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Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by UnchartedSpirit, Jan 5, 2006.

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  1. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    Note: This is a multiple subject post. All questions and comments below are meant to be discussed in this thread. This is because I didn’t want to clutter the forum with everything I wanted to talk about:

    Pastor Paul Shepard was preaching about once about Proverbs 3:5 saying in order to live by it, we had to be able to communicate to God casually, or not just praying constantly giving him our problems or questions. He also mentioned praying continuously, or talking with God even through our most mundane activities of life. Is that actually prayer? Can we just ‘converse’ with God, like on the freeway or in a café? Do we have to clasp our hands or anything, or is that ritualistic? Some people write their prayers to God in journals…could it be digital as well? And what do we actually call him in prayer? We have Jesus our Lord and our Heavenly Father…both seem to be unacceptable in today’s society, but does it pertain to the situation? Perhaps we give our issues to our King and talk formally to our Father, is there no complete interaction to all of them? Speaking of label issues, why is he also our bride? Do we ever talk to him in a martial/spousal relationship as well?
     
    #1 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 5, 2006
  2. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    He also mentioned praying continuously, or talking with God even through our most mundane activities of life. Is that actually prayer?

    I believe so. I think thats part of praying without ceasing. I love to pray in the car, in the bathtub, in the bed, - those places that I can actually be quiet in my mind and heart and concentrate.

    Do we ever talk to him in a martial/spousal relationship as well?

    I know there is a biblical allusion to that concept, but I prefer to speak to Him as Father. Thats how I relate best to Him. As i told a group of student recently, we in this country do not fully understand the concept of King, and even though we sing about and talk to Him as King, there are others from other social backgrounds who might relate to Him better with that title.
    Personally, I dont think it really matters HOW you connect with Him, as long as you DO connect with Him. Posture is also a side issue, as the posture of the heart is what really counts.
     
    #2 TaterTot, Jan 5, 2006
  3. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    but if we are too casual wouldn't that make a slouching heart?
     
    #3 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 5, 2006
  4. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    Joshua 1:8 reads, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

    1 Thess 5:17 reads, "pray without ceasing;"

    So how can a person pray without ceasing and meditate on God's word day and night at the same time?" I am only capable of thinking about one thing at a time.

    The idea of those verses is to saturate your life with things that build your relationship with God. We are to pray and meditate on God's Word. We are to also share our faith and make disciples. There are many commands in scripture. We must take them in context of the message.
     
    #4 gb93433, Jan 5, 2006
  5. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    If God is your pilot (and not your so-called co-pilot), He should be guiding every moment of every day. So staying in contact with Him on an 'informal' basis is just as important as those quiet times when you are alone with Him and praying more formally.
     
    #5 Helen, Jan 5, 2006
  6. Brother Ian

    Brother Ian Active Member

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    Prayting by writing prayers in a journal (whether handwritten or typed) is a great way to collect your thoughts and present them to the Lord. It also provides a record of how the Lord answers our prayers which strengthens our faith.

    Call Him father, or Lord or Heavenly Father or one of the numerous names used in Scripture. Clasping one's hands is not necessary, nor is bowing the head (which can be a problem when driving).

    We are to pray without ceasing, but as GB and Helen have said, it is a spirit of prayer, a saturation of God's love in your spirit that maintains your closeness to Him.
     
    #6 Brother Ian, Jan 5, 2006
  7. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    I like using a journal like my father too. Its just that whenever I pray my thoughts always distract me, and I never can close my eyes becuase I get some very disturbing images easier that way. So I can't keep a consistant dialouge (currently sounds like a monolouge for some reason) with God, will he listen anyway?
     
    #7 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 5, 2006
  8. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    God will hear you no matter what. Nothing escapes His attention!
     
    #8 Helen, Jan 5, 2006
  9. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    that sounds a lot better than the 'hitting the celing' doctrine...how informal can we get?
     
    #9 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 5, 2006
  10. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    The one prayer I have been known to say in all kinds of situations is "God, HELP!"

    I don't think you can get more informal than that!
     
    #10 Helen, Jan 5, 2006
  11. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    how bout' just chillin' with God?
     
    #11 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 5, 2006
  12. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    Do you mean just being quiet with Him? If so, yes.

    But don't forget that He is your Creator and He is God. He's not 'just a pal!'
     
    #12 Helen, Jan 5, 2006
  13. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    yeah the trouble starts when I lost sight of that in everyday prayer I guess
     
    #13 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 5, 2006
  14. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    I think that God wants us to be so comfortable with Him as God the Father, that we can be casual with Him.

    But casual does not imply disrespect or a feeling of being equal to God.

    For me, I don't believe in talking piously. You know...."Oh Thou Most Eternalest Father in Glory...Thine servant cans't hold her tongue when at her occupation with authority."

    I have no problems saying, "God, I have acted really stupid today at work today with my boss. I know that you made me better than that. Help me to just simply do better that I did today. "

    Or, "Oh dear Jesus, here comes my neighbor. You that I have no patience with her and her rattling on about the other neighbors. Sweet Jesus, help me to see that woman and to love that woman the way that You do."

    Or, "Holy Spirit, thanks for helping me understand that Bible passage and thanks for offering me a way out of that temptation this morning."

    God wants us to just talk to Him.

    Yes, casually, as if we were talking to an earthly father or beloved friend. But not in a way that is demeaning to His authority over us.
     
    #14 Scarlett O., Jan 5, 2006
  15. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    could we list senarios for talking with God at any moment? Like for tradegy, repentance, praise....
     
    #15 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 6, 2006
  16. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    How can 'any moment' be added to? It would include all circumstances, all times.
     
    #16 Helen, Jan 6, 2006
  17. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    Sorry, I didn't read Scarlet's post. I'm loving the Prayer Journal-I've gotten more prayers in for one day through this!
     
    #17 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 8, 2006
  18. psalm40.17

    psalm40.17 New Member

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    If you haven't already got it E-Sword has a quality function for use as a Prayer Journal.

    cheers
     
    #18 psalm40.17, Jan 8, 2006
  19. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    my home computer would probably be too small for that, sorry
     
    #19 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 9, 2006
  20. UnchartedSpirit

    UnchartedSpirit New Member

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    btw, it also doesnt matter how we arrange to pray the Lord's prayr, right?
     
    #20 UnchartedSpirit, Jan 11, 2006
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