How to pray?

[theblackcat]

Is there a particular format a person should use when they pray? I'm curious about postures (do you need to fold your hands, or kneel?), format (aloud, silent, written down?) and also the words or object, I guess, of the prayer, such as do you need to say a scripted prayer like the Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary, or can you just say whatever is on your mind? I was also wondering about how formal you need to be when you pray. For instance, can you just say what you're thinking about or do you have to address it in a specific way, using titles and words like "amen" or "hallelujah"?

Another thing I'm wondering about is if you have to call God "God". There are a number of reasons why I'm uncomfortable doing so. For one, I've always associated the word "god" with being a term that applies to anything people give prominence or importance to, such as the lead singer of band X is a rock god, or Horus was a god in the Egyptian religion. I don't think of it as a name. Also, as a very young person I had some abusive encounters with some Christian and Muslim believers who justified their actions as being ordained by God. Even though I understand that's just their (mis-)interpretation, it's hard for me to use that word to describe the true God. I'm not sure exactly what to use in place of that word. I was thinking "ousia" since I read that's the substance of God and Christ and the Holy Spirit, but maybe that's inaccurate. Are there names or titles that would be appropriate to use when I am praying? I am comfortable addressing prayers to Jesus Christ, but I'm not sure if you're ever supposed to pray to "the Heavenly Father" directly instead of Christ. Yes, the whole trinity thing is perplexing to me, but I'm trying.

 

[Freelyworships]

Posture can affect the way you pray. If you are lying down you might give a lazy, careless prayer. If you are in an upright posture you may give an honest and straight forward prayer, I know that is how it works with me.

All prayer is suppose to be directed through Jesus Christ, he lived and walked in this world at one time so he knows mankind and the way people interact with one another. So opening a prayer can start out by being humble and asking the Lord Jesus to hear your prayer. Then from there it is probably best to just be yourself.

Praise is something that would follow a prayer. You give the lord thanks and by letting him know why you understand something to be the way it is, even if you have no control over it. Then you can continue to pray and ask the lord for guidance in your understanding.

I hope this helps, it helped me just by explaining it to someone else.

 

[razeontherock]

Welcome to CF, and good questions!

Prayer is a very personal thing. Let me ask you this: in prayer, is it more important what you say, or what you hear the Almighty say?

In a prayerful attitude, looking to hear Him speak, picking up your Bible and dusting it off IS listening for His voice. And when it comes through clear as a bell, it's truly invigorating and life changing! (I suggest starting in the Gospel of John and just reading straight through to the end.)

So please don't overlook that aspect of prayer. Next, how to address Him? You are very correct the word "God" is NOT a name. In fact, when you get to reading the Old Testament you'll see he became various things to different people at different times. No, He didn't change; but He revealed Himself in new ways! And so it is with us.
Scripture for that? Rev 12:11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony"

If He hasn't become something new and personal to you, you don't have a "word of your testimony," yet. So you see this Christianity stuff is very much about a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, also called in Scripture Christ Jesus our Lord. He's the only one you need to pray to, EVER. If He shows you to pray directly to the Father, go with it; but wait for Him to show you about that.

The Lord's prayer isn't even a prayer to pray by memory, but it IS a most excellent pattern! There are whole books written on just it's significance, but it's ok to approach Him as a child, with a humble kind of reverent awe. That goes a long way - worth it's weight in gold you might say! The most effective prayers I've prayed have been things He "lit up" to me in the word, and asking Him to do exactly that as you read your Bible is a highly suggested starting point.

Truthfully the Lord and I can commune volumes in a nano-second, and my physical position is immaterial; but there are times He impresses upon me that He wants me to do this or that in prayer, and I try to obey. I say go with your heart!

There's much to learn in prayer, so I urge you to keep this thread going for a while as questions come up. It's a very experiential thing ...

Ray

 

[beforHim]

razeontherock and Freelyworships made good posts. Here are some general points:

+ God does not really care if we don't use big words, or even the right word; just be sincere, and use the knowledge you have.

+ Posture can be important. If you're layng down, you'll probably fall asleep. Likewise, if you sit in your "TV watching" chair (or the equivalent of) your mind will go to those things (in my example, TV)

+ The place you pray can have an effect, but again, like posture and the words you use, it's not "assigned" or commanded to do it a certain way. Praying in your break rom at work would be a very distracting prayer. Praying on a bus, not so distracting. Jesus says "go into your 'prayer closet' " and while He was mainloy saying "don't go out and pray in front of everyone to look important", a prayer closet is also god because, like the TV chair reminding you of TV, a prayer closet (if you pray their consistently and use it for that purpose alone) will help keep your mind on prayer.

