How do you pray?

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

I started out kneeling, after which I walked, and then as I sat listening to the man at the front talking about God and Jesus -- I felt overwhelmed with a sense that I was in the presence of one far, far, far greater than myself.
At some point, seeing as I was new there, the man asked me to say something and I couldn't. It was like a dream where you can't speak. What could say, I was so stunned by this whole business of a force greater than myself -- that I lost the ability to be logical or coherent.

That was 33 years ago.

I think it's time to pray.

How do you pray?

 

[Zoness]

Chants, meditation (sometimes focus-induced trance), incense burning and sometimes reciting something I have written in advance. Sometimes prayers involve simple rituals such as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. Usually I just put things in that category of ritual if it requires the drawing of a circle. Kind of like the Eastern Orthodox, the existence of my altar is kind of a constant prayer or at least recognition of Earth and what nature has provided to mankind. Prayers kind of just bleed into thoughts, if I know of or see something bad happen and wish someone well, I think of it vaguely as a divine petition as well.

 

[HeathenWarrior]

My life is my prayer.

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

My life is my prayer.

That's what it means to be a real Christian.

Make My Life A Prayer To You

G D/G C/G G D/G

G D/G Em G/D
Make my life a Prayer to You, I wanna do what You want me to.

C D C D /F#
No empty words & No white lies, No token Prayers, No Compromise.

G D/F# Em
I wanna shine the light You gave, through Your Son,

G/D C D
You Sent to Save us...from ourselves and our despair.

C D G
It comforts me to know Your really there.


Chorus:

G D/F# C/E G/D
well, I wanna Thank You Now, for being patient with me,

Cmaj7 G C D
Oh it's so hard to see, when my eyes are on me.

G D/F# C/E G
I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what You say...

Cmaj7 G C D
Oh Your coming again, coming to take me away.


Refrain:

G D/F# Em G
I wanna die, and let you give, Your life to me, so I might live.

C D C D
and share the hope You gave to me, the Love that's set me Free.


G D/F# Em G/D
I wanna tell the world out there, Your not some fable or fairy tale,

C D
that I've made up, inside my head,

C D G
You're God the Son, You've Risen from the Dead.

- Chorus -

- Refrain -

Written by Melody Green

Performed by Keith Green

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

Chants, meditation (sometimes focus-induced trance), incense burning and sometimes reciting something I have written in advance. Sometimes prayers involve simple rituals such as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. Usually I just put things in that category of ritual if it requires the drawing of a circle. Kind of like the Eastern Orthodox, the existence of my altar is kind of a constant prayer or at least recognition of Earth and what nature has provided to mankind. Prayers kind of just bleed into thoughts, if I know of or see something bad happen and wish someone well, I think of it vaguely as a divine petition as well.

You're obviously into some sort of Paganism, or Neo-Paganism right?

 

[steve_bakr]

I started out kneeling, after which I walked, and then as I sat listening to the man at the front talking about God and Jesus -- I felt overwhelmed with a sense that I was in the presence of one far, far, far greater than myself.
At some point, seeing as I was new there, the man asked me to say something and I couldn't. It was like a dream where you can't speak. What could say, I was so stunned by this whole business of a force greater than myself -- that I lost the ability to be logical or coherent.

That was 33 years ago.

I think it's time to pray.

How do you pray?

In Catholicism, there are prayers such as the Rosary and the Liturgy of the Hours, but lately I have been given to the Silent Prayer of acknowledging the presence of God in my life. Of course, regular Mass attendance is also a kind of prayer. It's OK to be silent in the midst of God's presence.

 

[awitch]

Chants, meditation (sometimes focus-induced trance), incense burning and sometimes reciting something I have written in advance. Sometimes prayers involve simple rituals such as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. Usually I just put things in that category of ritual if it requires the drawing of a circle. Kind of like the Eastern Orthodox, the existence of my altar is kind of a constant prayer or at least recognition of Earth and what nature has provided to mankind. Prayers kind of just bleed into thoughts, if I know of or see something bad happen and wish someone well, I think of it vaguely as a divine petition as well.

That's pretty much how it works for me as well. I typically don't pray for a specific outcome, but rather pray for an opportunity to make it happen.

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

That's pretty much how it works for me as well. I typically don't pray for a specific outcome, but rather pray for an opportunity to make it happen.

That's a nice and tidy way of rounding it off. Prayer includes making things happen. Obviously, there are things that are beyond your jurisdiction? I mean like some illness even doctors can't stop -- i.e. death.

 

[Catherineanne]

How do you pray?

I tend to remember what ++Rowan Williams said about prayer. He said that if we want to sunbathe we don't have to screw up our eyes and concentrate hard; we simply have to put ourselves in the right place.

