Prayer

[daisyseesthesun]

Prayer is often difficult the devil will try to convince you to do everything but pray.

when king David prayed he gave a full account of his day to the lord.
little Maragret of Castello prayed all time to the lord. she would talk to him like a constant friend that was right there. Billy graham likewise would often pray when he was doing a sermon " lord help me convey your message"
Mahalah Jackson prayed before each concert.

Paul, the Teacher of Prayer (biblehub.com) this is a sermon that might help


these are movies show how to pray and the miracles of prayer
Angel in Ebony (1954) - The Story of Samuel Morris: A Spirit-Filled Life (youtube.com)
Sheffey (1977) | Full Movie | Dwight Anderson | Harold Kilpatrick | Beneth Jones (youtube.com)
Little Margaret of Castello - YouTube
The Cokeville Miracle (youtube.com)

 

[Magenta]

^ Gospel of John is often recommended as a great place to start reading the Bible.
This movie is a word-for-Word portrayal of John's gospel.

Also, please check out the Alpha Course.

There are 10 videos total. I hope you watch them. They could benefit you greatly .

 

[Babycherub]

^ Gospel of John is often recommended as a great place to start reading the Bible.
This movie is a word-for-Word portrayal of John's gospel.

Also, please check out the Alpha Course.

There are 10 videos total. I hope you watch them. They could benefit you greatly .

Thank you!!

 

[Magenta]

Thank you!!

You Are Welcome! God Bless You

 

[Magenta]

I don't pray as often as I should. I don't do a lot of things as often as I should. Covid altered the landscape of our lives, and many things changed. One of them, for me, was going to meetings. As a recovering alcoholic/addict, some would say my recovery depends on faithful meeting attendance... and I cannot remember the last time I was at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. I tried a few AA meetings online, even Bible studies online, and fellowship etc, but eventually most everyone went back to business as usual, which kind of left me out in the cold so to speak... with my compromised immune system, advancing COPD, and mobility issues, I had not been to a 12-step meeting for quite some time. Yet while I was out for coffee this morning, I was struck with the idea to see if a Saturday afternoon meeting I used to attend in years gone by was still functioning, so I looked it up. Sure enough, it said in person and online, so the info looked current. So I stayed on nursing my coffee and visiting with some of the regulars before I left for the meeting... and guess what? Just last week, or the week before, the people at this meeting had been asking about me. Mind you, none of them had seen me for many years, as I said. But they start wondering how I am doing, speak my name, and then I show up! I feel like it was a God shot. I am going to treat that like a message got through to me. Prayers have been answered. And I need to get to more meetings. At least that one. Next Saturday is a ways away, but I am hoping to make it again, and they are likewise hoping to see me again... There were not very many people there in person, but I knew three of the four who were in person (there were others in attendance in a zoom room), and I gave one of the women a ride home. We had a great time chatting with each other and sat talking in the car for quite some time after we got to her place...

 

[Babycherub]

I don't pray as often as I should. I don't do a lot of things as often as I should. Covid altered the landscape of our lives, and many things changed. One of them, for me, was going to meetings. As a recovering alcoholic/addict, some would say my recovery depends on faithful meeting attendance... and I cannot remember the last time I was at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. I tried a few AA meetings online, even Bible studies online, and fellowship etc, but eventually most everyone went back to business as usual, which kind of left me out in the cold so to speak... with my compromised immune system, advancing COPD, and mobility issues, I had not been to a 12-step meeting for quite some time. Yet while I was out for coffee this morning, I was struck with the idea to see if a Saturday afternoon meeting I used to attend in years gone by was still functioning, so I looked it up. Sure enough, it said in person and online, so the info looked current. So I stayed on nursing my coffee and visiting with some of the regulars before I left for the meeting... and guess what? Just last week, or the week before, the people at this meeting had been asking about me. Mind you, none of them had seen me for many years, as I said. But they start wondering how I am doing, speak my name, and then I show up! I feel like it was a God shot. I am going to treat that like a message got through to me. Prayers have been answered. And I need to get to more meetings. At least that one. Next Saturday is a ways away, but I am hoping to make it again, and they are likewise hoping to see me again... There were not very many people there in person, but I knew three of the four who were in person (there were others in attendance in a zoom room), and I gave one of the women a ride home. We had a great time chatting with each other and sat talking in the car for quite some time after we got to her place...

Wow thank you for sharing that story 🩷✝️

 

[Magenta]

Wow thank you for sharing that story 🩷✝️

You are welcome! The topic from today's reading was about seeking God's will for our lives through prayer, and then being given the power to carry it out. Actually, hearing all the regular readings again was great, because they are so familiar, and many phrases stuck out for me. The one from the daily reading that really caught my attention was about how we struggle to find the words to honestly express ourselves: Whatever our background, in recovery we struggled to find words that spoke truly from our hearts.

September 21, 2024
Prayer Page 275

"Prayer takes practice, and we should remind ourselves that skilled people were not born with their skills."
Basic Text, p. 46

Many of us came into recovery with no experience in prayer and worried about not knowing the "right words." Some of us remembered the words we'd learned in childhood but weren't sure we believed in those words anymore. Whatever our background, in recovery we struggled to find words that spoke truly from our hearts.

