Prayer

According to the Catholic Catechism used when I was younger, any lifting up of our hearts and minds to God constitutes prayer. And the Bible teaches that we should pray without ceasing and not hesitate to go to God in prayer for anything...he wants to hear from you. Put those two pieces of advice together and I think you'll have pretty good ground rules.

MintyCupcake said:

I'm going to admit, although I've been a Christian for years and years, I have always been a doubter of prayer. I have always felt, why bother, God's not going to answer prayer anyway. He knows what I want and need, why ask. I do pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and so on. I do talk to God ALL the time. But rarely do I ever ask Him for anything in prayer because I don't feel prayer is going to change anything.

God has shown me recently this is a bad attitude to have. He's literally been smacking me up side the head about it to be honest. I need you all to help me understand prayer. Am I supposed to only pray for others, or is it okay to ask God also to help me? How do you know when you are praying, the thoughts you get back aren't your own wants and wishes? How do you know it's God showing you that? I'm struggling with that right now and maybe that's my continued doubt on prayer? That's why I'm questioning it so much? How do you know? All help is much appreciated.

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In times of confusion, praying the Lord's prayer repeatedly may help. It's a model prayer with all the right ingredients and also in the correct order. Hope that helps .

MintyCupcake said:

I'm going to admit, although I've been a Christian for years and years, I have always been a doubter of prayer. I have always felt, why bother, God's not going to answer prayer anyway. He knows what I want and need, why ask. I do pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and so on. I do talk to God ALL the time. But rarely do I ever ask Him for anything in prayer because I don't feel prayer is going to change anything.

God has shown me recently this is a bad attitude to have. He's literally been smacking me up side the head about it to be honest. I need you all to help me understand prayer. Am I supposed to only pray for others, or is it okay to ask God also to help me? How do you know when you are praying, the thoughts you get back aren't your own wants and wishes? How do you know it's God showing you that? I'm struggling with that right now and maybe that's my continued doubt on prayer? That's why I'm questioning it so much? How do you know? All help is much appreciated.

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Prayer is our most vital key to accessing the Father's richness. True prayer is based in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20, Ephesians 6:18, Romans 8:26-27).

The greatest warriors of the faith have been people of prayer. Moses, Elijah, Paul, Jesus prayed constantly. Just admit to God it is hard for you to pray and give you a heart for prayer. He will.

My attitude in prayer now is speak less and pray more.

Wow, I commend your honesty, I'm just gonna be flat honest with ya. If I didn't have Him and prayer, I would be dead and soooooooo lost, I talk to Him just like I talk to anyone else, all day, thru the night, actually I never get to the amen part, because I keep the lines open 24/7, I may pause but no matter what I keep it going. It's a relationship, we talk, we laugh, we cry, we discuss our feelings and thoughts. I ask Him for everything, not just for myself but for others. Bible states: you have not because you ask not. So for me, I'm gonna ask for exactly what is wanted and or needed. I watched a video of a man that had Near Death Experience and he saw what our prayers looked like, that just made me smile. I will find it and send it to ya, its a beautiful thing to imagine, God bless ya Cupcake

Solomons Porch said:

Wow, I commend your honesty, I'm just gonna be flat honest with ya. If I didn't have Him and prayer, I would be dead and soooooooo lost, I talk to Him just like I talk to anyone else, all day, thru the night, actually I never get to the amen part, because I keep the lines open 24/7, I may pause but no matter what I keep it going. It's a relationship, we talk, we laugh, we cry, we discuss our feelings and thoughts. I ask Him for everything, not just for myself but for others. Bible states: you have not because you ask not. So for me, I'm gonna ask for exactly what is wanted and or needed. I watched a video of a man that had Near Death Experience and he saw what our prayers looked like, that just made me smile. I will find it and send it to ya, its a beautiful thing to imagine, God bless ya Cupcake

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So awesome & so true! Thanks for this!

Once a person gets so disciplined in prayer they will find it is their lifestyle and everything they do is a prayer of itself unto the Lord. Then they no longer need to be consciencely aware that they are praying and the love and words of God will just flow. And he will be that voice behind them saying "This is the way walk in it." Psalms 23:3 Isaiah 30:21

Such a blessed place to be and so much better than all the doing and serving could accomplish. IMHO. Luke 10:38-42

ByTheSpirit said:

So awesome & so true! Thanks for this!

Once a person gets so disciplined in prayer they will find it is their lifestyle and everything they do is a prayer of itself unto the Lord. Then they no longer need to be consciencely aware that they are praying and the love and words of God will just flow. And he will be that voice behind them saying "This is the way walk in it." Psalms 23:3 Isaiah 30:21

Such a blessed place to be and so much better than all the doing and serving could accomplish. IMHO. Luke 10:38-42

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Thank you ByTheSpirit

MintyCupcake said:

Thank you everyone for your help, wisdom and kindness.

Solomons Porch, thank you for the video. Really brought tears to my eyes and was something I needed to see and hear. Thank you, really gave me a lot to think about. God bless.

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Much love my sister HE'S been waiting for you

Your very thoughts and feelings about prayers not being answered, are themselves prayers that have been answered! You have proven the power of prayer and dont even know it!

Now all you have to do is change your thoughts and feelings to something else you desire and watch those come true as well. Be it unto you as you believe........

MintyCupcake said:

I'm going to admit, although I've been a Christian for years and years, I have always been a doubter of prayer. I have always felt, why bother, God's not going to answer prayer anyway. He knows what I want and need, why ask. I do pray the Our Father, Hail Mary and so on. I do talk to God ALL the time. But rarely do I ever ask Him for anything in prayer because I don't feel prayer is going to change anything.

God has shown me recently this is a bad attitude to have. He's literally been smacking me up side the head about it to be honest. I need you all to help me understand prayer. Am I supposed to only pray for others, or is it okay to ask God also to help me? How do you know when you are praying, the thoughts you get back aren't your own wants and wishes? How do you know it's God showing you that? I'm struggling with that right now and maybe that's my continued doubt on prayer? That's why I'm questioning it so much? How do you know? All help is much appreciated.

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2Pe 1:1-4 KJV
(1) Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
(2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

in my understanding, the vast majority of prayers i hear, especially in traditional churches, are faithless. God has already given you all things that pertain unto life and godliness - but not by begging Him to do more, but through the knowledge of him - faithful prayer seeks direction on how to receive what God has already given, rather than strives to get God to give...

so when you need something like healing or prosperity, thank Him that you're not waiting on Him to give; that He's waiting on you to receive by faith what He's already given to you by grace - and claim what He's already given to you. prayer should be fellowship; a conversation - and He's already said many thing to you in His word - this is where 'knowledge of Him' that gives you access to 'all things that pertain to life and godliness' that He 'hath <already> given to you' comes from; the more you know of what He's already said to you in His word, the more you'll be able to perceive His leading as you converse with Him in prayer. avoid 'vain repetitions'; and when you look to the Bible for examples of prayer, and pay close attention to who is asking for this advice, and what they are asking:

Luk 11:1-2 KJV
(1) And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Mat 11:11 KJV
(11) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

this will help:

Audio Teachings - Andrew Wommack Ministries