Curious about Prayer

Prayer is about praying for someone else.
Pray for your country and its leaders.
Pray for those who are risking their lives to spread the Gospel.
Pray for your family and friends.
Lastly, pray for yourself. Pray that you would be closer to God. Pray to be more thankful. Pray that God would give you more strength and wisdom to pray.

Here are some prayer resources that I have personally found helpful:
P r a y e r
Let us
Abbreviated Prayerbook
Prayer for the Living
The Message of the Lord's Prayer

I've found that prayer is one of those things that is relatively easy to contemplate the idea of, but difficult to follow through on. I have always struggled with maintaining an active prayer life. I have been given a prayer rule by my spiritual father- and when I do follow it- I have found it to be very beneficial.

Prayer,

Has been difficult for my as well. Recently I have found myself asking for things for myself. Especially, understanding of why I said certain things which led to my darkest hour.

It seems to me, that when I am earnest, and really do want an answer from God, and have faith that eventually He will answer, I actually do gain some understanding. I rarely ask for physical things, I usually ask for happiness and understanding of my past, and when I ask earnestly, I do receive more understanding.

It's really hard to say. I try to pray for others myself, and it only feels right when I truly am praying for them, instead of praying for them to pride myself so that I can then pray for myself later.

The others have better responses. I am without good words to explain or help. But I thought maybe I'd share how I have had similar frustrations.

Consider asking to be shown how and why Jesus prayed. It's an eye-opener.

moomoomeow3 said:

Hello
I was originally planning to ask about how I can better connect and be close to God while praying. While I still am wondering this, something new came up.
Today, I went to Youth Group, and the topic was prayer. I realized that when I pray, I focus too much on asking for things (I kind of treat God like a vending machine). And even then, my faith isn't good enough for me to believe that my prayers will be answered.
So I decided to try something different. Tomorrow, I will be focusing my prayers on thanksgiving, worship, and meditation. I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Pray for me, if you're feelin' it.
P.S. I am also trying to give thanks even though I don't think that I am actually thankful. Would this also work with worship? Suggestions are, again, appreciated!

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Take a look at the "Lord's prayer" and try to put it in your own words.

moomoomeow3 said:

Hello
I was originally planning to ask about how I can better connect and be close to God while praying. While I still am wondering this, something new came up.
Today, I went to Youth Group, and the topic was prayer. I realized that when I pray, I focus too much on asking for things (I kind of treat God like a vending machine). And even then, my faith isn't good enough for me to believe that my prayers will be answered.
So I decided to try something different. Tomorrow, I will be focusing my prayers on thanksgiving, worship, and meditation. I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Pray for me, if you're feelin' it.
P.S. I am also trying to give thanks even though I don't think that I am actually thankful. Would this also work with worship? Suggestions are, again, appreciated!

Click to expand...

I've been thinking and reading a lot about prayer lately -- especially the "unanswered" variety. This one book I'm currently reading is pretty good, but I don't think there will ever be a good response to, "what about unanswered prayer?" The author of the book (Jerry Sittser) seems to be essentially saying, pray, keep praying, and don't stop praying. In the End it will all come together.

posted: I focus too much on asking for things.

Oh I understand what you're saying.

posted: Tomorrow, I will be focusing my prayers on thanksgiving, worship, and meditation. I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

I did this, too and it really changed the way I pray. Think you'll see the same or similar things.

moomoomeow3 said:

Hello
I was originally planning to ask about how I can better connect and be close to God while praying. While I still am wondering this, something new came up.
Today, I went to Youth Group, and the topic was prayer. I realized that when I pray, I focus too much on asking for things (I kind of treat God like a vending machine). And even then, my faith isn't good enough for me to believe that my prayers will be answered.
So I decided to try something different. Tomorrow, I will be focusing my prayers on thanksgiving, worship, and meditation. I was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. Pray for me, if you're feelin' it.
P.S. I am also trying to give thanks even though I don't think that I am actually thankful. Would this also work with worship? Suggestions are, again, appreciated!

Click to expand...

It's all about a personal and intimate relationship with Father God. Being in prayer is the best way to spend quality time with Him. There's many ways to be in prayer.

Source: Power for Living by Jamie Buckingham (page 67-68) Power for Living: Jamie Buckingham: 9780842318167: Amazon.com: Books

"Prayer is nothing more than a child talking to his Daddy. It can be:

1) A cry for help in time of need.
2) A squeal of delight for receiving a gift.
3) A plea in behalf of someone else.
4) A quiet time of adoration.
5) A period of listening as God talks.
6) A gentle time of receiving God's love.

Prayer is basically conversation with our Heavenly Father. For example:

"Forgive me, Father. I really blew it this time. I didn't want to explode at my son, but I did it anyways. Will You now give me strength to ask his forgiveness also?"

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Knowing what praying is really all about, you can spend up to 16 hours a day in a relationship with Him just by listening to Him as He educates and give you wisdom while guiding you and lead you to all things that makes your life meaningful and prosperous.

Praying is for everyone that wants a relationship with Father God, but you need Jesus in order to start the relationship. When Jesus said "No one comes to The Father except through me," He was also referring to having Eternal Life here and now, not after you pass away, for that's Everlasting Life.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 3:15-16
15) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Eternal Life vs Everlasting Life: Eternal Life - Article - Andrew Wommack Ministries

Only through Jesus can anyone have a real relationship with Father God.

When we focus on our silent spiritual Lord Jesus who is forever present (omnipresent) inside our hearts, trying to find the right words to say to him can be difficult at times but I tend to bring up vision-like or picture memories of my experiences so that Jesus can see what I felt. I got the idea from the expression: "a picture is more than a thousand words", only because our minds are capable of these vision-like memories, besides other mental capabilities, such as fantasy and imagination, that are also controlled by the righteousness of Jesus as we remain morally perfect and fearless Christians in a society that is not all-Christian culture .;'*';. Rev 21:2