what a burden

I dont like praying. I dont think a person should do anything spiritual just to get it over with.

I dont understand prayer. What's the point of praying, say, for someone and a situation if its not God's will? Then your just praying in vain.

And why do I have to ask God over and over again? If I was married I wouldnt have to ask my husband over and over again for something. He would love me and asking once would be enough. The bible seems to portray God as very hard to deal with, and you have to beg for things. Or you have to suffer first to get his attention, by fasting or whatever. If I cut my hand off, would that make God hear me faster?

Why cant i just simply ask once for something?
Do I really have to tell him how great he is to get him in the mood to hear me? Prayer is a burden. Shouldnt it be enjoyable?

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Prayer is not just asking God for things, Prayer is communication not repettive request. If as you speak of a loving Husband would he not want to have intimate conversation with the one he loves. It is such with God, do not you know that He longs to have you speak with him in loving conversation? He already knows what we need and what we desire, but he longs for deeper things of the heart to be expressed. If you are seeing prayer as a burden then you do not understand love. When I was in love I longed to spend time alone with the one I loved, where no one could destract our intimate words with each other. Do you not know that God loves you so much that He left his heavenly place to come among those that would ignore him. Have you ever had a feeling that you wanted to know someone that would ignore you, I know I have. Once I was attracted to a beautiful young woman and tried everything I could to get her to like me, but I was ignored or rebuked. It felt terrible, but Jesus did not let that stop Him. He went to the cross for each one of us that He loved even when we didn't love him. When I realized that He did that for me I began to understand that love. Oh how I long to love him as he first loved me and I am learning to do that by his very power and life that His Holy Spirit has birthed in me.

I think going to God consistently in prayer deepens your relationship with Him, even if what you're asking for isn't in His will. I wouldn't look at it as a simple utilitarian (only looking at the outcome) situation where you 1. ask God for something 2. God gives it to you. I think when you repeatedly pray for something for a long period of time, God uses that to work in you, building up patience and also trust in God. I think of the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8), which talks about persevering in prayer. I think if you want to be a more consistent prayer, and not look at it as a burden, then strive to know Him more, and know how much He loves you. Then the desire to pray will follow.

If you only see prayer as a time for God to look over your wish list then you've missed something fundamental. In fact I'd say you've entirely missed the most basic and most fundamental part about being a Christian.

Prayer is about having a conversation with God. Notice I said a conversation? It's about building a relationship through a two way discussion. It's about getting to know God as your Father, friend, King, Lord, husband, etc. If all you do is ask for things from God you should reexamine your relationship with Him.

If prayer is seen as a "Wishing Machine" then God should be a robot or a "Giving Machine". But truly God is a divine Father who longs to have a RELATIONSHIP with us, His children, just as you have a relationship with your loving daddy, and mommy, and brother, sister, husband, children.

Once you feel the relationship with God as a personal, loving relationship, you begin to enjoy "COMMUNICATION" with him, and that is prayer. PRayer is never worrisome or boring. Prayer never requires God to do something for us, in order for us to communicate with Him. We should not make God as a bribe that we only come to Him knowing we want something in return.

We should focus on the throne of Grace for a greater spiritual development, growth in understanding His Will and His purpose for us on earth, till we meet Him in heaven. Once you come to this level of feelings within you, you have experienced the Creator very personally that you will not feel prayer such a routine job.

Enjoy prayer the way the Spirit leads you. THat is something you will eventually grasp when you see yourself rejoice within you at the thought of God Himself.

He was with us in ancient times, and He still lives within each of us today. Why not celebrate His Love and Salvation everyday, buddy? Make your prayer a celebration of His love! You can do it, Buddy.

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Prayer is a conversation with God. You wouldn't want to see God at the end of your life and hear him say "I do not know you". that is what would probably happen if you never pray.

if prayer is a conversation with God then it becomes a joy and not a burden. don't ask for anything. just talk. He is so great and so wonderful that talking to Him is a joy

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Hi everyone, thanks for all the answers!

I hear the Lord talk to me in different ways during the day. For me I do not like the kind of praying where u have to say many things. Like i could never have a routine prayer time, it doesnt work for me.

I wonder if that way is not for me. One person may experience prayer in a certain way, and another a different way. I like to spend alot of time alone, and I guess I'm quiet. For me though, if I really am His daughter, then no, I should simply ask once and He wont forget it and if it is a good request, then do it.

The bible says that because of the power of God, not one star in the sky goes missing. If that is so then not one of us will be lost either. Maybe a star will die, but God will bring it back at the restitution of all things. I believe despite my inability to pray the evangelical way, as they are the ones that criticize me - that i wont be lost. I love God, but I like to keep a distance, too. Why? because God hurts people sometimes.

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Originally Posted by Jeffz

Prayer is not just asking God for things, Prayer is communication not repettive request. If as you speak of a loving Husband would he not want to have intimate conversation with the one he loves. It is such with God, do not you know that He longs to have you speak with him in loving conversation? He already knows what we need and what we desire, but he longs for deeper things of the heart to be expressed. If you are seeing prayer as a burden then you do not understand love.

How can anyone know love? Love must be unlimited, unfathomnable. I have never even really loved a man. I used to be a prostitute. This is the accusation I always get thrown at me. "You dont know love." Why do you have to brag? I dont believe in love!

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There are many, many false beliefs about God that have ALWAYS been taught in the institutions (buildings) of man (the church of man began in Antioch, Acts 11:26), but also there are many ATTITUDES that we've been taught that are CONTRARY to Godly behavior and thought.

Jesus prayed for STRENGTH to endure what He was going through, not to CHANGE God's will, not to FLATTER His Father with "praise" or patronize His Father as though God needed any 'cheering up'.

