how do you pray?

ForthAngel · Jan 17, 2015

I can agree and disagree with the formal part. He is still our King after all and one day we will be casting our crowns at His feet in worship. Some reverence for that fact is important for me personally. The formal part for me - me on my knees - is more of a personal display of submission and worship, but I do talk to Him informally as well. I agree with the repetitions thing though. I realize that prayer is a very personal thing and that we come to Him as we are as well.

I'm just curious if you think starting with the Lord's prayer would be considered a formal or repetitious prayer. (Not wanting to start a discussion, just curious of what you think about it is all)

p.s. The Lord's prayer can also be incorporated in an informal prayer life naturally without reciting it verbatim. It is our instruction for prayer after all.

MadParrotWoman · Jan 17, 2015

ForthAngel said:

I can agree and disagree with the formal part. He is still our King after all and one day we will be casting our crowns at His feet in worship. Some reverence for that fact is important for me personally. The formal part for me - me on my knees - is more of a personal display of submission and worship, but I do talk to Him informally as well. I agree with the repetitions thing though. I realize that prayer is a very personal thing and that we come to Him as we are as well.

I'm just curious if you think starting with the Lord's prayer would be considered a formal or repetitious prayer. (Not wanting to start a discussion, just curious of what you think about it is all)

p.s. The Lord's prayer can also be incorporated in an informal prayer life naturally without reciting it verbatim. It is our instruction for prayer after all.

I rarely utter The Lord's Prayer, for me that is for formal settings, if I do say it I bring it up-to-date in language.

ForthAngel · Jan 17, 2015

MadParrotWoman said:

What about starting an informal prayer formally with it? Jesus did instruct that our prayer structure follow that example. (I'm only trying to get advice/learn)

secularhermit · Jan 17, 2015

jaybird88 said:

When I´m fasting, and knelt, I have felt clunsy, to fall asleep and those moments I´ve experienced spiritual issues, like if He was talking to me in visions so, th "protocol" you have found out it´s your own way to get Him, and His touch.

It puzzled me how Jesus spent hours knelt. He developed deep devotional times wiht Him, daily.

If I had the ASSURANCE Jesus had hearing the Father´s voice, I would spend more time praying (than writing) but I also learned God reads my words, my ideas, my secret desires/dreams and, His angels also know what I said, what I have written privately or publicly so, a written or a voice record of your prayers may serve you to follow up those prayers with an answer (I have some notebooks with them and, when He answered -or I goy a clue- I registered what I thought).

Here, as you now could see, I´m telling God "I´m missing your voice" "I don´t know how your voice is heard" and Samuel (1Sa_3:6 ) also tells me He speaks whenever He wants to speak.

Maybe acceptance is absent when His voice is not heard (1Sam_2:26)

It´d be nice it were two ways, at the same time.

MadParrotWoman · Jan 17, 2015

ForthAngel said:

Really it's personal choice isn't it. God just wants us to be real. Regarding instruction I think Jesus was teaching His disciples the format "our father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name" Begin with recognising who God is and with praise, then continue with petition etc.

notuptome · Jan 17, 2015

ForthAngel said:

It is an interesting thing to consider that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. They had observed Jesus pray and wanted to learn to pray. Jesus did not tell them to pray the "Lord's prayer" but gave them the basic outline of how to pray.

Jesus taught the disciples to start by reverencing the Father. Then to give thanks for what they had received and to acknowledge their dependence upon Gods provision for their daily needs. He then showed them to honor the Father in how they interacted with others. Giving and receiving forgiveness. Wow pretty exciting stuff.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

secularhermit · Jan 17, 2015

ForthAngel said:

If it was a "prayer structure" He lacked mentioning a couple of things of it:

Time? traditionally, I have heard, there were 3 times for prayers in Jewish culture. But Jesus is shown on the Gospel spending more than half of a day, evenly He slept on a boat sinking ( Mat_8:25 Luk_8:24 ) because He ussually fasted much more than usual and spent nights in watching vigils (Mat 26:40-41) while His disciples were not so "spiritual" or deep on prayers.

