How do I pray?

[ninja]

I've tried praying but really don't know where to start. Suggestions appreciated.

How do I start? How do I finish the prayer?

 

[Blessed-one]

opening: Dear heavenly father/ dear Lord/ father/ Lord/ etc..

ending: in Jesus's name, amen. (or none at all in an informal prayer.. like when you're in a crowded train or walking home or cooking, and you just want to talk to God about your day..)

was that what you were asking?

as for prayer content.. basically, you can pray about anything you want. Your worries, problems, happy things, usual things, complaints, thanksgivings.. Know that He wants to know everything about you.

 

[ShetlandRose]

I've tried praying but really don't know where to start. Suggestions appreciated.

How do I start? How do I finish the prayer?

Prayer is simply intimate communion with God; it is talking to God from the depths of your spirit to the depths of the Spirit of God. This means that we are to talk to the Lord about all things in our lives and ask Him for help for ourselves and others. If you are interested in something from which to learn, read the prayers of Jesus in the New Testament such as Matthew 6:9-13 when Jesus said "Pray this way." Prayer should be honest and free, not necessarily structured. God is waiting to listen, ever present with you, and longs for you to tell Him everything. The more time you spend with God the more unstrained you will become and your spiritual relationship with God will grow and blossom.

 

[ninja]

Thanks for your responses guys

I always think about things that I need to pray about but when I get down to actually do it I get a mental block Just practice I guess.

 

[Rafael]

Talk to Jesus all the time and in every situation. Practise the presence of God, for He is always with you in His Spirit to help you avoid sin and lead you to truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.
You don't have to be formal all the time, but just be constant. When you do have time to be alone with God, in your prayer closet, as the scripture says, pray like Jesus prayer when the disciples asked Him how to pray.
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name":
Start with praise and worship. Tell Him how much He means to you and that you love Him and are thankful for His presence in your life - that He chose you to be His vessel of life to others.
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on heaven and earth":
Pray God's will. Study the Bible and find what God's will is for your life and for others based on His love,goodness, and giving nature.
"Give us this day, thy daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin against us":
Always confess sins at the end of the day and pray for God' leading in life and for those special concerns you have for family, friends, jobs.......for His provision.
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.":
Here again we end with our adoration and praise of God, and confirming that He will deliver us from our troubles in this world and we trust Him to do so. Now when Jesus said to pray afte this manner, He didn't mean to just copy and quote, only, but that we can us it as a template for prayer. Only you can complete your own prayer to God because you have a special relationship with special burdens to bring beffore Him.
God bless......

Matthew 6:9 ¶ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

1 John 5:4 ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

[ShetlandRose]

I always think about things that I need to pray about but when I get down to actually do it I get a mental block Just practice I guess.

Relax and simply talk to God. He doesn't care what words you use. Whatever is in your heart is what He wants to hear.

 

[I'mHis]

Yeah, whenever I pray, it is just like I am having a conversation with my best friend. I talk to Him about everything. I love talking to Him. I used to be worried about saying the "right" thing, but God is thrilled to be spending time with me, and he doesn't care if what I say sounds good, He just cares that it is from my heart.

 

[Rage4Christ]

ninja, after my struggles with skepticism-- I too had difficulty praying.

I found meditative techniques helped.
I found asking God for things was rather odd-- I mean, God will do what God wants-- so there is really no reason to be a mooch.
I focus on an unconditional acceptance of myself in God's eyes, and use that time to focus on issues that I really want to change-- and then I Take responsibility for those things.

Often I feel one with everything when praying-- probably from my meditative practice-- and that is wonderful.

There are so many thinking errors and unloving thoughts that one can have-- for the world and the self. Prayer and connection with God helps wash away that illusion, and show only love and personal choice.

 

[swingnscream]

I always think about things that I need to pray about but when I get down to actually do it I get a mental block Just practice I guess.

That's cute.. you get butterflies when you talk to God. Honestly that's so cool, and don't worry God can understand what you're saying even when it all comes out in half sentences & sighs. He's cool like that.

