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To All Who Pray: Do you make Requests in Your Prayers?

Kathryn

It was on fire when I laid down on it.
Wow, there are some really great responses to this post! I can't find one that I disagree with (with the possible exception of the Lord and Lady wiccan thing, but even that one overlaps with the Hebrew concept that the Holy Spirit is a feminine side of God).

When I pray, I say something like this, "Lord, you know what my desires are, and what I think my needs are. However, I place this in Your hands, and I pray that you will give me the wisdom to see what YOUR WILL is in this matter, and not be consumed with what MY WILL is. Thank you for the strength that You promise to give me through Your Holy Spirit."
 

Ringer

Jar of Clay
I usually follow a pattern when I pray that goes in line with how we are taught to pray in the Bible. I believe you will find the pattern in the Lord's Prayer as well.

Adoration - Starting off with praising God
Confession - Ask God to reveal what is in my heart that I can forgiveness
Thanksgiving - Thank God for the blessings I have in my life
Supplication - Ask God to help me with what troubles me as well as personal requests

Usually the thanksgiving goes the longest because I have so much to be thankful for and it makes me conscious of the little things I have that we tend to overlook. I don't think there's anything wrong with asking God for something. In fact, I think it's biblical to do such a thing. I like saving this step for last because it forces me to ask for what I think are the right things. When you realize all you have to be thankful for, asking for that Playstation 3 just doesn't seem as important anymore. Instead, I'll ask for help be a good steward of the money that was given to me.
 

Just_me_Mike

Well-Known Member
Since God knows our every thought, our troubles, our desires (good and bad), I find formulated prayer useless and not very sincere for me.

When I realized the word prayer actually means thought, it was at that moment I knew my thoughts were already known. There was no more need to distinguish between my thoughts and a seperate action of prayer.

I walk all day long comparing my thoughts and actions to what I know to be Godly and what I know to be evil. It is this gift I believe we are endowed with so that we may judge correctly the matters we face in life.

At times my pain and suffering this life brings comes out verbally, but it is still just my thoughts expressed outwardly, which is no different to God.
 

painted wolf

Grey Muzzle
Not really... prayers for me are a way of expressing my thanks for what I have... not begging for what I don't.

wa:do
 

uu_sage

Active Member
I pray to God to express my gratitude for the myriad of gifts the Lord bestows on us. I ask for wisdom, guidance and lift up those who need comfort, support, healing. I believe that prayer changes those who pray rather than prayer changing God.
 

Big_TJ

Active Member
How can anythign happen in any way other than it should,,,,

BINGO

how can it?

Yet, many wish to:
bend the will of God
bend reality

essentially like pullign a rabbit out of a hat. To get things, to save a kitten, to find love etc.

The difference I "propose" is actively saying, "Whatever will be will be, I hope it will be what I'd prefer, but whatever will be will be."

We can dam a river, and change its flow. (Prayign for stuff or many other similar practises, most obviously magic).
But eventually no matter how much we scream and hold our hand up, the sea will flow.....

What will be will be.

...

This is one way to understand the idea of submission and giving one's self to God
As opposed being a "participator"

It is the difference between drinking from the Grail
And, BEING the Grail....

I think another way to think of it is like a child.
A child thinks they want a new toy car. Their life will be better.
But the parent is wiser, they know better.
So, we may think we want to get a new car, we need to have sex with a woman called susan
But, God knows the big picture
Trust that God knows what is best, not ourselves.

BE the WIND....

............

I cannot speak the longings of my heart
Nor its secrets with vainglorious art
And as I was born unknown to the world
It is just as well I unknown depart.

Obscurity « Wandering Troubadour


OK . . . So you pray to ask GOD to do what HE was going to do anyway. So, isn't praying in this sense a waste of time (both yours and God's)?
 
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