Do you pray?

I do pray, but you all knew that! God's Word tells us to "pray without ceasing." Now we all know that that has to mean there is more than the kneel down by the bed before sleep-type prayer. There are innumberable ways to pray. The Holy Spirit is said to interpret our groanings when we cannot even find words, as He is our mediator.

I've been reading, and waiting... to say... that it's very important to pray, which is our way of speaking to our Father about our wants and needs (like we would any good father, even though he may already know them.) But the main way that God speaks to us is through His Word. We can, if we are learned in the Scriptures, "know" what God says because we have His Word "hidden in our hearts." We can also be wooed by the Holy Spirit with the right way to "go" much of our lives. But it takes the indepth study and reading together with the praying, that produces a complete communication. (Communication being a sender, a receiver and an understood message.)

I pray..... with an open heart... and a simplest view.... and I feel so blessed because God listens to me.... for me.. the feeling in my heart of love for God.... is my communication method... not by reading the scriptures in terms of prayer and understanding his answers... He speaks thru prayer in a language I understand....simplest.. so that even with all of my alters... we all understand.....

people believe all different kinds of ways for prayer........sounds like from this thread.. there is no "one" "right" way.........

I remember asking my sister "Teach me to pray." I'd never done it before and needed to know the steps. At first she told me to just talk to God like I would anyone. To start by giving thanks and allow my heart to lead the rest. Seeing me still struggle she started speaking the Lord's Prayer and encouraged me to join her. She later showed me the Psalms in the Bible and suggested I use them as prayers until I felt able to speak my own thoughts.

I remember asking my spiritual elder "Teach me to pray." I'd never been in a sweat lodge before and needed to know the protocols. At first she told me to just close my eyes and listen to the drum. To listen to the prayers of the others. Sensing my nervousness in the darkness of the lodge I felt her hand on my arm encouraging me to join the singing. To open my eyes and witness. She later taught me special songs and rituals through which I can offer special prayers.

I remember asking God "Teach me to prayer." I'd never prayed on my own before and didn't want to make a mistake. At first I waited and nervously wondered if I was allowed to ask. Regreting having said it the way that I did. After a while I started to feel a calm and a warmth move through my body. I remember shivering from the sensation of peace and security replacing my fear and doubt. I remember sitting with my eyes closed, a big grin on my face as tears of joy began to flow down my cheeks. I had no thoughts in my head. I was totally captured by the sensation of love, of being loved, of being in the presence of God and wraped in God's love.

I studied the Bible and learned more about the act of prayer. I practiced ceremonies from my culture and learned more about the rituals of prayer. In enjoyed communion with God and learned about the daily living of prayer, the being a prayer and walking a prayerful life.

In addition to my routine prayer times I speak prayers all day long. If a hear a police, fire, ambulance siren I immediately start to pray for the people involved. I get in my truck or go for a walk or engage in an activity I pray. I hear someone angry or sad... I pray before speaking. I pray before I open the Bible and I pray after I close it again. I pray for help when I'm anquished by my illness and I prayer thanks givings when I'm spared its hurt for an hour or a day.

Prayer is how I say to my creator.... thanks for being by my side and in my head and in my heart and with me through it all. Thanks for being my strength, my hope my reason for joy. Prayer changes things.

Don't just weather the storm.... learn to dance in the rain. Prayer is like dancing in the rain. Nothing can dampen its magic.

So people...what do you pray when things get tough?

What do you pray (say) to God when you are watching a loved one die from a horrible illness that brought so much pain to someone who never deserved it?

What about someone hit by a car??? If they live...well thank God!

What if they die? What if they live but are so brain injured they might as well be dead......still thank God?? What do you pray then? Or maybe they just weren't good enough in the first place. Maybe they weren't good enough (or hadn't learn enough from the bible) to hear the Holy Spirit tell them not to go that way....(sorry)

I am sorry but everyone can pray that they are thankful for whatever.........what about the bad times? Not just in your life, but your loved ones? Sometime it is more difficult watching it than actually going through it yourself.

What do you pray when you are downright mad at God?

this is probably the hardest thing about spirituality to understand imo, why do bad things happen to good people?

it is very difficult to understand imo, and difficult to accept the answer (my own)...

