Do you pray?

[pmer]

I mean do you go deep in prayer? I have been wondering about this for a little while because on all Saints Day I was listening to a Catholic talk radio station and heard about a Nun that lived in the 1500's. She had a publication or book called The Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avila. you can download a free PDF of her book plus there's other ways to buy it. Yeah I'm a bit of nerd for this kind of thing LOL Spurgen, Luther, Sinners in the hands of an angry God etc. In her book she describes levels of prayer taking the soul deeper and deeper near to the Spirit.

As I read her rather artful descriptions and opinions on this subject I find it makes sense and I see where I've been stopped or hung up in my communication with the Lord in prayer. But when I was growing up in a Lutheran church they said not to meditate because of the spiritual danger. When I read the Gospels I see Jesus would sometimes pray all night long, I don't think that was 6-7 hours of small talk with God. Other parts of scripture might say "deep in prayer".

It seems the modern definition of meditating lends itself to Buddhism or maybe a new age mix of Christianity. If different religions mention meditation can any one religion lay claim to meditation? Is prayer just prayer or is prayer actually meditation. Or does good prayer lead to meditation which is actually prayer anyways.

For background I consider myself a born again Christian and go to an Evangelical Free Church (a bible church). My prayer life could be better and goes up and down in frequency.

[rancher1913]

yes, but its more like having a conversation

[pworley1]

I start every day with a personal quiet time with Bible reading and prayer. There are many short, mostly thank you prayers, during the day.

[Markopolo]

I pray. And I listen. Like somebody already said. I go to my quiet place, without distraction, and sometimes am just quiet.

[hoodat]

Yeah, I pray. I mean like WOW, I pray a lot. I pray with thanks, for help, for forgiveness, for wisdom, -- I pray for the welfare of our country, I pray for my enemies, I pray for the folks who don't know God. I pray for those who suffer, those who are lost, those who need more than they have, and those who have more than they need. I pray for guidance, for awareness, for compassion, for calm, for courage, for love. I pray to give and get kindness, and I pray for patience.

In our world, in these times, there is plenty of reason to pray, and pray hard and long.. I pray that y'all will pray often, and may God hear you. jd

[Milky Duck]

yes, but its more like having a conversation

Im with you on this one... a lot of praise and a little please may you..... do it a LOT while Im out hunting...ask for guidance and assistance while stalking along,oh and ask for the mojo to click with my dog....sometimes its uncanny just how clear cut it is when the big fella upstairs decides to lend a helping hand....

[pmer]

Thanks guys. Do you believe that God speaks to you in Spirit through what someone else says? Like when Paul was turned away from Asia and sent towards Europe.

I think this is another type of communication from the Lord, just today I was in a store and walked by something I needed for the house that I didn't know existed. The funny thing was it wasn't on my mind till I saw it and I wondered 3 isles over for no reason.

[Kosh75287]

Everytime I have to go to a public gun range...

[BLAHUT]

This may not be the place to put this out there and I have been mocked for saying this. December first, 2006, on the operating table I died, was sent back, what I remember was trying to get through the heavy vail, I will call it, like trying to swim through honey, to get to the pure bright white light. When I opened my eyes, I was back here, and in emence pain. Spent the next 30 days in ICU, in pain, it is now 2022 and I am still in pain. I have been to the other side, it is so beautiful, so peaceful, I have no fear of dying, I fear lingering and waiting for death to take me again. Do I pray? sometimes ? Not often. Not seriously. Some say prayer works, I DO NOT KNOW.. My GOD does work in mysterious ways

[rancher1913]

i have found that god gives me what i need, not what i want, sometimes they can be vastly different.

[GhostHawk]

For me most times it is like having a conversation.

However I will admit that some times you need a big dose of patience, persistence and perseverance.

[Thundarstick]

Yes! Differently for different occasions. I pray in a different way as I'm getting older. Prayers of thanks and adoration, God's will be done. I try and be careful not to pray for my will or a wish list (treating God like the Santa Claus in the sky)!

