Difficulty in prayer

[ShyForHim]

It's been months since I got saved (8 months, yo) but I often still struggle with prayer. The "Lord's prayer" is when I'm being led by Holy Spirit and I feel satisfied when finishing, then I have that calm thought of God receiving the prayer whatsoever. But I struggle with the start.

Knowing I still live with my parents, I'm never alone. So my prayers most of the times are done in whispers, and during nights or in my room (I know God hears them too) but I tried out loud and sometimes I just broke down crying, which makes no sense.

What I'm trying to say, what kind of suggestion would you guys give me when starting to pray? Sometimes I just stare at the ceiling, trying to start but nothing comes out, sometimes this even lasts hours. I personally really enjoy praying, mainly because I can talk to God directly and yeah xD

God bless ｡◕‿◕｡

 

[notuptome]

Prayer like any discipline gets easier with practice. God wants us to pray, the apostles prayed and Jesus prayed. Heb 4:15-16
I have found that difficulty in prayer is due to sin that I do not want to confess to my Father. Thankfully He will not let me rest until we get things right between us. My Father desires communion and fellowship with me. Quite powerful when you think about it. My Father pities me. Psalm 103:13-14
May your heart always be tender and readily distressed when your Father tries your heart. Heb 12:11

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[starfield]

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: 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.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Because of this difficulty in praying we have the indwelling Holy Spirit who not only intercedes on our behalf, but also enables us to pray. Also, we aren't helpless for Jesus gave the Lord's Prayer as a guide. You can start by expressing your gratitude to Him, thank Him for His unfailing love, provision, and guidance, and then present your petition before Him (your personal needs and the needs of others).

God bless.

 

[crossnote]

I find it helpful to first see the priestly work of Christ on the cross as that Door of access we have to the Father. Then I begin my prayers with a torrent of praise and thanksgiving...after that confessions, petitions, intercessions etc.

 

[piper27]

The beautiful thing is that there is no formula that God expects. What he desires above anything else is relationship - period.

Just talk to him like you would a friend....he's got some pretty big shoulders, so nothing will be a shock to him.
When I was a new Christian, around your age, i would write in a journal to Him. I have them still; they are still a reminder to me of the purest form of trust. He is so faithful - lean on him, his spirit resides in you - do what comes natural. Again, there is no formula. Don't let yourself stress about 'doing it right'
Blessings.

 

[maxwel]

Just tell God what's on your mind.

He already knows anyway.
He just wants to hear from you, and spend time with you.

 

[TomH]

It's been months since I got saved (8 months, yo) but I often still struggle with prayer. The "Lord's prayer" is when I'm being led by Holy Spirit and I feel satisfied when finishing, then I have that calm thought of God receiving the prayer whatsoever. But I struggle with the start.

Knowing I still live with my parents, I'm never alone. So my prayers most of the times are done in whispers, and during nights or in my room (I know God hears them too) but I tried out loud and sometimes I just broke down crying, which makes no sense.

What I'm trying to say, what kind of suggestion would you guys give me when starting to pray? Sometimes I just stare at the ceiling, trying to start but nothing comes out, sometimes this even lasts hours. I personally really enjoy praying, mainly because I can talk to God directly and yeah xD

God bless ｡◕‿◕｡

Prayer is simply communication with God. You don't even have to vocalize. You can talk to God continuously all day long without having to say a word. God loves you. Study the word of God to find out how much. You don't need to repeat memorized prayers. God knows what you're thinking. You have reconciled with God. Now enjoy your personal relationship with him. God is your loving father. He will provide for all you need including love and wisdom to live your life in the spirit. Don't hesitate to communicate with him. God is love. God bless you, sister.

 

[justamazed]

God does not hear the prayers of sinners.

 

[yac11]

Put a smile on your face as if you were looking up to your best friend. Then take all the other great comments you were given and have a nice conversation. God Bless you

 

[Blain]

Prayer can be done in so many forms. I usually pray in my head, just talking to him like i would my closest friend. I know what you mean with the whole difficulty in prayer things. When i faced this problem I just wrote down my prayers in a notebook. everyone has their own way of prayer that suites them the best and is easiest to them.

 

[Grandpa]

Psalm 100:4-5
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Try thanking Him for all your blessings. That's how I usually start out...

 

[Blain]

God does not hear the prayers of sinners.

Not cool man

 

[justamazed]

Not cool man

I do not mean it individually kind sir, but as a people. I feel like Daniel in his prayer when he found out.

Daniel 9:3-11

[SUP]3 [/SUP]And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
[SUP]4 [/SUP]And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
[SUP]5 [/SUP]We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
[SUP]10 [/SUP]Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
[SUP]11[/SUP]Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

Only sinners die. We are sinners. God does not hear our prayers, but He does hear those of a contrite heart. If we want God to hear our prayers, then we simply have to leave money alone and work just because we love one another and want to see all happy in life. There is enough for us all, please look and see the harvest before us.

 

[Ariel82]

It's been months since I got saved (8 months, yo) but I often still struggle with prayer. The "Lord's prayer" is when I'm being led by Holy Spirit and I feel satisfied when finishing, then I have that calm thought of God receiving the prayer whatsoever. But I struggle with the start.

that is because you are wrestling with spiritual darkness that is trying to keep you from drawing closer to God.

