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Why we pray

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Deborah-Leigh:


That's why I get excited when I feel inspired to pray, as I am encouraged that God is ready to bless or favor me in some way. L Ray Smith PRAYING BY GODS RULES 8)

Arc

grapehound:
In Babylon I thought it was just my own good idea to pray and it was nothing more than a wish list.  Since seeing it God's way through Ray's teaching,  It turns the whole subject on it's head !
 
Great post Daywalker.
I think it was Sigmund Freud that suggested that the 'truth is often the truth standing on it's head' !

Realising that we're inspired of God to pray, has really taken the  "pressure" off me ! (For want of a better word)

It seems Babylon isn't happy unless it's a burden.
I really identify with Ray's example given above.
To know that we're called to pray is like .......answering the phone.!

I could never get into this culture of setting aside particular times, like a rite or ceremony, I used to talk to God all day long and thought it was wrong.
What a blessing it was to hear Ray saying that was his way !
Just one of the mental prisons God has taken us out of, through this blessed ministry.

Muchest Luv
Grape

judith collier:
Arc, you said it well! I always looked at prayer as a meeting of the minds but for the life of me couldn't put it into a sentence that would make sense. People thought i was an air head. Too far out for them. I mean, 'meeting God in Spirit and seemingly knowing what to pray' I always knew something was coming, at least something different because i prayed. Egotistical they said. Whatever i said!
Judy

SDDiver:
Seems we’re in good company so to speak. The apostles were confused about this, too, and Jesus taught them several valuable lessons concerning prayer (see Luke 11:1-13):

He taught them priority:

He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:2-4 NIV)

And that persistence pays off:

Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet BECAUSE OF THE MAN'S BOLDNESS HE WILL GET UP AND GIVE HIM AS MUCH AS HE NEEDS."

 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:5-10 NIV)

And that answers to our prayers, though physical outwardly, are always ultimately spiritual:

 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!" (Luke 11:11-13 NIV)

This, to me, explains how and why we pray. Although, the persitence lesson is still somewhat of a mystery to me.

SDDiver:

--- Quote from: Judy on September 21, 2010, 01:34:50 PM ---Arc, you said it well! I always looked at prayer as a meeting of the minds but for the life of me couldn't put it into a sentence that would make sense. People thought i was an air head. Too far out for them. I mean, 'meeting God in Spirit and seemingly knowing what to pray' I always knew something was coming, at least something different because i prayed. Egotistical they said. Whatever i said!
Judy

--- End quote ---

Yeah ... for years, prayer was a group event. At church service (with 2000 visitors), we would be called to form small groups of 3 or 4 and then pray out loud for certain things. It always made me feel uncomfortable because some people were able to just go on and on for several minutes and all I could say was thanks God for this and that "in Jesus name I pray amen" (the magic formula you must say at the end of every prayer). My prayers were over in a matter of seconds. Made me feel a bit inferior to the "real" prayer warriors. Yup, those were the days.

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