How Often Should you Pray?

[owl-inc]

Bible answers it's own questions.
Answer found in Daniel 6:10 "Three times a day he would kneel down, pray, and give thanks to his God, just as he had previously done."

How long will you men seek consuls from other men?

Your relationship is between You, God, Jesus, and your Bible.
Your fellowship is with each other.

BTW: Since I'm dishing out free advice, here's a big hint; Paul is a fake Apostle.
He is for those who want a watered down Bible.
Good luck with your hearing of smooth things and deceits.
Oh, I know your reactions, "how dare you" or "who are you to say" and a whole list of other slurs.

Better get with the program and ask God to clean your spirit thoroughly so you:
"may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" {Luke 21:35}.

Middle East is falling apart of at the seems. Putin and China are more than ready to push "the button".

Matthew 24:32 "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near:
Matthew 24:33 "So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors."

Yep, it will happen in the "summer".

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Paul had the correct definition of the relationship of Christ and the church. However he still had free will and quenched the (documented) leading of the Holy Spirit to go into Jerusalem where all prophets of God die. God used it for good in his writing the 4 epistles in prison that somewhat clear his name. But we can never forget that the bible is an account of not just the move of God but also satan's and mankind's.
God has been known to give concessions because of the hardness of man's heart before.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

oops I forgot I wasn't sposed to play in the funhouse m'bad

 

[RDKirk]

The word "prayer" does have a meaning. Do you agree with that?

What's your definition? You have been doing lots of challenging and making very few offers of your own opinions.

 

[RDKirk]

The word "prayer" does have a meaning. Do you agree with that? It's something other than brushing your teeth, I'm sure you would agree.

Also, to clarify, you pray every second of every day, and never, ever let a single second go by without praying? If I seem surprised, I just have never met anyone who has prayed more than Christ.

Do you think scripture records every single one of Christ's prayers?

 

[Anguspure]

Christ Jesus was living as we are created to live and He sets this example: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
He was (and is) in constant communion with His Father, and in this way so should we who have the Spirit be in constant communion with Him also.

The word "prayer" does have a meaning. Do you agree with that? It's something other than brushing your teeth, I'm sure you would agree.

Also, to clarify, you pray every second of every day, and never, ever let a single second go by without praying? If I seem surprised, I just have never met anyone who has prayed more than Christ.

 

[afishamongmany]

Now that, my friend, is an entire study in itself.

If one is "walking" with God, surely there is "conversation", yes?

Now Brinny you wouldn't want us to derail an interesting thread, would you?
Just to say - sometimes there is, sometimes there isn't. Is silence prayer?
No don't answer, we got off and the train went on.
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[blestman]

What you should be asking is "how often should you talk to the one you love?" How often should you pray -- sounds like you are looking for a formula or a way to get into God's good graces. It doesn't speak of relationship and possibly doesn't get at the real purpose of prayer.

Let me share a quote from Therese of Lisieux:
"for me prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance towards heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy. It has a supernatural grandeur which expands the soul and unites it with God."

So: how often should you pray? As often as you want to unite your soul with God. In my opinion, that is how often you should pray.

 

[Danbha]

Every time someone tries to formulate it, it doesn't work. Set devotional times are a great practice, but that is hardly a limit on when and how much to pray. I look at it like my relationship with my wife or daughter. We have certain times where we talk every day that are pretty much fixed (dinner, when I first get home from work, before bed, etc), but that certainly isn't the only times we converse throughout the day. Each day will be different.

 

[afishamongmany]

The problem with the, 'Prayer is continual communication with God' idea is that it can (it has that possibility to) lull us into a rather fuzzy and sloppy way of praying. It can also become a cause of unnecessary stress because of feeling guilty that one isn't 'achieving' this level of 'communication' with The Father.
The problem with the 'How many times?' idea is that it can (it has that possibility to) lead us into 'dead duty' praying and also guilt when we miss an 'appointment'.

How often? There is no precise number. For every individual it will be different. Every day it may vary. But yes there should be discipline (and a sense of duty) in our prayer life. There should be (as much as circumstances allow) regular, set times, communal and individual where the sole focus is on talking to and listening to God.
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[Teresa C.]

While I can see your point, Jesus, in His most famous teaching on prayer, told us to pray for the mundane things that most of us take for granted. "Give us this day our daily bread".

1Thessalonians 5:17-Pray without ceasing. I believe we should be in continual prayer. I only checked the choice that I did because praying continually wasn't a choice. In all that we do as Christians we should pray.

 

[Anguspure]

The problem with the, 'Prayer is continual communication with God' idea is that it can (it has that possibility to) lull us into a rather fuzzy and sloppy way of praying.

Who would determine whether it's fuzzy or sloppy? The Spirit leads where the Spirit leads at a given time and a relationship will wax and wane in season, like a dance.

It can also become a cause of unnecessary stress because of feeling guilty that one isn't 'achieving' this level of 'communication' with The Father.
The problem with the 'How many times?' idea is that it can (it has that possibility to) lead us into 'dead duty' praying and also guilt when we miss an 'appointment'.

I too have found that structured prayer times, places and formulas are even more conducive to feelings of guilt if we are prone to such. Furthermore the religous structure tends to emphasize the person talking bit of prayer over the listening bit.
Formulas also tend to overide the leading of the Spirit and often lead to a whole lot of mindless, heartless jabber.

How often? There is no precise number. For every individual it will be different. Every day it may vary. But yes there should be discipline (and a sense of duty) in our prayer life. There should be (as much as circumstances allow) regular, set times, communal and individual where the sole focus is on talking to and listening to God.
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[Philip.Lee]

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?

Pray incessantly says the bible in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 so I guess constant prayer is the target but the most frequent you've mentioned is hourly so I voted hourly.

 

[jsimms615]

As much as possible. It isn't just something we should do when we have a recognized need. God isn't room service. We go to him because we want to have a relationship with him not for what we can get from him

 

[RDKirk]

As much as possible. It isn't just something we should do when we have a recognized need. God isn't room service. We go to him because we want to have a relationship with him not for what we can get from him

Praying should certainly occur as often as texting. There shouldn't be anyone you need to text any less than you need to sent a word to the Lord.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

How often should you talk to your wife? The question is absurd. You talk to God as much as you love Him.

If you found the question absurd, then you should refrained from posting.

My wife and my God are two operate beings, so I act and react to them differently. I don't pray to my wife. . .

 

[Anguspure]

I don't pray to my wife. . .

With my body I do her worship however....

 

[Victor E.]

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?

In Living the Gospel you may come to realize, that Holy Spirit talks to you, He's always looking for ways to save lost souls and bring glory to the Father through Christ. In that sense, you are always praying without ceasing, by listening and talking with the Lord.

 

[AlexDTX]

If you found the question absurd, then you should refrained from posting.

My wife and my God are two operate beings, so I act and react to them differently. I don't pray to my wife. . .

Then you misunderstand prayer. Prayer is conversation. God hates religion. He hates religious prayer. He wants intimacy in a one on one relationship. Because the question is absurd, I must respond.

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

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?

Like breathing the air. that is how often you pray.