Worst way to start a prayer?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

LW97

Senior Member
Apr 10, 2018
1,140
260
63
#1
I would say "Dear God, if it is possible for you..."

See Jeremiah 32:27
 

Shamah

Senior Member
Jan 6, 2018
2,735
692
113
#2
I would say "Dear God, if it is possible for you..."

See Jeremiah 32:27
Genesis 18:14 “Is any matter too hard for יהוה? At the appointed time I am going to return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah is to have a son.”

Jeremiah 16:20-21,20 Would a man make mighty ones for himself, which are not mighty ones?"21 “Therefore see, I am causing them to know, this time I cause them to know My hand and My might. And they shall know that My Name is יהוה!”"

Jeremiah 32:27 “See, I am יהוה, the Mighty One of all flesh. Is there any matter too hard for Me?”

Matthew 19:26, “And looking intently יהושע said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with the Mighty One all is possible.

I like to pray "if it is your will YHWH"

Matthew 26:36-39,36 Then יהושע came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the taught ones, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”"37 And He took with Him Kĕpha and the two sons of Zaḇdai, and He began to be grieved and deeply distressed."38 Then He said to them, “My being is exceedingly grieved, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”"39 And going forward a little, He fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I desire, but as You desire.”

James 4:13-15,13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow, let us go to such and such a city, spend a year there, and trade, and make a profit,”"14 when you do not know of tomorrow. For what is your life? For it is a vapor that appears for a little, and then disappears –"15 instead of your saying, “If the Master desires, we shall live and do this or that.”"

Psalms 32:8-11,8 “Let Me instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; Let Me counsel, My eye be on you."9 Do not be like the horse, like the mule, With no understanding, with bit and bridle, Else they do not come near you.”"10 Many are the sorrows of the wrong; But as for the one trusting in יהוה, Loving-commitment surrounds him."11 Be glad in יהוה and exult, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"
 
M

Miri

Guest
#3
Is there a worst way to start a prayer?
I don’t see anything in the bible about Jesus face palming when
we start to pray.
 

Deade

Called of God
Dec 17, 2017
16,724
10,531
113
78
Vinita, Oklahoma, USA
yeshuaofisrael.org
#4
The main thing is to pray. Somehow, someway just start. We need to be in a state of communing with our Lord all the time. Be quick to ask Him what He thinks of circumstance around us. We are even admonished to be instant in prayer:

Rom. 12:12
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; "

Amen.gif
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,489
13,797
113
#5
I suspect the worst way to start a prayer is ...

not at all.
 
Sep 1, 2018
6
5
3
#6
What about:

"I know you know everything, you know also what I am gonna pray for, so I do not need to say it. Thank you."
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,777
113
#11
I would say "Dear God, if it is possible for you..."
How can it be "the worst way" when that is exactly how Christ prayed at a critical time?

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me... (Mt 26:39).

So it's back to square one for you.
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
4,940
591
113
#12
Worst way to start a prayer?
Luke 18v11,12: "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."
 
Nov 26, 2012
3,095
1,050
113
#13
How about, “God, I don’t see how this is my fault, you made me like this, but...”
 
Sep 6, 2014
7,034
5,435
113
#15
I would say "Dear God, if it is possible for you..."

See Jeremiah 32:27
Prayer that is spoken without faith is a vain thing.

James 1:6
But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,844
13,558
113
#16
Is there a worst way to start a prayer?
I don’t see anything in the bible about Jesus face palming when
we start to pray.

hmm

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.
(Matthew 6:5)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
(Matthew 6:7)
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,844
13,558
113
#17
i suspect every single one of you have sat in a pew or a folding chair listening to someone give a sermon, and then afterwards, heard that person "pray" into the microphone, a 'prayer' that is not really speaking to God at all, but is simply repeating a condensed version / synopsis of whatever it is that person was sermonizing about. speaking a couple bullet-point notes of an overview of his speech to all the people with their heads bowed and eyes closed, disguised as speaking to God.

is that a good way to pray?
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#18
Is there a worst way to start a prayer?
I don’t see anything in the bible about Jesus face palming when
we start to pray.
The worst way is not to pray. God knows our thoughts and intents of our new hearts before we ask him .

No thoughts as desires of our new hearts coming from God .No need to pray like the foolish ones.
 
Sep 1, 2018
25
27
13
#19
What is important is that we PRAY; the position in which we pray is of less importance, as the Bible informs us of many different postures and physical positions for prayers. Please note the following:

Standing. Among the Hebrews and many of the other nations mentioned in the Bible, there was no set form of posture for prayer. All the attitudes assumed were highly respectful. Standing was a common posture. Jesus spoke of this position for prayer. (Mr 11:25) Immediately after being baptized, Jesus was evidently standing and praying when the heaven was opened up and the holy spirit in bodily shape like a dove came down upon him, and God’s own voice was heard from the heavens.—Lu 3:21, 22.

Kneeling was a common attitude of prayer. Jesus himself knelt in the garden of Gethsemane. (Lu 22:41) In representing the nation of Israel in prayer Solomon knelt at the inauguration of the temple. (1Ki 8:54) While many of the instances in the Bible use the word “knees” in the plural, it may be that at times a person would kneel upon one knee, as is done sometimes by modern Orientals.—Ac 9:40; 20:36; 21:5; Eph 3:14.

Bowing. The Jews, wherever they were found, when worshiping turned their faces toward the city of Jerusalem and its temple. (1Ki 8:42, 44; Da 6:10) In vision Ezekiel saw 25 men with their backs toward the temple of God, bowing with their faces toward the E. (Eze 8:16) Temples of the sun worshipers were built in such a manner that the entrance was on the W side, making the worshipers face E on entering. But the temple of God was built with the entrance in the E so that the worshipers of God there turned their backs on the place of the rising of the sun.

Extending the arms. In the postures of standing and kneeling, the palms of the hands would sometimes be spread out to the heavens, or the hands would be lifted up or extended forward as in supplication. (1Ki 8:22; 2Ch 6:13; Ne 8:6) The face would sometimes be uplifted (Job 22:26), or a person might lift up his eyes toward the heavens.—Mt 14:19; Mr 7:34; Joh 17:1.

I would like to ask this group about their thoughts on the when and where prayers are given in public places and their appropriateness. For example, what about prayers before sporting events? What about prayers before planes took off for bombing runs during WWII? What about prayers before political events? Just curious....

Dave
 

Deade

Called of God
Dec 17, 2017
16,724
10,531
113
78
Vinita, Oklahoma, USA
yeshuaofisrael.org
#20
i suspect every single one of you have sat in a pew or a folding chair listening to someone give a sermon, and then afterwards, heard that person "pray" into the microphone, a 'prayer' that is not really speaking to God at all, but is simply repeating a condensed version / synopsis of whatever it is that person was sermonizing about. speaking a couple bullet-point notes of an overview of his speech to all the people with their heads bowed and eyes closed, disguised as speaking to God.

is that a good way to pray?
Well yes I have, but I am not cynical so I don't find any fault with it. How do you know he isn't speaking to God, did he fail to address Him properly?

question-mrk-smiley.gif