Prayer

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ColdFront77

Prayer

#1 Postby ColdFront77 » Fri Apr 18, 2003 7:03 pm

This will probably give me negative remarks, but I mine as well bring it up.....

I am Catholic, but for some reason or another am confused on how to pray. I guess it is a personal issue and all I ever hear is "just talk to God," etc.

Sorry for bringing up such an awkward topic; that probably won't go anywhere. Thanks anyway. :)
Last edited by ColdFront77 on Sun Apr 20, 2003 7:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Miss Mary

#2 Postby Miss Mary » Fri Apr 18, 2003 8:40 pm

Tom - I was born and raised Catholic too. Probably anytime before I turned 20 I thought of prayer as something you did in church, silently or outloud. Also while praying the rosary. Double that age and more, and now I think prayer is very individual. Being taught in Parochial schools for my generation was very, very strict. Many nuns were armed with rulers and they weren't used for math. You were scared to even ask to go to the bathroom! Let alone ask if this is the way we're supposed to pray? So your topic didn't offend me. I think as we mature, prayer can be anywhere - while out walking in the woods, driving, watching your kids play outside, anywhere really. I've really gotten away from the very strict way I was taught to do things in the Catholic Church (I'm sure some think it was okay and might find that strictness comforting, but I certainly didn't). As this topic grows, I might mention one belief that I was actually taught that in my book is so wrong.
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#3 Postby vbhoutex » Sat Apr 19, 2003 2:12 am

If someone takes offense, then they are the one with the problem, IMO.

I have actually taken seminars on how to pray.

The basics are that there is no set way to pray. Whatever makes you comfortable is cool because God listens to ALL prayer, no matter how it is presented. Like Miss Mary, I have matured over the years in my "prayer technique". What that means is I pray to God when, how and where I want to. I ask him to help, protect, love, comfort, etc. others. I make specific requests by name for individuals I know, myself, my family, my friends, my enemies, our World leaders, etc. YOu get the point.

And if you don't get the point, email me, pm me, whatever and ask away and I will do my best to answer. I truly do have some books on praying and have many more available through my pastor and church I'm sure.
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ColdFront77

#4 Postby ColdFront77 » Sat Apr 19, 2003 2:18 am

Thank you Mary and David. I try to pray the "best way I can," but seems to not be the way it 'should be done' -- for lack of a different way to put it. The hours pass by and it seems I never get to actually pray, when I am in bed [before falling asleep] doesn't seem appropriate or enough time and then the next day begins.

I appreciate this topic not being awkward and/or being offensive in any way; so far at least.

We are here to discuss any issue, which makes this board what it should be among weather enthusiasts. :D
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Miss Mary

#5 Postby Miss Mary » Sat Apr 19, 2003 7:39 am

Tom - >>I try to pray the "best way I can," but seems to not be the way it 'should be done' -- for lack of a different way to put it.<<

My main point was I now think prayer is very individual, what works for one person may not work for another. One may want to shout from the mountain tops. Another may want to whisper their prayers silently in the comforts of their own home. Please don't let anyone tell you Tom how to pray - you'll find your own way and I truly believe that God listens to each and every one of us.

My reminiscing about my Catholic school upbringing contradicts what I believe now. It was incredibly strict back then. You had the same ladies in the front row praying so intently, that they weren't even really listening to the Mass. If you just sneezed they gave you a dirty look. As if to say - we don't sneeze in church! I'm 47 so I saw a lot of changes - women wearing veils, fasting from midnight on for Communion, women rarely wearing pants, when jeans were first worn (gasp!), little girls and women getting all decked out for Easter and Christmas (I did that a few years with my girls, now they'd die if I encouraged an entirely new formal outfit from head to toe). Of course all these changes mean cut off shorts and flip flop shoes now. So the changes aren't all good - people should dress a little more conservatively IMO. But summer attire at Mass seems to what you will see in June/July/August. Our Pastor seems to look past all of this and look upon our congregation as a whole. I'm getting off track here. Tom - prayer the way you want and where you want!
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#6 Postby isobar » Sat Apr 19, 2003 9:56 am

The awesome thing about prayer is that God is accessible 24/7, and what He wants is a relationship with you, open communication, not something rote and rigid. Also, like Miss Mary said, it can be any volume, and He'll hear you.

All the best, my friend! :D Please seek us out, either here or PM, if you want to talk about it more.
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#7 Postby Steve H. » Sat Apr 19, 2003 10:02 am

I too was raised a Catholic, remember the nuns at catechism, and talk of rulers broken across the knuckles. (Never got hit with one 'cause I went to public school.) Although I don't participate or go to Catholic church's now. (I don't have anything against them, its just that some of their traditions and beliefs are not found in the Bible.) But as for prayer, it is personal but if you're having trouble with the HOW, you are not alone! Many times I have began to pray, then suddenly realized 10 minutes later my mind has wandered onto something else that has nothing to do with prayer. This is often because the mind is cluttered with events of the day or reeling on an emotion while in the midst of prayer. Also, don't pray in the King's English with thee (s) and thou (s)!! Not necessary!! When you open the line with the creator talk to him! I try to talk like a child talking to a parent (respectfully) but not constrained, as we are looking for guidance and love. Most importantly, if you only accomplish in giving thanks for this day, that is indeed a great thing. Prayers also should include or start with praise. Avoid selfish prayer, yet do not be afraid to ask for things that are necessary ("in everything turn to me"). Don't feel guilty about it. Praying for others is also key. Avoid demanding. We are trying to align our Will with his Will. I kept my prayers short and to the point in the beginning, as I get distracted too easily. And I often pray for God to quiet that little squirrel that's spinning around in my head, and ask for peace and contentment. That's some suggestions, but I needed to learn to pray. It didn't come naturally for me. Through practice, we learn to get better at it. I'm always learning more, and probably don't pray enough quite honestly. :wink:
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#8 Postby Amanzi » Sat Apr 19, 2003 10:35 am

Great responses you guyz!

