What does prayer mean to you?

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Blik

Blik

Senior Member
#1
Dec 6, 2016
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#1
What is your mind doing when you pray? Is it abstract thoughts, or only the repeat of words, or do you picture what the prayer suggests? Do you use visualization?

The 23rd Psalm is an example of pictures for our mind. Do you think of yourself as being guided by the Lord when you say “The Lord is my shepherd”? How are you guided, as a sheep is guided by a shepherd or as scripture points you to the Lord? Does the still waters make you think of a still lake or of a calm knowing of the Lord? Are you truly involved in your prayers?

For thousands of years the Jews were told to visualize as they prayed. They were told to involve the whole body as they are to bow at certain times in prayers they were given to use. Others swayed as they prayed like a military man marches. Their concentration was to be so deep that even a king’s call or a snake at their feet could not distract them.
 
I

Iamabeliever

Banned
#2
Oct 10, 2020
107
36
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#2
Blik said:
What is your mind doing when you pray? Is it abstract thoughts, or only the repeat of words, or do you picture what the prayer suggests? Do you use visualization?

The 23rd Psalm is an example of pictures for our mind. Do you think of yourself as being guided by the Lord when you say “The Lord is my shepherd”? How are you guided, as a sheep is guided by a shepherd or as scripture points you to the Lord? Does the still waters make you think of a still lake or of a calm knowing of the Lord? Are you truly involved in your prayers?

For thousands of years the Jews were told to visualize as they prayed. They were told to involve the whole body as they are to bow at certain times in prayers they were given to use. Others swayed as they prayed like a military man marches. Their concentration was to be so deep that even a king’s call or a snake at their feet could not distract them.
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There is petition prayer and there is meditation prayer. The first is asking God for our needs. But meditation prayer is a deep intimate prayer with God. That is using a few
verses of scripture, ten is enough. Then we give ourselves to God. Then we dont
say anything. We listen to God withot distraction. Our heart and mind set totally on
God. Eventually our meditation prayer exclusively to God. We become one with Him.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#3
Jun 30, 2015
25,472
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#3
Prayer is having a conversation with my heavenly Father.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#4
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
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#4
my prayers are like me talking to my best friend, because He is -
for when I am praying, I feel like Jesus is right beside me
in ways that I can't explain, He is just there, and I feel Him
with me in my space in every way...
 
Blain

Blain

The Word Weaver
#5
Aug 28, 2012
19,212
2,547
113
#5
Blik said:
What is your mind doing when you pray? Is it abstract thoughts, or only the repeat of words, or do you picture what the prayer suggests? Do you use visualization?

The 23rd Psalm is an example of pictures for our mind. Do you think of yourself as being guided by the Lord when you say “The Lord is my shepherd”? How are you guided, as a sheep is guided by a shepherd or as scripture points you to the Lord? Does the still waters make you think of a still lake or of a calm knowing of the Lord? Are you truly involved in your prayers?

For thousands of years the Jews were told to visualize as they prayed. They were told to involve the whole body as they are to bow at certain times in prayers they were given to use. Others swayed as they prayed like a military man marches. Their concentration was to be so deep that even a king’s call or a snake at their feet could not distract them.
Click to expand...
Everyone has different ways to connect with God when praying and different experiences me personally most of my prayers are just me talking to him he is for me my own personal diary I love to ask him things or express my thoughts fears feelings whatever is on my mind there is pretty much not a time I am not talking with him
But my most imtimate prayers are either on my walks where I connect with him in a different way and also at night in my bed often times I do indeed see visual things as I talk to him.

When I am just being still and knowing him I see peaceful crystal blue water when the spirit is flowing as I pray I tend to see rivers flowing or sometimes what looks like golden oil when my prayers as the spirit flow are strong I tend to see a golden blazing fire and it is as if I can feel that fire burning.
Sometimes when I am down and sad just talking to him I often times see his face with such gentle caring and understanding eyes as if saying my dear child I am here for you other times when I suddenly feel someone out there somehwere is broken inside filled with such sorrow and pain it is as if I can feel all they are going through and I beg him with all my heart to go them and embrace them to fill them with his love and warmth and to hold them for me and I see in my minds eye whats seems like feathers like something with wings moved so fast all you see is the feathers falling.

