A Little Bit About Prayer

[MadParrotWoman]

So how do you pray? Do you pray in a formal way? Do you have a shopping list? Do you always pray to the Father?

When I first began to pray it was extremely awkward, I didn't know how to go about it, how to address the Father or how to talk to Him. It was all so alien to me. I remember asking my mentor how I should address Him and he told me to talk to the Lord like He was a friend - a very close friend, to which I replied "but I don't know Him!" Seriously I really didn't know Him! I was still unsure that this was the way to go about it and so I asked God how He wanted me to pray to Him and He confirmed what I had been told by my mentor.

Sometimes I think we do sometimes come to the Lord in prayer with a shopping list, certainly I can be guilty of this so it helps me to remember what Jesus told His disciples in Luke 11: Begin with praise before putting one's requests to Him "Hallowed be thy name" and "thy kingdom come". So I usually praise Him in some form or other if I remember to. For me the place I mainly pray is in my bedroom which is pretty much the only place I won't be disturbed. I also pray in the car - with my eyes open if I'm driving LOL and early mornings very quietly as I walk towards my car at 6.45am - there is no one else around, hardly anyone awake in neighbouring houses and it's dark during a large part of the year....just the Lord and me together - I love it! If I'm alone I might pray for someone here in the living room and I've even been known to pray in the shower LOL. We are told that God is wherever we are so I guess we can pray in most places/situations. I have never prayed with another person other than in church and someday that would be a pretty cool thing to do but alas I'm not surrounded by many Christians.

I mostly pray to the Father, on occasion if I feel my prayer should be directed to the Holy Spirit I might pray to Him but it's usually a short request. I think I may have once or twice prayed to Jesus but this is a rare occurrence although I almost always pray "in Jesus' name".

So how do you pray? Any tips? LOL

 

[SoulWeaver]

I pray together with people online sometimes. I dont really visit brick and concrete churches (like you I believe the whole world is His footstool) but I do crave fellowship with other believers.
I just ask God in Jesus' name, I guess it arrives up there where it should, lol.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

I pray together with people online sometimes. I dont really visit brick and concrete churches (like you I believe the whole world is His footstool) but I do crave fellowship with other believers.
I just ask God in Jesus' name, I guess it arrives up there where it should, lol.

This is SO me!

 

[JesusIsAll]

How an individual is led to pray by the Holy Spirit is, I believe, an individual matter of one's personal communication with our Lord. Scripture has context, and so does prayer in each of our lives. I always pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, most always addressing the Father, but also find myself talking to the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus at times, all God, but beyond that? Who's to tell you how you need to communicate with your Lord?

But here is some fine prayer substance from the Bible, for any individual wondering what to pray for, which our Lord would never say no to,

Colossians 1:9-14 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

 

[Brainfreeze]

I pray to Jesus/God as He's my Father, my Friend, my Savior, my Protector, He's Everything... I'm most comfortable just talking to Him as I talk now, I usually don't have to many request rather they be for others, I'm usually just thanking Him, randomly through the day, and blessing His Mighty Name.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

How an individual is led to pray by the Holy Spirit is, I believe, an individual matter of one's personal communication with our Lord. Scripture has context, and so does prayer in each of our lives. I always pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, most always addressing the Father, but also find myself talking to the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus at times, all God, but beyond that? Who's to tell you how you need to communicate with your Lord?

But here is some fine prayer substance from the Bible, for any individual wondering what to pray for, which our Lord would never say no to,

Colossians 1:9-14 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Yes I agree I wouldn't want to pray like a carbon copy of someone else, it's personal time with the Lord isn't it? I'm just interested in how others approach God in prayer. Do you remember to praise etc. I also just wanted to point out just how difficult it was for me in the beginning...it's so natural for me now, I love to talk to my Lord.

 

[SoulWeaver]

Do you remember to praise etc. I also just wanted to point out just how difficult it was for me in the beginning...it's so natural for me now, I love to talk to my Lord.

I found out that very often I dont even have to petition and ask God for something, because praise solves the problem.
Yep my prayers in the beginning too were much more formal and stiff-pedantic, lol. But that was not bad, I was just not sure yet about how to pray properly and I studied on that too so I was treading carefully. I pray much more comfortably now, of course not at the expense of reverence.

 

[JesusIsAll]

Yes I agree I wouldn't want to pray like a carbon copy of someone else, it's personal time with the Lord isn't it? I'm just interested in how others approach God in prayer. Do you remember to praise etc. I also just wanted to point out just how difficult it was for me in the beginning...it's so natural for me now, I love to talk to my Lord.