Often the first prayer we attempt is a simple request to our Higher Power asking for help in staying clean each day. We may ask for guidance and courage or simply pray for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out. If we find ourselves stumbling in our prayers, we may ask other members to share with us about how they learned to pray. No matter whether we pray in need or pray in joy, the important thing is to keep making the effort.

Our prayers will be shaped by our experience with the Twelve Steps and our personal understanding of a Higher Power. As our relationship with that Higher Power develops, we become more comfortable with prayer. In time, prayer becomes a source of strength and comfort. We seek that source often and willingly.

Just for Today: I know that prayer can be simple. I will start where I am and practice.

 

[Adstar]

Can I ask if you're not supposed to say repeated prayers then why do they say them in church?

A tradition was founded by people to do this.. But i need to clarify.. If someone says a prayer openly in church and it is their own words then it is ok to say such prayers in church.. But repeated formatted prayers? that is not Biblical..

Also God knows the intentions of people who pray out loud in public.. Jesus said that one should never pray in public with the intention to gain other peoples admiration or praise.. Sadly some people will put on a big show of praying in public in an attempt to big note themselves as being a ""good religous person"" Seeking a higher social status within a religous community..

Jesus said::
(Matthew 6:5-6) "¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. {6} But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

But some people pray out loud in public with noble intentions.. Some people will ask other Christians to pray for them and will be encouraged when they hear the other Christians openly praying for them. Now God knows the intentions of each person if they are praying in public and so we can leave such judgement to Him knowing that He is the Perfect judge and knows all things..

Jesus said::
(Matthew 18:19-20) "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. {20} For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

So the above verse does show that praying openly is acceptable.. When done in the right spirit, for noble intentions.. The Spirit of the scriptures on the topic is the importance of WHY someone is praying in public..

 

[daisyseesthesun]

I don't pray as often as I should. I don't do a lot of things as often as I should. Covid altered the landscape of our lives, and many things changed. One of them, for me, was going to meetings. As a recovering alcoholic/addict, some would say my recovery depends on faithful meeting attendance... and I cannot remember the last time I was at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. I tried a few AA meetings online, even Bible studies online, and fellowship etc, but eventually most everyone went back to business as usual, which kind of left me out in the cold so to speak... with my compromised immune system, advancing COPD, and mobility issues, I had not been to a 12-step meeting for quite some time. Yet while I was out for coffee this morning, I was struck with the idea to see if a Saturday afternoon meeting I used to attend in years gone by was still functioning, so I looked it up. Sure enough, it said in person and online, so the info looked current. So I stayed on nursing my coffee and visiting with some of the regulars before I left for the meeting... and guess what? Just last week, or the week before, the people at this meeting had been asking about me. Mind you, none of them had seen me for many years, as I said. But they start wondering how I am doing, speak my name, and then I show up! I feel like it was a God shot. I am going to treat that like a message got through to me. Prayers have been answered. And I need to get to more meetings. At least that one. Next Saturday is a ways away, but I am hoping to make it again, and they are likewise hoping to see me again... There were not very many people there in person, but I knew three of the four who were in person (there were others in attendance in a zoom room), and I gave one of the women a ride home. We had a great time chatting with each other and sat talking in the car for quite some time after we got to her place...

Magenta,

When I read your post I was so happy for you that God moved in your life that you felt inspired by the Holy Spirit and comforted. It's just wonderful to hear this type of testimony that you have given God bless you.

 

[Magenta]

Magenta,

When I read your post I was so happy for you that God moved in your life that you felt inspired by the Holy Spirit and comforted. It's just wonderful to hear this type of testimony that you have given God bless you.

Thank you Daisy! Part of my testimony is that I first got clean and sober 30 years ago after crying out to God for help. I did not even believe in God at that time, but after crying out for help, within days I was attending NA meetings, and immediately lost the desire to use after 24 years of drug and alcohol abuse. Quitting using was not my aim at that time... I just wanted the pain to stop. After everything I've been through I sometimes marvel at the fact that I'm even still alive LOL ... And I do like to credit God with being so gracious toward me to allow me to survive the stupidity of my youth 😃

 

[Magenta]

I'm having trouble with praying.

Dr. David Jeremiah's teaching today was on prayer. You may find this helpful:

Listen to Dr. David Jeremiah Sermons - Turning Point Radio (oneplace.com)

There is a part one also... in fact, you may find listening to kari55.com helpful overall .

It is a Christian talk radio station but also online 24/7, though Saturdays have
health-related infomercials, and the weekends have foreign language content.

(That bolded text is a link to kari55.com ... the blue text is also a link.)

 

[Randy4u2c]

I just began a relationship with God however I'm having trouble with praying. Am I supposed to hear God when I pray? How do I know if he is listening? Also I only know the Hail Mary and the Our Father so those are the only ones I say so far.

Babycherub. God is your Father and truly loves you. When you pray to him, just talk to him like a normal person and let him know you love him and tell him what is on your mind and ask him to increase your knowledge of scripture and to help you live a better life. He doesn't want to hear a repeated prayer over and over. He wants to hear what's on your mind and how he can help you.