Really it just depends on a lot of things on what I experience or see when I am praying
 
stepbystep

stepbystep

Well-known member
#6
Aug 31, 2020
619
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#6
Prayer is my lifeline to God. It is so very important, that it can not be replaced by any earthly thing. Prayer is POWER!
 
notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#7
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
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#7
Prayer is a form of worship. It is how we fellowship with God. We enter into His presence and God bids us to come boldly before Him.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
S

soggykitten

Well-known member
#8
Jul 3, 2020
2,322
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#8
I wonder about the Calvinist minded when it comes to this subject. Why would they pray at all given the strong idea as relates to their belief in predestination and their having no free will.

Personally, I see prayer as that time when I speak to God and meditation as when I listen to what he has to say. While I can say I know God speaks to us as he says in his word. I've heard the voice of the holy spirit and that spirit has saved my life more than once because I did pay attention.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#9
Mar 13, 2014
42,595
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Tennessee
#9
Blik said:
What is your mind doing when you pray? Is it abstract thoughts, or only the repeat of words, or do you picture what the prayer suggests? Do you use visualization?

Click to expand...
I usually visualize my prayer. Also, I talk to God throughout the day as in a real conversation. What does prayer mean to me? It means communicating with the One who created me.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#10
Mar 13, 2014
42,595
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#10
oldethennew said:
my prayers are like me talking to my best friend, because He is -
for when I am praying, I feel like Jesus is right beside me
in ways that I can't explain, He is just there, and I feel Him
with me in my space in every way...
Click to expand...
I'm sure that He enjoys your company too. :)
 
Blik

Blik

Senior Member
#11
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#11
tourist said:
I usually visualize my prayer. Also, I talk to God throughout the day as in a real conversation. What does prayer mean to me? It means communicating with the One who created me.
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You are the only one who even considers using visualization to deepen the concentration as we pray.

What these posts all say is that they have a set way of practicing prayer and no one wants to even think about deepening that experience.

I was so impressed with the discussion of listening prayer, but wonder that there is no mention of the Lord's Prayer, or Psalms, or asking forgiveness, nor of praise of the Lord, nor of thanks to God..
 
Blik

Blik

Senior Member
#14
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#14
gb9 said:
^ her specialty. assumptions.
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This is what I expected from this post, insults are unchristian reactions. You are very mild with your insults, I am sure if you ask the demons to help you, you can do better.
 
G

gb9

Senior Member
#15
Jan 18, 2011
12,319
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#15
Blik said:
This is what I expected from this post, insults are unchristian reactions. You are very mild with your insults, I am sure if you ask the demons to help you, you can do better.
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so, anyone who disagrees with you has demons. nice.

you and i had a nice conversation, even reached a " agree to disagree " mutual understanding,

but, you started to chip away at that, i asked you to stop, you did not, so went back to openly calling out your hebrew roots lies and deceptions.

other members here have said they have tried to be friendly with you, even though you disagreed on theology.

they said it did not work. put me on that list,.

but, this is your thread, i will not sidetrack it.

i will post here no more.
 
Blik

Blik

Senior Member
#16
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#16
gb9 said:
so, anyone who disagrees with you has demons. nice.

you and i had a nice conversation, even reached a " agree to disagree " mutual understanding,

but, you started to chip away at that, i asked you to stop, you did not, so went back to openly calling out your hebrew roots lies and deceptions.

other members here have said they have tried to be friendly with you, even though you disagreed on theology.

they said it did not work. put me on that list,.

but, this is your thread, i will not sidetrack it.

i will post here no more.
Click to expand...
You know very well I did not say that, imply that, or had any thought like that in my head. This came entirely from your thoughts, not mine. I am speaking of your insults, and insults comes from demons. Then to twist what I said about that demons could help you insult even better than you are doing is to compound your errors.

You are so right that I have many enemies and have been accused of many things that are not part of me or anything I have said. I believe in God as a Holy God who never errs in any way, and I get accused of even being a devil for saying so. Christ was accused for the same thing. in the same way, only they killed Him.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#17
Mar 13, 2014
42,595
17,059
113
69
Tennessee
#17
Blik said:
You know very well I did not say that, imply that, or had any thought like that in my head. This came entirely from your thoughts, not mine. I am speaking of your insults, and insults comes from demons. Then to twist what I said about that demons could help you insult even better than you are doing is to compound your errors.

You are so right that I have many enemies and have been accused of many things that are not part of me or anything I have said. I believe in God as a Holy God who never errs in any way, and I get accused of even being a devil for saying so. Christ was accused for the same thing. in the same way, only they killed Him.
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Regarding enemies, please keep in mind that any weapons they form against you will not prosper. God is indeed a Holy God.
 
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