Check list for Prayer

[Terrywoodenpic]

A short while ago I was having trouble praying, so I though I would try to make a check list to stop me getting lost in my own thoughts. I was a bit mournful at the time and could not concentrate.

Any one else ever use a sort of check list?

This is my effort. works for me.

Prayer is Communion with God

Prayer is:
The recognition of God presence.
The recognition of God’s will and man’s duties.
The consideration of our personal deeds and desires.
The consideration of man’s deeds.
The recognition of and contrition for sin. (Duty of Care}
The request for forgiveness.
The request for help, guidance, wisdom, health and strength.
The request for help, guidance, wisdom, health and strength for others.
Thanks and praise for God’s gifts, forgiveness and mercy.
The promise of Obedience and service to God,


Man’s imperfect nature ensures that we will always fall short in service to God.
It is through prayer that God recognises our weakness and strengthens us.

 

[Scott1]

Prayer is......... love.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Prayer is......... love.

Love is fine , but prayer involves concious thought,and thoughts have structure.

do your thoughts and prayers have structure or just love.

Terry
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Blessed are those who suffer in the cause of right, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

 

[Master Vigil]

I know when I used to pray, I always felt that if I structured it then it simply became me talking to myself in useless dialogue. I agree with Scott. Words cannot come close to describe spiritual experiences. Structure would hinder it more I feel.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I know when I used to pray, I always felt that if I structured it then it simply became me talking to myself in useless dialogue.

I suppose that could seem true, some people feel that about set prayers and responses in church. I tend pray along side them, sparking off the set pieces so to speak, and get carried along to new places.

and when you feel an answer .... it is hard to describe!!

Terry
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Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[Scott1]

Love is fine , but prayer involves concious thought,and thoughts have structure.

This is not the correct forum for this... but I would like to point out that YOUR way of praying is not the ONLY way of praying.

My prayers often begin with conscious thought and structure..... but my goal is always to rise above them.... towards union with God..... towards perfection..... towards LOVE.

M Vigil and I call that type of prayer meditation.

Peace,
Scott

 

[Master Vigil]

M Vigil and I call that type of prayer meditation.

Have you tried Lectio Divina? (If this is too off-topic, then you can delete it. )

 

[Prima]

Love is fine , but prayer involves concious thought,and thoughts have structure.

do your thoughts and prayers have structure or just love.

In my book, prayer is communicating with a higher being than oneself. Sometimes the best way to communicate is to not try to put it in words

I feel sure that somewhere we have another thread discussing prayer...ah, well.

 

[Scott1]

Have you tried Lectio Divina?

I love it.... as a matter of fact, I think I saw a thread about it somewhere:
Lectio Divina

 

[SoliDeoGloria]

This is a problem I have also had as of late. While I don't see a problem with a prayer checklist, putting too much emphasis on it becomes almost a worship of the checklist for me instead of praying to God. Then again the opposite extreme (overemotionalism) is a problem too. I'ts hard to find a happy medium between the two. The emphasis should always be God ofcourse.

Sincerely,
SoliDeoGloria

 

[ayani]

i'm not sure if you could say that i pray... not to anyone, at least. but there are meaningful expressions of faith that i recite when troubled or grateful.

i just make sure i'm sitting some where where i'm not too distracted, where i won't have to jump up at a moment's notice. i breathe for a while, pray, sit quietly. if thoughts come up, they come up, and pass on by. no one's perfect, and i don't expect my restless brain to be perfect, either! but a few moments of calm and clarity are all i really need, i think.

 

[Master Vigil]

I love it.... as a matter of fact, I think I saw a thread about it somewhere:
Lectio Divina

I was gonna say, if you hadn't, you had better try it. I knew you would love it. It isn't my favorite, but I have witnessed its wonders in the monastery. I feel it is more intense than the rosary. Nothing like zazen though. But I suppose I'm biased.

 

[Scott1]

Got a thread on zazen? If you don't, MAKE ONE! You know I love that stuff.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

For those members who have not come across Lectio Divina in their life or church . a very good description is on http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html
as Scot says 'he loves it ' and so I expect would any on who tries it. perhaps not always for those in a hurry but it would certainly calm them down. not exactly the usual protestant tradition but I can't understand why. as Scot says there is not only one way to pray........

Terry
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Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[James the Persian]

Scott,

Do you know much about Orthodox hesychasm and prayer of the heart? It seems to me that that is our equivalent of the sort of meditative prayer that goes beyond communication towards unity with God. To practice hesychasm to is fullest you really need a spiritual father as a guide (and the only people who generally practice it completely are monastics) but the most basic form anyone can do.

Generally, the idea is to pray without ceasing, though this is difficult. Commonly we lay people will use a prayer rope (a bit like a rosary) to count off repetitions of the Jesus Prayer. The important thing is not to rattle off the words as fast as possible but to meditate on the meaning of them as you go. In case you don't know the words to that prayer, it is 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a/the sinner'. I usally go with the 'the sinner' form, partly because it is more personal rather than general and partly because it is the direct translation of the Romanian one I first heard.

I often feel that this simple meditative prayer is better than going through all the set prayers, though praying the Psalter is another favourite. Sometimes simple contemplation seems to bring you closer to God than any number of lofty words and sentiments.

James

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

A lady priest who has recently left our local church always gave a few minutes for meditation preceded by a religious reading. during week day communion services. I can say I truly miss this. and it is not likely to be followed by the other priests, as it is not main line church of England practice. Meditation and the Communion service go perfectly together.

Terry
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Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[michel]

I, unfortunately, have the attention span of..........well, whatever has a very short attention span.

I make up my own prayers as I go along; somehow for me, that works - I think it is much like the love & meditation of Master V and Scott.

I do remember though, when my sons were small, we would say the Lord's prayer together. Once a week I would use my own words so that I knew they understood what they were saying - I found that was a help for me too, to 'get the Feel' of a prayer - if that makes sense.

 

[Scott1]

Do you know much about Orthodox hesychasm and prayer of the heart?

No.... but it seems like a great idea for a thread in the Orthodox forum (ahem..cough, cough )

Thanks for the info James.