The same is true of prayer, he said. We simply have to make sure we are aware of being in the presence of God, and then we will also be in a state of prayer. It is less about what we do or do not do, and more about who we are, and where we are.

Prayer is not about hard work; it is about always facing God and acknowleging his presence, whatever else we happen to be doing.

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

I tend to remember what ++Rowan Williams said about prayer. He said that if we want to sunbathe we don't have to screw up our eyes and concentrate hard; we simply have to put ourselves in the right place.

The same is true of prayer, he said. We simply have to make sure we are aware of being in the presence of God, and then we will also be in a state of prayer. It is less about what we do or do not do, and more about who we are, and where we are.

Prayer is not about hard work; it is about always facing God and acknowleging his presence, whatever else we happen to be doing.

Sure, the 'Welcome' sign is always in the window, and the doormat set in place, but the will enter and the time of it's occurrence depends on whether one has been invited or not. Seeing as the invites were sent out, it's a case of finding the right bus, or train or carriage and following the directions. Yet, it's still up to the shop owner (or whatever) to open the door and let us on in.

Obviously, 'facing God and acknowledging his presense, whatever else we happen to be doing' -- can be the hardest of work if we are going through the valley of the shadow of death.

I'm convinced that God draws us when he's ready and put's the desire or earnest in our heart's to begin seeking. Sort of, like when the crow calls we enter in, or when the rabbit arrives, or the red rubber ball bounces and announces it's time to pray we pray.

Let's pray. (wink - my emoticons are on strike)

 

[Eudaimonist]

It depends on just how you understand "prayer".

I don't pray to anyone, since I am after all an atheist. However, I do engage in silent contemplation which may very well serve the same purpose, or at least one purpose, that prayer serves for Christians.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

It depends on just how you understand "prayer".

I don't pray to anyone, since I am after all an atheist. However, I do engage in silent contemplation which may very well serve the same purpose, or at least one purpose, that prayer serves for Christians.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Obviously, not silent enough.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Obviously, not silent enough.

That depends on what one is listening for.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[steve_bakr]

Sure, the 'Welcome' sign is always in the window, and the doormat set in place, but the will enter and the time of it's occurrence depends on whether one has been invited or not. Seeing as the invites were sent out, it's a case of finding the right bus, or train or carriage and following the directions. Yet, it's still up to the shop owner (or whatever) to open the door and let us on in.

Obviously, 'facing God and acknowledging his presense, whatever else we happen to be doing' -- can be the hardest of work if we are going through the valley of the shadow of death.

I'm convinced that God draws us when he's ready and put's the desire or earnest in our heart's to begin seeking. Sort of, like when the crow calls we enter in, or when the rabbit arrives, or the red rubber ball bounces and announces it's time to pray we pray.

Let's pray. (wink - my emoticons are on strike)

God's grace is available to all people at all times.

 

[steve_bakr]

It depends on just how you understand "prayer".

I don't pray to anyone, since I am after all an atheist. However, I do engage in silent contemplation which may very well serve the same purpose, or at least one purpose, that prayer serves for Christians.

eudaimonia,

Mark

Perhaps you are contemplating that Silent Mystery.

 

[lewiscalledhimmaster]

God's grace is available to all people at all times.

Of course, it's got even better now since the veil has been drawn and all may go in through the new and perfect way.

 

[LoAmmi]

Different ways in different places. In synagogue I follow the services. I also find myself using some of those prayers outside of the synagogue. Other times I simply talk.

I like using Hebrew when possible.

 

[Forge3]

In my own words mixed with silent listening. Sometimes I just kneel before God with my head bowed and everything that rises up in me during silence is given over to Jesus knowing He is not there to judge me. So if doubts, fears, anxieties or temptations arise during prayer I confidently place them before the Lord knowing He is there to love and help me. I want to get to know Him so I see that I give all my being over to Him so voluntarily He will know me most deeply. Even though we say He already knows us it is different because I choose to be vulnerable to Him.

 

[ViaCrucis]

During the Liturgy it means following along reverently and prayerfully.

During my private devotions it can take on many different forms and permutations. Most of my prayer is done silently while going through the usual tasks of daily life. I try to take a few moments of the day to pray the Jesus Prayer and/or the Our Father. Making the Sign of the Cross is form of unspoken prayer. In addition to standard Christian prayers such as the Our Father, the Jesus Prayer, and the Gloria Patri, I'll also pray the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), sometimes in Hebrew and sometimes in English. Praying the abbreviated form of the Jesus Prayer in Greek is something I'll do from time to time--Kyrie eleison.

Back when I was doing yoga I found it helpful, during moments of quiet relaxation, to still my mind by praying the Jesus Prayer, not exactly traditional in any sense, but if I was going to occupy my mind with anything, it was going to be the Name of Christ.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Forge3]

Yoga is good to help relax the body and slow down the mind. I do Hatha Yoga