[SweetCrusader]

Do you pray? If so, how?

[coralproper]

I have pray'd a few times in the past usually selfishly for myself.

I have read that you need to only ask once since our heavenly father already knows what we need before we ask,but when I did attend church I heard some request prayer for themselfs or others over and over for superfical things,I kinda started to think that it all just give them a placebo effect,since some were claiming there prayers were answered that seemed superficial to me and most that had genuine problems or concerns to pray for never actually got what they were asking in my opinion

I don't believe the ones asking for what I thought was superfical things were better servants to God than the others,but that is just my opinion,so I never actually got into the whole organized prayer thing,but if prayer can be done without speach I think I do it regular,since I do have alot to be thankful for and and am what alot consider to be very blessed,but I don't think its because I have been a good servant to God ,since I fall short of what is required of me by a long shot probably, but still have been provided with more than I'll ever need here on earth.

I have read some scientific studies on prayer in health care but many have different outcomes,some show high recovery rate for those prayed for while some show there is no difference,there is alot of debate on how or why these studies should be done,since there are so many conflicting reports,and millions has been spent on research.

One of the biggest studys give results that those prayed for during heart treatments from distant congregations did not reduce major complications or death rate over those who were not.
I also read a review on 17 studies published in 2003 that agreed that prayer had no effect.

Alot of the debate was on " how " each thought the prayer should be done to achieve positive results,some feel they should not let the ones involved know they are being prayed for to eliminate placebo effect, while others insist they need to know for it to work,but it impossible to know if the control groups pray for themself or by others to eliminate the placebo effect

There is alot of outrage by people that are upset the federal government is spending 2.3 million to study prayer effect since it cannot really be a controled study they feel

I'm not sure if my method of just thinking to God works, or is even considerd prayer,but I do it alot

Eddie

[nothemama8]

the best way for us is just talk to the higher spirit as we talk to IRL ppl

[selfy]

i pray, im not all religious but i do when someone i know is in need of support i cant give. its the least i can do.
ive been praying more recently
self

[KathyM]

Most of my day is spent in silent prayer for others. I only pray out loud when I'm alone and particularly worried about a person or situation. When I pray for myself, it's only for strength and guidance.

Eddie - I'm a little skeptical about the studies because I believe God's will overpowers our human desires. I don't believe we can dictate God's will, despite the number of requests from faithful followers.

When my best friend was suffering from Hodgkin's disease, her entire congregation and all her friends prayed hard for her. A faith healer also declared her "cured" - but she died four months later.

My next door neighbor suffered a massive heart attack 4 years ago. Doctors were able to fix his heart, but he'd gone without oxygen for too long. His condition is similar to that of Terri Shiavo - unable to move, communicate, or even make eye contact. Many people have prayed hard for him, and his wife has also taken him to faith healers. In the last 4 years, his condition has shown no improvement.

[nowheretorun]

ive heard 'every utterance is a prayer' (source: PC) .. i like to think of it that way... when mom groans in pain, i like to think God hears her and sends healing.. groaning seems to help her (chronic pain survivor)

Yes I do.....rather late starting i'M AFRAID.....but somewhere a light came on and I'm quite sure its God.....I pray lots now and ask him for guidance and help......

Jinny xxxxxx I do feel he is all around me rather than up above if that makes sense....

xx

[Rapunzel]

I mostly pray silently. Maybe spoken prayer has more power though. It takes a little more effort to pray out loud. Maybe what you get out of it is related to what you put into it. Some prayers, though, are pretty informal - not much more than an upward-bound thought of appreciation or a quick "please help me with this." Music can also be a form or prayer. Sometimes I feel the most connection when I'm either singing with the choir, singing along with a recording, or even just playing a song alone. Art could also be a form of prayer. I think that a lot of it depends on your intention. And I hope that I'm not just justifying because I think that I do need to establish better habits about regular formal prayer, in addition to all of these other forms.

[coralproper]

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KathyM said:

Eddie - I'm a little skeptical about the studies because I believe God's will overpowers our human desires. I don't believe we can dictate God's will, despite the number of requests from faithful follower

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I quess you mean skeptical on the studies that say it helps ? Many say it did not,many say it did

One of the most popular IMO that promoted a positive study, the mircale study,ended up in a story of possible fraud in medical literature and a medical journal,acording to a long review I read about medical statistics.

I am not sure how or if it works,or even if I pray through my thoughts,but if I do thats how I do it

[KathyM]

Eddie

Yeah, I meant to say skeptical about the studies. I DO believe in the power of prayer though. It just seems a little wrong to conduct scientific studies and conclusions because either way it could be harmful to people. They might either neglect to seek medical help when human treatment is possible and rely on prayer alone, or they might give up praying altogether.

I believe God is all around us, but he's not wrapped around our fingers.

[coralproper]

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KathyM said:
Eddie It just seems a little wrong to conduct scientific studies and conclusions because either way it could be harmful to people.

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I agree,when they could turn out like the Miracle Study, where at least 1 possibly involved ended up in prison 5 years for criminal fraud & false idenity etc etc to obtain millions over 20 years with possible help from another who ended up in prison and commited suicide while in there

just my opinion though

[coralproper]

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KathyM said:
Eddie
I believe God is all around us, but he's not wrapped around our fingers.

