Raised a Christian and still don't know how to pray

[rockybashful]

I've read alot about prayer in the bible, but I just can't seem to be able to come up with my own prayers. I heard some use the the acronym ACTS to remember adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, but I still find that hard to do for more than a minute. I tend to start out saying something like "Dear Father in heaven", then say thanks for the obvious thing at the moment and ask for God to be with me and my parents, then my mind goes blank.

Maybe if I wasn't a loner and actually had a social life, maybe I would actually have acquaintances I could pray about. Maybe if my mind wasn't so foggy and restless all the time, doing everyday routine as if on autopilot, then I'd actually be able to discern better the things I should be thankful for. Maybe I would also be able to think of the things I should be asking for. Maybe I'd also be able to better analyze myself to confess or ask for help with things. Maybe I'd also see more things to praise God about....

One thing I wonder might be related... I grew up watching too much TV, playing videogames, and using the internet. Also add to this that I don't regularly listen to any music at all...

 

[Ark100]

if you are short of words, praise GOD. Shower Him with praises and adore Him. Love Him, tell Him how you feel about Him. Pour adoration and honour unto His name.
Praising God in itself can take hours or more if you get right into it. When I am short of words, I praise the Lord and sing unto Him. I also pray in tongues as well.

Pray for your family, loved ones, even strangers and your state and country. Pray for your leaders, in church and in the country. Pray for those in power, pray for the sick.

I like the popular way...Praises, confession of sins, supplications and thanksgiving. I just believe praising God, blessing His name and telling Him how much He means to me is more important than anything else I could ever want to talk about.

 

[rockybashful]

Interestingly, as I was writing this post, the hymn "day by day" came to mind... looks like I was praying for help praying and God already answered! yay

I'm thinking I probably should start getting into music, that'll help clear my head from fogginess, calm me down, then I can really start feeling closer to God after all.

I think I probably should also write a journal too, maybe even a prayer journal, because it seems to help me get my thoughts together. I wonder why I never thought of it before...
.... oh wait, I have thought of journaling, but I never really took the idea of a "prayer journal" seriously because I'm not good at even spoken prayer.... but looks like I've surprised myself.

 

[dysert]

Something that immensely improved my prayer times was studying the Bible about the three Persons of the Trinity. It may sound daunting, but it really paid off. As I learned more about each Person and their primary roles I would be able to spend a lot of time in prayer praising God for the attributes of each Person. Remember, prayer is not just about asking for things or even thanking God for things, but also for praising God for all He is.

 

[Joy]

Something that immensely improved my prayer times was studying the Bible about the three Persons of the Trinity. It may sound daunting, but it really paid off. As I learned more about each Person and their primary roles I would be able to spend a lot of time in prayer praising God for the attributes of each Person. Remember, prayer is not just about asking for things or even thanking God for things, but also for praising God for all He is.

What you shared is so encouraging thank you so much

 

[rockybashful]

Something that immensely improved my prayer times was studying the Bible about the three Persons of the Trinity. It may sound daunting, but it really paid off. As I learned more about each Person and their primary roles I would be able to spend a lot of time in prayer praising God for the attributes of each Person. Remember, prayer is not just about asking for things or even thanking God for things, but also for praising God for all He is.

That's very interesting, my dad does that, which explains alot now..

 

[BFine]

There's no time limit on prayer nor is there any commandment that states
one must prayer for an hour a day. You can pray as often as you like and for
as long or short as you wish.

My husband and I do have a prayer list-- our church puts prayer requests
in the church's bulletin that's given out each Sunday-- so, there's always
many folks we end up praying for...along with our own family, friends, neighbors,
government, leaders, persecuted church etc....

 

[seashale76]

I had a very similar issue. I've found these prayer resources to be particularly helpful.

P r a y e r
Let us
The Message of the Lord's Prayer
Abbreviated Prayerbook

 

[Goodbook]

hello rockybashful, it's great God answered your prayer on what to pray!
I suggest looking in the book of Psalms. It has lots of prayers in it that David prayed and we can pray them as well.

 

[Pal Handy]

I've read alot about prayer in the bible, but I just can't seem to be able to come up with my own prayers. I heard some use the the acronym ACTS to remember adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, but I still find that hard to do for more than a minute. I tend to start out saying something like "Dear Father in heaven", then say thanks for the obvious thing at the moment and ask for God to be with me and my parents, then my mind goes blank.

Maybe if I wasn't a loner and actually had a social life, maybe I would actually have acquaintances I could pray about. Maybe if my mind wasn't so foggy and restless all the time, doing everyday routine as if on autopilot, then I'd actually be able to discern better the things I should be thankful for. Maybe I would also be able to think of the things I should be asking for. Maybe I'd also be able to better analyze myself to confess or ask for help with things. Maybe I'd also see more things to praise God about....

One thing I wonder might be related... I grew up watching too much TV, playing videogames, and using the internet. Also add to this that I don't regularly listen to any music at all...

Sounds like you don't have a lot to pray about.

You say you are a loaner so perhaps because you not interacting with others,
you never learn of the needs of others so you don't have any idea what to pray for.

Because you are not serving others, you have very little need to pray and ask God to
help you and equip you to better serve others as He desires.

There are plenty of things that we can do as Christians and each of us
are different so perhaps for one the draw is towards prayer and for another
perhaps their draw is witnessing or service to others or studying and teaching.

You have a place within the believes and you need to find out what
that call is on your life.

Once you find out what you are suppose to be doing, prayer will
naturally be a part of that because you will realize just how much
you need God's help to do what He has called you to do.

Being a loner is never God's plan for us as He has made us to need Him and to need others that
He is within so that we will love Him and love others as He is revealed in others.

If we are alone, how can we share that part of Christ that is within us to others?

If we are alone, how can others share Christ who is within them with us?

Try to find your place and purpose in Christ and the prayer part of your life will grow and
become what it is meant to be, you crying out to God for His help for others and yourself
as you seek to serve God and His people in love and humility.

The needs you seek to meet or satisfy through your love and service to
others will draw out your need to pray and so that these needs will drive your prayer life.

 

[tbogunro]

I've read alot about prayer in the bible, but I just can't seem to be able to come up with my own prayers. I heard some use the the acronym ACTS to remember adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, but I still find that hard to do for more than a minute. I tend to start out saying something like "Dear Father in heaven", then say thanks for the obvious thing at the moment and ask for God to be with me and my parents, then my mind goes blank.

Maybe if I wasn't a loner and actually had a social life, maybe I would actually have acquaintances I could pray about. Maybe if my mind wasn't so foggy and restless all the time, doing everyday routine as if on autopilot, then I'd actually be able to discern better the things I should be thankful for. Maybe I would also be able to think of the things I should be asking for. Maybe I'd also be able to better analyze myself to confess or ask for help with things. Maybe I'd also see more things to praise God about....

One thing I wonder might be related... I grew up watching too much TV, playing videogames, and using the internet. Also add to this that I don't regularly listen to any music at all...

Lol praying = conversation with God. It doesn't have to be elaborate or long lol. Just start with thanks and just talk. What I did in the beginning when getting to know God is I imagine He's next to me chillin bcuz guess what He actually is! Then if I'm playing a video game or watching tv I just talk to him about what's going on. Like you do with your family or people you know. Just talk about anything random and BELIEVE me God will speak back to you by thoughts and impressions in your heart. You don't have to ask for anything just talk like He's a friend bcuz He is, crack jokes, do whatever, and God will ALWAYS talk back