[pmer]

This may not be the place to put this out there and I have been mocked for saying this. December first, 2006, on the operating table I died, was sent back, what I remember was trying to get through the heavy vail, I will call it, like trying to swim through honey, to get to the pure bright white light. When I opened my eyes, I was back here, and in emence pain. Spent the next 30 days in ICU, in pain, it is now 2022 and I am still in pain. I have been to the other side, it is so beautiful, so peaceful, I have no fear of dying, I fear lingering and waiting for death to take me again. Do I pray? sometimes ? Not often. Not seriously. Some say prayer works, I DO NOT KNOW.. My GOD does work in mysterious ways

I think in one way or another we are all in some type of pain because of this fallen world. (Our bodies are frail the situations we put ourselves in) You are not alone, one good thing about praying in a group is sharing our pains and concerns with God and others. These types of prayers can be the most heart felt. Thanks for letting people pray for you.

[Dieselhorses]

Yes! Differently for different occasions. I pray in a different way as I'm getting older. Prayers of thanks and adoration, God's will be done. I try and be careful not to pray for my will or a wish list (treating God like the Santa Claus in the sky)!

I guess this part of the Bible always confused me... It's like, are we supposed to just pray for necessities?

Matthew 7:7-8
King James Version
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

[725]

Every day, brother.

[CBH]

I pray every day, constantly giving thanks for what and whom I have. Asking for the change in me that will help me deal with the wretchedness I see in the world. I pray for those in my life that are not saved.

[pmer]

I guess this part of the Bible always confused me... It's like, are we supposed to just pray for necessities?

Matthew 7:7-8
King James Version
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

These lines in scripture indicate persistence. In Luke 11:5-13 Luke shares a bit more on this and assures us that God hears all prayer.

[.429&H110]

We have an awesome God.

Anyone can try a simple experiment.
At our house we take our blood pressure (and blood sugar) every morning.
We have a reasonably accurate gadget that velcros on.

Take your blood pressure.
Then read a Psalm, doesn't matter which one, a different one.
(Ps2:1 "Why do the heathen rage..."?)
Think about what the Psalm says. Some might say meditate on God's Word.
Take your BP again. Goes down? Psalms could save your life.
Your BP goes up with pain.

Does it matter what you read? Election results, perhaps?
Yes! it matters. The crud of this world only raises your BP.
Psalms are songs of praise to God, with built in prayers, thousands of years old.
King David wrote his songs to praise God and ask His help.

A Psalm is a great way to start a prayer, start a day.
We have a God who answers prayers.

Blahut I am sorry to hear of your pain.
Here is my prayer for you to receive Grace and Mercy. Amen.
Owner's Manual reads: "God have mercy on me, a sinner". Amen to that!

Grace is getting what we do not deserve.
Mercy is not getting what we really deserve.

Every Wednesday night there is a group praying for you, me, us.
Only the Holy Spirit can save America from those who hate us.
I believe He will. I pray He will.
We all have a part in the Covenant that George Washington made with God.
God never forgets, but we forgot. God will forgive us if we repent.
We are free here, for now, free to serve God any way we want. That's freedom. For now.

[Stacts]

I don't pray near as often as I should. At least part of that is the difficulty in finding a private, quiet moment, but the rest is my own fault.

As far as "meditation" goes, I think it's easy for people to assign more spirituality to the word than is necessary. I can "meditate" on a game of chess. To meditate is to think deeply, and we as Christians are called to meditate on God's word. Many people certainly think of "meditation" only as it is portrayed in reference to certain Easter religions, but to pigeonhole the word to that extent robs English of a wonderful word that has a much broader meaning.

I think meditation is an essential ingredient to deep prayer. You should focus intently on God and God's word when praying.

[Good Cheer]

Every day but not near enough here either.