Prayer time

Ok, others said that you need to pray long prayers

BUT

JESUS said:

When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Matthew 6:7

Prayer is simply conversation. Conversation with JESUS.

Ok, what kind of conversation do you like?

Long boring conversation, pre mediated and all spelled out?

Or spontaneous, lively (short or long) it doesn't matter, because it is
real, it comes from the heart!

That is exactly what GOD wants in prayer.

Lively, real, spontaneous -from the heart.

-eric

The Exchanged Life

You know that verse about praying without ceasing (II Th 5:17)? For a long time I wondered what ministers meant by that – someone on one of the Christian forums said look for opportunities to pray. You know, getting up, we thank Yahweh b/c this is the day He has made (Psa 118); getting our kids ready, we pray with them and bless them as they get dropped off; seeing an accident, we pray for the victim & their families and friends, emergency & hospital personnel, law enforcement, etc. listening to the news, we learn of families that need His help and we’re reminded to pray for our leaders, military, FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security, federal, state, and local police, fire fighters, correctional officers, juenvile and probation officers, etc;

Then there is prayer in our prayer closet (Mat 6:6). Sometimes it’s difficult to find uninterrupted time to spend time with Him. This is private time between you and Yahweh making petitions, giving Him thanks, praise, and worship. Worship is where we get our minds off ourselves and just on Him. One way to do this is concentrate on the names and attributes of Yahweh.

Most of the Psalms are prayers, too.

ezeric said:

Ok, others said that you need to pray long prayers
JESUS said:
When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Matthew 6:7

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This is incorrect.

KJV Mathew 6:7 "but when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking."

He does not condemn long prayers, just saying the same thing over and over. This annoys God just as much as it would annoy you. He knows your heart, he knows what you are asking for, you need to learn to BELIEVE.

Do yourself a favor and get rid of whatever abomination you are quoting and buy yourself a real Bible.

Prayer can be called a spiritual discipline.

That to my mind can be a dry description of what is essentially communicating with God. Some people find communicating easier than others, some find some styles and ways easier than others.

For those who value using formal social protocals then the use of a structured liturgy can enable them to chat with God by providing a framework of words they can use to help them approach God.
For those who can talk to anyone anywhere then simply just being with God will be enough.
Others who find communication with God plain hard may use songs, dance art or other expressive forms of communication sure in the knowledge that God knows what is in their hearts they struggle to convey.

What matters most is for prayer to have integrity, someone who has the gifts to interceed for others can often pray for far longer than one who has not. Someone who has spent a few years with God and got to know God better may find they can share more things for longer periods over time.
A person who is new to Christ and prayer can feel a minute with God lasts forever as they struggle to know what to say.

Make a short period of time each day time to just chat for a few minutes with God. For some early morning works best, for others the time when children are at school or clubs, for others it is when they come home from work, for others it is in the stillness of the evening. Find the time that allows you to enter Gods presence without feeling rushed.
Some find it helpful to have a prayer list- it contains things they want to share with God. If your new to praying this can help you to focus on prayer rather than spend all the time trying to recall what it was you wnated to pray to God about.

Some find it helpful to have a prayer written by someone else. The bible is filled with prayers- have a look at Psalms.

Be kind to yourself. Someone new to running will find making it round the block very hard work with out collapsing whereas someone who has been practicing and running every day can manage to go for far longer and further before they become tired and need to rest.

All traditions, movements and denominations of the Christian church have books written about praying; that is because prayer is so core to having a healthy living relationship with God through Christ. If you have contact with a church ask one of the pastors/priest/ministers if they can recommend a book suitable to encourage someone new to prayer.

He does not condemn long prayers, just saying the same thing over and over. This annoys God just as much as it would annoy you.

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When you sit with the dying, the distressed, the broken hearted, those who live with mental distress and those who God made with child like minds you will know there are times such prayers are needed and heeded for they come deep within and reach to the deep of God.

Well, you don't have to pray long prayers. I prefer praying short prayers throughout the day, usually giving thanks or asking God to be with me as I enter an activity.

But since you want to try to develop the ability to express long prayers, I suggest reading your favorite Psalms out loud to yourself for practice. You can also use The Lord's Prayer as an outline and simply expound upon each of the phrases as they relate to your life experience.

Good luck and God bless you.

Crosssword said:

This is incorrect.

KJV Mathew 6:7 "but when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do; for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking."

He does not condemn long prayers, just saying the same thing over and over. This annoys God just as much as it would annoy you. He knows your heart, he knows what you are asking for, you need to learn to BELIEVE.

Do yourself a favor and get rid of whatever abomination you are quoting and buy yourself a real Bible.

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You didn't read my entire post, where I explained it is a matter of the heart, not in the length of prayers that matter.

You also seem 'hung up' on the KJV of the Bible, and like to attack.

I will leave with this verse, and its KJV as well.

It should help you:

Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
47Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. Luke 20:46-47

Lastly, you will know when your are praying right, when you get answers to prayer. So, pray, beg, do whatever and brag about your prayer life and Bible reading too, but if you don't get answers, then check yourself (test everything) and find out why?

-eric

The Exchanged Life

It is good for you to give thanks. Perhaps you may also want to praise Him, confess a sin or two that is on your mind, pray for other specific people, and pray for what you need. I find that if I try to do a few of each, it makes for a pretty substantial prayer time.