Gods hand is mysterious and beautiful... i'm sorry that this world of ours contains and always will contain the seeds of sorrow.. people pass on and we hurt when that happens...

but it does and will and will always be that way...

God takes each of us in the way that fits the plan... some suffer, some are healed... we all eventually return to our origination point...

those who suffer are "gifts" (imo) and we who survive become spiritually strengthened... this is also a gift from God..

so we who learn, transcend, are able to minister to those who hurt and help them also transcend... it is an evolutionary process and it is as natural as the rain...

Gods ways are hard to understand, but a plan is unfolding just the same...

this is only a "quick" response to a complicated and worthy question...

others hopefully will balance what i've left out and a fuller picture becomes available...

does it not seem, typical I guess...that we feel as though we must "understand" what the soverign Lord of the universe does? i mean, come on...this is a pretty good snapshot of the human ego in action. its beyond absurd! the bad times? he's got the whole world, in his hands...not my will but yours Lord, it is well with my soul, I trust God to work out his purpouses as he wills, I praise him IN all things! I'm so glad that he is an awesome God who is truly just and loving twoards me (a sinner) I for sure don't need to know why, i don't care...would you care why someone saved your life?

I agree. How could we possibly try to "measure" ouselves and our so short lives here against eternity? Much less...try to comprehend why...and the mysteries of suffering here..against Gods will? Suffering is ours from the choice of "free will" as was stated in Genesis It's a shame...but in a way it brings us closer to the spiritual. I feel we pray more when times are bad. 2nd Corinthians 4...verses 17-18 I like as examples of measuring "temporary things on earth to the eternal". Look it up...read...if you wish.
I've never been mad at God...I've pondered "why" quite a bit though. We all do at times.
and...as always...J.M.H.O.
d.

This is off thread... and I hope you will forgive me...

For me... I have suffered greatly... and I have seen people that I love suffer very greatly.... lingering illness.. painful.. things that are unthinkable to a parent.. like loss of a child...From a very early age I have suffered.... but much harder I have watched those that I love suffer....

During these times... I pray for strength, for courage, for wisdom, from relief of pain... for God's will to be done... for forgiveness of my terrible anger at the situtation and my feeling of the unfairness of it all.. sometimes I pray for a mircle... right... wrong... or inbetween... this is what I do..

I pray for understanding... for acceptance... I pray.. that I may use the experience to help others in the future that it will give me depth that someone else in need will be able to use..

and.. yes I do get angry... at times... yes I do...

That is what I pray for...

I am sorry for being off the thread topic... but I felt the pain in the post... and I wanted to help... I hope I did not hurt... was not my intention... really....

Thank you everyone for your replies! I am sorting out my thoughts and feelings about spirituality and prayer, and this helps.

Chocolatelover, I love what you said about learning to dance in the rain! Mind if I quote you??

Freewill, I don't think you were off-topic at all. No worries

(((((((freewill)))))

You could never hurt anyone sweetie....those of us that have seen abuse and have been abuse imo make more compassionate, more understanding and tolerant people. We are sensitive to others' needs and our own also...... lnow I hear and love you and you are one of the people I hope will always be my friend .... love you .... I told my friend I had found God last night, she is catholic (not practicing) and she asked if I was part of a cult...lol ..... I said why would she ask that? Just a light went on somewhere and I prayed and felt better about me and my life .... she told me she talks to god and even tells him her address lol...... I think shes pleased for me,

Freewill, know you are loved and caredfor and thought about by many here ......... takes a special person to be so selfless about others suffering when you have so much on board yourself

Love you, Kerry xxxxx

Hmmmmm...So your response is that you never question why? And so consequently your prayers are always of the thankful variety? I guess I find that hard to believe.

Have you ever watched somebody, a child let's say, waste away from a long, painful illness? What do you pray then, besides the obvious "Lord please help end this person's terrible suffering". Can you really tell me that you thank God while you watch your loved one die a slow terrible death? Do you praise him while this person groans in pain, regardless of the medication given? To be perfecttly honest, at that point, I don't really care about the long range "purpose" I end up questioning "Why".

Maybe that is just my self centered, merely human ego talking, but I find it hard to believe in a time like that, that most people don't at some point question why.

If you fact you never have questioned why, then good for you, although I still find it hard to believe......maybe even absurd (do use your word).

