I don't pray

KleinerApfel · Aug 24, 2004

I would never say to someone they have not prayed enough.

How on earth can I know:

a/
how much they prayed, and

b/ how much is enough anyway?

And feelings are flighty things. Don't give up because they let you down.
Knowing in your mind the certainty of God's love revealed in the Bible is reliable. Feelings are just icing on the cake.

For those who sense God's presence regularly, and feel buoyed up by prayer: do not be quick to judge those who struggle long and hard with repeated falls.

I say again, don't give up, don't despair. He is holding on to you.

Blessings, Susana

DawnTillery · Aug 24, 2004

Prayer is a way of talking to God. Prayers are answered in his own way, sometimes prayers arent answered because they arent in our best interest but we dont realize that till later on, atleast thats the way I feel. Some nights, I get really moved during my prayers and somenights its just thanks and i love you and thats it. It depends whats on my mind. Prayer and reading the bible will strengthen your relationship with God...

Jessica Lauren · Aug 24, 2004

Dr.Phil said:
What I feel is that maybe you havent prayed enough? :crosself: But That "feeling" doesnt come over-night...

I love your screen name.

Mayerpod · Aug 25, 2004

I am having difficulty with the idea of prayer too.... I feel like God will think I am a phony or a hypocrite if I begin to pray on a daily basis. The only times I have prayed in the past were when I was in hysterical desperation for help... I think I will take Susana's advice and read the psalms.

My friend says she prays to Jesus... I think I feel a closer connection with God because I am just now learning about Jesus. (This probably sounds ridiculous) I have believed in God my whole life so I would feel more at ease praying to him.... as soon as I get past my worries of feeling phony.

KleinerApfel · Aug 25, 2004

Mayerpod, welcome

I don't quite understand: how would praying daily make you hypocritical or phoney?

If you could give a little more explanation I'll get back to you.

Blessings, Susana

KleinerApfel · Aug 25, 2004

BlazerSax said:
*sigh* Yeah

BlazerSax, you sounded really fed up yesterday.

Have any of the posts in the last 24 hours given you any lifeline?
What else can we say?

God bless, Susana

Mayerpod · Aug 25, 2004

The Lord is my banner said:
Mayerpod, welcome

I don't quite understand: how would praying daily make you hypocritical or phoney?

If you could give a little more explanation I'll get back to you.

Blessings, Susana

Basically because I've never done it (casually) before. :o I want my prayers to come from my heart. I'm worried that I will think too much and fool myself into thinking I am praying.... (does this make any sense?) ... then I will look like a phony... and hypocritical because I've rarely engaged in prayer before. Thanks for showing concern. *hug*

KleinerApfel · Aug 25, 2004

Mayerpod said:
I'm worried that I will think too much and fool myself into thinking I am praying.... (does this make any sense?) ... then I will look like a phony... and hypocritical because I've rarely engaged in prayer before.

I think you're spot on when you say you worry and you think too much!

God knows what's hidden deep in your heart anyway.

Don't be afraid, just start with a few words and in time you'll get used to it, and soon it won't feel so odd.

here are some ideas to get going:

Maybe start with particular points in your day -

when you wake up thank God for being there with you, and that you are His -even when you forget, He doesn't, then just start your day.

Later, maybe thank Him for your lunch.

At bedtime remember 3 things to thank Him for, even just a sunny day, a good day at work/college, a pet or a friend cheering you up, and then 3 requests for the coming day - eg. for your work to go well, a meeting with a friend to be a time of blessing, and a family member to come to Him/ grow in Him.

I expect you'll soon find that you want to add more to your prayers, and they'll grow somehow.

These are just some ideas, not a tight schedule to adhere to by the way! Be free!

Thanks for the hug, and thanks too for your posts, which are reminding me that I need to pray more too!

God bless, Susana

Cordelia · Aug 25, 2004

I hear that. It took me months to pluck up courage to pray, and when I finally did, I was tongue-tied for a while. I felt silly (this was the last stage of a difficult conversion) and nervous as well - I mean, the first time talking to God! Then I was praying several times a day, and like you said, feeling like I was talking to a wall, as absolutely nothing was happening to me or my life.

I'm not sure when the change took place, but it did, and now I can't go to sleep without praying and feeling like the world's been taken off my shoulders. Amazing things have happened after I've prayed about them. So I say make it a habit, ask God all the important things, and you'll get answers Blessings.

