how do you pray?
By jingbautista
@jingbautista (2456)
Philippines
August 14, 2008 8:11am CST
how do you pray? what do you pray about? well, let me take you into the life of the disciples when in their fellowship with the Lord, they asked Him after one year to teach them to pray...hope you read this one...
it seems strange that Jesus' disciples would have said, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). these men doubtless had grown up in strictly religious homes. they had gone to church and they had prayed all their lives. a year before if you had asked the disciples, "do you know how to pray?" they would have been indignant. "of course, we know how to pray," they would have insisted. "we have prayed regularly everyday for years."
they could have quoted you many verses in the Bible in reference to prayer. they could have answered the arguments against prayer and given the reasons for prayer. however, when they saw Jesus pray, they realized they did not know how to pray. they saw how much time He gave to prayer and what it meant in His own life. they saw Him go into prayer in one mood and come out in another. AS A RESULT OF HIS PRAYERS, THEY SAW THINGS BECOME DIFFERENT. to them prayer had been a form but to Christ it was a force..
like those of the disciples qustion and plead, "Lord, teach us how to pray," i too is an example of those who wanted Christ to teach me personally. i do know what is prayer and what it is meant for, but how did really Christ pray? it is an example to follow in our lives. the way Christ prayed should be our example in prayer too.when He prayer, there is a result of it. and when He prayed, it is extraordinary. not like my own.. when i am tired, i get to sleep and told Him short prayers with less effort. and yet, the Lord Jesus prayed with much effort on it. there is force and there is conviction to pray. He is such a model..
and now, i would like to throw this question to you// after you had read the above message, HOW DO YOU PRAY? please do share after reading the above text.. thank you
2 people like this
12 responses
@Gordano (795)
• United States
15 Aug 08
Hello jingbautista,
I 'm a Muslim, I think That All Muslims Pray Like Jesus and Other Biblical Prophets, I Have started a Discussion about that, Please refer to My Post:
"How Jesus and other Biblical Prophets prayed?"
I Think That [Luke 22:41-46] also [Matthew 26:39] Describe the way Jesus Christ Prayed and Of course When Jesus Pray and Command the disciples to pray We Can't imagine any other way Than the way Jesus prayed.
[Matthew 26:39]
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt
[Luke 22:41-46]
( 41 )And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Then Jesus Commanded His disciples to pray in Luke 22:46
( 46 ) And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
and Of course you may agree with me that when Jesus Pray and Command the disciples to pray We Can't imagine any other way Than the way Jesus prayed.
When we Muslims Pray we do Both actions, we fall on our faces and kneel down when we Pray for The God.
Best Regards
3 people like this
@Gordano (795)
• United States
22 Aug 08
well, Now I have to explain what The Word Prayers Mean according to Muslims Because there two meanings and you Mean one of Them.
Prayer = an Act of worship and it is 5 times daily.
Prayer = asking God something
Within the Five daily Prayers we can also Ask God something, But when we ask God something we can't assume that we do prayer as an act of worship.
Now, we agree that we talk about the second meaning of prayer "asking god".
according to Islam, we shouldn't expect a prayer to be answered Unless we are sure that our food and Cloth come from Lawful resources.
the Prophet PBUH mentioned a traveller on a long journey, who is dishevelled and dusty, and he stretches forth his hands to the sky, saying, "O my Lord! O my Lord!" - while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully; how can he (expect to) be answered? It is noticed in this hadith that the Prophet PBUH emphasised this person's impure earnings by detailing the fact that his food, clothes, drink and nourishment were all obtained from the impure.
and Provided that you don't ask for harm to anyone, you should expect answer to your prayer but it may be direct or indirect, and also it may not be answered during this Life, but instead you may get your reward in the eternal Life for asking God with Good Intent.
as for the Friendship, I will send the Request soon.
Thanks, and Best regards
2 people like this
@Gordano (795)
• United States
12 Sep 08
I was Talking about getting food and Cloth come from Lawful resources, not about Clean or unclean food.
and Mark Mark 7:18-23 was a response to Mark 7:5
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
according to you:
Food = Clean
Theft = Make one Unclean
what about Stolen food ?
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
but i would like to know of how do you know that your prayers is being answered down there in heaven? does it really thouches God? did you ever have that direct answer to your prayer?.. for sure, Jesus did not pray a prayer of repitition. he prayed for the current condition, and the current situation...well, we all have each owns beliefs.. hope that we are still friends..could you invite me?
1 person likes this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
thank you.. i pray in this pattern..
A- adoration.
C- CONFESSION OF MY SINS
T- THANKSGIVING FOR WHAT GOD HAVE DONE IN ME
S-SUPPLICATION.. THIS IS THE TIME WHERE I GET TO TELL THE LORD OF THE THINGS THAT I NEEDED AND FOR OTHERS AS WELL. BUT TO BE HONEST, LATELY I AM NOT THAT COMMITTED WITH MY PRAYERS.. I AM LAZY WITH REGARDS TO IT.. I AM UNFAITHFULL.. HUHU,,PLEASE HELP ME..
1 person likes this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
my friend, we could not directly talk and approach the Lord when there is sin in us.. first, we should be confessing our sins first before we could ask God. it is okey that if you dont do the ACTS, at least ask for forgiveness first... thank you!
