Prayer isnt always relaxing

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M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#1
#1
Conversation with God is sometimes stressful. Speaking your mind to Him and He doesnt always agree. Parent/ child conversations can be stormy rather than calm. Sometimes I think we assume that prayer always brings calm. That hasnt been my experience.
Thats why I am planning to augment prayer with meditations. Secular meditations focussing on the breath. The purpose is to reduce anxiety and for general health.
I have looked into Christian meditations but it didnt really impress.
This whole subject can be controversial. Personally I dont see why we cant do both. Prayer for our soul and spirit, meditation for our physical and mental health.
 
M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#2
#2
too controversial?
 
M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#3
#3
I see. Yeah you might wonder about the quality of my prayer life. I need to be more respectful? I never spoke very politely to my biological Father I guess.
 
M

mar09

Senior Member
#4
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
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#4
Prayer is also actually warfare, and so cannot always be relaxing!

Ive discovered that it works better when I start w/ reading God's word... then the prayer part need not be (so) formal at all. I could say a few thanksgiving and asking forgiveness early in the day, but continue w/ the prayer all thru the day. There are times I need to pray w/ others as in the Prayer meeting, and that is quite soothing when I hear others praying for our many concerns, but praying alone also gives me the chance to lift up to our Father the littlest things I would rather not bother the others to hear=). Often just tell the Father He knows my heart, and I have to be honest w/ both of us after all.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#5
Aug 13, 2014
27,429
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#5
Meditation can be a useful tool, but not for peace. It is useful to use meditation when I am dead tired, to redirect my body into regeneration. In hectic situations I can use it to focus on what I need to be doing.

But for peace... Using meditation to obtain peace is like putting a bandage on a stiletto wound. It may cover the problem, but the wound is still bleeding inside. The only real way I have ever found to get peace is to resolve the problem that is interfering with peace.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#7
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
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#7
Try the Lords prayer. When Jesus spoke to His Father I dont think he argued with Him. It was more listening then Jesus trying to tell His Father what to do. You cant do that, after all Hes God, not you!

You can petition him, but first just adore Him give thanks and THEN present your requests and its more likely He will give you His peace.

Christians call it supplication.
Its that experience, and Ive had it, that you know God is there present with you without even having to say a word. You fall silent and its just you dont need to say anything. Its not so much focusing on our own breathing but more giving God the chance to breathe in you!

So be still and know God. Hes the one who gives us breath.
 
CherieR

CherieR

Senior Member
#8
May 6, 2017
2,271
1,429
113
#8
morefaithrequired said:
Conversation with God is sometimes stressful. Speaking your mind to Him and He doesnt always agree. Parent/ child conversations can be stormy rather than calm. Sometimes I think we assume that prayer always brings calm. That hasnt been my experience.
Thats why I am planning to augment prayer with meditations. Secular meditations focussing on the breath. The purpose is to reduce anxiety and for general health.
I have looked into Christian meditations but it didnt really impress.
This whole subject can be controversial. Personally I dont see why we cant do both. Prayer for our soul and spirit, meditation for our physical and mental health.
Click to expand...
I believe it depends on how you are praying. If you are praying more out of fear instead of faith, you may not feel so peaceful. An example of praying in fear could be yelling out God's name while you tense up your hands. Praying in faith you may tell God how you feel afraid and thank him for being with you. In the first example, you are succumbing to panic feelings. In the second example, you are still expressing your feelings to God but you are looking for his help and expressing gratitude for his presence.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#9
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
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#9
honestly, have never heard anyone say in all my life that their 'conversation' 'with Jesus-Yeshua' could even come close
to being 'stressful', and of course, this could only be on 'their part'!!!
He is our 'Best-Most-Ever-Friend' = nuff said - prayers needed here from Brothers and Sisters...
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#10
Mar 13, 2014
42,598
17,062
113
69
Tennessee
#10
Lanolin said:
Try the Lords prayer. When Jesus spoke to His Father I dont think he argued with Him. It was more listening then Jesus trying to tell His Father what to do. You cant do that, after all Hes God, not you!

