How do you pray?

[Alex P]

Originally Posted by winner08

My name is Darren I go under winner 08 I am brand new to the site I need some guidance. How to get around even post or read replys to my post.

darren

*enhales a deep breath* mmmmmm Gotta love that brand new smell!

Welcome to the forums Darren, For any help with running around this site you should perhaps look at this: Interfaith forums - FAQ If you have any questions remaining you should ask them in the Feedback area of the forums....

Also helps to be familiar with this: Code of Conduct

In regards to your quetion you should perhaps start a new thread about this? Or search to see if there are any current talks going on, as it isn't really suited for this thread which is about praying... Again welcome to the forums and may YHWH bless you.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by winner08

Who believes that God will save all of mankind not just the few? Also who believes there is no geological place called hell where God will send non believers? Now for the big one, who believes that we as humans do not have free will, that this is the biggest deception of all. Basically I just laid out a few of my beliefs.

Darren

Hi winner08, welcome to Interfaith Online (we may call it "CR" sometimes out of habit, as we used to be Comparative Religion).

1. Belief that God will save all is called universalism, and it's 'frowned upon' by many Christians. I have strong universalist leanings, but because I do believe in free will, your point 3, I really think God leaves it finally up to us, so I can't really tie God's hands and think well, you must 'save' everyone!

2. I think that hell is distance from God, the more separation between you and God, the closer to hell. I believe that God is love, and when anyone loves they are close to God. Love takes practice, so perhaps there is a point somewhere when you can either recognize God, or not. :shrug: sorry if this does not make sense.

3. It's a paradox, but I've learned to be comfortable with paradox because, well, they just seem to be part of human experience! So yes, I believe we have free will.

4. To get back on topic, prayer takes many forms for me, including the frequent, through the days pleas for help and remembrances and thanksgivings. Sometimes I 'talk' to God (praise, intercessory prayers, prayers for forgiveness, thanksviging), sometimes (not often enough I suppose) I listen (contemplative prayer, like meditation).

Cheers,
luna

[mee]

How do i pray,
I pray to the most high JEHOVAH PSALM 83;18 and when i pray i use his name , through Jesus christ his son.
Mt 6:9)


And Jehovah is the hearer of prayer, there was a time when i did not know that Gods name was Jehovah , but he does hear those who turn to him in prayer ,even if they dont use his name . but once we know that his name is JEHOVAH he wants us to turn to him in prayer and use his name JEHOVAH.
Jesus left us a model prayer ,not to say the same things over and over again , like they do in some churches, but the model prayer shows the importance of things.

and the first thing is to hallow Gods name

Jesus Christ valued his relationship with Jehovah very highly. Therefore, Jesus made time to talk to God in private prayer. (Mark 1:35; Luke 22:40-46) We do well to imitate Jesus’ example and pray to God on a regular basis. (Romans 12:12)


What may we include in our prayers so that Jehovah will be pleased to hear them?


Jesus Christ taught his disciples how to pray. In the model prayer recorded at Matthew 6:9-13,

he set out a pattern of subjects about which we may rightly pray.


What should be of chief concern in our prayers?

Jehovah God’s name and Kingdom must be the top priority.

Asking for our material needs is appropriate.
It is also important to ask for forgiveness of our sins and for deliverance from temptations and the wicked one, Satan the Devil.

Jesus did not want us to chant this prayer or to repeat it over and over, reciting it without thinking about its meaning. (Matthew 6:7)

What kind of relationship would it be if a child used the same words every time he spoke to his father?

[mee]

HOW DO YOU PRAY ?

Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified." (Matt. 6:9b)


"Let your kingdom come." (Matt. 6:10a)



Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth." (Matt. 6:10b)
"Give us today our bread for this day." (Matt. 6:11)

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matt. 6:12)

Do not bring us into temptation." (Matt. 6:13a)


Deliver us from the wicked one." (Matt. 6:13b)


this is just a model that Jesus gave, it does not mean it has to be said over and over again like they do in church.

[Faithfulservant]

How do I pray.. let me count the ways.

Really I just have this ongoing conversation with Him for the most part.

Sometimes I have to 911 Him when I have an emergency or someone I know has an emergency.

Then there are times when I think of something I did that I know was wrong and then I ask for forgiveness. Those can be long self contemplation prayers also.

My mom is my prayer partner and she and I are a team and we use each other for agreement prayers on issues that need speedy answers or something needs to be done fast.

Then finally I have my praise and worship prayers those are the ones I love the most because they make me feel the best and can without doubt bring my spirits up when they are down.

[paulapuddephatt]

Hi! I tend to pray when I'm lying in bed at night or in the early hours, but I also do informal prayers "in my head" at other times. I sometimes use The Lord's Prayer. I am interested in learning to meditate, also.
Paula.

Originally Posted by Still thinking

I'm reading this book right now called "The Way We Pray" which breaks down prayer practices from all over the world. It also gives little tips after the summary of each practice for incorporating that practice into your prayer life. I've been looking at prayer differently lately, learning more, and trying new things. I especially like the idea of lighting a candle to represent your prayer and personal prayer altars, and I'm learning so many new and unusual ways I never would have considered.

So I'm curious, in your repective beliefs and individual truths, how do you pray\meditate\commune with the Divine?

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Look at my avatar..



Just jokin.
Never really had a style.
Learned to pray "church style"
I used to pray a lot.
Used many styles too.
I don’t really "pray" anymore.
I observe and follow the signs now.

For instance, if I'm in a situation that I don’t want to be in, I don’t pray about it. "Signs" help me to navigate through it. The signs are there for you to have many things that you pray for before you need to pray for it.

(Like if you "need" a new car, because the old one is just about to give out. You don’t have the funds to get another one and you make it a point to pray for one. Then one day you see someone broke down on the side of the road, but you don’t stop to help, because you figure that you could not help them, because your car is about to give out and you need to get home to pray for a new one, so when get home, you send a pray out for the person you saw on the side of the road and for yourself to have new cars, not realizing that the person you passed up had the perfect car for you, only if you had stopped.)

(Something needed that was about to be given to you without a prayer.)


Hope that was not too confusing.

[wil]

Mother to daughter, "Go up and say your prayers before you get in bed"

"Mom, what are prayers?"

"They are messages to G!d dear"

"Do we send them at night because the rates are lower?"

[SufiZikrLondon]

To say, pray and give 'daily thanks to your creator' is the most peace receiving thing you can do as a person.

To really sincerely mean it, is difficult but by daily practice, God willing, He will accept all my efforts.

Yes and it's not easy if you are in poorer conditions, in oppression or in bad health but we also pray for people in all difficulties and give 'thanks' on their behalf too.

It has helped me and my family enormously both physically and spiritually that it is difficult to really articulate. It is a feeling of connection and inner peace which runs through you like endless flowing energy removing any darkness for those moments.

Hope this helps.

[ZenBirdist]

"Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen."

[Hermano Luis]

How do I pray? I pray in silence. To me contemplative silence is the greatest prayer. But I also talk to God as if God were a person.

Hermano Luis
Moriviví Hermitage