> Testimonies / Prayer Requests / Fellowship

How do I feel comfortable praying?

(1/4) > >>

TheRysta:
Hi guys. I might have said this before but I'm 17 and I've only believed in God since Christmas. Almost immediately I got a huge phobia of hell (which to some degree is still persisant due to doubt) and almost immediately found this website.

I never used to pray, except for the odd time when I was really distressed. Now that I am trying to, it's very difficult. Whenever I do so, I just seem to want it over and done with as quickly as possible. I am more used to spending long walks in deep meditative thought, that's how I 'pray', not speaking to God in any direct manner.

In a way praying makes me feel nervous. I never feel like I've accomplished anything or that I've been answered.

A few nights ago I knelt down for a really sincere prayer. I got an odd feeling, as if God was letting me know I was his child, as if I was in a glass jar with 'God's child' labelled on it. I can't really describe it. It lasted for about fifteen seconds. Now, I'm not going to make a mountain out of a molehill. I've had someone tell me that 'God touched me' or something, but it wasn't really THAT intense. It was just a state of mind, like feeling tired or getting a rush when you put food in your mouth. The point is, when I felt this I wasn't nervous anymore! It removed it completely and I really felt like I was praying. FOR ONCE it was actually a sanctuary. How can I get this feeling back because I don't feel I can pray properly without it, because I never feel as if I've been heard.

- Ryan

daywalker:

--- Quote from: TheRysta on June 19, 2009, 03:44:17 PM ---Hi guys. I might have said this before but I'm 17 and I've only believed in God since Christmas. Almost immediately I got a huge phobia of hell (which to some degree is still persisant due to doubt) and almost immediately found this website.

I never used to pray, except for the odd time when I was really distressed. Now that I am trying to, it's very difficult. Whenever I do so, I just seem to want it over and done with as quickly as possible. I am more used to spending long walks in deep meditative thought, that's how I 'pray', not speaking to God in any direct manner.

In a way praying makes me feel nervous. I never feel like I've accomplished anything or that I've been answered.

A few nights ago I knelt down for a really sincere prayer. I got an odd feeling, as if God was letting me know I was his child, as if I was in a glass jar with 'God's child' labelled on it. I can't really describe it. It lasted for about fifteen seconds. Now, I'm not going to make a mountain out of a molehill. I've had someone tell me that 'God touched me' or something, but it wasn't really THAT intense. It was just a state of mind, like feeling tired or getting a rush when you put food in your mouth. The point is, when I felt this I wasn't nervous anymore! It removed it completely and I really felt like I was praying. FOR ONCE it was actually a sanctuary. How can I get this feeling back because I don't feel I can pray properly without it, because I never feel as if I've been heard.

- Ryan

--- End quote ---



Hey Ryan,

I very rarely kneel down with my hands together in a 'formal prayer'. I just talk with God all throughout the day. Just a sentence here and there, whenever I feel like I have something to say. When I see someone crying or a car accident, I ask for God to help and comfort those involved. When someone tells me good news, I thank Him for it... stuff like that.

"I am more used to spending long walks in deep meditative thought, that's how I 'pray', not speaking to God in any direct manner"

Well, God can hear your thoughts, so if this is how you feel comfortable, then keep doing so. Sometimes I feel the urge to pray but I don't know why or what I need to pray about so I just tell God that He knows what I'm thinking and what's going on, so whatever it is that's bothering me, please take care of it.

I usually don't even pray 'out loud', I just think it. I meditate on what I want God to know. There's no need to get on one's knees and lean on a bed or something... not that it's wrong to.

God knows you far better than you know yourself. You don't need to feel ashamed for the way you think or get nervous about talking with Him. He knows who you are and why you are the way you are.


God's always listening. He may not always answer your prayers immediately, but He's always listening. And He's always there, wherever you are, He's always there. Sometimes it doesn't seem that way, but He is.

Anyway, I hope this helps you some. God be with you, bro,


Christopher.

Ninny:
Hi Ryan,
You know we've always been taught to talk to God as if He were somewhere far away. God is right there with you! He knows the deep-inside-you person that no one else knows, way deep inside your heart where all your deepest desires, hopes, and dreams are is the place where God is. You may as well know that with God your heart is an open book! You don't have to say anything out loud, but God knows it already. So you can walk through your day, Ryan, knowing that God knows the intense desires of your heart to know Him better and to please Him. He loves you with such an incredible love that nothing you could do or say can shock Him, surprise Him, or take Him unawares! So when God touches you and you feel Him there just be blessed and know that it isn't always a feeling, but it's a knowing..a knowing that your Father God loves you and hears your heart's cries. Sometimes I feel empty at the end of the day or anytime then I can cry to God and He fills me! Other times I am so full that when the day is over all there is left to say is "Thank you Lord, good night.."
Be blessed because you have the most awesome Father in the universe!
Kathy ;)

EKnight:
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Eileen

Dave in Tenn:
You've gotten three great replies.  Take them to heart.  

I was with you until the last sentence/question.  You asked "How can I get this feeling back because I don't feel I can pray properly without it, because I never feel as if I've been heard." and I'm compelled to answer you this way:

Would you ask a similar question if it was your earthly Father you were talking about?  "I'm sorry, Dad, but unless I have five dollars, it's impossible for me to talk to you.  Would you, therefore, give me five dollars every time you want to talk to me?"  Wouldn't your dad resist being 'trained' by you like that?  I would!    

You know when they say, "Live in the moment." they're just repeating what scripture says.  Learn to live that way.  It won't happen before you turn 18.   :D

Now back up and read the other replies again.

Hang in there.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page