Mayerpod · Aug 25, 2004

Susana... your post is SO inspirational. I'm teary eyed reading it... I think your suggestion will really work. There are easily three things I am thankful for each day and three requests I have for the next.... When you give prayer such simple instruction it doesn't seem so intimidating anymore.... In fact I am sort of looking forward to it now! I definitely worry too much... I worry about what people think of me in general so it's natural that I would worry about God's opinion too ... especially now that I am actually acknowledging God's presence ... which I am so used to taking for granted. At 20 years old... I feel like a child when it comes to prayer because I am just learning. I was never taught to pray before I went to sleep... The only prayer I took part in was the customary thank you on Thanksgiving... which was usually uncomfortable because I felt like such an outsider among religious family members.

Today I've been reading the gospel of Matthew.... I haven't finished it because I am repeating parts.... I had to stop to read this part a few times:

"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

Just as you said.... God knows what is in our hearts before we even pray. :*)

I feel relief. Thank you so much.

MooCow · Aug 25, 2004

The Lord is my banner said:
BlazerSax, you sounded really fed up yesterday.

Have any of the posts in the last 24 hours given you any lifeline?
What else can we say?

God bless, Susana

Well, I mean...I appreciate all the help, but honestly...the things you're telling me are the same things my real-life Christian friends have already told me: "Just pray and tell God that you are new in prayer and need help with it."

That just doesn't cut it for me.

KleinerApfel · Aug 25, 2004

BlazerSax said:
Well, I mean...I appreciate all the help, but honestly...the things you're telling me are the same things my real-life Christian friends have already told me: "Just pray and tell God that you are new in prayer and need help with it."

That just doesn't cut it for me.

I think there comes a point where we're all on our own.
It's just God and you; and He wants you to succeed, so don't give up.

You said you haven't prayed for a couple of years.

Maybe it's time to stop asking other people for opinions or experiences and just jump in the deep end, live dangerously, and give it another go?

God bless, Susana

12volt_man · Aug 25, 2004

BlazerSax said:
Whenever I pray, I never feel any comfort like others claim to feel. I feel like I'm praying to a brick wall and no one is listening.

So, I gave up on prayer about 2 years ago, and I haven't prayed one time since then.

Isn't this a bit like saying, "I'm sick and taking medicine only reminds me that I'm sick so I think I'll stop taking my medicine"?

MooCow · Aug 25, 2004

12volt_man said:
Isn't this a bit like saying, "I'm sick and taking medicine only reminds me that I'm sick so I think I'll stop taking my medicine"?

No, not at all...?

jdomino · Aug 26, 2004

BlazerSax,

I understand your frustration. I have done my share of talking to a brick wall too. Here are a few things that have helped me. I have to trust that God was listening when I first prayed to ask Christ into my life so chances are pretty good that He is still listening, even if it doesn't feel that way. Remember, our feelings don't always line up with the facts.

Have you ever heard of ACTS? It stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. It's sort of a guideline that a lot of people use when they pray. It helps me to stay focused.

You might pick up a book called Prayer, a user friendly approach by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz. I found it to be very helpful and easy to relate to. You mentioned that you read the Bible alot. Have you tried doing a word study on prayer? Just get a concordance and look up every form of the word pray.

Prayers don't have to be long or sound religious either. You can pray while you read. Ask God to help you understand the passage and how to apply it to your life. When you come across a promise, just thank Him.

Whatever you do, don't give up. Check out Jeremiah 29:11-13.

jd

MooCow · Aug 26, 2004

jdomino said:
BlazerSax,

I understand your frustration. I have done my share of talking to a brick wall too. Here are a few things that have helped me. I have to trust that God was listening when I first prayed to ask Christ into my life so chances are pretty good that He is still listening, even if it doesn't feel that way. Remember, our feelings don't always line up with the facts.

Have you ever heard of ACTS? It stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. It's sort of a guideline that a lot of people use when they pray. It helps me to stay focused.

You might pick up a book called Prayer, a user friendly approach by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz. I found it to be very helpful and easy to relate to. You mentioned that you read the Bible alot. Have you tried doing a word study on prayer? Just get a concordance and look up every form of the word pray.

Prayers don't have to be long or sound religious either. You can pray while you read. Ask God to help you understand the passage and how to apply it to your life. When you come across a promise, just thank Him.

Whatever you do, don't give up. Check out Jeremiah 29:11-13.

jd

Yeah, I've heard of ACTS...but it is a huge turn-off for me.

Saying, "God, thank you for everything you have given me," starts to become old and insincere after a week or so.

Lizzi4Christ · Aug 26, 2004

What is prayer? Communication to God. It's simply talking to God. I don't really use the "regular terms" when talking to Him. I rarely say "Dear Lord, .... Amen". I learned that I have to talk to him just like I would talk to anyone else. Why try to hide my feelings or make my speech appear better then what I feel? He already knows. He just wants to hear it from me. I've yelled at Him. I've cried to Him. I've whispered to Him.

Quite honestly, you do have a huge problem when you don't talk to Him. Even if you don't feel like it, you need to do it.

I don't pray

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