Stupid question

[GodRules22793]

I know this is kind of a stupid question and I know no one can tell me how to pray.But can anyone sort of give me a "default prayer".I mean , I know how to pray,but it's just I don't know what to pray about.
Please respond.

 

[Krystabelle]

Brother you remind me of myself when I was a new Christian. Take baby steps, trust me. Maybe you should get the book "The Power of a Praying Teen" by stormie omarthon, which is good for growth. There's no "default" prayer, just talk to God, He understands. Even now I still wonder why cant I use the more "prayer-like" words. It's ok if you dont pray out loud. Speak to God with your heart. Remember to surrender to God everyday. Confess your sins (again and again), if not, God cant hear you (sin is like a barrier between you and God, He hates sin, so confess!). Confess your sins sincerely, everyday, and ask for forgiveness. Then continue to talk to God. Remember that God knows everything about you, your desires, your dreams, your worries. But speak out to Him personally in your heart,for He as a Father wants to draw us closer to Him. Speak to Him about anything, and if you want a change, speak up. I understand that it feels weird the first few times you pray, cuz you have nothing to pray about. I suggest you memorise some bible verses. 1/2 a day or 5-10 if you can. It'll help you in prayer. again, take baby-steps, you have all the time you need.

God bless!

 

[Krystabelle]

Of course, if you're still not satisfied, there's the Lord's prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 .



"Our Father in heaven" -- We need to always acknowledge first and foremost who we are talking to. He (God) is our heavenly Father. We address Him with respect just as we should address our earthly father with respect. He is the only true God who created all things in this universe, including ourselves. He loves us and we need to show our love for Him.

"Hallowed be your name" -- We must see Him as being holy, sanctified, consecrated; worthy of praise, honor and glory!

"Your kingdom come" - We acknowledge His coming kingdom. We pray that Christ will soon return and establish His earthly kingdom where we will reign with Him for eternity.

"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" -- We need to be praying for His will to be done in our lives, so that we might bring glory to Him here on earth as He is also glorified in heaven. We need to do things His way, instead of selfishly doing our own things to satisfy our own desires.

"Give us today our daily bread" -- We should ask our Father each day to provide for our needs, just as He promised in His Holy Word. His Word says that we don't have, because we don't ask. Of course, we must first know God through His Son, our personal Lord and Savior. If we don't know Christ, God won't acknowledge this request for daily provision.

"Forgive us our debts (or transgressions) as we also have forgiven our debtors (transgressors)" -- This speaks about forgiveness among our associates, neighbors, friends, family and loved ones. Any and all persons in our lives that we come in contact with in social or business situations are included as well. If we can't forgive others, how can we expect our heavenly Father to forgive us?

"Lead us not into temptation" -- We need to ask our heavenly Father to help us recognize every evil thing, every temptation before us. We need help to stay focused on our Father and see the evil that we might fall into, for what it is really is, a trap set by Satan to bring us down to his level.

"But deliver us from the evil one" -- Help us, dear Father, to steer clear of that liar and deceiver. Let us see clearly the path that you want each of us to walk. By the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, may we never stray from your will and way...
Lord's Prayer - A Glorious Ending
Some commentators believe that the end of the Lord's Prayer - "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever" - was added by someone other than the original writer. Whether that's true or not, this last phrase simply emphasizes more praise and glory to God the Father - so it's absolutely biblical… a glorious ending to a model prayer to God!

(http://www.allaboutprayer.org/lords-prayer.htm , 2007)

Oh, I found this cool site and animation http://www.interviewwithgod.com/playprayer.htm

Have fun

 

[capnator]

first, everyday ask God in your own way to search out your heart and see if any wickedness is found in you and to clean it out and align yourself more closely with Christ.

Submit yourself to God's will everyday in prayer.

Commit to pray daily for 5 people who don't know Christ... and to bring people to you that you can witness too. (you'll have to add people you witness to to your list)

Pray for anything that concerns you.

Pray for your town and your church.

Everyday Pray for God to lead you in truth.

Fit those things into a Default prayer.

 

[bunced]

Make yourself a prayer hand. Draw round your hand, cut it out (just like being at pre-school!) and then label the fingers.

