Having trouble praying

[Christgirl67]

Hello all. I really need some help. I have been trying to pray lately, and I really feel like God is not hearing me. Its just when I pray, I do not know what to say, and I feel like I am talking to empty space. Can anyone give me advice on how to pray?

 

[joymercy]

do you like modern christian music or have favorite hymns?

Anything like that which touches you deeply, can be a prayer and bring you into a state of worship in your soul....you don't need to come up with any words yourself, you can just listen and "sing" along with the words inside your being....

Hard pressed to come up with words at times, I've listened to christian radio and was blown away at how so many songs expressed for me how I was really feeling, and so these songs would be my prayers to God and still are quite often.

Images can help too. Have you seen the thread with scripture and beautiful or inspiring bible verses?

Just reading a verse can be your prayer....

Like meditating on this one verse for example: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"

And reflecting on what God has provided for you right in that moment, such as life itself, being able to see, to hear, to walk and so on.....building on being grateful for each and every little thing you have in that moment to be thankful for...

What do you think about this ....?

 

[joymercy]

Check out this thread and see if it helps:

Picture A Scripture

 

[Monk Brendan]

Hello all. I really need some help. I have been trying to pray lately, and I really feel like God is not hearing me. Its just when I pray, I do not know what to say, and I feel like I am talking to empty space. Can anyone give me advice on how to pray?

In the Christian spiritual life, periods of consolation alternate with periods of desolation, such as you are now experiencing.

C. S. Lewis said through Screwtape that the demons are frightened the most when a Christian looks out over a landscape from which all sign of God is gone, asks why he has beewn abandoned, but is still detemined to persevere in loving and obeying Him.

Remember,Jesus Himself was not always on top of the mount of Feelgood, either.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hi @Christgirl67, here is one thing that might help. It's a pattern for prayer that I often use which is easily remembered by the acrostic, A.C.T.S.

A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication​

The following two links are explanations of the ACTS prayer model from the folks at the Billy Graham Crusade and Dr. R. C. Sproul's, Ligonier Ministries.

How does one pray? I've never been taught how to say a personal prayer or really talk to God.

A Simple Acrostic for Prayer: A.C.T.S.​

--David

 

[Christgirl67]

do you like modern christian music or have favorite hymns?

Anything like that which touches you deeply, can be a prayer and bring you into a state of worship in your soul....you don't need to come up with any words yourself, you can just listen and "sing" along with the words inside your being....

Hard pressed to come up with words at times, I've listened to christian radio and was blown away at how so many songs expressed for me how I was really feeling, and so these songs would be my prayers to God and still are quite often.

Images can help too. Have you seen the thread with scripture and beautiful or inspiring bible verses?

Just reading a verse can be your prayer....

Like meditating on this one verse for example: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"

And reflecting on what God has provided for you right in that moment, such as life itself, being able to see, to hear, to walk and so on.....building on being grateful for each and every little thing you have in that moment to be thankful for...

What do you think about this ....?

I will try this. I guess it just seems difficult trying to talk to God, I feel pressure to come up with a fancy prayer at times.

 

[timothyu]

Can anyone give me advice on how to pray?

Just speak what is on your mind. If there is nothing then stick with the Lord's prayer. It's a favourite with Him and says it all, especially if you mean it.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hi again @Christgirl67, there are some excellent books on prayer that may be useful to you as well, such as:

https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Paul...rayer+da+carson&qid=1556341386&s=books&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Finding-Through-Duty-Delight/dp/0830833544

https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Lord...VJW37Q0NEHB&psc=1&refRID=R0Z7EA882VJW37Q0NEHB

This one is free
https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Teach-P...+Lord's+prayer&qid=1556341482&s=books&sr=1-15​

--David

 

[Christgirl67]

Hi again @Christgirl67, there are some excellent books on prayer that may be useful to you as well, such as:

https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Paul...rayer+da+carson&qid=1556341386&s=books&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Finding-Through-Duty-Delight/dp/0830833544

https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Lord...VJW37Q0NEHB&psc=1&refRID=R0Z7EA882VJW37Q0NEHB

This one is free
https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Teach-Pray-Andrew-Murray-ebook/dp/B004TIJJOW/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=praying+the+Lord's+prayer&qid=1556341482&s=books&sr=1-15​

--David

Thank you

 

[St_Worm2]

I guess it just seems difficult trying to talk to God, I feel pressure to come up with a fancy prayer at times.

Like @timothyu, just said above, just talk to Him and tell Him what's on your mind, so no worries! After all, you're His daughter

One of the best ways to have a conversation with God is while you are reading the Bible. Talk/pray to Him as you read, thanking Him for the amazing things He's done, asking Him for help understanding a particular passage that you're struggling with, asking Him for His help in applying what you're reading to your life, etc.

No "Thees", "Thous" or even the occasional "Verily" is necessary when communicating with our loving Father, because the Ancient of Days, the Creator of the Universe Himself, our Abba (Father) .. e.g. Romans 8:15, loves you so much that He chooses to meet you right where you are

--David
p.s. - if you notice something special or amazing or beautiful during the day, take a second to thank the Lord for it, even something as simple and wonderful as the warm sun, or a cool summer breeze. You can even thank Him for the things that don't seem to be going so well in your life because .. cf Romans 8:28; Hebrews 12:7-11.

 

[Lost4words]

Just talk to God. Tell Him how you are feeling. Tell Him how much you love Him. God will guide you.

Prayer need not be thousands of words. It can be a few. Simple, Loving, trusting and faithful words.

 

[devin553344]

Hello all. I really need some help. I have been trying to pray lately, and I really feel like God is not hearing me. Its just when I pray, I do not know what to say, and I feel like I am talking to empty space. Can anyone give me advice on how to pray?

When I pray I often ask for God to give me the words and what to pray for. And I find that he fills me up with more things to pray about.

 

[joymercy]

try going to klove dot com and live stream while on the computer or find it on the radio locally....

the lyrics are often prayers

 

[St_Worm2]

Hi @Christgirl67, finally, if you are an Amazon Prime member, I believe you may be interested in this free series on prayer by Dr. Al Mohler called, The Lord's Prayer, beginning with, Teach Us To Pray.

Amazon.com: Watch The Lord's Prayer | Prime Video

 

[crossnote]

Notice how faith/God's Word/ prayer are all tied together...

Romans 10:17 KJV
[17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:3,6 KJV
[3] Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. [6] But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I might add, when I go through a dry spell with prayer, I find if I just simply worship Him, I am drawn into prayer.

 

[joymercy]

here's a good song to try....its a cry out to god when questioning yourself, and hearing his voice reassuring you:

 

[JustRachel]

You are not alone! I often use the advice that others have given here. Sometimes I read the Psalms and make those my prayers.

 

[carp614]

The Lord's prayer is how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. I'll bet that will work for you. Read from the beginning of verse 5 though, because it talks about flowery language and stuff like that.

Mathew 6:9-13
9This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever
Amen

 

[Knee V]

A couple people have given advice that I would echo.

Christ's disciples asked Him how they ought to pray, and He gave them a pretty direct answer, as carp614 pointed out above. The one place where Christ directly taught His followers how to pray would be a great place to start.

Secondly, turn to the Psalms. The Psalter is a Hymnal, and that is simply prayers set to some kind of meter and tune. But at their core, with or without meter and tune, they are prayers.