Yes, praise is always part of prayer, one way or another, just loving submission to our God is praise of His office and worthiness, but I also find praise more a living thing, never just vocalize anything for the sake of any words, except for times praying the Lord's prayer, and this because it simply fits those times, a prayer which is filled with praise. Personally, I more often find myself outright praising God, as in "Praise the Lord!", as life unfolds, His wonders to behold. It's not like God is something you schedule, but just speaking for myself.

 

[Billyd]

Too me prayer is personal and from my heart. I may just say "thank you Lord", or I may spend a long time recognizing my blessings and thanking God for each. I may address my needs, or the needs of others. Some times I just say, "Lord we need to talk" Then I layout the problem, on my knees or my face, and listen.

I think that we get caught up in looking for a fancy way to pray. God isn't looking for fancy words.

 

[JesusIsAll]

Having kept all sorts of notes over the years, I sometimes forage around in them, to find something to offer. Here are a couple paragraphs from somewhere about prayer, that may have something in them for somebody,

The confidence of mighty prayer. God must be correctly seen as sovereign, Almighty, and we must look beyond the creature to the Creator and prays with confidence in His control and power. Kings of the earth imagine vain things against the Lord, but Psalms 2 speaks of how they will be frustrated. God is in control and working out His plan, set forth from the foundation of the world. You must be totally committed to Jesus Christ as Lord. Jesus Christ didn't come to get you out of trouble, but to get into trouble with you. The apostles wanted to spread God's word and also stretch forth His hand, by doing through their hands what the Lord would do were He here. Praying in the name of Jesus is not just tacking on His name at the end of a prayer, but to aspire to those things which are for His sake and glory, not our own. God is not a glorified bellhop, or Santa Clause to serve our whims. Prayer is a means of bringing the power of heaven into our lives by exalting God's Son, by glorifying and serving the Lord Jesus. Mighty prayer needs commitment. We cannot operate on yesterday's experience, need to be filled with the Spirit daily to be empowered. Mighty prayer is empowering prayer. The Holy Spirit of God will fill you when you are committed to being a witness for Jesus Christ. When the Spirit is received, unity is achieved, people becoming of one heart and one soul. Prayer unites the church. We're not to be wired together by an organization or tradition, but fused and melted together by prayer. When unity is achieved, the gospel is believed. Our first duty is not to preach the gospel, but to be ready and worthy to preach the gospel.

Difficulties are opportunities in reverse, if we see them through the eyes of God. Children have growing pains, skin problems, clumsiness, and people also have spiritual growing pains. When God sets out to multiply, the devil sets out to divide. Murmuring is a half-uttered, half-concealed complaint, grumbling in a low voice. The Israelites murmured against Moses, producing disunity. Do all things without murmuring or disputing. Murmuring is speaking against God, as you can't be murmuring and praising. Idolatry, fornication, tempting God, and murmuring are all evil and the devil's tools. Where there are problems, there are solutions. A real Christian is deeply spiritual and intensely practical, looks for solutions, for organization. A lack of organization and disorder is carnality. Chaos and disorder are of the devil. The Corinthian church had disorder for their carnality.

 

[JesusIsAll]

Found this, too, LOL!

A quip about unanswered prayer, when somebody asked for God's protection before a storm, but whose house was still damaged: "Maybe God was busy taking care of His regular customers."

 

[Blain]

When I was first saved I had no idea how to pray, i couldn't talk to him as it just didn't feel right. I have always been able to speak my mind and heart easier in writing so I wrote my prayers to him and it worked fantastic! I have a whole journal of prayers to him and eventually I moved on to actually speaking to to him. I pray to him in my mind as it is an easy way to speak to him whenever and where ever. I don't kneel and close my eyes and do the hand thing i just talk to him. It's not a formal thing like dear Lord i ask in your name that you...., no I just talk to him about anything and everything, I have many conversations with him and sometimes I hear him speak back.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

You know there are some fab people on this forum. Blain you are SO real - I love that!
SoulWeaver, I find myself liking a lot of your posts...
JesusIsAll - I don't know why, I always feel like you are female lol - I think it's the heart thing on your avatar and your posts are so....well I'm not sure how to quite put it - I'd hate you to feel insulted but I really get where you're coming from so I keep forgetting you are a guy LOL.

 

[Powemm]

I talk to god about everything. Sometimes just a simple.. hey you how's your day going...I like the picture you painted in the sky today... thanks for the the smiles you've given me today... sometimes I even ask if he can give some of my peace to someone who is having a rough day... im beginning to see simple ways of serving him throughout the day... says in good morning to people , smiling... help fill in a gap at work.. everything is so much easier when I look at the day as an opportunity to serve him.. sometimes just being quiet before him... sitting in his presence..listening... watching.. being still to see what he displays be for me... if ive tried something to the best of my ability I simply say.. hey buddy can you help me figure this problem out. I teach so throughout the day I ask what or how he would like to do lessons... hes gifted me with artistic ability so I often times ask if he would like to use my hands to draw out a picture... or bring a fresh idea to light... I pray the our father most of all... not my will, but his will be done..
Lately ive been to him about his agape love... and asking him to help me see things from his perspective of that... its pretty incredible what he will do if we ask.. gods good all the time... hes the best person I know to talk too..

