Prayer

[cavalier]

I have just been watching my favorite movie, Shadowlands. In case you're not familiar, it stars Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger and tells the story of C.S. Lewis' love affair with his fan Joy Gresham.
Anyway, during the movie Hopkins says something like, "I do not pray to change God, I pray to change myself."

What do you think, why do you pray?

[wil]

Like he said.

Do we think we can change G-d? It is always us, me that needs the work. I can't change anyone else...always me, my perspective, my understanding.

To me praying to change the outer goes like this..."Excuse me G-d, yes I know you did this thing, uh created the world in 7 days...and said it was good. Well this is me, one of your flock, and I think I've detected an error, a mistake, oh not to worry, I've also got the way to fix it. It isn't me it's my brother (mother, teacher, associate, whatever) they don't understand, could you enlighten them? You forgot. Oh and another thing, this prosperity poverty issue, you gotta fix that to...and this thing about war, greed, um natural disasters...how could you have gone so wrong? Don't worry about me, I'm ok, nothing needs changing here...get some of this started and get back to me will ya?"

[JosephM]

Originally Posted by cavalier

I have just been watching my favorite movie, Shadowlands. In case you're not familiar, it stars Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger and tells the story of C.S. Lewis' love affair with his fan Joy Gresham.
Anyway, during the movie Hopkins says something like, "I do not pray to change God, I pray to change myself."

What do you think, why do you pray?

I think Hopkins said it very well.

Love in Christ,
JM

[Paladin]

Cav,

Great movie, it sure showed the human side of CS Lewis. One of my favorite Christian writers since I was a teen ( the Jurassic period) I am filled with admiration for his writings upon the death of his wife. Completely bereft, world weary, and despairing he admits that his"... faith fell apart like a house of cards" He goes on to say that if it (his faith) should be rebuilt it is in danger of falling apart in a like wise manner. This was significant for me in that our faith, and practice must reach a deeper level, one that relies on the mystical nature of relationship to God. Similarly when I pray it is important for me to forget everything else, and with open heart and empty hands come before God.

Peace

Mark

[Francis king]

I pray, most days, a couple of times a day, and when I pray I am asking "god" to intervene in the lives of others... I don't pray for myself, as I dont think it works that way, so I pray for the souls of the dead, especially those who are on the news because they have been murdered or killed... I also pray for those whose stories touch my heart, in human interest story type magazines, and I pray for the sick that they shall be healed, and I also pray that those who cannot be healed at least have a safe passage and as little pain as possible. I pray for friends, my family members, and I also pray that the wicked ones I encounter get their rewards. I don't hold my hands over them, or even tell them about it, and its very rare I'll actually recite a prayer with someone else, unless they specifically request it, and I hardly ever do it in a church. Rather, I like to think that God listens if I approach reverentially and with an open heart, and an open mind, and even if god isnt listening, then maybe my good intentions permeate through the universe in some way and positively effect the change which is needed.

[wil]

Our thoughts are prayers,
and we are always praying.

Our thoughts are prayers,
take charge of what your saying.

Seek a higher consciousness,
a place of peacefulness,

And know that every thought,
becomes a prayer.

Tis what we sing sometimes prior to meditation.

Tis what we teach our kids, and then ask..."when you think ill will, what exactly are you praying for?"

Which leads to my favorite mantra, of late... "Would I be happy, if what I am thinking right now, manifested in form in front of my eyes?"

It puts a halt to that stinkin thinkin....

(I'm trying to find out where I got that from...it was less than a month ago...was it someone here?)

[path_of_one]

I pray that God's will is done, and that He gives me enough strength, humility, and wisdom to bear it. I pray that I grow spiritually so that in time I might be more like Him and be able to help others. I pray for peace and joy and love, no matter what the circumstances. When I pray for others, I pray the same basic stuff, just for them.

I share the desires of my heart with God, but I never ask for them. God already knows them, but I believe He doesn't mind me sharing because it is a comfort to share with Him. Likewise, I do not ask God to do certain things in my or other people's lives, because I simply don't know what is best. I just ask that God comfort and guide people through whatever is going on.