I am sure that God has the whole world in his hands, but ego or not I sometimes really question whether he has a firm grip of everyone.

And to give the impression that questioning or asking for "understanding" of a situation is purely human ego, and "beyond absurd" just widens the gap between those that profess in a somwewhat self rightous way, to be knowledgeable and firm in there faith, and those that are still searching.

Thank you so much for you reply ((Freewill)).

I can tell that you too have been through suffering, either personally or have dealt with watching a loved one try to deal with the pain.

In those situations, I do ask for strength, I ask for help for those that I feel are in need, but I also ask why . And sometimes I get mad!

Thank you for assuring me that others have been there too.

It is sometimes hard to believe that a childs suffering is a result of theirs or anyone else's God given "freewill".

Thank you again for understanding where I was coming from.

Hey Sweet, Thank you too for beginning this thread. I have often wondered how others pray.

Is in the knell down at the end of the bed style, hands raised and tongues spoken, or quietly, or maybe not so quietly talking in an everyday way.

Do some people do it contineuslly or on a "as needed" basis.

It is funny, when someone tells me that they need prayers or know somebody else who does, although I pray for them, I also but someone on it who has a much better track record for getting them answered.

Silly I know, but I always feel I need to fly below God's radar.......if you know what I mean.

Thanks again for beginning this thread, and thank you too for allowing me to hijack it at times.

Take care everyone.

Danialla,

Sometimes things do happent that seem too terrible for us to understand. Yes, that is when you pray for understanding, and to ask why, and even to tell God of your anger, and maybe to ask for help in soothing your anger. It's okay to feel anger, and even to be angry at God. Anger can motivate you, and you can harness the power of the feeling and use it for good. It only becomes a problem if you allow the anger to be used destructively.

I think that anyone who has never questioned why either has not fully lived, or maybe doesn't think, which is maybe the same thing as not fully living. I am sorry that you have so much pain, and I pray that you will be strengthened and able to bear it, and to find understanding.

Thank you Rap....

I do feel better knowing that some people, even those that are firm in their faith, sometimes ask "why?"

It is such a difficult thing to watch someone die. When my brother died......slowly and painfully, my sister-in-law was able to remain praying to God for strength. My brothers and I wanted to duke it out with God in the parking lot!

Thank you for your reply.

Take care everyone.

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altonwoodsdrphil said:
does it not seem, typical I guess...that we feel as though we must "understand" what the soverign Lord of the universe does? i mean, come on...this is a pretty good snapshot of the human ego in action. its beyond absurd! the bad times? he's got the whole world, in his hands...not my will but yours Lord, it is well with my soul, I trust God to work out his purpouses as he wills, I praise him IN all things! I'm so glad that he is an awesome God who is truly just and loving twoards me (a sinner) I for sure don't need to know why, i don't care...would you care why someone saved your life?

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I dont feel it is absurd......I often think when I see all the missing children pictures at rest stops......WHY GOD WHY !!!!!...when you have the power to stop and control such calamity.....since I have 2 little girls of my own....I don't see how the familys of these children could possibly pray praise and glory....I don't think I could

I personally try to only pray for such things as this if I do ....since anything else " for myself just seems selfish "

I have been provided with more than I need and have not been a faithful christain so can't say thats why

I have been angry at god, too. I think that's just a part of having a "real" relationship with god. I don't think it's healthy to try to suppress anger if that's what you feel; I think it needs to be "talked out" for your connection with god to be more full and whole, real and healthy. I don't have a view of god as a dictator or someone who expects me to feel inferior or unworthy in any way, nor someone who expects me to restrict my range of emotion in any way.

guys .. lets be careful not to hijack anyone's thread.

(((Esther))) it's sweet's thread I apologize for my long post.

Hey Sweet......are you okay with the way this thread is going or would you like us to begin a new one?

*** Just wanted to add that I agree, a "real" relationship is based on give and take so to speak. I feel too that even when I get angry with God and my prayers are less than "thankful", I am still continuing a relationship with him. Just wanted to see if others felt their prayer life in the same way.

Thanks again for the thread Sweet, but I would understand if this has strayed to off course .

Take care everyone.

When my mother passed on after a long battle with depression and horrible physical pain my first thoughts were.... . 'It's over Mom. Thank you God for ending her suffering.' She'd been left paralysed from a spinal injury when she was 33. She died when she was 48 having never adjusted to life in a wheelchair and having never regained her joy.