But talk to God as you know Him or as what you need Him to be. Like sometimes I'm just talking to Him like another friend, other times it's much more like talking a daddy, and sometimes it's just this amazing awesome God that I admire so much I feel like I lose words to describe anything to Him. God's cool, He understands all languages ...sometimes I talk to Him in chica, which is my gurl slang lingo, and he even understands that

As you grow in your relationship with God you find your stlye of talking to Him, and it'll probably even change as you grow but it's great. Enjoy,

-KiN

 

[California Dreamin']

hey there.
my mom doesn't go to church or anything, just me.. i had to figure all this out on my own.
i just every night say "dear father" to start, say everything on my mind, thanking for the good things.. and "please take care of these people (list names) and watch over them please".. things like that.. and "thank you, amen" to end.
it seems to be working for me!!

 

[California Dreamin']

oh... forgot this
i used to just pray at night. lately i just do whenever i think of something. sometimes when i am driving my car i think of things!!

 

[I'mHis]

Me too. I pray all through the day. I don't even realize I am doing it at times. I just talk to God as if He is standing right there, like a normal converstion. Though not out loud of course. I might get more strange looks than I normally do!

 

[J.A.I]

A suggestion - when you think of things you want / need to pray for, write them down somewhere. Keep a little tablet with you so that you won't forget

I want to recommend 2 books to you - With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray. And Approaching God: How to Pray by Steve Brown. These are 2 wonderful books.. if you can't find a way to get them, PM me and I will see what I can do

But yea.. every prayer does not have to consist of thees and thous and arts. Prayer is conversation between you and the Father. Just tell Him how you feel, what you did today, what you felt like doing, what you think of Him, what's bothering you, etc.

There is a form for prayer called ACTS.
A = adoration (tell Him how much you love and appreciate Him)
C = confession (confess your sins, repentance)
T = thanksgiving (thank Him for all He's done and IS doing in your life and in the world today)
S = supplication (make known your requests or concerns)

You can start from there and then just let the Holy Spirit guide you. Just talk to Him! Don't worry about proper form or language... If you want to use slang, you can. God understands ALL languages... from verbal to emotional to tears. So He will understand you. God looks at the heart, so He will definitely listen as long as you speak. Talk to Him at all times... whether you just want to say a quick "Thank You" when you're walking along or whatever.. just always include Him in everything and every aspect of your life

 

[I'mHis]

There is a form for prayer called ACTS.
A = adoration (tell Him how much you love and appreciate Him)
C = confession (confess your sins, repentance)
T = thanksgiving (thank Him for all He's done and IS doing in your life and in the world today)
S = supplication (make known your requests or concerns)

I think I put this in another thread somewhere. I am glad someone else has heard of it!

 

[IssaEl36]

, According To Matthew 26 ; 39 Yashua , Isa , Jesus , Christ , Prayed The Way Moses Of 5,000 Years Ago Prayed In Numbers 20 ; 6 , He Fell On His Face
Yashua , Isa , Jesus , Christ Matthew 26; 39 ;....Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Number 20 ; 6 ;....Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them
This Was The Law That Was Given To Him From The Heavenly Father , This Is The Same Law That Abraham Followed ;... Like Abraham Did BeFore Moses
Abraham <> Genesis 17 ; 3 ;...Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
Ezra Prayed With His Face To The Ground Nehemiah 8 ; 6 ;... Ezra praised the LORD , the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground
The Way Elijah Did <> 1Kings 18 ; 42 ;....So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
The Way Joshua Did <> Joshua 5 ; 14 ;.... And He Saith , Nay ; But As Captian Of The Host Of The Lord Am I Now Come And Joshua Fell On His Face To The Earth , And Did Worship And Said Unto Him What Saith My Lord Unto His Servant ''

 

[allieisme]

I agree with everyone in here, just talk to Him normally, He still hears you and hears your heart. Ask for forgivness, repentance, and dont forget to Thank Him for all He's done, and all He is going to do in your life
And always remember to end your prayer with this: "In Jesus Name, Amen"

 

[Tappanga]

First, I have to tell you that I see Christ as my best friend, so my prayers sometimes are informal and sound like two people on the phone chatting.

I start by calling out to God. Usually just, "Dear LORD."

Then I try to praise God and all His wonder and grace for a few minutes. I try to make 75% of my prayer nothing but praise for God. I want to get the focus off me and on Him.

I also try to make sure to pray that He softens hearts and drawns an non-believer to Him and into His light today.

I also try to watch what I pray for. I've been praying for a "helpmate" and got an intense stomach ache instead. Not sure what that means, but I think I'm going to put the helpmate prayer on the back burner for a while.

