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Praying with Candles?

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UnimaginablyHappy

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Hi everyone !

I've been wanting to pray using a candle lately to help me pray. Often when I pray, many other thoughts will come into my head and I get distracted. I think staring at a flame may help me to focus and it is a common technique in many meditation.

Would praying with a candle be a form of idolatry?

I'm really having a hard time focusing so any other suggestions are welcome!
 
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heron

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Are you worshiping the candle?

(-; Just checking.

I'm guessing you're concerned that it could trigger some love of the mystical ... and I think it's up to you to guard your heart when you set anything up for yourself.

You probably use candles with dinner guests once in a while. It accomplishes the same thing -- highlights the center and causes the other clutter to fade away.
 
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Peripatetic

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Praying to the candle itself or attempting to channel some kind of power is idolatry. Using a candle to help keep your mind from distractions is probably not a bad idea if it works for you. Just don't make it a requirement for prayer. I struggle with a wandering mind too... even when I'm attempting focused prayer.
 
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Hamish MacWolf

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Hello, Happy.

Catholics pray using rosary beads, and would probably laugh aloud at the thought it is idolatry. Beads, candles, music... they are all tools, through which you are trying to get hold of something much more divine. If they succeed, and you draw close to God, then He will be pleased, and not rap you on the knuckles for needing them to stop being distracted.

Also, have you trying praying about your prayer distraction? As in, actually focus on the distraction the way you would any other tribulation? An excerpt from The Screwtape Letters deals with precisely this:

“When this, or any other distraction, crosses his mind you ought to encourage him to thrust it away by sheer will power and to try to continue the normal prayer as if nothing had happened; once he accepts the distraction as his present problem and lays that before the Enemy and makes it the main theme of his prayers and his endeavours, then, so far from doing good, you have done harm.”

(PS - The Screwtape Letters is written from the perspective of a senior devil to a younger, giving advice on how to trip up humans. My profound apologies if you already knew that, but I wouldn't want to confuse you, should you not.)
 
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UnimaginablyHappy

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No, I did not know what The Screwtape Letters were. You saved me a trip to Google! Strangely enough, I never thought to pray for my distractions and my focus. I truly do thank you for this! It just never crossed my mind.
I really appreciate it !
 
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Crosssword

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Well God appeared to Moses within fire. I have never prayed with candles, and God knows our hearts at all times. He knows what we want and need before we even ask him. While I do enjoy candles and incense on occassion I do not see how they would help me to pray.

However, it can be said that ceremonial ritual is a complex form of prayer. If these settings help you get into the proper mood thats one thing, but the prayer absolutely must be to God and God alone, through Christ Jesus.

What will help you most in Christian prayer is to get as many people praying with you as possible. The more we pray for someone the stronger our combined faith can help reach them. I have had some people pray for me and felt this effect.

Even if one feels hopeless before God, he will surely take it into consideration if a whole church wants that person to be saved, and the person is serious about Jesus and trying to be rigtheous.
 
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heron

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What will help you most in Christian prayer is to get as many people praying with you as possible. The more we pray to someone the stronger our combined faith can help reach them. I have had some people pray for me and felt this effect.
Click to expand...
That's a great suggestion.
 
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