A question about praying

RaymondG

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Praying openly is a good tool to teach others how to pray. It is done so that others can hear and learn from it. The Lord's prayer is a silent prayer......yet, had Jesus demonstrated it as it must be done.....we would have nothing to read....nothing to learn from....
 
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Emmylouwho

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Praying openly is a good tool to teach others how to pray. It is done so that others can hear and learn from it. The Lord's prayer is a silent prayer......yet, had Jesus demonstrated it as it must be done.....we would have nothing to read....nothing to learn from....
Well, Jesus can do what he wants, I guess, but didn’t he instruct us mortals to pray in a closet?
 
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miamited

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Hi emmylouwho,

Actually, the Scriptures give us quite a bit of instruction on praying. Yes, we are not to be overly public in our display of praying, but we are to be praying often. The Scriptures actually use the translated term, 'unceasing'. I believe that there are times that it is valuable to pray in a closet and I believe that there are times that we can pray in public. In fact, the Scriptures give at least a couple of accounts where Jesus prayed among the people and among his disciples. So, I don't find that the Scriptures give us some singular command as to 'how' or 'where' we are to pray. He did teach us the Lord's prayer, but in his own praying, he didn't restrict himself to 'just' praying the Lord's prayer. In fact, before he left his disciples, he prayed at length a prayer that doesn't follow a single word of the Lord's prayer other than He used the word 'Father'.

So, pray hard and pray often. Don't make a big show of it, but neither should a believer ever be far from prayer.

God bless,
In Christ, ted
 
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spiritualchristian7

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5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to F)" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23288F" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;">so that they may be seen by men. G)" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23288G" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;">Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, H)" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23289H" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;">go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and I)" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23289I" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;">your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
 
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Albion

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Why do some people pray openly? Didn't Jesus say to pray in a closet?
Do you suppose that only prayer that is prayed in a closet is acceptable to God? No. Jesus was not saying that you must go into a closet to pray and that it must no be overheard by anyone else! He was saying not to be showing off to other people when you pray, not to be acting pious when you pray, etc. It is nothing against audible prayer or prayer in the presence of other people.
 
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RaymondG

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Well, Jesus can do what he wants, I guess, but didn’t he instruct us mortals to pray in a closet?
I answered your question in "a closet." did you receive it? Has your curiosity been satisfied?

No? Well that is because it is no use to you unless it is spoken allowed. I am telling you that this is one good reason to Pray allowed.....for other to hear what you say and benefit from it.

When you say "pray in a closet" do you believe it to be, for instance, a physical coat closet?
 
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Emmylouwho

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Do you suppose that only prayer that is prayed in a closet is acceptable to God? No. Jesus was not saying that you must go into a closet to pray and that it must no be overheard by anyone else! He was saying not to be showing off to other people when you pray, not to be acting pious when you pray, etc. It is nothing against audible prayer or prayer in the presence of other people.
Are you saying that these words of Jesus shouldn’t be taken literally?
Matthew 6:5-6
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
 
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Albion

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Are you saying that these words of Jesus shouldn’t be taken literally?

Matthew 6:5-6
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

It looks quite clear to me. We shouldn't be like the hypocrites.
 
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Emmylouwho

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I answered your question in "a closet." did you receive it? Has your curiosity been satisfied?

No? Well that is because it is no use to you unless it is spoken allowed. I am telling you that this is one good reason to Pray allowed.....for other to hear what you say and benefit from it.

When you say "pray in a closet" do you believe it to be, for instance, a physical coat closet?
He said to go in the closet and shut the door and pray in secret. It is written in the scriptures.
 
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RaymondG

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He said to go in the closet and shut the door and pray in secret. It is written in the scriptures.
OK, so we are in different positions in our journey. I find no fault in what you believe.... and by all means.....make sure your closets are properly ventilated.
 
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Emmylouwho

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OK, so we are in different positions in our journey. I find no fault in what you believe.... and by all means.....make sure your closets are properly ventilated.
OK, so we are in different positions in our journey. I find no fault in what you believe.... and by all means.....make sure your closets are properly ventilated.
I’m simply countering your belief with what is written in scripture.
 
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RaymondG

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I’m simply countering your belief with what is written in scripture.
I explained a good reason to pray aloud.......and is to be heard......just like the scriptures state. I do not believe this is the way to get a prayer through to God......but how to help man understand what is being done. And I do not believe we are to go in physical closets either......but i see no wrong in doing such.
 
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Emmylouwho

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I explained a good reason to pray aloud.......and is to be heard......just like the scriptures state. I do not believe this is the way to get a prayer through to God......but how to help man understand what is being done. And I do not believe we are to go in physical closets either......but i see no wrong in doing such.
You may not believe that, but I am telling you what Jesus SAID.
 
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RaymondG

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You may not believe that, but I am telling you what Jesus SAID.
You are telling me your interpretation of what Jesus said. Jesus also said that he spoke the way he did so that people would think they saw and understood when they, in fact, did not.

It is best to ask God for wisdom, than to rely on what our minds tell us He is saying.
 
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