You can petition him, but first just adore Him give thanks and THEN present your requests and its more likely He will give you His peace.

Christians call it supplication.
Its that experience, and Ive had it, that you know God is there present with you without even having to say a word. You fall silent and its just you dont need to say anything. Its not so much focusing on our own breathing but more giving God the chance to breathe in you!

So be still and know God. Hes the one who gives us breath.
Click to expand...
I say the Lord's prayer each morning before heading off to work.
 
M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#12
#12
What about Jesus prayer in Gethsemani? Before they arrested him. Hardly relaxing. Possibly the human part of Jesus was complaining "why me?"
We pray when we need Gods comfort. But does God comfort us immediately? He might think we need more patience so lets our desolation continue.
 
M

morefaithrequired

Guest
#13
#13
CherieR said:
I believe it depends on how you are praying. If you are praying more out of fear instead of faith, you may not feel so peaceful. An example of praying in fear could be yelling out God's name while you tense up your hands. Praying in faith you may tell God how you feel afraid and thank him for being with you. In the first example, you are succumbing to panic feelings. In the second example, you are still expressing your feelings to God but you are looking for his help and expressing gratitude for his presence.
Click to expand...
its complex anyway
 
M

mar09

Senior Member
#14
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
1,259
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#14
morefaithrequired said:
its complex anyway
Click to expand...
I looked at some prayers of Moses, Solomon, David, et al. at some time, and they were for different purposes.

Ps. 51, David's personal prayer of confession, is one pleading for mercy, as he longed for cleansing that forgiveness brings. He knew that God would restore his joy, however, and bring release and revival. So that should be comforting and relaxing in the end.
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#15
Jul 2, 2011
21,432
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#15
mar09 said:
I looked at some prayers of Moses, Solomon, David, et al. at some time, and they were for different purposes.

Ps. 51, David's personal prayer of confession, is one pleading for mercy, as he longed for cleansing that forgiveness brings. He knew that God would restore his joy, however, and bring release and revival. So that should be comforting and relaxing in the end.
Click to expand...
One of my favorite Psalms which I pray often. It also comforts me on suicide victims...............Thank you Mar, God bless you..j
 
Dibby53

Dibby53

Banned
#16
Sep 29, 2019
394
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#16
We don't really need to say anything. Sit quietly.
 
A

Adstar

Senior Member
#17
Jul 24, 2016
7,585
3,616
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#17
Prayer to me is talking to and often with God about anything i feel the desire or need to talk about..

I try my best to avoid doing repetitious prayers or formulated prayers or praying in public.. If i am talking to God then i am talking to God, not putting on a religious virtue signaling show for others.
 
icequeen

icequeen

Active member
#18
Nov 8, 2019
211
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#18
Praying is different every time. Sometimes it is emotional and I just weep buckets. Sometimes it is uplifting. And sometimes I feel God points out my weakness and I feel the need to repent and change my life to be closer to Him. Praying for me is never a routine, but a walk in the Holy Spirit. It can be a meditation, it can be when I write a poem. It can be when I am crying out in an impossible situation.

But stressful? Rather stress relief.
 
icequeen

icequeen

Active member
#19
Nov 8, 2019
211
134
43
#19
icequeen said:
Praying is different every time. Sometimes it is emotional and I just weep buckets. Sometimes it is uplifting. And sometimes I feel God points out my weakness and I feel the need to repent and change my life to be closer to Him. Praying for me is never a routine, but a walk in the Holy Spirit. It can be a meditation, it can be when I write a poem. It can be when I am crying out in an impossible situation.

But stressful? Rather stress relief.
Click to expand...
I am not sure this is how it should be. I am not saying this is the way to do it. Just stating how I do things. I am sloppy reading the Bible. I am lazy doing charity. I am even skipping church at times.

If you feel stressed when praying, seek God and ask Him. Why? Why do I feel this? What do you want me to see and change so that I have peace in You?
 
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