In the days, weeks, months, years to come I've prayed for God to heal my broken heart. To minister to my sadness and pain. I'd lay my loneliness out at the alter and I'd rage about the injustice of my mother's fate. The child of my mother in me would weep the pained tears of a orphan. The child of God in me would weep the healing tears of a heavenly creature.

I take my pain to the alter and I speak my unspeakable anger and hurt and fear. I cry and I rench and I vent my rage towards the heavens. When I'm done, when my emotions are spent and my words are empty I rest in the silence. I give into the silence as it takes the place of my angry voice. I rest in the peace that comes from having been heard, having let go of that which I can not control. Once spent of my pain I rest in my exhaustion to receive the blessings of silence. The blessings of peace. The blessings of an infilling of a love beyond understanding. Like the love of my mother whose willingness to listen and hold me and wait with me through the sorrows of my life was understanding enough to heal my broken heart.

As my immediate pain begins to subside I'm filled with a sense of thankfulness. My pain of loss is replaced with joy for having known my mother. My sorrow for her suffering is replaced with gladness that her suffering is now over. My anger with God for having let my mother suffer in that wheelchair for so long is replaced with peace knowing she will dance in the heavens for all of eternity. And I rejoice that the gifts she brought in her lifetime will last for all eternity in her name. And we will meet again. We will dance together in the heavens. We will smile together among the children of our wombs and we wll dance with our ancestors before us.

We are the Circle of Life. No joy without sorrow. No peace without chaos. No happiness without sadness. No infinate eternity without finite reality. No clear understanding without pure acceptance.

When I see injustice in the world and my anger rages I'm reminded to pray for more justice in the world. When I see beauty in the world and my heart races I'm reminded to pray for more beauty in the world. When I see sorrow I pray for happiness. When I see suffering I pray for peace. I pray that the balance of life is maintained. That the opportunities for God to be revealed in the hearts of non-believers and believers alike are expanded by my prayers.

I pray for peace on earth, good will to all of God's created.

Beautiful!!!

You have a wonderful way of putting things Chocolatelover! Thank you

Thanks Danialla.... God's love is inspirational. My desire is to walk in that beauty.

Blessings....

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Danialla said:
Hey Sweet......are you okay with the way this thread is going or would you like us to begin a new one?

*** Just wanted to add that I agree, a "real" relationship is based on give and take so to speak. I feel too that even when I get angry with God and my prayers are less than "thankful", I am still continuing a relationship with him. Just wanted to see if others felt their prayer life in the same way.

Thanks again for the thread Sweet, but I would understand if this has strayed to off course .

Take care everyone.

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I don't think we have strayed too far off what I intended in asking. I don't much care for preachiness and addressing the way we see each other's prayers... but I was looking for an honest and frank discussion from each poster how they themselves pray... and imo there are a lot of ways in which that discussion can head. Discussion of praising a higher power, expressing thanks, expressing anger, trying to understand, asking questions, trying to connect...

I am enjoying all the posts that've contributed in that direction, without presuming to tell others what might be "wrong" about the way they pray.

I hope this thread doesn't stop here, and that people will feel free to share about themselves and their relationships with whatever higher power they connect to.

Thanks! Peace to all.
SC/Angela

im getting better at continuos prayer and meditation... its great! but, also i have to remind myself to pay attention...

Doc Phil said:

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altonwoodsdrphil said:
does it not seem, typical I guess...that we feel as though we must "understand" what the soverign Lord of the universe does? i mean, come on...this is a pretty good snapshot of the human ego in action. its beyond absurd! the bad times? he's got the whole world, in his hands...not my will but yours Lord, it is well with my soul, I trust God to work out his purpouses as he wills, I praise him IN all things! I'm so glad that he is an awesome God who is truly just and loving twoards me (a sinner) I for sure don't need to know why, i don't care...would you care why someone saved your life?

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God is All Knowing, All Loving and i cant understand the plan and i am grateful 100% of the time... but i still ask why...

because ive been asked and its hard to look away and hard to say "well, just because"

as a father, i'd like my son to understand well himself and what i can teach him is less he needs to find out for himself...

(i havent seen my son in a long time, but this is the father i'd want to be)