Out loud, in silence, or not at all.

[azskyman]

There are a lot of people of faith on these boards. Not sure everyone is a Christian, and not sure that matters. But some solid spiritual hearts share a lot of good will at Storm2k.

When I grew up, we said grace openly and out loud before every meal. Took turns around the family table. Mom set that rule, and it was never questioned. She held fast to getting on our knees at bedtime, too...something she herself practiced every night.

I sat down with a client last week at a downtown restaurant in Phoenix. He asked if we could bow our heads in prayer before the meal. We did, and I appreciated it.

Sadly, I must admit the practice of a prayerful beginning to each meal at our home never got planted. Virtually all holiday dinners and meals included the practice, but that was as far as it went.

I opened Thanksgiving dinner with a prayer last year in San Diego (and given the chaotic family situation at that time, we should have skipped the food and kept right on praying!), and did so at Easter this year.

There's a certain level of guilt I feel, not so much for the omission of the mealtime prayer, but for not making my faith more obvious to my sons. I feel no less connected to my faith, but maybe not so visibly committed to those who see me from the outside in.

I'd like to hear what you and your family practices in terms of your mealtime prayer.

And if you wish to share, other prayerful parts of your day.

[Pburgh]

It's funny you should bring this up now. I just got home from yesterday from visiting my daughter, son-in-law and grandson in Columbus. I've always felt the same guilt as you Steve. When the girls were growing up our lives were so busy that dinner time was not as sacred as when I was a kid. Nightime prayers were always said but I've never felt that I impressed the need for the mealtime prayers as much as I should have.

But, maybe I was mistaken. When we sat down for dinner these past few days, my 3 year old Grandson grabbed my hand and we all clasped hands as he thanked God for our many blessings and the food we were about to eat.

Needless to say, I was one proud Grandma!!!!

[azsnowman]

Michelle and I say grace at every meal, not just the *special holiday meals*. Growing up my father would not allow this practice at *his* table, my mother, sisters and I would utter a silent prayer at every meal. It still bothers me to this day that my father would not let us give thanks for the supper, I think that's the reason for my strong faith these days, I swore that I would NEVER be like my father in that aspect of life, never!

Dennis

[weatherwunder]

We practice prayer at meals, but we each do a silent prayer, instead of an outloud prayer.

[Pburgh]

They're all "outloud" to God weatherwunder!!!

[GulfBreezer]

Thanks for this topic! It seems that God is showing me topics like this on every level. I am in a class in school called "Critical Thinking" and there are discussion questions posted every week and we are to argue our points, the one question that has gotten me into such an uproar and therefore created a thread longer than any other our classs has seen (I go to college online) is the question that asks "Do you believe that the words "under God" are unconstitutional and should be removed from the pledge?" This question has made me do a bunch of Bible research and I have ruffled a few feathers. The reason I brought this up in reference to your question about praying b4 meals and the guilt you express feeling is because I am of firm belief that I am not put on this earth to pacify "non-believers" I am here to spread the word of God and bring as many as I can to his protection. I am not one of those who would stand on a street corner and tell people that they are going to hell unless they listen to me and follow God, but I am one to never be ashamed to voice my prayers and encourage others to do the same. I did not grow up in a family that prayed. My family was next to the word dysfunctional in the dictionary. My father was very ill and committed suicide 8 years ago. I went downhill after that and God was at the bottom of that hill to carry me back up. I wasted so much of my life not putting my faith where it belonged and had it firmly placed on myself. I will never make that mistake again because I have found the power of faith and prayer. There are situations where I will pray silently but more often than not, I will pray out loud. I am in a form of constant prayer throughout the day and that is how I live. Those who have trouble accepting my faith, I add them to my prayer list. God knows your dilemma and He will give you the answers, not only do we need to pray, but most of the time we need to just shut-up and listen. He gives us the answers every single day, are our lives too clouded to be able to see those answers AND recognize them for what they are? A divine word from God?

[weatherwunder]

I agree Pburgh. No offense meant in my post!

[Pburgh]

No offense taken at all!!!!! Most of my praying is done without uttering a word outloud.

[streetsoldier]

My own feelings about this echo Christ's admonition about public prayer to "make a show of it"....even as He knows what I am to say beforehand, I do so in private.

"To Him all things are known and nothing is hidden"...besides, my eloquence has, in past, shown itself to be a stumbling block, to the point that I decline requests to lead prayer in any public weal. (read :Am I doing this for Him, or for others to appreciate my "performance"?)

[Guest]

When I was growing up we all sit down and ate dinner every evening when my mom cooked and we all said GRACE outloud. At nighttime we were expected to kneel and say our prayers before going to bed. We try really hard to do it now with my daugther - we all three go in her room and pray at night and try to say grace at dinner time. I do and will say grace in a public resturant.

Patricia

[JetMaxx]

I usually say grace out loud before meals, both here and in public...but am discreet (not loud).

I always pray before going to bed at night, and sometimes when I awaken during the night. My life has become so stressful in recent days, I should stay in prayer more than I do.

I pray both aloud and silently...I've never really thought about how I prayed that much...I know God understands regardless.

[Pro-Storm]

I pray both aloud and silently...I've never really thought about how I prayed that much...I know God understands regardless.

I agree 100% JetMaxx!! We say our prayers all day long, the lord never exits a moment of our lives! :38:

[therock1811]

Usually I do it silently... every time.

[vbhoutex]

Gulfbreezer!!! Excellent post!!!! SI could not agree more!! I too am in almost a constant state of prayer in one form or another.
I am constantly asked to lead prayers as I am an Elder in my Church(Christian Church(Disciples of Christ)). I happily do so. I understand exactly what you are saying Bill. It is sometimes difficult to be sure that one is "definitely doing it for him", but I will add something to that-HE ALWAYS KNOWS-whether we do or not.
I was brought up praying at each meal and we have done the same in our home. When we are sitting down to a meal at the table(which isn't often these days), I am proud to say, if our children are present the prayer is automatic as they voluntarily do it each time.
As we have all seen, PRAYER IS A MIGHTY SWORD, and I will never hesitate to use it, no matter the situation. However, I do not force my prayers or praying on others publicly either. God hears me no matter what I am doing or where I am.
Steve, thank you for this thread!!!