• The thumb is the first digit you come to - label this "Praise and worship" as this should be first
• Label the pointing finger "Confess your sins" because you examine with the pointing finger
• Knowing the promises of God that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven, this makes us thankful. On the tallest finger write "thanking God"
• The weakest of our fingers reminds us of our need to pray for those who are in need. Write "needs of others" on the ring finger
• Finally, the pinky is the least of our fingers yet the most essential for having a strong grip. Write "our needs" on the pinky finger

Then each time you come and pray, use the following pattern as a starter. Just as a note, don't be afraid to stray from the order if you feel God is drawing your attention to something. God isn't necessarily a God of order and tidiness

 

[Elijah2]

I know this is kind of a stupid question and I know no one can tell me how to pray.But can anyone sort of give me a "default prayer".I mean , I know how to pray,but it's just I don't know what to pray about.
Please respond.

Get a copy of "Becoming a Prayer Warrior", by Elizabeth Alves. You will get enough out of that book to keep you praying forever.

 

[bunced]

And by the way, I meant to say earlier - the only stupid question is the one you don't ask

 

[TheGuide]

I know this is kind of a stupid question and I know no one can tell me how to pray.But can anyone sort of give me a "default prayer".I mean , I know how to pray,but it's just I don't know what to pray about.
Please respond.

That is why the Book of Pslams is so important. It gives us a pattern in which to pray. For example, you can read the 23rd Pslams then paraphrase it to your needs:

"Lord God, I know you look over me and that I shall want for nothing. You remain beside me even now and lead me with your grace and love. Even though I am confronted by evil, I will not fear because you are with me..."

You get the idea? The Pslams is a good learning ground to prayer, with a lot of meat packed in. And you want to continually paraphrase your favorite Pslams so that you can present God with a fresh prayer often.

Also, start praying about everything, I find that is helping me. Like when you go somewhere just say "Lord God, please give me traveling grace, in Jesus' name. Amen." When you rise in the morning "Lord God, thank you for this day. Amen." Little prayers (that you also change-up to keep fresh and sincere, as opposed to ritualistic). Interject those short prayers throughout the day and you will keeps God in front of you.

Remember to pray for Israel, for your government, and for people you encounter who you can bless by praying for them. And give God thanks as often as the thought pops into your head, "Jesus, thank you for giving up your life for me," and "Father, thank you for your blessed son, Jesus," and "Father God, I am so grateful that you saved me," and "God, thank you for your joy and peace. Amen," and so on. Even when God comes to mind you can say "Lord God you are on my heart."

Our objective is to keep God in front of us. And know that this advice I'm giving you is also advice I'm giving myself.

God bless you,

The Guide

 

[heymikey80]

I know this is kind of a stupid question and I know no one can tell me how to pray.But can anyone sort of give me a "default prayer".I mean , I know how to pray,but it's just I don't know what to pray about.
Please respond.

I try to paraphrase the Disciple's Prayer in a way that makes sense to me. E.g.:

God in heaven, I know you're greater and more different, better than me than I could imagine. I hope you take over in my heart and the world around me, and in the world after my death. Give me what I need to keep going, and lead me away from evil thinking and evil itself. And give me to you and to your life, your family, your nation.

 

[WarEagle]

And by the way, I meant to say earlier - the only stupid question is the one you don't ask

Not true! There are stupid questions.

The other night, I was doing my end of day paperwork and part of that includes counting all of the cash from that day.

One of the rules is that I always have to have somebody there with me when I count it, so I asked one of my part timers to come to the office and watch me.

When I was done, I handed her a stack and said, "Here, count this and verify it for me".

So, she's counting and right in the middle, she stopped and held up a dollar bill and said, "So, where it says 'Secretary of the Treasury', does that guy have to sign each one of these?"

The saddest part was that she was NOT joking!

So there are some dumb questions, but GodRules' question isn't one of them. It's actually a very important question.

The best advice I can give is to look to the Lord's Prayer as a guide and to pray often.

Don't worry about the words you use or how long it is. Prayer is often called a discipline because it's not easy. But don't be discouraged. It will come to you.

 

[TrustingmyLord]

Everyone has shared some really great ideas here, all very helpful, dont know if I can add much...

I believe we should start prayers by thanking and praising him for all that he does and has done for us.
1 Pet 5:7 tells us to cast all our anxiety upon him, for he cares for us. So I believe we should take all our concerns and worries to him, and pray over everything, not try to "fix" things all by ourselves.
I pray for guidance, that God will lead me and guide me in all I do, helping me to be a reflection of him to others.
I pray for my family and for others. For safety, their spiritual life, etc.
I pray for my attitude (often.)

Just pray from your heart, especially now that you have been given all these different ideas on what to pray about. Just share your heart with God.