+ And as for calling Him "God"- you can pray directly to the Father, or to the SOn, or even to the Holy Spirit. You can call Him any title you know of, sch as "heveanly father" or "Jesus Christ" or "Holy One". Sometimes I just say "Hey guy, what's up", but of course the reason we try and stick to more "honorary" titles is because "hey guy, what's up" is usually said to your friend or any old joe on the sreet, and again it helps your mindset to address God in a more honorary way- I mean, He is the creator of the universe and most loving being around, you know?


Hope all this helps.

 

[Wackotic]

Not an authority, but I have had no problems saying verbally or even mentally something and meaning to address it to God. I don't even specify who I am communicating with, I just know it is meant to be to God and he knows I am praying. I don't use any posture though sometimes when I am floored by something good or bad or am just at my wits, I fall to my knees, fold my hands, and am begging/pleading out of being so overwhelmed. I am not into formalities, but times when I do that sort of traditional posture, it's because I really mean it.

I think everyone has their own ways and their own reasons. Experimenting is fine, too.

 

[ebia]

Is there a particular format a person should use when they pray? I'm curious about postures (do you need to fold your hands, or kneel?), format (aloud, silent, written down?) and also the words or object, I guess, of the prayer, such as do you need to say a scripted prayer like the Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary, or can you just say whatever is on your mind? I was also wondering about how formal you need to be when you pray. For instance, can you just say what you're thinking about or do you have to address it in a specific way, using titles and words like "amen" or "hallelujah"?

Different formats suit different people at different times.

Another thing I'm wondering about is if you have to call God "God". There are a number of reasons why I'm uncomfortable doing so. For one, I've always associated the word "god" with being a term that applies to anything people give prominence or importance to, such as the lead singer of band X is a rock god, or Horus was a god in the Egyptian religion. I don't think of it as a name. Also, as a very young person I had some abusive encounters with some Christian and Muslim believers who justified their actions as being ordained by God. Even though I understand that's just their (mis-)interpretation, it's hard for me to use that word to describe the true God. I'm not sure exactly what to use in place of that word. I was thinking "ousia" since I read that's the substance of God and Christ and the Holy Spirit, but maybe that's inaccurate. Are there names or titles that would be appropriate to use when I am praying? I am comfortable addressing prayers to Jesus Christ, but I'm not sure if you're ever supposed to pray to "the Heavenly Father" directly instead of Christ. Yes, the whole trinity thing is perplexing to me, but I'm trying.

Prayers to the Father, to Jesus and to the Spirit are all appropriate. You can also address God by his personal name - Yahweh - that distinguishes him from all other ideas of god.

 

[brinny]

Is there a particular format a person should use when they pray? I'm curious about postures (do you need to fold your hands, or kneel?), format (aloud, silent, written down?) and also the words or object, I guess, of the prayer, such as do you need to say a scripted prayer like the Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary, or can you just say whatever is on your mind? I was also wondering about how formal you need to be when you pray. For instance, can you just say what you're thinking about or do you have to address it in a specific way, using titles and words like "amen" or "hallelujah"?

Another thing I'm wondering about is if you have to call God "God". There are a number of reasons why I'm uncomfortable doing so. For one, I've always associated the word "god" with being a term that applies to anything people give prominence or importance to, such as the lead singer of band X is a rock god, or Horus was a god in the Egyptian religion. I don't think of it as a name. Also, as a very young person I had some abusive encounters with some Christian and Muslim believers who justified their actions as being ordained by God. Even though I understand that's just their (mis-)interpretation, it's hard for me to use that word to describe the true God. I'm not sure exactly what to use in place of that word. I was thinking "ousia" since I read that's the substance of God and Christ and the Holy Spirit, but maybe that's inaccurate. Are there names or titles that would be appropriate to use when I am praying? I am comfortable addressing prayers to Jesus Christ, but I'm not sure if you're ever supposed to pray to "the Heavenly Father" directly instead of Christ. Yes, the whole trinity thing is perplexing to me, but I'm trying.

From the bottom of his heart, Moses asked God to show His face. He went seeking God. God responded.

 

[Sketcher]

You don't have to be formal at all. The Lord's Prayer is a general model for believers to follow, but it's not strict. Just be honest with God, and be humble towards him.

 

[seashale76]

We Orthodox generally stand when we pray. However, we also cross ourselves, bow, and do prostrations- depending on the situation.

The following are very good articles that explain the concept of prayer, how to pray, specific prayers, etc. I highly recommend them- they've helped me a great deal.

P r a y e r
Let us
Abbreviated Prayerbook
Prayer for the Living
The Message of the Lord's Prayer

 

[Celtic D]

Prayer is a chat with God, he doesn't care if you are standing, sitting, walking in the park or whatever, just as long as you do chat to Him.