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What is prayer all about?
Gina:
I don't know if this thread is finished but I've been following it, just haven't known what to say till now:
What's prayer all about?
First -- at it's core prayer is that inner dialogue that streams through your head all day everyday.
Prayer is NOT always petitioning God.
Sometimes prayer is simply thanking God.
I'm not an expert on prayer but I know this: Whatever is on our mind at any given moment -- that's like a prayer. It's that inner dialogue that's constantly streaming through my head all day and sometimes all night. There are times when I'm making a conscious effort to direct my thoughts and petitions to God.
This next scripture verse always makes me laugh a little because I wind up with this stereotypical mental image of a Buddhist "monk" chanting prayer, or the person speaking in "tongues"; when in reality it's me pacing the proverbial floor when I'm upset or nervous about something talking to God and begging Him for what *I* want, over and over and over again. It's something I'm still working on.
Matt: 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
And if the people coming to me with prayer requests are expecting me to be all tied in knots and in God's face 24/7 until they get what they want, boy oh boy have I got news for you.
For me it's not getting down on my literal knees and all tied up in knots.
Sometimes it does feel like a burden to be asked by lots of people to pray for them. So, first I get totally honest with God and say, Guess what? I really feel overwhelmed by their problem-Thy will be done. And sometimes I'll say, Guess what, God? I'm not really feeling it-Thy will be done. (Sometimes I'm angry with the subject of the prayer--like those people who persecute and make life a living hell for us sometimes? I know I'm suppose to pray for them, and I just can't. So first I talk to God about how I don't want to pray for them and sometimes I ask others to pray for them.
There are times when I'm in an actual conversation with God and all but most of the time it's a quick - Thy will be done. Please comfort this person because mentally and emotionally I personally am not able to go there. And God understands my weakness. \
Here's a great prayer that I pray for myself when I'm in a bind and I'm learning to say it for others too: "God, I thank You in advance for what You're about to do in this person's life."
Then I go on with my usual inner dialogue. And God makes me more and more aware of His presence. It's comforting.
:)
space.ace.jase:
Hi Gina,
I hope this thread isn't over :P I'd still love to hear from anyone else.
I think I've gotten to the point of praying the same thing over and over and it feels a bit impersonal I guess "Father please do this if it be your will, father please do that if it be your will", and with more people asking for prayer which I have no problem doing I have actually written up a list of people to pray for :-[ It just seems so silly so I want to go back to the scripture and look at what God says about prayer.
Parable of the Persistent Widow
1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2“There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
I am reading Luke 18 which is where this verse is from and I guess I have given up in a way. Then in verse 17 Jesus says "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Maybe I'm just making this far too complicated than it should be-- keep it simple like a child would I guess. Actually I was searching the forum yesterday and I found this thread (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4979.msg38870.htm). I laughed at the part "Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there?
Anyway I think I'm making some kind of progress .. like Dave said if God wants me to pray for something he will cause me to pray.
Thanks everyone,
Jase
Kat:
Hi Jase,
--- Quote ---I guess my real question is why does God inspire me to pray for others to then do what he has planned in the life of others. I mean I'm just a sinful beast why me I cant do anything right.
--- End quote ---
Your question brings up an important point. Yes God is sovereign and in ultimate control of all things, but He works through His chosen and Jesus said we should "love your neighbor as yourself."
Mar 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
v. 31 The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
But if God has everything already planned out and as you say, "I'm just a sinful beast why me I cant do anything right"? That's true for all of us, but God is teaching us how to care for others as much as we do for ourselves. Now one way that we all can show love and concern for others is to seek God on their behave in prayer. Giving a few mins of our time in prayer is the least we can do for another, as it requires nothing physical but our time and concern.
So if we are the elect and will one day reign with Christ... we are now being made into the image of God, so we too must learn to love others, as God loves all His creatures. Praying for someone is one way we are learning to love others.
John 3:16 For thus God loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian."
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Dave in Tenn:
"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING to save them that believe" (I Cor. 12:1).
I don't mean to play fast and loose with scripture, but I think there is spiritual agreement here. Doesn't it please God by the obedience of praying to answer?
And don't confuse 'cause' with 'force'. Though He is not averse to using force, often the 'cause' is much, much more gentle.
While it's true that you will pray when He causes it, it's just as true that when you pray, He caused it. So pray. Don't try to figure it (God's will) out, just don't take credit for it. ;D
Do good.
Gina:
Yeah, Dave's right - No use in worrying about praying.
What Kat said has me thinking of Martha and Mary the sisters of Lazarus who was sick to the point of death, they sent for Jesus and this is what He does:
John 11
3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
And then we all know how the story ends and Lazarus is raised from the dead.
But it's interesting in how it parallels what you said about how God inspires you to pray for certain people only for them to go on to do the thing that was God's will for their lives.
And I truthfully consider Martha and Mary's sending for Jesus to heal Lazarus a prayer request in the flesh. :) Right? ;D
And so many times we send for Jesus and then He delays only for us to see things not turn out the way we'd hoped.
That may not help, so I'll ask that God bind any further spirits of confusion so you can have rest from your dilemma and a complete understanding of the purpose of prayer.
God bless you, Space.
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