How Do You Pray?

You, Where is the Messiah, brought up writing our prayers. I hesitated writing this, but perhaps it may benefit someone else in some way.

I was brought up not being allowed to admit my needs or thoughts, to hide my needs and thoughts, and to ask for nothing. I didn't realize until fairly recently how this hinders my prayers. My first husband was so frustrated that I could not express need, but by the time I married my present husband, we had enough that I just go buy what I need without bringing it up to him. He is still unaware that this is an actual problem.

As a result, I actually need my little book of whom to pray for and my book of written prayers, and I sometimes need to force my hand to write prayers, in order to make the prayer at all. As someone else said, I am not a good prayer, but that's getting better with just doing it. When I persist at praying, I am creating a new history.
 
You, Where is the Messiah, brought up writing our prayers. I hesitated writing this, but perhaps it may benefit someone else in some way.

I was brought up not being allowed to admit my needs or thoughts, to hide my needs and thoughts, and to ask for nothing. I didn't realize until fairly recently how this hinders my prayers. My first husband was so frustrated that I could not express need, but by the time I married my present husband, we had enough that I just go buy what I need without bringing it up to him. He is still unaware that this is an actual problem.

As a result, I actually need my little book of whom to pray for and my book of written prayers, and I sometimes need to force my hand to write prayers, in order to make the prayer at all. As someone else said, I am not a good prayer, but that's getting better with just doing it. When I persist at praying, I am creating a new history.

Not a bad idea as God himself keeps a book of remembrance of those who think about him...

Mal 3:16
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
 
I usually pray to either God or Jesus, and I do it every day, usually when I go to bed. I close my eyes when I pray and usually do it in my head, but sometimes I whisper my prayers. I pray forgiveness for my sins and thank God for all He has blessed me with.
 
I open my mouth and my heart :) I guess it depends on the prayer. I will pray in tongues when the Holy Spirit is leading me to pray or when I am praising God. If I am praying for something specific I will pray normally and maybe fast as well. My favorite time to pray is outside and sometimes just meditate on the Lord.
 
Just curious..How do you guys pray? How often do you pray in a day? What do you pray about mainly? Like what percentage would you say you spend praying for others, praying to praise him, and praying for personal things? Do you find He answers you right away? Do you find sometimes no answers? Do you pray to the father or Jesus or Mary or what? Do you pray for the same thing daily until you get an answer? Do you get on your knees? Do you close your eyes? Do you put your hands together? Do you pray out loud or quietly? Do you use scripture? Do you pray with your family or people in church? Do you think typing your prayer counts as praying or do you have to say it as you type it for it to count? Just wondering
My longest prayers are in the morning. Rest of the day, it would be for specific purpose and very brief.. Often I find myself praying and going through motions.. Such prayers would be filled with petitions and my "wants".. And there are days when I pray with a sincere heart.. Those are days when I actually pray for my "needs".. Lord always provides my needs.. But not always my wants :)

I try to pray in the style of Lord's prayer.. Because that is how the Lord taught us to pray.. Praising Him for who He is.. Remembering what He has done.. Remembering my needs.. Committing myself.. Asking for His grace for the day.. Then specific points for others.. I try to avoid generic prayer needs for others.. Only pray for specific needs..

I pray on my knees.. I always pray alone.. Otherwise I become conscious of my surrounding.. I use certain Bible verses.. Whatever I remember.. I don't necessarily repeat the verse, rather the meaning of the verse.. I close my eyes.. And always quiet.. We also have family prayer time at night.. My kid will repeat Lord's prayer.. And myself and my wife will take turns to pray.. Once a month, we have family fasting prayer also.. Apart from this, we have prayer times in Church, fellowship at houses, etc..
 
I like this thread. Well.... when I pray I try to pray scripture, like when I pray for others.

When I am venting or just telling God about my day or random stuff, I speak from my heart.

However, I dont pray as often as I should and get distracted often....so I really need to work on that area.
 
Pro 16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

I have always thought prayer is something you do once in awhile, morning, and sometime at night, or just before you eat something. Then I found out prayer is not something you start and after a couple minutes you say "in Jesus name" We are pray to ALWAYS with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.

Eph 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Prayer is something you do 24/7 around the clock, You are NEVER to stop praying. It is a consciousness of always being in constant fellowship with God. Always keeping your heart set on the things above where Christ sits on the right hand of God. It is very rude to step in and say something to someone if they do not have your attention. God is not rude, and he only speaks to those to whom he has their attention. Try it, I guarantee you will not be disappointed in what you will hear. I have been doing this for many years, and as a brother in the Lord I can not describe to you the blessings I have received. This is eternal that they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus whom you have sent.
 
