing others and praising one's self during prayer, that's not good prayer. God hates those kind of prayers. When we pray, it is to talk to God and recieve counseling about our lives. We are to go humbly before God. Just so you know the lord's prayer was meant to be said before you pray, so that you are in the right place (mentally, spiritually) when you pray. Lets look at it: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. (2) And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For (1) thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. (1)By saying "thine is the kingdom..." this is where your are being humble because you are pointing out that He is most high (not you). (2)Also the "And forgive us..." this also makes us humble because in order to forgive others we must be able to let go our pride. But anyways, enough preaching, you get the idea. Yeah, I can understand your peve, prayer should be serious most the time. The exception is when you are talking to God informally, then you can be a little goofy, as long as your still respectful.
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Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 4:08 pm
Praying is talking to God, I do a lot in the car and sometime in the shower. Special prayers are done on the on spot most of the time, specially the laying on of hands prayer.
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Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 4:33 pm
I usually stick to praying the word. When I pray it's genuine but when I can and it's useful I incoperate scriptures. I also rely on the Holy Spirit alot when I don't know what to say. I always start out with praise before I go into a prayer.
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Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 11:27 am
Lithanus hinted towards a key aspect, but i want to take it a step further. a lot of people like to pray the Lord's prayer... but, I don't think he intended for people to pray that prayer word for word. he said this is the manner in which you should pray... so then, we can break it down:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
^ This is giving him praise and adoration to start off with.. just think, when you answer the phone, do you greet them and do pleasantries? maybe he likes pleasantries? he does seem to be the polite type, doesn't he? he gives thanks yous and rewards. he gives warnings before he blows his top.. he's very polite.
Give us this day our daily bread.
^ this is pretty obvious but is a prayer for daily needs or just needs in general
(2)And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us.
^This is a two fold prayer... and i like how he puts that we are getting forgiveness as we give it. a lot of people seem to overlook it.. but is very important. Additionally, we are praying about forgiving someone who's hurt us.. and praying that we be forgiven by him for the things we do that are hurtful to him.
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
^ this is just asking for guidance... and deliverance from whatever situation you may be in
For (1)thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
again.. ending it up with some praise and thanksgiving for just who he is.. appreciating him for all he is...
i mean.. when you apply at a charity on gaia.. you usually are very polite and add in a nice thank you and how nice it is that they do that for people kind of thing...
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Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 1:36 pm
Graceangel Lithanus hinted towards a key aspect, but i want to take it a step further. a lot of people like to pray the Lord's prayer... but, I don't think he intended for people to pray that prayer word for word. he said this is the manner in which you should pray... so then, we can break it down: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ^ This is giving him praise and adoration to start off with.. just think, when you answer the phone, do you greet them and do pleasantries? maybe he likes pleasantries? he does seem to be the polite type, doesn't he? he gives thanks yous and rewards. he gives warnings before he blows his top.. he's very polite. Give us this day our daily bread. ^ this is pretty obvious but is a prayer for daily needs or just needs in general (2)And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. ^This is a two fold prayer... and i like how he puts that we are getting forgiveness as we give it. a lot of people seem to overlook it.. but is very important. Additionally, we are praying about forgiving someone who's hurt us.. and praying that we be forgiven by him for the things we do that are hurtful to him. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. ^ this is just asking for guidance... and deliverance from whatever situation you may be in For (1)thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. again.. ending it up with some praise and thanksgiving for just who he is.. appreciating him for all he is... i mean.. when you apply at a charity on gaia.. you usually are very polite and add in a nice thank you and how nice it is that they do that for people kind of thing... As I said in the other topic, so cool! whee I usually talk to God when I'm on my way somewhere just kinda ask for forgiveness for something, praise Him, ask for help, something along the lines of holding a conversation with Him (yes, he talks back. you just got to let Him). When I have time, I'll pray in a relative order to the Lord's prayer. I am embarassed to say that I pray "when I have the time" but it happens alot. A little Samurai poetry "Praise be to Jesus!" Is what I continuely say, But I always put You last... last in my day. I need to do this project If I pray, it'll be Late!, Dear God, I can talk to you now Nah, maybe later... You can wait. I would complete it but I need to take a shower.. (soccer makes me stink... sweatdrop ) I would continue in the way He humbles me and brings me back to Him, He is a jealous God and we need to give him our time! As a side note, He (whom we pray to) is God (our creator)so He deserves alot of respect on our part. So pray respectfully. 3nodding
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Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:13 pm
i think i read that on a hallmark card once.. tried to find it ever after and haven't been able to...
if you find it.. please post the whole thing. 3nodding
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Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:11 pm
For me, prayer is just talking to God. I don't try to use "big words" or try to impress others [when I pray in front of people]. I just be who I am. Basically, my prayer is constructed of [in order]:
1. Praise to God.
2. Prayer for other people.
3. Prayer for me.
4. Closing.
I think a lot of people see prayer as just "asking God for stuff". But really - prayer is also a great time to praise God, and thank him for all he's done. As my youth pastor says, "Prayer should be consisted of 2/3 praise and 1/3 requests."
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Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:16 am
you know... the last few months at work were really some trying times.. there was a lot going on there that always seemed not quite right.. somewhere in this last year there.. the whole tight knit community feeling we had at our workplace seems to have gotten lost or broken or something... but, i was really just always in prayer when i was there... now with the christmas season having passed and hours are so tight there... things seem better... and i'm still praying. i think my job is good for my prayer life. 3nodding
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:59 pm
I use Christian Meditation, u sit in a quiet place and clear ur mind with controlled breathing, then u repeat to yourself a sort of mantra or w/e i ususally say Jesus christ our lord and saviour, or God the father, anything like that could work
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:10 pm
When I pray, I genrally say whatever I think I need to get off my chest first - usually I ask God for forgiveness first and then thank him for what he's done for me, and then move into anything else. I just feel that I need to take a moment to remember my place in the scheme of things before I go to God and ask him for stuff. My old youth pastor had a formula similar to that Sing one. I don't remember it too well though...
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:39 pm
I hope all of you are praying for the recent hurricane victims. This season has been pretty rough! cry
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