Is the prayer supposed to be personal?

[Hestha]

I'm just wondering, because I am actually agnostic and have responded to a non-Christian's prayer request thread by referring to the Book of Job. The non-Christian seems to have lost everything in his life and wishes to become a Christian and hopes to receive prayers from Christians. I am not exactly a Christian, but I do feel sympathy for this guy so I expressed my sympathy by referring to the Book of Job and suggested that the guy could use the Book of Job to make his own little prayer. Maybe the good book can provide some inspiration or something, so he knows what to do with his life and not feel so down.

Then, I browsed the forum and checked out how Christians pray for other people. I guess you are supposed to write a personal letter to God, like this:

Dear God,

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Amen.

How do you know what to say during a prayer? Is the prayer usually recited or rehearsed ahead of time, or is it made on the spot? Do you use biblical stories in prayers? Perhaps, you can suggest to God that you idolize a specific Bible character and like how that biblical character deals through pain and suffering (I'm thinking of Job at this point).

 

[Puptart]

The "personal letter format" is only one way out of many ways which people pray. It is far from the only way, and far from the "best" way because each person is different: What is "best" will be determined by who you are and how you operate.


How do you know what to say during a prayer?

I typically don't until the words are coming out of my mouth.

Is the prayer usually recited or rehearsed ahead of time, or is it made on the spot?

On the spot. I don't rehearse prayers.. what's the point? As you're rehearsing, God hears you

Do you use biblical stories in prayers? Perhaps, you can suggest to God that you idolize a specific Bible character and like how that biblical character deals through pain and suffering (I'm thinking of Job at this point).

Nope, I can honestly say I've never done anything like that. I don't strive to be like anyone else, not even anyone in the Bible.. I can only be myself. However, lots of people reference Biblical characters when giving advice to others, it's far from unusual.

 

[Hestha]

Hmmmm... Interesting...

No wonder that guy said there's a difference between the so-called "Jesus Christ" and "Religion". "Religion", as some Christians define it, contains rituals in order to achieve salvation, whereas a belief in Jesus only contains the belief itself to achieve salvation, and the good works are the products of the belief in Christ. So, if a person does good works but rejects Jesus, then that person would presumably go to hell. If a person does good works and accepts Jesus, then that person would presumably go to heaven. If a person does not perform good works and only claims to be a Christian, thinking that being a Christian means an automatic trip to heaven in the afterlife no matter what, then that person would presumably be a Christian hypocrite. Christians will typically say that they can point out other Christians' and non-Christians' faults, but they have no say in judgment; that's ultimately God's job in the end of whether or not a soul goes to heaven or hell. I suppose rituals are not that important in Christianity...

 

[food4thought]

Hmmmm... Interesting...

No wonder that guy said there's a difference between the so-called "Jesus Christ" and "Religion". "Religion", as some Christians define it, contains rituals in order to achieve salvation, whereas a belief in Jesus only contains the belief itself to achieve salvation, and the good works are the products of the belief in Christ. So, if a person does good works but rejects Jesus, then that person would presumably go to hell. If a person does good works and accepts Jesus, then that person would presumably go to heaven. If a person does not perform good works and only claims to be a Christian, thinking that being a Christian means an automatic trip to heaven in the afterlife no matter what, then that person would presumably be a Christian hypocrite. Christians will typically say that they can point out other Christians' and non-Christians' faults, but they have no say in judgment; that's ultimately God's job in the end of whether or not a soul goes to heaven or hell. I suppose rituals are not that important in Christianity...

Hello Hestha. That's pretty much right. We do tend to find meaning in some rituals like baptism and communion, but the rituals mean nothing without the relationship that comes only by having our sins (which seperates us from God) forgiven. Enter Jesus...

 

[Puptart]

Rituals are nice if you get something out of them, but if you don't, they can really be a bit empty. Life is all about how we apply our own "meaning" to the world. Some people think we should all relate to the world or to God in the exact same way, but how realistic is that when we're all entirely unique from one another? Sometimes, ritual is good in that it unites us even in the midst of a wide array of diversity, but other times "going through the motions" may not be doing it for us. We have to assess our lives on a case by case basis -- what you do may be different from what I do, and what I do different from others. What works for me? What doesn't? What is God asking of me? What parts of ritual do I get a lot out of and which parts make no sense to me? All important questions.

You're right about that being God's job by the way, the realm of judgment. He is the only person who can actually judge us. That doesn't stop human beings from judging each other, though.. but it doesn't make the action of judging each other any more accurate

 

[firstpetertwonine]

I personally have found both ritualized prayers and non-ritualized prayers effective in my life. I am a former Roman Catholic (have been thru a few different churches/denominations in my day) and used to pray the Rosary often. Sometimes, when I felt like talking to God and didn't really know what to say, I'd begin to recite the pre-formatted prayers of the Rosary out loud and by the time I was done, I felt in deep communion with him and knew what to say with my own words.

At other times, though, I know exactly what I want to say to him and I just say it. Martin Luther spoke of how every word and action of a true Christian should be a prayer, and I believe he even said something to the effect of, "the shorter the words, the better the prayer." So I quietly talk to God all day every day, about everything. Prayer can take whatever format needed at the time. A letter is just fine if someone wants to go that route. But they also don't have to go that route if they don't want.

Oh, and of particular importance to someone going thru a rough time - it is OKAY to cry out in anger to God. I yell at God all the time. He can take it. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Peace

 

[ViaCrucis]

There's nothing better or worse whether a prayer is spontaneous, or a well-known prayer. I use both in my private prayer life. Indeed, the Orthodox speak of "prayer of the heart" which is ultimately prayer without words. St. Paul the Apostle writes, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Romans 8:26)

Even the un-said prayer is prayer.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[suzybeezy]

When I pray I just like to have a conversation with God. I'm not much on the whole structure prayers - they just feel empty to me. I like when my prayers are from my heart and when I feel like I'm talking one on one with God. To me, prayers about having that relationship with God and knowing him as a friend that you can go to and talk to and lean on. He's not a wish granter but he does listen and he does answer. Just keep in mind that we don't always get what we ask for - if its not according to His will for our lives.