What is your prayer life like?

It is absolutely wonderful to be able to pray directly to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

It is absolutely wonderful to not have to pray to those who have no bearing on answering prayers, and who have no power to render aid.

It is absolutely wonderful to be able to speak to deity as if speaking to my own earthly father, not using vain repitition, not using memorized prayers, not reciting the prayers that others handed down.

It is absolutely wonder to have the assurance that my prayers are heard by divine loving God, who is the author of my salvation, and not praying to those who were just like me, sinner's saved by their faith.

I don't have a set schedule, I have prayer habit. I pray upon arising from sleep, I thank God for my provisions, I pray before retiring as habits. I pray as the Holy Spirit brings to my mind someone who is in need of prayer. I pray when driving, I pray when waiting in lines, I pray when sick, when well, when happy, when sad, etc.

I Pray with silent prayer, I pray with singing, I pray outloud, and when in distress, I go into my prayer corner, kneel with a list of things I am led to pray for.

Content is between me and the Father.

 

The challenge to me is to pray without ceasing as described in 1 Thess 5:17. I had never really thought much about this verse in Scripture before reading the book The Way of the Pilgrim . It has expanded for me my relationship with Jesus Christ and my faith has grown, which is what prayer for me is about.

I generally don’t kneel although I love the respect and honor it shows. I silently talk freely to God frequently throughout the day. I like to pray a morning offering prayer when I lie in bed before getting up. My husband and I both say grace together at meals. Before going to sleep, I lay in bed and pray the “Our Father”, “Hail Mary”, “Glory Be”, “Soul of Christ, sanctify me”, “Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit”, “St. Michael the Archangel prayer” and I pray the “23rd Psalm”. I like to memorize classic prayers from the Church Fathers and saints. To me it is like planting spiritual trees in my mind and soul that are always with me. However, my favorite of all is “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner.” which is the ejaculation I try to pray without ceasing.

God Bless


Breathe in me
O Holy Spirit
that my thoughts
may all be holy.

Act in me
O Holy Spirit
that my work, too,
may be holy.

Draw my heart
O Holy Spirit
that I love but
what is holy.

Strengthen me
O Holy Spirit
to defend all
that is holy.

Guard me then
O Holy Spirit
that I always
may be holy.

St. Augustine

[ May 17, 2003, 01:40 AM: Message edited by: Kathryn ]

 

Let's see.....

It could be better. I would like to spend more time in prayer. Somehow I get caught up with everything else and have a hard time focusing at times.

No, I don't really 'schedule' prayer. It is usually (my formal time) after my Bible study. That time varies because I work weird hours and I have class. Besides that, I strive to be in a constant mindset of prayer.

I am not sure what you are asking. Out loud at times, quietly others, and sometimes I just don't have the words to say.

I usually kneel. Although, I do like to sit on my front porch and pray.

Sorry, but content is between the Father and I. Although, I spend time praising Him, thanking Him, asking for guidance, praying about my wife and I, and others as well. No set content, really just what is on my heart.

As Yelsew said, what an honor to be able to pray to the Creator of everything! I am in awe that I can "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16, ESV

Neal

 

Gidday Carson,

I usually pray throughout the day. I used to try to have a half hour prayer time every day first thing in the morning. Yet I found that the idea of trying to spend time in some type of fellowship with God more appealing.

Also I read a book called "Good Morning Holy Spirit" by Benny Hinn which made me think about the fact that He is Gods Voice and Ears on the Earth. So I have tried to focus on following the Holy Spirits leading to God which is really interesting in that The Holy Spirit actually helps you into that relationship with God. Yet often people do not want to include the Holy Spirit in any part of there prayer life. So it is an interesting challenge.

 

I have often wondered about how a Trinitarian prays. Do you all pray to each of the three persons in the Trinity individually, or just to the Father?

I'm going to figure out this doctrine of the Trinity, before I'm finished.

Just curious,
MEE

 

Agreed. I pray to the Father. After all, that was how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. Ontologically the Trinity are all one God. Economically they are different persons. But I digress......sorry Carson for carrying it further off track. I just wanted to point out as well that we agree on something!

Neal

 

Healthy.

Mmm...yes and no. I try to have a time in the morning when I can go sit on the dock or out on the swing with my Bible and pray but, for me, I'm working on being in a constant "attitude of prayer", as an old pastor friend of mine would say.

?

Yes.

Depends. Sometimes it's suplication. Sometimes it's worshipful. Sometimes it's conversational. Sometimes it's just listening.