I can understand your questions. I often wonder about people who pray for 30 minutes to several hours, and the scripture about not praying like the heathens do. The most I pray is 5 minutes, but I pray many times a day.

If you'd like to talk more about this, just PM me!

 

[I'mHis]

The length of my prayers vary. Sometimes I have so much on my heart that it takes a long time. Other times it is shorter. I guess my "main" prayer of the day is right before I go to bed. That is when I write in my journal and stuff. But I pray shorter ones throughout the day.

 

[endure]

dear Ninja
this ended up being a little longer than i wanted it to be, but if you read it i beleive it will bless you.

well one thing we all need to understand is that there are absolutely NO steps of formulas to prayer.
there is no such thing as "say this this and this...and woolaaa you got a good prayer"

memorised scripted prayer may be a part of prayer...but it is by far one of the least effective and intamite ways to pray.
and most of the time is as dead as elvis is today...it has no life, becuase it doesnt come from our spirits! were just saying it becuase thats whats written on the paper.

ya know the bible says in one place to worship God. and that word worship actually means TO CREAK in the hebrew word it was translated from "RANAN"
like two boards under your feet creaking, becuase of some rubbing or some pressure thats going on underneath the surface. its a noise that comes up out of the floor becuase of whats going on inside the floor. and thats how our prayer and worship ought to be, it shouldnt come from scripts, but rather from some pressure or passion or love that going on inside of us. not from a piece of paper. your heart ought to dictate your words, not any script. PLEASE NEVER GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT STUFF!

i understand that Jesus did say "when you pray, say OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVON...HALLOWED BE THY NAME..."

but he didnt mean for you to just repeat that, and if people are telling you to do that, then...god bless their good intentions but they arent actually helping you understand prayer. they pretty much praying for you.

he was giving us principles like "OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVON...HALLOWED BE THY NAME..." but thats a principle of worship, not a script to read while praying....
Jesus prayed all night, he certainly did something besides repeat that over and over.
but i assume you know that.

a few principles of prayer are.

1.*WELCOME THE HOLYSPIRIT FIRST*

Just take some time welcome the holyspirit and give him complete control, let him feel welcomed in that place.
take some time to just let him get comfortable in the room and atmosphere that you actually create for him by welcoming him and worshipping him.
you need his assistance to go deeper in prayer, prayer has to be in the spirit, like benny hinn says "holyspirit come teach me to pray" ...
you really need to ask him to do that.
if he doesnt show up, its like going to six flags but the rides dont work!
his presence that comes when he is welcomed and honored and invited, makes the diffrence.
before you ask for anything, say "you are welcome in this place" and keep in that mindset untill you feel comfortable to move on.

2.*YOU MUST ENTER THROUGH THE GATES OF WORSHIP*

YOU WILL NEVER LEARN HOW TO PRAY INTAMITELY, IF YOU DO NOT LEARN HOW TO WORSHIP FIRST.
never ask for things, before you worship him. thats like trying to use him or manipulate him, or even be like a theif, becuase theifs are only interested in themselves, and thats how we are when we ask for many things but dont worship him.
YA KNOW THE ONLY PART OF A CHURCH SERVICE OR QUIET TIME THAT DOES ANYTHING FOR GOD, IS THE WORSHIP?
the preaching doesnt do anything for God.... thats for you.
and we can be fed and leave full...but God leave empty... when we dont worship.
we have to give him what is his, before we seek anything for ourselves.
thats the only way...
you cannot enter into his throwroom and into his presence... if you dont come through the gates of worship, thanksgiving, and praise.

prayer is dead, selfish, and selfcentered, and manipulative... if it isnt preceded with worship.
never begin to ask God for things if you havent first taken time out just to worship him.
you feed God and hell feed you. you give to him, and hell give to you.
he delights in your worship...not your petitions or askings. your prayer requests are for you, not him.
and remember, EVEN THE ROCKS CAN PRAISE HIM, BUT ONLY YOU CAN WORSHIP HIM!
give...and it shall be given back to you. cast your bread upon the waters, and one day it will return to you.
put your prayer requests and needs and concerns and troubles off till later...and just worship God and pleasure him...and then God will give you back more than you could have asked for and fill all your needs.

i like what one man says...
DONT TELL HIM ABOUT YOUR SORROWS, DONT TELL HIM ABOUT YOUR TROUBLES, JUST BEGIN TO PRAISE HIM, JUST WORSHIP HIM...