Knowing I still live with my parents, I'm never alone.

why can't you pray in front of your parents?

I used to be afraid to pray in front of people because I thought they would think i was showing off or being religious or going against the Bible saying to pray in a closet, but I've been inspired by people I know who don't have that fear and just pray from the heart whenever anyone asks them to whether in public or in private they just pray because they know its really between them and God and doesn't matter if there is an audience or not.

i still hesitate to pray outloud in public but sometimes God moves me to say a prayer over someone. God doesn't want us to be afraid.

So my prayers most of the times are done in whispers, and during nights or in my room (I know God hears them too) but I tried out loud and sometimes I just broke down crying, which makes no sense.

it makes sense, prayer is very emotional. i often get choked up and can't even speak. like physically can't speak and have to remind myself to breathe.

What I'm trying to say, what kind of suggestion would you guys give me when starting to pray? Sometimes I just stare at the ceiling, trying to start but nothing comes out, sometimes this even lasts hours. I personally really enjoy praying, mainly because I can talk to God directly and yeah xD

God bless ｡◕‿◕｡

I would recommend you read psalms since they are just the written prayers of someone else seeking God's heart. they may inspire you to pray or contemplate topics other Christians have dealt with in the past. Also I've found daily devotionals help as well. My church gives them out every month and there are some free online ones that will email them to you.

Listen to Contemporary Christian Music online or find a radio station near you - Positive Encouraging K-LOVE

and

BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 100 versions and 50 languages.

are a couple sites you can sign up for daily devotional emails.

God bless and keep you.

 

[Ariel82]

Not cool man

Dear Lord give me patience but that guy really rubs me the wrong way.........

Hi Blain.

just wanted to address the topic of sinners and how God loves them so much He sent His only Son to reconcile them to Him.

just a few Bible verses and perhaps addressing of the Bible twisting attempt by a certain poster?

• Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
  
  
• Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
  
  
• Luke 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
  

 

[Ariel82]

Only sinners die. We are sinners. God does not hear our prayers, but He does hear those of a contrite heart.

God hears the prayers of His people. God washes them clean with the blood of His Son.

If we want God to hear our prayers, then we simply have to leave money alone and work just because we love one another and want to see all happy in life.

so that is your "gospel" it is a FALSE one. we do not work to have our prayers heard. the only thing that makes God's people acceptable in His eyes is not our willingness to work and forsake money but the BLOOD of Jesus Christ.

I will tell you truthfully I work for nothing. I volunteer much of my time and do not worry about money because God has blessed me with a husband who takes care of such things. When I get a job, I will work for God's glory not for the pay check. I will use the money to help those around me, to share in God's love and His blessings. Perhaps I'll be able to afford to send things to the school in South Africa I visited in November. But I know that its not what I have done that allows me to approach God's throne but what JESUS has done FOR me.

you teach a false gospel. you worship the 'venus project" more then you honor or worship Jesus Christ.

There is enough for us all, please look and see the harvest before us.

no its not enough for you have not mentioned JESUS at all in your post.

you have the appearance of godliness but deny the POWER of Christ.

 

[Angela53510]

I rarely pray aloud in my personal prayers. Although sometimes those prayers are a loud cry in my spirit. When I was struggling in prayer a number of years back, someone did give me a formula, but it made sense. I try and remember that prayer is first about praising God, then about confession, then thanksgiving for all he had done and finally, supplications - interceding for the lost, for needs, and for personal needs. This is the ACTS acronym. Only use it if it works, and feel free to alter it or go in a totally different direction.

A - Adoration of God
C - Confession of Sins
T - Thanksgiving for all that God has done.
S - Supplication for needs far and near.

One very good book I was introduced to in Seminary for Spiritual Formation was "Spiritual Disciples Handbook: Practices that Transform Us" by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun.

She has so many ideas and suggestions about many aspects of growing with God. You can use some or all or none of them. But the disciples helped me through an extremely difficult period of my life, when my father was dying and I was his caregiver.

So praying you find a way to pray through this feeling that your prayers are not going past the ceiling. Been there, done that, too! God bless!

 

[crossnote]

CATS may be a good pattern too, as long as your prayers don't go to the dogs. eewwwww.

 

[psychomom]

I don't know if you're an athlete, or work out at all, but you know how when you're doing something like that you reach a point where you think, "That's the last rep (or step, or whatever) I can possibly do!"
But then you push yourself to do just one more? And in doing so, your body grows in strength and endurance beyond where it is?

Prayer is kinda like that. A sort of a discipline. We learn to push ourselves past what we feel is just enough.
That's NOT meant as a criticism, little one. Just an observation.

I cried every time I prayed for years. It was upsetting at first...but I think it makes sense in a lot of ways.
After a while I ignored it (focus on God, ellie, not what's happening to or around you...), and the kids got used to it, too.

Praying for you--

love,
ellie

 

[crossnote]

Seriously. I sometimes wonder if naturally loquacious people have an easier time 'talking' to God whereas the more quiet ones (as myself) resort more to thanks and praise?