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I believe our Heavenly Father prefers prayers that are done out of necessity and desperation, because we are "most real" when we pray to him - rather then "robotical" prayers done at scheduled times.
Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Psalm 34:18 "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
Isaiah 57:15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
I should have said this, too- that what you do can be a form of prayer, if it is done unto God. I don't just mean performing a service in a church or in Christian work. But even if you are just sweeping the floor, it can be a form of prayer.
I believe our Heavenly Father prefers prayers that are done out of necessity and desperation, because we are "most real" when we pray to him - rather then "robotical" prayers done at scheduled times.
You pray when you are sleeping? How about when you are speaking to someone?
You eat, right?
Then you should pray.
You sleep, right?
Then you should pray.
You got up this morning, right?
Then you should pray.
For everything we do, is because He let's us do it.
Prayer is worship, and we should worship Him all the time.
Using a bit of common sense helps, to. I say this, because I know right now there is someone reading this and will come back and say...well, you have to live, work, eat, sleep and all that jazz, you can't possibly pray all the time.
To that person I say, you need to pray more...because you don't get it. It's not about you. it's All about Christ. Not what He can do for us, because He's done it all. It's what we can do for Him, for which we don't do enough.
Someone already said it- but unceasingly, you don't stop praying. I don't think it means necessarily asking Him for things (actually making requests is the least of it). It means talking to God, telling Him everything, your sins, your fears, your hopes, your problems. It means giving Him praise, too. Like seeing something beautiful and thanking Him for it. Or just thanking Him for who He is. Being constant in season and out of season. It's not a formal thing at all.
When you are saved, God is your Father, so it is sometimes as simple as a child talking to His father.
If I had a child that did not stop talking to me, I would find that a bit abnormal.
I like your post.
I pray far too little, and it's because I mistakenly think I have provided for myself. I steal glory for my God when I fail to thank Him, and fail to ask of Him to provide (even when I have plenty).
What's the rule of thumb? Is it monthly, weekly, daily, hourly? Also, can one be a Christian and only pray once a year? Can one pray too much?
You really should have included "Continuously.". Acquisition of the unceasing prayer of the heart is central to Orthodox Christianity.
Please define, "continuously". No one has yet.
People who learn to pray in this manner pray unceasingly. Which our Lord did command, by the way. They even pray while they are asleep. If you think that is impossible, I would propose that your incredulity might owe to this practice simply having been lost in the West; certainly the austere, cerebral Calvin had no knowledge of it (note his glib dismissal in the Institutes of the Greek church).
Colossians 3:16-17 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms abd hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."I would disagree with that because I see no basis scriptural for such an idea. How did you come to that conclusion?
Prayer is prayer. Sweeping is sweeping. Words have meanings.
Colossians 3:16-17 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms abd hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."
So whatever you do can be a prayer if it is done in the name of God. For example, if my sister sweeps her floor because she loves her husband and family and wants them to have a clean and pleasant home, and while she is sweeping she is thinking of doing it because she loves them and loves God and wants to be as good a wife and mother as she can be, then the act becomes a prayer- a sweet savor unto the Lord.
The same can be for any deed if done in the name of Christ.
Constantly, continuously, always!
Never too busy to pray, even if it's just a "Thank you, God!"
Your assertions don't convince me. I would need some biblical proof.
Where did Jesus tell His followers to pray unceasingly?
Do you believe that what St. Paul instructed was materially different and less important than what Jesus instructed or do you consider St. Paul a true apostle? I assume you do consider St. Paul a true apostle and an authoritative representative of our Lord, whose epistles were divinely inspired.
Unceasing, not necessarily talking to Him all the time in your heart, but not stopping.If I had a child that did not stop talking to me, I would find that a bit abnormal.
Is it possible that, "unceasing" is being misunderstood?
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