@pancakes It always really bothered me how easily distracted I was in prayer. Practice helped, but the thought that I was really interacting with the Maker of the universe was distant, abstract and hard to wrap my head around. I always appreciated this bit from Lewis' Screwtape Letters,
“Humans are amphibians...half spirit and half animal...as spirits they belong to the eternal world, but as animals they inhabit time---they constantly forget, what you must always remember, that they are animals and whatever their bodies do affects their souls."​
I found that when I am having difficulty with my attitude in my place of private prayer forcing myself to kneel or prostrate is a physical action that helps me humble myself before who and what God is. "I don't feel like I am in Your presence, Lord...but I can still act on my faith that You are here." It made a really huge difference for me and I also felt a new sort of kinship or empathy for those I read about practicing these actions in scripture.
I generally only do it in private because actions like that are difficult to keep sincere when you're mindful of who is watching or what they may be thinking.
 
I usually pray about 7AM daily for maybe a half hour, sometimes my mind wanders.
I rarely speak except with the wife if she wants something prayed for.
I might pray in front of the church today as I am doing the announcements and praying for the offering, though I might get
the person collecting the offering to pray as its only a small congregation, about 60.
 
Just curious..How do you guys pray? How often do you pray in a day? What do you pray about mainly? Like what percentage would you say you spend praying for others, praying to praise him, and praying for personal things? Do you find He answers you right away? Do you find sometimes no answers? Do you pray to the father or Jesus or Mary or what? Do you pray for the same thing daily until you get an answer? Do you get on your knees? Do you close your eyes? Do you put your hands together? Do you pray out loud or quietly? Do you use scripture? Do you pray with your family or people in church? Do you think typing your prayer counts as praying or do you have to say it as you type it for it to count? Just wondering


At least twice a day and sometimes in between. I don't kneel down anymore, just sitting or laying down. I pray for folks most of the time. I can't answer what percentage I would pray for people, praising Him and asking for personal things. There are times He answers and times He don't. I close my times sometimes. I pray quietly alone, and out loud at church(well whenever I'm there and there's a call to pray). I don't use scripture during prayer, well not that I can remember. I prefer saying the prayer as I type it.
 
That's a great question actually. I've enjoyed reading everyone's responses.

As soon as I wake up, I make the sign of the cross and say a Hail Mary.

Sometimes during my commute, I pray a decade of the Rosary. I get to work. On Fridays at my office, they have morning prayers. I often go to it and sometimes I lead it.

Throughout the day, I may pray an Our Father or very simply lift my thanks or petitions to God.

Usually on either Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays after work, I go to daily mass.

At the end of the day, my wife and I say the act of contrition before we go to sleep.

And of course before meals, I thank God for the food and His blessings, and after I eat, I thank Him again.

And regularly, before and every every prayer, I make the sign of the cross -- a great way to involve your body in worshiping Him.
 
Just curious..How do you guys pray? How often do you pray in a day? What do you pray about mainly? Like what percentage would you say you spend praying for others, praying to praise him, and praying for personal things? Do you find He answers you right away? Do you find sometimes no answers? Do you pray to the father or Jesus or Mary or what? Do you pray for the same thing daily until you get an answer? Do you get on your knees? Do you close your eyes? Do you put your hands together? Do you pray out loud or quietly? Do you use scripture? Do you pray with your family or people in church? Do you think typing your prayer counts as praying or do you have to say it as you type it for it to count? Just wondering

I love to pray because I love to see how God answers. When I go through periods of not being able to pray, I notice I don't see His answers anymore either.
I made a prayer journal to help me keep on track. I pasted pictures of people I want to pray for in it, or their names. Sometimes I just browse through the journal and pray in my mind for certain people, or sometimes I write out my prayer for them and include it with their picture. When I see God's answer, I date the prayer with the date of His answer. This grows my faith about prayer, edifies my spirit that I'm actually helping, and creates a lot of joy in me that God takes the time to listen to my requests. My walk with Him is much more personal now.
I have made a separate journal for prayer requests for me. When I first started writing out my prayers, I made a lot of complaints about things. Later, He showed me this was sin to complain so much. So, I spend more time in my personal prayer journal asking Him to correct flaws in me, help me overcome various sins, give me wisdom in how I interact with people so that my life reflects Him, etc. I seldom ask for material things because He is teaching me how to be content with what I have.
 
I find that I am much more aware of the presence of God if I pray while walking. For some reason my mind tends to wander when I am sitting still or kneeling...I think it may be related to my ADD. I typically have one or maybe two longer (anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes) intentional prayer times during the day, plus a few very short specific prayers (before meals and before reading my Bible).

I used to just rattle off my requests left and right, but over the years my prayer life has evolved into more of a fellowship with God. I would say on any given day about 50-75% of my prayer consists of praise and/or sensing God's presence.
 