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I like how you said that : )

I also agree

[moodyblu]

I feel the power of prayer is quite obvious. We need not look far.
Because we are of the "breath of God"...God is never far either. All we need do is look within ourselves...our souls for connection...if we choose to do this. If we are spiritually "discerned"...perhaps this is causing difficulties with accepting this. [1 Corinthians 2...14-15]
Yes...prayers can be groans...tears of pain...joy...your heart soaring with the beauty of it all...or just a simple exhaled sigh. [Romans 8...26-27]
Excuse the biblical references if it bothers anyone please...but this is what I know from that source. [disclaimer...lol]
I pray best while walking...meditating...sitting quietly among nature...or just resting....but this is me. It works for me.
Take care...
d.

[Danialla]

Yes I pray, usually by just talking, kind of like talking to a friend. But I have also been know to lose my temper with God , kind of like a friendship also .?

[coralproper]

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Danialla said:
But I have also been know to lose my temper with God , kind of like a friendship also .?

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LOL , This also rings true in a marriage for many.

I have always thought God likes to challenge, as well as, be challenged, in other words be stood up to sometimes for his many challenges, but not to be mistaken for stand against.
Probably some will disagree but its just a feeling I get sometimes, I think he might get bored being smothered with constant glory all the time and likes a change once and awhile

[Rhapsody]

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SweetCrusader said:
Do you pray? If so, how?

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Yes...... as often as I can.

I pray any time I can - driving a car, walking in a store or in the woods, beside my bed, on my knees in the living room or while sitting outside in a lounge chair (watching nature)..... I personally talk to God like I would a Friend.

I pray several times a day... silently... sometimes out loud... and I believe that my relationship with God is all important.. so every prayer comes from my heart... and I believe that God can feel when my heart is sincere... I have also knelt in prayer... this is usually when I am very worried about another person... I know that God hears me.... how he answers my prayer.. may not be how "I see the answer"... but I know he answers... because.. I see evidence of it... thru out my life.. and all around me.....

[Rapunzel]

I find those few minutes while waiting for the car to warm up to be a good opportunity. Driving seems like a good time sometimes too, because I start thinking while I'm driving, and either remember something to pray about or just remember that I forgot to that morning.

I heard something today that I thought was helpful. If you go to the doctor, you don't just walk in and say I'm sick, please make me better, and then walk out. If you take your car to the shop you don't just say please fix my car, it's broken. You take the time to tell them what is wrong and how you know, and discuss the problem, and you listen to their recommendations and take some kind of action. So maybe when we pray we ought to discuss things a little more, and remember to listen for an answer, and decide what steps we will take from there, come back and talk about it again later after trying it, etc. We could at least put as much thought into prayer as we would our other daily conversations.

[altonwoodsdrphil]

I'm sooo glad you asked! of course we have the Lords prayer as a model of the way to pray and thats the best example... I have found that I just talk to God about stuff, when I wake up in the morning before I get out of bed...during the day when I am reminded of him by something or someone...I like to spend time just praising God, telling him how grateful I am that he chose to love me enough to send his son for me, I just get lost sometimes and start to feel a sort of ecstacy come over me,( thats the holy spirit) if you've never been in a room full of people praying and felt the spirit you're missing out ! it really is something incredible to feel...being in Gods presence in prayer fills your soul, and gives you the power of his grace to live a life that honours God...I could go on and on, its just that good!

[sassypants]

Yes ,I pray every day. I pray when I leave the house.
When I am at home, I usually close my eyes and lay down
and mediate about life . I just talk to God and thank him for all my blessings. Then I pray for the people that are sick,in my life.

I also receive an spiritiual e-mail every day> I do not attend church, but I know God listen to our prayers and gives us what we need at that time.

[1oxbowgirl]

Yes, I pray throughout the day in many forms. I talk out loud to God when I am in the woods, and silently when in the presense of others. I believe in the power of prayer, as in having had prayers answered. Sometimes we are not happy with the results of prayer because the answer may not have been our answer or what we wanted, and so we take that as prayer not answered. But we must always remember it is in that "Thy will be done", not "my will be done". I may not always agree with the answer received, but in the larger scope of far reaching things I do believe that God knows what is best for all of us and has our best interests at heart.

[OliviaC]

Yes!!! Prayer is direct communication to God, and He is listening to the prayers of his people!

I pray throughout the day for others, for my family, for *anything* that God has put upon my heart to pray for, individuals who are going through hard times, emotionally or physically.

Always, PRAISE and THANKS be to God for the glorious gift he has given me of salvation. For the many undeserved blessings he has bestowed upon me, a sinner, saved by his grace (unmerited favor), and knowing according to scripture that "God inhabits the praises of his people".

It is tremendous and thoroughly a miraculous privilege that God hears our EVERY prayer, and longs to have a relationship with those of us who are "called according to his purpose."

All power to our Lord and King, Jesus Christ - thank you, Lord!

'Pray without ceasing' -- its a way of being. Walk in prayer.

not really. i dont understaand why i pray anymore. I'm looking into meditation now though.. Perhaps im lost.. or perhaps im close to being found.

[altonwoodsdrphil]

i like what it says at the bottom of your page about wanting to be a butterfly...I think it's a little bit like being a child of God in that we seek him by abandoning ourself because we see a "pearl of great value" I greatly admire your honesty, you're a couragous person, may you find what you seek!