He gave just a draft!

It wasn´t a structured model, just a free draft, and looke how Moises "dared" to talk -face to face- to our marvelous Father:

"Exo 32:31 Moses then returned to the LORD and said, "These people have committed a terrible sin. They have made a god out of gold and worshiped it. Exo 32:32 Please forgive their sin; but if you won't, then remove my name from the book in which you have written the names of your people."
Exo 32:33 The LORD answered, "It is those who have sinned against me whose names I will remove from my book. "

It was a challenging boldness Moses used to appeal in behalf of those he thought needed forgiveness. But I like God´s justice.

Again, He gave no exact clue in that brief "structured" example if it was "lifting" hands or being knelt. Jesus showed to be a free example of not showing up (Matt_6:5 or 6:16)

I prefer Hannah ways (to avoid demons would listen to my particular prayers)

1Sa 1:12 Hannah continued to pray to the LORD for a long time, and Eli watched her lips.
1Sa 1:13 She was praying silently; her lips were moving, but she made no sound. So Eli thought that she was drunk,
1Sa 1:14 and he said to her, "Stop making a drunken show of yourself ! Stop your drinking and sober up!"

Kaycie · Jan 17, 2015

I pray both formally and informally. Most of the time I speak to God like He's my best friend. But sometimes I am more business-like, and I use what I call a prayer skeleton, and put some meat on those bones. In other words, I use a fill-in-the-blank...

ADDRESS GOD- acknowledge that this prayer is to God alone.

PRAISE- give God a compliment.

HELP- tell Him why you need Him.

OTHERS- tell Him why others need Him.

FORGIVE- ask for forgiveness for self and others.

THANK- thank God for at least one of the many ways He has blessed you.

CHRIST’S NAME- although it is unnecessary to state that everything you do and say as a Christian is in Christ’s name, saying it at the end of prayer lets others know that the only way you or your words get to the Father is through Jesus Christ- without Whom we can do no good.

AMEN- confidence- let it be indeed! When you say ‘amen’ you exclaim that you have examined and agree that the fulfillment of your prayer will bring about God’s Will- not your own (unless of course your will matches His Will). And you agree to do whatever you can on your part to promote those results- even if all you can do is to pray.

Address, Praise, Help, Others, Forgive, Thank, Christ's Name, Amen

secularhermit · Jan 17, 2015

I liked that Kaicy!

I felt it good.

secularhermit · Jan 17, 2015

It´s like offering a parfumed flower the ONE who gave us ALL.

ISeeYou · Jan 17, 2015

ForthAngel said:

I think thats what I do, I went through a phase of restructing the scripts into prayer, that was just so fun, I havent done that since, and never thought to do it (would typically think thats weird) like writing a script for myself but it really wasnt, there was alot I missed praying about. I couldnt believe it, so I was glad I did that. You should try it, Im sure if this is on your heart now you will be blessed in doing it.

I have one online I posted I could send you, which isnt me but the scriptures rearranged into a prayer, if you want, no biggy but gives an example

ISeeYou · Jan 17, 2015

Kaycie said:

Same here, formally and informally, it is a praying without ceasing because I do it in my head also when asking about his words, like, "wheres, that"? Whats that mean? What direction do I take this in? lol

One day I combed through scripture and found tons of things prayed for and I was amazed, because in between the adress , the praise the supplications, for oneself and others are more specifics, coming up behind the thanks, and coming into his presence with the same as well.

In His name Amen, and he is the amen (as the word of God is the so be it) right?

Thats sort of cool if I got that right, dont take me on anything I say off the top of my head lol

ISeeYou · Jan 17, 2015

Now this isnt the prayer I was speaking of, but are just verses of scripture that could prove helpful in this for you.

I tried to line them up answering in one another in the best way I knew how to at the time.