 

[JesusIsAll]

You know there are some fab people on this forum. Blain you are SO real - I love that!
SoulWeaver, I find myself liking a lot of your posts...
JesusIsAll - I don't know why, I always feel like you are female lol - I think it's the heart thing on your avatar and your posts are so....well I'm not sure how to quite put it - I'd hate you to feel insulted but I really get where you're coming from so I keep forgetting you are a guy LOL.

What? Whut?! How egregious! You've made me stop ironing my panties to respond to this! So, what would you have me do? Change my avatar to a skull and bones, find some emoticons that belch? Well, I'm here to tell you I also get where I'm coming from, sometimes not where I'm going, but that's another topic. Perhaps I've failed to sufficiently show the pride I take in my obnoxious brutishness, but, after all, this is a Bible forum.

 

[Powemm]

I think many times just asking god what he might think in all things brings better clarity to practical application of his instruction in what is most pleasing to him instead of others or myself.. yeah these are the things I talk to god about daily.. what is most pleasing to you in this day Lord and how might others come to know you better it all

 

[JesusIsAll]

I think many times just asking god what he might think in all things brings better clarity to practical application of his instruction in what is most pleasing to him instead of others or myself.. yeah these are the things I talk to god about daily.. what is most pleasing to you in this day Lord and how might others come to know you better it all

I've found the same, more and more simply asking God to show me His will, and less and less seeking to figure out some things myself, when sometimes the way just isn't clear of our choices. So it's, "Show me what You'd have me do."

 

[JesusLives]

Myself I feel I don't pray enough and a lot of times I don't know what to pray for.....sad but true. The thing is personally I like to think of my day as leaving the phone off the hook in that I want to keep the line of communication open to God all day long and I like to think that He is with me in my thoughts and knows what is going on in my head and at times I will just talk to Him. The reason the phone is off the hook so to speak is that I am also trying really hard to listen to what He might be prompting me to do.

I listened and sent a Bible to tourist when he had mentioned to me that he had left his Bible behind in Maine and the thought came into my mind send the man a Bible and I thought sure I have plenty laying around the house and I can only read one at a time and I also have many different versions of the Bible so I picked a New King James Version to send to him as it was a newer Bible my former Father-In-Law had given me for a recent Christmas and mailed it off to tourist. He was so glad to get this Bible and immediately started reading it and has been reading it ever since and it makes me feel really good that I listened to God and did the simple thing He asked me to do.

So that is what I mean about keeping the phone of the hook so to speak as I like to think our line of communication is always open both way.

Now truth of the matter is I need to listen better than what I do, but God knows it is my hearts desire to pray more and listen more to His prompts.

When I pray on CC I do pray a little more formal than my personal prayers and I do want to show God respect and the fact that at the time I am being a representative of and for Him and I want to show reverence and honor to Him when praying for others.

The laundry list this is when I am not knowing what to pray for as I know that God knows what bothers me and that I want family and friends to be saved I think I rely on the Holy Spirit to translate this for me as I don't really want to list the list everyday even though these people and things might be on my mind daily sometimes I say I don't know what to ask for help me and you know what is on my mind and I do want family and friends to be saved. God knows that and I leave them with Him. I guess it just boils down to me trusting in God and His faithfulness and I know He answers in His perfect timing.

 

[SpiritHealth]

I pray to God just as if He was my father sitting beside me listening to what I have to say. I pray in Jesus' name as he is my brother. I don't have a formal way to pray. I don't have a specific time to pray. I talk with Him, I tell him all my troubles. When the need calls for it I will pray specific prayers for specific people. There are so many books out there that give us a list of how we should pray, when we should pray, what type of prayer it should be, etc. I ignore all those books. I just simply sit down where I am or even when walking just praying to my Father in Heaven, letting Him know what's going on – simply to have a conversation with Him knowing that he will guide my path in this earthly world.

 

[Rosy123]

Too me prayer is personal and from my heart. I may just say "thank you Lord", or I may spend a long time recognizing my blessings and thanking God for each. I may address my needs, or the needs of others. Some times I just say, "Lord we need to talk" Then I layout the problem, on my knees or my face, and listen.

I think that we get caught up in looking for a fancy way to pray. God isn't looking for fancy words.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.