Tom, Prayer is just communication. And like David said, the more you do it the easier it becomes. I look at it this way. Jesus is a friend (some people are closer to him than others on a prayer level) Just like any friend, the more you talk to him the easier it becomes and the more your relationship with him develops. God's ears are always open and he knows each one of us as individuals. Each of us pray in a different way, just as each one of us speak to others in a different way.
I find myself praying at very odd times of the day, when I am sitting in front of the computer, when I am driving in my car. When I am reading my Bible. Tom if you seek a way and have a will in your heart to talk to the Lord, He is faithfull to the end and will encourage you and draw you nearer to him. I found this web site very helpful with all kinds of questions. http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/prayer.html Of course if you want to know anything else or just talk, I am here for you all the time, send me a pm if you like. I know the others here will be just as willing to talk to you about any questions.
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#9 Postby Guest » Sat Apr 19, 2003 10:45 am

Tom - I too am a Catholic. I was raised on the strict fundamentals which over the years I personally have relaxed. I am a Eurachristic Minister and do as much as I can. As for praying - Tom I find I do more of it when I am not being distracted by other things. Pray is a communication between God and you - most of mine is silent. Just say what is on your mind - my husband became a catholic when we married and he too has become more accustom to prayer. I believe that no two people pray alike - each is his own in communicating with God.

I hope this helps.

Patricia
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#10 Postby azskyman » Sun Apr 20, 2003 10:35 am

For me, prayer involves being humble. I recognize that I cannot master a situation or change a course. I am powerless to "make things better." And so I am humble.

Yet I view, as does Bronwyn and others who post here, Jesus as a friend...the kind who never makes light of your concern. The kind that always has time for you. The kind who, no matter what the outcome, is there for you nonetheless.

While those kinds of friends are rare in "real life," God's presence is perpetual. He is always there to hold my hand or calm my fears. He is as real as the warming sun.

And because He is real, I too talk with Him as a friend. I pray not always about healing or improvement or inclusion, but about understanding of His decision. To give or to take, to offer or to hold back. Those decisions are His, not mine, to make. I am humbled by His power to know more than me. I am humbled by the gifts he presents and do my best to use them on His behalf.

So, I say to you, praying is little different than a conversation with a friend. But it is in letting go to a hand that knows better than we do just what the future should hold.

Hope this helps just a little.

skyman
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#11 Postby azsnowman » Sun Apr 20, 2003 10:43 am

GREAT thread Tom! As Dave said, if anyone has a problem with this, then it is THEM that has the problem.

As far as my prayers go, the minute I open the eyes, I thank God for seeing me through another night and allowing me to see another glorious day dawning. I thank Him for all the blessings that He bestows upon myself and my family. It's like it's been said, it's like talking to a very good friend. You know what the most AWESOME part is? When He talks with you!! This is done by just being *quite*, you must be very quite and He WILL talk to you, honest Tom, some may say this is very odd, but take it from a man who has MANY conversations with the Creator.

Isn't God AWESOME??????

Dennis
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#12 Postby azsnowman » Sun Apr 20, 2003 10:46 am

Be still Tom......be *quite*, He WILL talk to you, trust me on this, ALSO.....like Azskyman said, humble yourself before Him, one must sometime humble himself before the Lord, once you do.....the lines of communication with Him will be WIDE OPEN!

Dennis
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ColdFront77

#13 Postby ColdFront77 » Sun Apr 20, 2003 7:55 pm

I appreciate the discussion here. Thank you very much, Mary, Donna, Steve, Bronwyn, Patricia and Dennis.

I understand what you [plural] have said to a point. Generally we are either want to or should pray at least once a day. My issue with this is... we may only find the quietest time to pray just before we fall asleep right after we lay down to go to bed. This being the case, we can easily drift asleep and as the hours and days pass by we may never actually pray like we wish to or even know how to after not "getting used to it."

I am glad this thread is going somewhere, civilly. :D What I meant in my initial post was that I just thought bringing up this issue was awkward, not that it would be offensive; rather that it is generally "easy" for people to find quiet time and pray/talk to God.
Last edited by ColdFront77 on Sun Apr 20, 2003 11:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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#14 Postby isobar » Sun Apr 20, 2003 11:48 pm

Tom, I don't know many people who find it "easy" to build some quiet time into their lives, including myself. In this day and age, that takes some effort. I have to put it into perspective sometimes ... "Gee can I spare a few minutes this morning for the Creator of the Universe, who I owe everything including my very life?" Yep, the Big Picture is pretty darn big!
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#15 Postby weatherlover427 » Mon Apr 21, 2003 12:23 am

I pray with some gentle Christian worship music playing in the background every night before I go to bed. I am ashamed to admit that tonight will be my 6th night doing this. :oops: Anyway, I just pray in a manner that I feel comfortable doing it in because I know that He will hear my prayers and that He will answer them. ;)
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#16 Postby Amanzi » Mon Apr 21, 2003 11:21 am

isobar wrote:Tom, I don't know many people who find it "easy" to build some quiet time into their lives, including myself. In this day and age, that takes some effort. I have to put it into perspective sometimes ... "Gee can I spare a few minutes this morning for the Creator of the Universe, who I owe everything including my very life?" Yep, the Big Picture is pretty darn big!


Very well said Isobar!
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