I meant no offense Ezeric, just calling it like I saw it. It's amazing how a different translation can make it say something different. It's not really that I'm stuck on the KJV, I'm stuck on getting the best translation possible. Now sometimes, admittedly, the other versions are justified, but in those cases they refer back to the original greek and hebrew as confirmation.

My point is that with vain repititions you are asking and not believing. The other point to be made is that the pharisees pray to be seen by men. They probably had some meaningless elaborate rituals too.

A prayer is mainly long when you want to do a lot of praising, or really express yourself, sometimes it's even a two-way conversation. I bet some people have even fallen asleep with their hands in prayer.

I have experienced success with both. We would do well to remember that the Lord knows our hearts already and already knows what we are going to ask for. There has even been at least once when I was about to pray and it was answered before I even started.

So yeah, the style of prayer is more for ones personal benefit, in one's personal relationship with the lord. It's not like we need prayer police lol.

Well, I'm sorry if that came off as rude or insulting Ezeric. And actually, I had read the entire post, I just only felt compelled to comment as I did.

Crosssword said:

I meant no offense Ezeric, just calling it like I saw it. It's amazing how a different translation can make it say something different. It's not really that I'm stuck on the KJV, I'm stuck on getting the best translation possible. Now sometimes, admittedly, the other versions are justified, but in those cases they refer back to the original greek and hebrew as confirmation.

My point is that with vain repititions you are asking and not believing. The other point to be made is that the pharisees pray to be seen by men. They probably had some meaningless elaborate rituals too.

A prayer is mainly long when you want to do a lot of praising, or really express yourself, sometimes it's even a two-way conversation. I bet some people have even fallen asleep with their hands in prayer.

I have experienced success with both. We would do well to remember that the Lord knows our hearts already and already knows what we are going to ask for. There has even been at least once when I was about to pray and it was answered before I even started.

So yeah, the style of prayer is more for ones personal benefit, in one's personal relationship with the lord. It's not like we need prayer police lol.

Well, I'm sorry if that came off as rude or insulting Ezeric. And actually, I had read the entire post, I just only felt compelled to comment as I did.

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Love Ya Brother!

No Offense Taken,
All of them (offenses) were left at the cross...
Mine and yours...

-eric

The Exchanged Life

I think you should just pray and not worry about how long you do it. Don't be legalistic about praying.

Blessings,

Alan

I understand where you are coming from. In the past I have wondered why other people always seemed content in prayer and I had a difficult time doing so. What helped me get a better grasp on things was really studying and examining the Lord's Prayer as Jesus told his disciples.

Mt 6:9-13
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

After this manner therefore pray ye:
This prayer is certainly not “the only thing you can pray”, but we are to pray after this manner. In other words, Jesus told his disciples to use this as a general example.
Our Father which art in heaven,
Rom 8:11-17, Gal 4:1-7, Heb 10:14-22
Hallowed be thy name.
Ex 6:3, Ps 83:18
Thy kingdom come.
Mt 24:29-36, Rev 19:11-20:25
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Lk 9:23, Jn 15:1-14, Mk 12:29-31, Mt 28:18-20, Mt 7:12
Give us this day our daily bread.
Mt 6:24-34, Lk 12:22-32, Jn 6:27-51, Mt 4:4, Phil 4:6-7
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mt 6:14-15, Mt 18:21-35, Lk 6:27-38
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
Gal 5:14-26, Eph 5:1-11, Phil 4:8-9, Col 1:9-22, 1 Cor 10:1-14
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Gen 1:1, Ex 20:1-7, Isa 6:1-3, Jn 1:1-3, Rev 19:11-20:15

You can also find this prayer in Luke 11:1-4. The list of cross references is from my own personal study. There are undoubtedly more, there are probably better ones, but this should be sufficient to get you started and give you a good scriptural basis expounding this prayer.


This study helped me tremendously because I no longer focused upon my shortcomings and unworthiness, but focus on my status as a son of God. I have been born again of the Spirit of God; I have been made a new creature in Christ and can enter into the Holiest of Holies with bold confidence. I remember and pray that the name of the Almighty God, which is Jehovah, is holy and ought to remain that way. I remember that Jesus is coming back, that God is not finished yet and His kingdom is coming - and I pray it comes quickly. I remember that I am a stranger here, and my purpose is not to amass wealth or worldly pleasure but to do the will of the Father; I pray for strength and courage and wisdom to love others as myself and spread the gospel of Christ. I remember that I am completely dependent upon God for my provisions, I have not done nor can I do anything of mine own self. I pray for bread, both the physical nourishment and spiritual bread which is the word. I ask for forgiveness, and remember to forgive others as commanded: even as the Father has forgiven my miserable self through His Son. I ask that the Holy Ghost keep me from giving into the flesh, I ask that I may be kept in God’s hand and separate from this world, I ask to be delivered from evil and for the ability to walk a righteous life approved by God. I praise God, for His is the kingdom, glory, and power for ever. Even though God knows my thoughts and needs, I make my personal requests known to him believing in faith, knowing that whatever I ask in the blessed name of Jesus will be given unto me.


I hope this can be of good use to you, that it kindles the flame inside you to really study the inspired word of God and to believe what it says. If you study the Lord’s Prayer and truly understand it soon prayer will become a natural thing. Know that while there is nothing wrong with long prayer, long prayer itself should not be your goal. Speaking to the Father should be the desire of your heart, whether that conversation is long or short.