My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer

And we are His House

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

And when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Lord, teach us to pray...

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation,

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

Men ought always to pray, and not to faint

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you

All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them

Wherefore also we pray always for you

That God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power

And pray that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Ye have not, because ye ask not

Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him

This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment

In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night:and God said,

Ask what I shall give thee.

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

And God said unto him,

Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart

Did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!

And God granted him that which he requested.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind andtossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

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.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
　
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

Behold, I have done according to thy words

I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Ask what you will,

Pauls was..."that I might know him"

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?

Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter96 · Jan 17, 2015

I just speak to God from my heart. I'm tired of acting. Being completely, 100% honest with God is very tough, a lot tougher than I imagined it to be. But what I try to do is, if I'm upset with God, then I will tell Him that. Yes, I should not be upset with God, but God knows everything, and He cares for everything that is on my heart, so I should share everything that is on my heart with Him. If I feel that God's commandments are too tough for me to follow, then I tell Him. It's that simple really. People make things so complicated. I used to go on long fasts and kneel down and shut my eyes and prayed in front of people to impress them. There IS a time and place to fast, to kneel, to shut your eyes maybe AS JESUS LEADS. But just be real with God. Be real!!!! That's what God wants! He's a real person with real feelings!

Kaycie · Jan 17, 2015

ISeeYou said:

Same here, formally and informally, it is a praying without ceasing because I do it in my head also when asking about his words, like, "wheres, that"? Whats that mean? What direction do I take this in? lol

One day I combed through scripture and found tons of things prayed for and I was amazed, because in between the adress , the praise the supplications, for oneself and others are more specifics, coming up behind the thanks, and coming into his presence with the same as well.

In His name Amen, and he is the amen (as the word of God is the so be it) right?

Thats sort of cool if I got that right, dont take me on anything I say off the top of my head lol

Yeh, I don't see how it's possible to always pray formally if you pray without ceasing.

ISeeYou · Jan 17, 2015

Kaycie said:

I sure havent figured out how to do that myself.

I prefer informal, but more formally has its place also

secularhermit · Jan 17, 2015

When I read this KAY:

Kaycie said:

I felt this thread would be summed up a day, with "notes" taken, to be united to pray for US all, on these lines.

@ForthAngel: It´s me who owes you one, sir.

I used to think it was a "model" prayer, but His ACTUAL model was outlined outside that draft, when He lived prayers out, and that seemed to be hidden for us to seek it and post on this thread.

posthuman · Jan 17, 2015

standing, sitting, kneeling, prostrate on my face, laying on my back and looking up, head bowed looking down, with eyes open, shut, looking toward the sky. all of these.

while talking, while reading, while driving, while walking, while working, while being still. all of these.

hands folded, hands reaching up, hands flat on the ground, hands busy with tasks. all of these too.

but almost never aloud -- "in secret" & sometimes in actual closets. constantly, if not consciously, the spirit in me is interceding and communicating with Him.

believing He is faithful to answer. thanking Him for things He has not yet revealed because i trust in His plans and His mercy!

secularhermit · Jan 17, 2015

MadParrotWoman said:

Oh, madP!

I dislike when those started this way -and publicly (Mat 6:9):

A) "sic ergo vos orabitis Pater noster qui in caelis es sanctificetur nomen tuum..."

B) "Vosotros, pues, oraréis..." (pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name)

Instead of: "Ustedes deben orar así: “Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo..." (that´s archaitic!)

C) This is too formal for me: "ουτως ουν προσευχεσθε υμεις"

secularhermit · Jan 17, 2015

Peter96 said:

Yes! that´s the key Jesus surely used.

Joh 11:42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."

Joh 11:42 I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me."

Joh 11:42 I know that you always hear me. But I said these things because of the people here around me. I want them to believe that you sent me."

He (Jesus) still gave more "clues" on how to pray (publicly, this time).

how do you pray?

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