What is prayer?

[OracleX]

I wanted to start a discussion about prayer.

• What is prayer to you?
• How do you pray?
• Is there a right way to pray?
• Who do you pray to?
• Why do you pray?
• Where do you pray?
• Is posture important in pray (kneeling, etc.)?
• What is prayer warfare?
• What does it mean to interceed?

Lots of questions

 

[TwinCrier]

• What is prayer to you? Talking with God... and listening to God.
• How do you pray? Usually outloud when I can. If someone from my family is in the room who will pray with me I like to hold hands.
• Is there a right way to pray? In Jesus' name.
• Who do you pray to? Heavenly Father, just as Jesus taught us to.
• Why do you pray? To build my faith in God.
• Where do you pray? Everywhere!
• Is posture important in pray (kneeling, etc.)? Not really, but I perfer to close my eyes. It's too easy to get your mind distracted when you're looking around, and too easy to end up praying to something other than God.
• What is prayer warfare? Praying against acts of evil, especially naming them.
• What does it mean to interceed? To pray for another person, even if they didn't request that you pray for them.

 

[BronxBriar]

I wanted to start a discussion about prayer.

Lots of questions

Matthew 6:5-7
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 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. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

That pretty much sums it up for me. I sit quietly, eyes closed, and just place myself in His presence. (Can't use the knees, high school football issues).
He already knows my needs and my heart's desires, so I just try to shut up and listen to Him for a change.

The Cloud of Unknowing was a powerful little book that taught me quite a bit about contemplative prayer and being quiet.

 

[OracleX]

What is prayer to you? Prayer to me is active or passive communication with God. Be it time that is set aside specifically for prayer or the times that I am thinking about things but sense the Holy Spirit moving my through my thoughts.

How do you pray? With my mouth, mind and soul.

Is there a right way to pray? I think there is more wrong ways to pray then right ones (if that makes any sense).

Who do you pray to? When I pray, I pray to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is one and three. I pray to God as one and three. Sometimes I find myself praying to God the Father about certain things, things that you would need a Fathers understanding on. I pray to Christ as my Savior and Brother, my goal, my example, my Lord. I pray to the Spirit as my comforter, my source of wisdom and understanding, the one who is active in my heart, soul and mind, the one leading me in the ways of God.

Why do you pray? I pray because without talking to God, my relationship with Him suffers. I find strength in prayer, humility in prayer, love and kindness, forgiveness and wisdom.

Where do you pray? Everywhere. At night I pray beside my bed on a lamb skin rug on my knees. Getting there is easy, getting up is another matter

Is posture important in pray (kneeling, etc.)? I find that praying on my knees helps me focus better on prayer. I also believe that it is also a Biblical model displayed several times throughout the NT and OT. A sign of reverance before a Righteous and Might God.

What is prayer warfare? I think prayer warfare is prayer focused to fighting the attacks of the devil.

What does it mean to interceed? I think intercession is praying on the behalf of someone else. Going before God with thier needs.

That was actually harder to answer than I thought.

 

[daveleau]

What is prayer to you?
Dialogue with God

How do you pray?
I talk to Him.

Is there a right way to pray?
It depends on what you feel comfortable with, but you should always praise Him.

Who do you pray to?
Jesus and God

Why do you pray?
To get answers, to praise Him, to thank Him and because the Bible tells me so

Where do you pray?
Everywhere. There is no place on earth that I go where I would not pray.

Is posture important in pray (kneeling, etc.)?
It is if you want others to know that you are praying. This can be an imprtant tool in witnessing and in showing reverence. It is not necessary, though.

What is prayer warfare?
Praying to defeat Satan's work.

What does it mean to interceed?
Two or more Believers agreeing in prayer.

 

[OracleX]

BTW - people don't have to answer all these questions. Those were questions to help people think about prayer.

Prayer is one of the most important thing in a Christians life and yet it is usually the most neglected thing in a Christians life.

 

[Benjammin]

What is prayer to you?

Talking to God perosonally, or as part of a group, praising him, talking to him, asking him for help, asking him what I can do to help advance his kingdom here.

How do you pray?

Usually Silently.

Is there a right way to pray?

Whatever way God leads you to pray

Who do you pray to?

Jesus, God

Why do you pray?

Sometimes habit, sometimes simply because I want to praise God.

Where do you pray?

Usually in bed, before I eat, just sometimes when Im doing whatever.

Is posture important in prayer (kneeling, etc.)?

No

What is prayer warfare?

Battling for God against forces of Satan and of the world through prayer.

What does it mean to interceed?

Unsure, perhaps praying on someone elses behalf?

 

[CrystalBrooke]

I'm not gonna answer the questions one by one (bc i just woke up), but to me prayer is asking or thanking God for something, I've never really thought it was a way to praise him, there is no right or wrong way to pray, i dont think anyone really knows how to pray God only wants our best anyways, I usually pray silently, unless im in bed then i pray outloud, I pray bc it comforts me, when i have a problem, or if i feel like i should thank him for everything he's done for me that day. your posture doesnt have to be a certain way, i know most ppl i know feel more humbled down on their knees, but i just bow my head, he hears us no matter how we're positioned.