We've learned some pretty bad attitudes about alot of things (in fact, there should be no buildings or public display of devotion at all, our devotion/relationship should be PRIVATE, not just PERSONAL).
In John 2:19 and 21, Jesus established the new worship temple (outer temple) in His own body and we each are the inner temple (1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19). There should be no public prayer or worship with "lips"/sound...

Matthew 6:6
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door".

Romans 14:22
"The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God".

...so that God will be everything spiritual to each one of us...

1 Corinthians 15:28
"that God may be everything to every one".

...and JESUS (not the bible or pastors, etc.) will be our ONLY spiritual authority in the universe...

Matthew 28:18
"And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me"....(the bible did not die on the cross).

...so that JESUS can be our only spiritual teacher (because we recognize GOD as our true heritage,...the "anointing")...

1 John 2:27
"but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him".

When we realize that we are spirit creations (new creation) that are spiritually alive inside Jesus's body, then we will realize that JESUS (the fullness/entirety of God) is our heritage (not "Israel") and then we will realize the 'built in' seed of 'Godly common sense' (so to speak).

Amos 5:21........The Lord declares...
"I HATE.............I DESPISE your feasts and your solemn assemblies"...(in case anybody CARES about The Lord's wishes/desires instead of COMMANDS to the rebellious that need to "OBEY" and "SUBMIT"...doing things AGAINST THEIR WILL).

Anything we give to God or our fellow human being must not be given GRUDGINGLY, but given CHEERFULLY/WILLINGLY.

We must have only peaceful regard for others, not give them special treatment as primadonnas (SHOW no partiality to our spiritual kinfolk in Christ, James 2:1 and 9).

The Lord has always given me what HE has decided that I should have (I want it NO OTHER WAY no matter what). My thoughts can be faulty, but His will is PERFECT and MUST BE no matter what. God could do a 'Job' on me (boils, hell, whatever) and I would still love Him (though He slay me, yet shall I trust/love Him).

I don't pray to God (maybe at stressful times when I need more strength). We've been taught to be condescending to God. We've been taught to PLEAD for Him to be/do good. We've been taught to REQUEST what has already been DONE/finished. We've been taught to BEG from an OVERSEER/dictator in order to get/take what "WE" FEEL that we DESERVE/want.

Each person will understand God to be as they themselves are. If we are judgemental of other people and always prudishly criticize (pick on them) people, we will think of God as the same (picking on us), but if we are 'live and let live' peaceful and just, God will be the same to us (the individual). That is what people FEAR about God (that He is the same as they are). Most people are rebellious and competitive by nature, so they will RESENT God's loving correction if/whenever HE decides that it's ABSOLUTELY necessary....(they really don't want His will to be done).

The "strong delusion" is not a future event, it has been in effect since Antioch (the CHURCH OF MAN, apostate church) and the modern moneychangers still rule over those who rather have a BOOK devotion rather than a LOVE DEVOTION (God is LOVE, the "GREATEST of these", 1 Corinthians 13:13).

If we seek whom our "SOUL" loves....

Song of Solomon 3:2 (Song of Songs)
"I will seek him whom my soul loves"....then we will rejoice/delight in Him.

If we truly LOVE The Lord and glory in Him (DELIGHT in Him), then He knows what would really make us happy...

Psalm 37:4
"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart".

...so have a "faith FOR faith" (Romans 1:17) and a "more excellent" devotion/relationship (everything in/of God is integral) so He will be your only spiritual teacher and teach you the "depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Look up all these verses in the doctrine of Christ (bible). We should not live by every word that HAS PROCEEDED from the mouth of God 2000 years ago and earlier, but we should HEAR His VOICE (John 10:27) when God speaks to us through our conscience/soul so that our goodness be of our own freewill conscience (Philemon verse 14)..

God revealed Himself PARTIALLY to the Israelites (they could worship the heavenly Father only), but now through His Son, He reveals Himself FULLY/IN ENTIRETY/completeness...

Colossians 2:9
"For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily".

2 John verse 9
"he who abides in the doctrine has BOTH the Father and the Son".

Your love for God has served you well, nasa1 (The Lord is giving you the desires of your heart...and is not finished).

All verses are from the RSV. Many modern versions have been corrupted by making them politically correct or simple to understand (marketing purposes, selling more to high school dropouts and such).

Check an online bible at blueletterbible for multiple versions to get a better understanding of some verses.
　
　

My dear friend forgive me if I was bragging, as I do not know love completely as you have said. I have done many things in my life also that ones have thrown at me. We all fall short, and Jesus still loves us even when we don't believe in love as you have said. My heart goes out to you in your lack of love. Yes love is unlimited and unfathomable. God's love is without bounds, higher than the heavens, deeper than the deepest oceans. There is a place that we can experience a touch of that awsome love and that is through the work of the cross. The Word tells us that God gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall be saved. That is where I first had a touch of His love. It overwhelmed me and through the power of that love by the Spirit of God he has been transforming me from a low down junkie/crackhead/thief/ and many more to numerous to name. He knows them all, and has put all upon Jesus and laid them all upon Him as He was nailed to the tree/cross. When I realized for myself that He did that for me one that did not deserve his love, but he still did it. He died for me and for you, may God let those words soak into your heart and may he bring light into your understanding. For when you get touched by his love it will cause you and I to have compassion for others that are in darkness, even when they don't see the darkness, never the less all have and do fall short of the requirements of God, but thank God our relationship does not depend on my righteous acts, but only upon the righteousness of Jesus.
one man set free sharing that freedom to others,
Jeffrey