Praying

[Nessa]

how is every one when it comes to

do you love to pray or is it a struggle?

[1over137]

No, connecting to Our Father is not a struggle.


[moved to Christian Chit Chat Forum]

[Kurieuo]

Do you have to pray?

[Nessa]

Do you have to pray?

do you think we need too? and does it bother you when someone answers a question with a question?

[Kurieuo]

This is likely a big issue for many Christians.
More often then not a question helps a person reflect.
I asked a question that'd sound quite heretical, but I think it a valid question.
You call it a struggle. Why? Do we need to always pray?

It is good to pray and give thanks as Daniel did. (Daniel 6:10)
But, the style of prayer you see in churches seems more like babbling. (Matt 6:7)
God knows my thoughts even before I speak. (Psalm 139:4)
So what is there to really left to say except think it.

Should we force prayers out and end up babbling on? I don't think so.
Furthermore, like tongues and gifts of the spirit, it seems churches love to judge spirituality based upon how well a person can babble in prayer.
All that baggage and pressure is perhaps what makes Christians struggle with being real in their prayers.

Often we're most real when we have issues.
We don't always have issues, in which case give thanks.
Sounds simple when I talk it through here, and I should probably listen to myself also.

I feel we often place prayer up on an alter.
It's simple really. We complicate it.
When we complicate prayer, we don't want to do it. It feels forced.
Then that makes us feel lousy. When in fact we're probably doing just fine keeping it natural and praying when we feel the need.
If unsure what to say, as much as I don't like ritual, go through the Lord's prayer.
It touches on pretty much everything.

And if you have nothing to pray about yourself, we may not always.
It doesn't hurt to just be thankful.
As for connecting with God, I find I feel my connections in discussions.
Thinking about God. Seeing new insights.
God being quite often at the forefront of my mind in almost everything.

I'm probably not as thanking God as I should be. But, I'm definitely thankful.
And I probably don't set the best example of thanksgiving to God in front of my children.
It's never been a big point in my life, saying grace all that. But such is good to do.
Anything that keeps God at the forefront where he belongs is good.

Just don't make prayer a law of some sort for yourself.

[Nessa]

so are you saying you just think thoughts and cos God knows them there is nothing else really to say?

[Nessa]

i mean for you personally? what does ur prayer life look like?

[Kurieuo]

so are you saying you just think thoughts and cos God knows them there is nothing else really to say?

No. I'm just saying what is said in Psalm 139:4.
And then pointing out where such thought leads.

[Kurieuo]

i mean for you personally? what does ur prayer life look like?

If I pray generally, then it is normally thanking God.
When I'm feeling like I need help, then I ask God to please help.
Rarely do I say a prayer for prayers sake.

[Storyteller]

Prayer for me just involves being quiet in the presence of God, taking time to just feel Him with me.

I pray all the time, in the morning, when I`m out walking, before I sleep and at frequent moments during the day.

For a long time I used to think that I had to follow a certain procedure to get it "right" but then I just kinda thought He knows what I feel and think, surely all He wants is an open channel of communication?
I chat to God, He is my friend and I talk to Him as such.

I do say the Lord`s Prayer (even if I get muddled with the last few lines) and I use a rosary too. I was captured by the Sacred Mysteries and use the rosary to ponder on those too.

So, for me, prayer is as natural as breathing. And as rewarding

[Nessa]

i mean for you personally? what does ur prayer life look like?

If I pray generally, then it is normally thanking God.
When I'm feeling like I need help, then I ask God to please help.
Rarely do I say a prayer for prayers sake.

do u talk to him like you talk to your wife? like a conversation and that brings you closer?

[Nessa]

Prayer for me just involves being quiet in the presence of God, taking time to just feel Him with me.

I pray all the time, in the morning, when I`m out walking, before I sleep and at frequent moments during the day.

For a long time I used to think that I had to follow a certain procedure to get it "right" but then I just kinda thought He knows what I feel and think, surely all He wants is an open channel of communication?
I chat to God, He is my friend and I talk to Him as such.

I do say the Lord`s Prayer (even if I get muddled with the last few lines) and I use a rosary too. I was captured by the Sacred Mysteries and use the rosary to ponder on those too.

So, for me, prayer is as natural as breathing. And as rewarding

sacred mysteries?

[Kurieuo]

so are you saying you just think thoughts and cos God knows them there is nothing else really to say?

And to answer the other way, I don't "just think thoughts" but yes I do have thought-prayers if you will.
It could be while reading this or that and then say to God, "Really, are we that stupid? Help me with the right words to at least move them a step along." Or, if I experience joy at hearing something good, maybe some answered prayer I express joy to God. Or if something bad happens I might be like "I don't understand, but ok God."

These are normally more in the moment, with thoughts, talking "to myself/to God" inwardly if you will.
I see them as prayers but not like we're normally taught in church.

I cherish such more than repetitive prayers often scheduled say before some shut eye.
Such I cannot do. It's not me, and they'll end up insincere if I try.

[Storyteller]

Sacred Mysteries are part of the Catholic faith, there are twenty, Glorious, Luminous, Joyful and Sorrowful.

http://www.rosary-center.org/howto.htm#loaded explains a little about them.

I absolutely adore reading, the written words reaches me in a way that nothing else can. I read the Mysteries, re read them and they gripped me to the depths of my soul. They help make God, Christ and my faith real and tangible for me. I cannot find words to explain how they affected me the first time I read them. I cried, thought, laughed and loved while reading them. They make Christ more of a living person for me. It`s hard to explain really. When I read them I feel close to God.

Agree with K too, I can`t get into the repetitive type of prayer that is said just because it should be. I prefer just talking to God.

[Kurieuo]

i mean for you personally? what does ur prayer life look like?

If I pray generally, then it is normally thanking God.
When I'm feeling like I need help, then I ask God to please help.
Rarely do I say a prayer for prayers sake.

do u talk to him like you talk to your wife? like a conversation and that brings you closer?

Yes, quite often I suppose. It's become second nature.
If I didn't talk to God, why I suppose its much like talking to myself.
But, much of it all is directed at God.

I'll sometimes be happy and share such with God.
Sometimes I'll be frustrated and angry, even with God.
Other times I'll be questioning. Other times feel much love.

I don't know how to really explain.
It's become second nature to me. Like ST says, as natural as breathing.

If I didn't have God to hand everything over to, the insanity of people and the world we live within, even myself who is part of it all...
then I know that I wouldn't be here today. Now my life is locked in with kids, family responsibilities, but only God gave/gives any real meaning to my living life.