and LATER, GOD WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS.
and you know, that is the best way ive found to clean out my mind of consuming thoughts and racing brain patterns...put your whole being, voice and mind into praise and worship and thanksgiving and it cleans you and prepares you for him. put in a flowing worship cd that you love and just worship him.

but dont try to memorise prayer, and dont make a habit of reading prayers off a paper, or praying what youve heard people pray or going any set things to say or do.
one great man once said that is the quickest way to kill a growing prayer life, to read your prayers off a paper.
I think God recieves no more pleasure from that, than my future wife would if tried to make love to her by following some scripted rehearsed pattern while making love.
its about me opening myself completely, and being free and giving myself to her and pouring into her with all my love and effort and creativity! and me being the unique person i am.
NOT TRYING TO PLEASE MYSELF WITH HER BODY, OR FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF SOMEONE ELSE. (hope that made sense)

but please...dont get in the habit and letting your prayer time consist of rehearsed and practiced phrases... no disrespect to anyone who does...but man that is dead and Gods not in that.

God is the God that wasnt satisfied with one color and kind of bird...hes the God who had to make a thousand diffrent kinds and in a thousand diffrent colors!
HES THE GOD THAT LOVES SEEING SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY!
your prayer life should never gain the dust of tradition and nastalgia and rudimentary things.
thats sad to know people live that way....
God created a world saturated with new life, new colors, new creatures, that never cease to amase and excite us.
God had to create a million diffrent kinds of things, in a million diffrent shades of color, shape and size....your prayer life should be that free and new each day!
wow....i dont where that come from....but man i dont want to forget that myself.... man.... ... thankyou holyspirit.

see, just like i had not rehearsed saying what i just said and i didnt even know i was going to say that, but God brought it out of me and led me to say it, and i didnt even know that untill now... thats how God leads us in prayer. its about him being present, and him being in control, and him leading us. hell give you things to say and thoughts of who to pray for how to pray, and things to ask, that you didnt even know you could.

WELL PRAISE GOD, GLORY!

3.*SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT ON GOD*

Sometimes God shows up quick and great things happen...and sometimes the sweetest times in prayer are only for the ones willing to tarry in worship and prayer, waiting for him to speak or move.
just like when the holyspirit moved on the face of the waters.
(that word moved actually means to brood or settle down or flutter, like a hen nestles down in her eggs)
the holyspirit had to get comfortable first, and thats what he was doing, well atleast one thing he was doing, becuase God had just destroyed it all becuase of the sin (long story).
but God didnt speak, nothing happened untill after the holyspirit got comfortable, and only then...did God make a move.

sometimes you will have to wait extra lengths of time in prayer and worship waiting on him, becuase its about him and him alone.
be willing to be still enough, quiet enough, and humble enough to sense when God isnt finished yet, and wait on him for whatever he wants to yet do before you leave the time of prayer.
i fear we miss many things because we rush through prayer.
we read off our grocery list, and we were done.

but thats using God like hes a prostitute.
using him for his benefits and pleasures, and we dont really care about asking him how he feels and what he wants and what he has to say.
we just come and do our thing and then we gone untill we need some more.

...OHHH GOD FORGIVE ME. ..

 

[Bain_Adaneth]

don't forget to give thanks for the life He has given you. Pray for yourself, and for your walk/relatioship with God to remain strong and grow everyday. To know the Thruth. Pray for Him to guild you in making choices. Pray to do His will. To keep you safe, and to watch over your loved ones. Pray for Him to help you to understand the purpose and the Bible. Talk with Him, because He is your Father. Don't be afraid to tell Him things that you've done wrong, and ask for forgiveness. Don't ever promise anything unless you intend to keep it. As a matter of fact, don't make promises at all. Just do your best to please Him, and do His will. Ask Him to guide you everyday, and to help you stay on the path of righteousness....pray that you will not be tempted, and if you do, pray that you will do His will. Give thanks for the beautiful earth and for your food and water. Give thanks for joy, pain, sufferings. Pray to Him that you will learn from mistakes, love oneanother, and experience joy. more, anything you want. If you find yourself doing something bad, pray for Him to help you stop. Talk with Him and have Him comfort you. For Him to protect you day and night. Have faith.... you can end with, "in Jesus' name, Amen."