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Is there a wrong way to pray?

SkyWriting

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That's a historical reference to actual events.
I'm not even sure you have permission to read that letter.
 
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Natsumi Lam

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That's a historical reference to actual events.
I'm not even sure you have permission to read that letter.

What?!

You are not sure i even have permission to read the entire Bible or James?

Its not relivent for today?
 
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Neogaia777

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That's a historical reference to actual events.
I'm not even sure you have permission to read that letter.
"Who is worthy to open the scroll and it's seven seals"...?

God Bless!
 
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Natsumi Lam

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I was replying to @SkyWriting, and I think He knows what I mean...

God Bless!

I got that. James is talking about prayers by the elders as a group. Why interject a completely different subject entirely?

That is a prime example of thread hijacking and complete deviation.
 
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Neogaia777

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I got that. James is talking about prayers by the elders as a group. Why interject a completely different subject entirely?
Cause their thought provoked the thought in me basically...

But, what about it, (to the other)...?
 
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Neogaia777

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It has nothing at all to do with the thread.
Ok, well I thought I did my best to answer the OP, and then maybe went or tried to go down a few a few "rabbit trails", sorry, it happens, but...?

You still want to talk about the OP...?

God Bless!
 
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Natsumi Lam

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Ok, well I thought I did my best to answer the OP, and then maybe went or tried to go down a few a few "rabbit trails", sorry, it happens, but...?

You still want to talk about the OP...?

God Bless!

Are you being serious or passive aggressive?
 
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Natsumi Lam

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That's a historical reference to actual events.
I'm not even sure you have permission to read that letter.

So we are supposed to go to the elders. How many elders is too many praying for you to be unbiblical?
 
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PoppyB

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Hi. I got fed up with being taught how to pray. Do it this way, do it that way etc. So to be honest I stopped trying to pray the 'right' way and just talk to God in my own way. Don't get pressured and don't don't beat yourself up for thinking you may be doing 'wrong'. Just do it. Just talk to him naturally. If you use the Lord's prayer, as I sometimes do, think about each sentence and don't rhyme it off. Hope that helps. x
 
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Gregory Thompson

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Jesus said to pray "like this" and said the Lord's prayer.

To illustrate how not to pray, see below.

Dear me, by my own will, I speak this into existence.

Give me today everything my corrupt heart desires.

For extra measure, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ so it will happen or God is a liar.

^^
This is the wrong way to pray.
 
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Yarddog

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Pray to God like he is your Father. Look within yourself to the Spirit which God gave through baptism. This Spirit is our direct contact with the Father. Give all to God and don't be afraid to share your deepest thought for God wishes to help us with all.
 
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SkyWriting

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So your heart is for automatically correcting scripture...not possibly seeing you many be wrong?

You still havent addressed the public tongues issue.
Becasue we have the completed scriptures, there is no further use for the gift of prophecy though tongues and it's required translator.

In the past I have been very legalistic and biblically conservative and God's Holy Spirit has corrected me dramatically. Take the time to read through my posts about 1 year ago and earlier if you wish to verify this.

I was not even aware of the New Covenant. I was under the illusion that the Old Covenant was THE only way to salvation. I was a "born again" Christian that didn't understand how Jesus accomplished and filled all the law. It is no longer my job to keep the laws.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
 
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SkyWriting

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So we are supposed to go to the elders. How many elders is too many praying for you to be unbiblical?

We are now free of the law in ink or stone!
 
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paul1149

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My go-to on questions like this is Ephesians 6, where after describing the full armor of God, Paul tells us to pray with "all prayer". This means all kinds of prayer - formal, informal, written, spoken. We are told in the Sermon not to use "vain" repetitive prayer "as the nations do". Yet Robertson points out:

Certainly Jesus does not mean to condemn all repetition in prayer since he himself prayed three times in Gethsemane "saying the same words again" (Mt 26:44).​

I think it's a question of intent. If the Holy Spirit is quickening the Model Prayer (Mt. 6) to you, then go with it. But if you're just using by rote it to fill dead air, that's a problem.

In short, there is a wrong way to approach the Father, but it's centered around heart attitude more than prayer form. At times I will begin to pray, but then catch myself that I'm not giving proper honor to the Lord. I correct myself and then proceed. Then I feel I'm talking to God rather than at Him.

The belief that we are not to pray corporately is a legalistic understanding of Jesus' point about not praying so others will hear you and think you're Mr. Wonderful (Mt 6). There are numerous examples of the disciples praying and worshiping corporately.

As for tongues, there are two kinds - our prayer language to God, and His revelation to us. The former is what Paul speaks against using publicly in 1Cor, lest it promote confusion and chaos. But he endorses the use of this kind of tongue in private prayer, and the use of prophetic tongues in public as long as there is interpretation.
 
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Saint JOHN

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1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Tounges is the automatic responce at recieving the Holy Spirit..(clean undifilable language God gives )..just as in acts 2..etc.(thats how disiples etc knew people had recieved { not just religious/superstitios..same priests etc that crucified Jesus Christ })

maximum 3 to speak in tongues IN THE CHURCH (the people not the building) same today.(they were told off by Paul because they were ALL doing it in the church !

Mt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Ro 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

thats what Jesus said to warn his disciples from just religious/superstitious people ..same today when people receive the Holy Ghost..not just religious natural people.

ps..1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

it dosnt say dont bother or stop..using the tongues God gives you to comunicate 24/7 he will turn situations around for you !
 
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Hi Family,



In another thread a poster said to pray like the Lord's prayer but to not repeat it. Do you agree or is it religiosity creeping in?

I disagree with that poster. I have often repeated the Lord's prayer with my son with the goal of teaching him how to pray. I repeat the Lord's prayer when I do not know what to pray, when I am too weak to pray.

He said he doesnt pray during Church prayer time.

Right in order to "not be seen of men" or pray before men, but it is a wonderful time to pray. If everyone in the room were praying they would be focusing on God and not men. It is also a healthy practice of submission to an authority and respect when the minister asks everyone to bow their head. Praying in Church can build up prayer in the prayer closet, praying in Church can be a wonderful beneficial experience to the soul. How sweet it is to pray in agreement in Church in a world of bitter disagreement. To know we are not alone in our struggles, to exhibit our complete dependence on Christ.

What about public tongues?

Better one intelligible word of edification to the Church than a thousand tongues of angels in public. So tis' best kept in private.

Is there a wrong way to approach the Father? Or is that religiosity?

In public yes, in private no and yes. The Scriptures tell us to submit and humble ourselves before Him.

What about when we are sad, happy, weeping or mad?

Be controlled by the Spirit and not controlled by human emotions which come and go and fade like the withering grass.

What about praying like David...a man after God's own heart?

In prayer, I see a David nearly in a league of his own, in his life outside of prayer, I see a man similar to other men. We can only be who we are, be earnest before God, He gives growth as He wills.

What about prayers of praise?

These are sweeter than honey, like precious jewels, to be desired that God would fill our hearts with His praise when our hearts would be inclined to just the opposite. Humble submission in earnest can lead to a glad and thankful heart.
 
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