 

Agreed. I pray to the Father. After all, that was how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. Ontologically the Trinity are all one God. Economically they are different persons. But I digress......sorry Carson for carrying it further off track. I just wanted to point out as well that we agree on something!

Neal </font>[/QUOTE]I pray to the father in the name of my Lord, and Savior, Jesus the Christ. There is no stated reason to pray "through" Jesus! AND ABSOLUTELY no reason to pray to a saint or even in a saints name or for a saint's sake.

 

My prayer life has changed drastically in the last year or so. My 8 year old reminds me that we need to pray over everything. We hold hands and pray for things most people would consider trivial but Nick has been taught that we take all to God in prayer and he holds me to that.

We pray when people are ugly to us or for the bully at church. We pray when he sees something on t.v. news. We pray when he hears of bad weather or see a sign for a missing cat.....

One night Nick told me I needed to pray again. He quoted scripture to me, "Don't worry about anything but in all your prayers ask God for what you need and always ask with a thankful heart." He felt I had rushed and did not sound thankful or trusting! He was right!

We pray in Jesus name.

Diane and Nick (8 1/2)

 

Was Paul wrong for "thanking God through Jesus Christ" in Romans 1:8?

Romans 5:1 says that we have "peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ".

Romans 5:11 says that "we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ"

Romans 6:11 tells us that we are "alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 7:25 - "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 8:37 - "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."

Romans 11:36 - "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Roman 15:17 - "I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God."

Romans 16:27 - "To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."

I Cor 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

II Cor 3:4 - "And such trust have we through Christ"

Gal 3:14 - "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ;"

Gal 4:7 - "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

Gal 2:7 - "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

Gal 2:18 - "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

Phil 4:7 - "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Phil 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Titus 3:6 - "Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;"

Heb 13:21 - "Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

I Peter 4:11 - " that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

2Pe 1:1 - that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

2Pe 1:1 - "that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

2 Peter 2:20 - "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,"

I John 4:9 - "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

Heb 10:10 - "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

There are several that I left out but you get the idea.

 

Here is a Trinitarian prayer that is primarily designed for corporate worship. Of course it has elements of the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian creed in it,

O Lord God, Holy Trinity, Forgive us of our sins that we have committed and come and dwell within our assembly.

We believe in You, God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and

We believe in You our Lord Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. You descended into hell and the third day You arose again from the dead. You ascended into heaven and you sit now at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from where You shall come to judge the living and the dead. And

We believe in You our Comforter, O Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified.

We confess You Father as God, We confess You Jesus Christ the Son as God, and We confess You our Comforter the Holy Spirit as God;

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons yet One God, with Your light and Your leadership guide ,our thoughts, and all our actions, that we may learn from Your Word, offer worthy praise and that Your power and presence may be in this congregation and in the church universal. By the intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray, Amen.

 

I agree, through Jesus we have accessby the Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18) having come to Christ, we pray directly to the Father by the Spirit in Jesus' name.

Enda

 

Mike McK,

Jesus taught us to pray to the Father. He Taught us to pray directly to the father, calling Him Father.

Since Jesus is one of the person's of the triune Godhead, thus deity, it is proper to pray to Jesus, and when praying to Jesus one is praying through Jesus.

It is not however, proper to pray to those whose condition is the same as ours, sinners, saved through faith.

 

OK. That's between you and God. I prefer to pray to the Father through Christ but that's me.

You said that there was "no stated reason to pray 'through' Jesus" and I just listed some scripture verses in which Paul both prayed to the Father "through Jesus" and encouraged us to do the same.

I never said it was. I think you have me confused with someone else.

 

Hmm...I agree with this, I think. When I refer to them being ontologically the same, I refer to the fact that they are all one God, one essence or being (ex. John 10:30). When referring to the economical difference I was referring to their roles in the Godhead (functionally, ex. John 14:28), not exclusively in regards to creation. The Father plans, the Son does, and the Holy Spirit reveals. My philosophy professor made a good presentation on this whole subject, really helped me to grasp the idea of the Trinity, because for a long time it was one of those things that hurt my brain to think about.

Okay, I am done digressing. This is for another thread.

Neal

[ May 17, 2003, 10:47 PM: Message edited by: neal4christ ]

 

Greetings,

YOU said: It is absolutely wonderful to be able to speak to deity as if speaking to my own earthly father, not using vain repitition, not using memorized prayers, not reciting the prayers that others handed down.


Reply: Does that mean you do not sing any songs? They are memorized prayers. Does that mean you do not pray the psalms they are memorized prayers, that others handed down. Your understanding of prayer seems so unscriptural.

Carson, Nice to see you still here. I haven't visited this board for quite awhile. Anything New happening?

peace,

TP