can i flame you for being curious?

sometimes my lil'ole brain pops out these eloquent (sp) beautiful prayers. goes back to my sunday school teaching days and all the theology courses we took i guess.

sometimes it's just a little blessing type. i dont always reply to all the need of prayers here, buti do read and stop right there and then and pray.

sometimes it's like talking to an elder, sometimes like a brother or friend. those times happen spontaniously. i know he is right there with me. not to be ignored, so we talk. i listen real hard too.

i will say i love reading prayer books.

good question meg. ty.

meg, not a weird question at all. In fact, I think it's excellent.

I was not brought up very religiously. Although there was/is belief in God's existence and respect, I would call it more spiritual than religous. Although I don't regret not having been immersed in organized religion per se, I have felt on occasion that I've missed certain things by not having had that. This is one of those things -- kind of like missing a "How To" manual. I've thought many times about the question you posed in this thread.

Several years ago I actually bought a little book called "Fifty Ways to Talk to God". I think it's mostly about each of us finding our own way to feel we're communicating and it's not necessarily so easy to figure out. I am very glad you posted this and look forward to coming back to this thread and reading what you all have written when I have time to focus. One thing I do believe is true -- there's more than than fifty ways.

Whether our prayers are a couple of simple words, or a lengthy formal type ...the most important thing to remember is that HE knows what's in our hearts and what we're going to pray for even BEFORE we start to pray. All those Bible verses that have such words as "Come to me...", HE is always there waiting to hear our prayers.
I sometimes ramble, sometimes think more of the needs of others..but it always seems to be a thanks for God's beauty around us, asking our needs and thy will be done, all prayers are said "in the name of your Son", and close them with the AMEN...something that a pastor said to me yrs and yrs ago. Those seem to be the basics although the "innerds" sometime differ. LOL

Hi Meg! I love it when someone asks that question! I think it means that they want to get closer to God and that is truly wonderful!
I talk to God every day as if I was speaking to my friend. In the evening Saffire and I say our prayers...it starts out..."Dear Lord hear our prayer oh Heavenly Father".....then Saff says "Hi God!" We thank him for the day..for each other....we Bless our family and friends..remind him of our love for him and for each other and anything else we want to say..then I say Amen and Saffy who is 1 1/2 says AMEN!
Talk your heart out to him Meg...he hears you and it makes him so happy when you do!!!! God Bless you!

Here are some ways that I pray:

• Sometimes, I just talk to God, but, often I tend to find a structure to be helpful.
• I use the ACT prayer that AMN suggested:
  A – Adoration
  C – Confession
  T - Thanksgiving
  
• I use the 5 BLESSings prayer, either to pray for myself, or for others. I don't always use the whole thing at once -- just pick and choose:
  B – Body – health, protection, strength
  L – Labor – work, income, security
  E – Emotional – joy, peace, hope
  S – Social – love, marriage, family, friends
  S – Spiritual – salvation, faith, grace
• I use the 5-finger prayer:
  1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."
  2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
  3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
  4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
  5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
• Sometimes, I read prayers online, and save them on computer, and go back to them.
• In addition to weekly worship services and Sunday School, I am part of a small group of 6 women who meet every other week for extended sharing and prayer time. Although the group has changed and evolved over time, I have been a part of that group, in one form or another, for 19 years.

Unfortunately, although I have what might be good ideas, I do not pray as often as I should.

~ Faith

Not enough and that makes me sad.

I say thank you when something good happens, everything from getting that parking spot by the front door when I am having a really heavy pain day. To my kids getting a good report from the doctor. A quick prayer for others who need it here and other places and those close to me from wherever I am.

But I tend to fluctuate in the daily type prayers, where I go from a month or two where I feel really close and am able to let go and let God, where I read my bible and my Joyce Meyer books, where I pray more, then to months and months where I am in chaos because I have to be in control and I live in fear and depression.

Like now, I am just now registering some possible bad news regarding my son that I got yesterday. So now I have to make the decision as to how I will handle it. Will I turn it over and pray or will I try to take control

Ah, that is the question!

Really I wish I did it more but tend to fall away.

I pray in all sorts of ways! Always trying to be mindful of God and who I am and what experience I'm having, I am quick to say, "Thank You" whether it's for the open handicap parking place or for not letting me change lanes when there was a car flying by, or for allowing me to find one more can of favorite soup hidden in the panty!

But I do have a routine of praying too, and I follow what others have shared also. First I do pray to God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, in the Name of the Son. (Hope it's okay to say all that.)
Adoration of His mercy and wonderfulness, and for being There for me always. And then I ask Him to keep safe and to bless the people I love, the people they love, and then also the people those people love. (I feel that will help keep the ones I know and love safe and happy.) And I add in the main concerns of my life, and those who had shared with me their concerns to pray about.

I thank Him for what He has given me, and ask for contentment, to change my "want to" to coincide with His wanting me to... And I thank Him for my service dog and ask that He help him learn faster and better.

I normally just chatter away out loud. I say thank you a lot too, out loud.

As a child, I was told to get on my knees, put my hands together in a little steeple gesture and always told to say the "now I lay me down to sleep" routine, and bless tons of people in my family. Haven't done that since (not like that).

Yes, normally just chatter unless it's something really really big/bad, I sometimes fall to my knees and ask for help.

LOL Doody, you reminded me of something I noticed when we were chattering in person that one day. I didn't tell you then, but it made my heart smile and I wanted to hug you. Hadn't seen anyone do that in YEARS.

((Meg)) - When I was young, I didn't know how to pray either. Seemed like there were so many ways, and everyone seemed to believe only their way was the right way. So, I gave it a shot at just being myself. I used to sit cross-legged in my back yard, picking at the grass and chattering away at God about everything that was on my mind. I didn't hesitate to show whatever emotion was controlling my thoughts at the time, even when I was angry and in pain. I figured God was strong enough to handle a bratty child throwing a hissy fit, or an illiterate child looking for some direction in life.

I hope you'll be able to find your connection - be it in a building or out in a field of grass somewhere.

So on top of talking outloud (in the car, the shower, wherever) I have created my own nightly routine I call the 10-5-3-1 lol

The 10: 10 People/Groups I want to pray for
I want to pray for ____________.
I pray for their heath, happiness and safety.
I pray that ______________.

The 5: 5 things I am Thankful for.
I am thankful for _____________.

The 3: 3 Things I pray for myself.
I pray for/that _____________.

The 1: The Lord's Prayer.
I end it up with a more formal, tying it all together prayer.

I do the sign of the cross, and kiss my hand and send it on up (like Italians do when something is perfecto lol)


After reading all of your posts, I figured out what worked for me, I'm slowly adding and working on it, but I think what I have now is pretty good.