Those who have set their heart on the things above where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God, are at all times in communion with the Lord.
This is one of the greatest scriptures in the Bible. It tells us what to do, and what results will follow.

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

This has nothing to do with some future event. It is relevant to the here and now.
 
Just a quick response- I pray patterned after the Lords prayer, but putting it in my own words.

Matthew 6:9
In this manner, therefore, pray.....(the Lords prayer)

One thing that bothered me about going to AA; they would recite the Lords prayer and it would sound like people were just reciting some mantra, not giving heed to the words in an unfeeling way. If you see what Jesus told us, pray in this manner; meaning to me to pray like the Lords prayer, but Not word for word.

I also try to pray unceasing; or all the time like my thoughts are focused on God and always talking to Him, but sometimes I loose that connection and find myself thinking to myself.
 
I rarely ever pray out loud. When I do it's because my wife is with me and I'm praying a long drive goes well or blessing our meals. I say the prayer in Matthew 6 every night followed by prayers for all my peeps on here and anyone else I know that needs prayer. I have a prayer list on my phone and through E-Sword so when I'm praying before bed I pull up the list and go one by one praying for each person.

I'd say I pray very poorly. That's part of the reason that I recite the prayer in Matthew 6 every night. I'm hoping that covers everything and makes up for all the terror that is my prayers after. My mind wonders all over the place and I never say what I feel like I want to say. I feel I should have said it better or differently. I know God knows what I mean, but I would still like to pray better.

I read two chapters from the Poetic books each day, so when I'm on Psalms I'll pray those if I like it. I figure David is much better at praise and prayer than I ever will be so I might as well follow him.
Haha me too, I know how you feel. I think I say "yeah" and "y'know" too much, and I "talk with my hands while praying". Haha, I think I just need to take it slow, think it through, and not stress.
 
Haha me too, I know how you feel. I think I say "yeah" and "y'know" too much, and I "talk with my hands while praying". Haha, I think I just need to take it slow, think it through, and not stress.

Before my prayers were a long list of "God, I need this, and I need that" now I am sooo bored asking God for things, all I want to do is praise Him. I know that He knows what I need, and if it is for my good or His purpose I will receive it. Not that I have completely stopped asking for His help in certain things, but I am aware of that He knows already before I ask. I do pray for a list of people as well. Here I recognize that I want to put more effort in my prayers.
 
Just curious..How do you guys pray? How often do you pray in a day? What do you pray about mainly? Like what percentage would you say you spend praying for others, praying to praise him, and praying for personal things? Do you find He answers you right away? Do you find sometimes no answers? Do you pray to the father or Jesus or Mary or what? Do you pray for the same thing daily until you get an answer? Do you get on your knees? Do you close your eyes? Do you put your hands together? Do you pray out loud or quietly? Do you use scripture? Do you pray with your family or people in church? Do you think typing your prayer counts as praying or do you have to say it as you type it for it to count? Just wondering

How do I pray? My nightly prayer has had the same foundation since I was a young teenager. Starts out with me praying for forgiveness for my sins that I performed throughout the day, and then goes into asking him for protection throughout the night/following day. I then pray for others, and then I thank and praise Him for what he has done for me (encompasses not only the daily blessings but everything overall he has done).

How often do I pray? I pray a lot throughout the day; before meals, when I need help, to praise Him, putting the kids to bed, before I go to bed. But I fail to pray and thank Him for the breath to start a new day as I wake up. Eventually I hope to thank Him every morning that he allows me to open my eyes to.

Does He answer me right away? Depends on the situation really. For example, over the past few days I was being stubborn trying to look for an answer myself (also sought the advice of my mother and earthly father) but couldn't find it. Throughout the time I was looking I would hear the spirit whispering to my heart to pray about it, but again I was being stubborn. So today I finally succumbed to the spirit and prayed for an answer to my question. God then provided the answer within a matter of seconds after I finished my prayer! =)

Do I pray to the Father, Jesus, or Mary? I pray to God (The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost).

Do I pray for the same thing? Sometimes. I know he knows our heart's desires, but sometimes I feel like a child and want it really really bad so I keep asking for it.

Do I bow down to my knees? No. I pray while laying in bed, driving down the road, walking, working, etc.

Do I close my eyes? When I can afford to, yes.

Do you put your hands together? No.

Do I pray out loud or quietly? Depends on the situation. If i'm praying with others then I pray out loud so we can all come to agreeance in His name.

Do I use scripture? Yes sometimes. Depends on the situation really. If it's a private prayer then likely not.

Do I pray with my family/church? Yes and yes.

Do I think typing counts as praying? No idea really. I pray from my heart/soul. So I guess it could really since you're putting what comes from your heart into writing.
 
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