1 person likes this
@adoremay (2065)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
I don't do the ACTs all the time. Prayer is how we talk to God, you could always make your own type of prayer. It is between God and you, so you should do a prayer that you like God to know and understand you better.
I am not good in praying also. I just believe that we can pray always as we like, as long as we are in the disposition to do so.
I would like to share this quotation from Meister Eckhart: If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice.
The day I encountered this message, I would been saying thank you for many times now.
I would also like to quote what Mother Teresa said: silence is the fruit of prayer. when we have that serenity, even if we don't say a thing, our whole self is in prayer.
2 people like this
@vonkristoffer (833)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
^_^
just simple.. talk to God as like talking to your friend.. God want us to be dependent on him so we ask him like when we are a Child and asking your Human Father what you want.. but God have plans for us already.. it means that God have already finished our time table.. so God will give your wants in a his time table not on our own time table..
remember one day to us, is thousand days to God.. so its God's will always.. not on our time table..
2 people like this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
but how do you know that it reaches to heaven? will it reach really heaven and the Lord will answer your prayers?.. there are certain factors that needs to be considered when praying.. uhm, it is not simple as ABC. Jesus showed that example. and His disciples asked Him to teach tehm.. ask the Lord to teach you tonight, and surely, you will be amazed..
1 person likes this
@vonkristoffer (833)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
^_^
read this.. it may help you.. http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0083/0083_01.asp
1 person likes this
@zeny_zion (1283)
• Philippines
14 Aug 08
i didnt read all your messages its too long. anyways, i pray inside the church or inside our home or in my room. you can pray, anytime and anywhere. as long as you remember God always he'll be happy with it. i do thank God always, when i wake up and before going to sleep. anytime of the day. i thank him for everything that he've been giving to us.
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
but i would like to know my friend of how to know the answer of you prayer?.. does it answered suddenly, or there are times that you have to wait for a couple of days?...hmm, to me, it worked out that way..
and my friend, hope that you read my discussion,.. it is good for your soul.. you will be touched by it,,..
1 person likes this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
but i would like to know my friend of how to know the answer of you prayer?.. does it answered suddenly, or there are times that you have to wait for a couple of days?...hmm, to me, it worked out that way..
and my friend, hope that you read my discussion,.. it is good for your soul.. you will be touched by it,,..
1 person likes this
@niv_musicman (346)
• Bangladesh
14 Aug 08
Being a muslim I say my prayers in the traditional way. We have to pray five time in a day. This is Farz, we are bound to do that. It is said that, if a man bathes in the river five times a day then he will have no dirt on his whole body like that if we pray five times a day then we will have no sin. I love to pray. It makes my mind fresh and more enthusiastic.
2 people like this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
14 Aug 08
my friend, i am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. and He is very real and true to us.. and i want to share JESUS to you, if you are willing.. will you? i will just share Him, not to change you or to create a debate... i want you to know Him, and the truth shall set you free...thankss
1 person likes this
@CrazCo (409)
• Canada
19 Aug 08
Well I will have to break your question up into smaller increments to suit my response. Number 1) How DID I pray? Well - when I was a Christian I didn't really have any set way to pray. I didn't do the kneeling alongside my bed with my fists clenched. I mainly just talked to the skies no matter where I was where I usually asked for guidance or for him to help guide my friends or relatives and people I didn't know who were going through hardships. Number 2) Why don't I pray now? Well - I am now an agnostic. I believe it is impossible to prove God's existence so now I just don't pray. I do not see the point in attempting to talk to something I know not if it exists. Number 3) If I ever did start praying again, how would it be? I would probably do it the Muslim way. I don't want to dive into details about it because I have rambled enough as it is.
The one problem I find with prayer is the paradox of if God answers it. People says prayers are always answers. If you don't get what you prayed for God said "no" and if you do get what you asked for God said "yes." I mean this seems very illogical and it annoys my agnostic mind.
2 people like this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
22 Aug 08
i am sad about your declaration my friend. hope that we could be friends and that your faith in God will be restored.. my friend, i am a believer of Jesus Christ. i did not see Him. But i know He is real. the things that has been going on with my life right now are really controlled by Him.. my friend, God is real.. there is nothing we are to lose when we believe that He exist. and our joy will be much more complete when we are to live for Him and for His glory.. my friend, i hope that God will touch your heart and that He will reveal Himself to you once more.. He is like a Shepherd, a Great SHepherd of no comparison. and he is looking for You!!. He loves you that the lost of one would sadden Him even though He have 99 sheeps left. He is looking for YOU!!!
1 person likes this
@harichandan (248)
• India
15 Aug 08
I love to pray to GOD. whether I am happy or sorrow I love to see the smiling face of GOD. In Hindu religion there are many Gods. But Many people think it is a farce to have so many Gods.. But , as believer and practitioner of Hindu culture I know that our ancient saints were right in making so many of Gods out of one..each person has a different attitude and different way of thinking in his/her life, so he /she may like a smiling face or a frowning face of the God.. I don't know . People pray for many reasons..I pray for communication with God should continue. I tell Him about my achievements and problems , shortcoming , tried to listen to Him whether He can give some beautiful way to overcome my problems and shortcomings...
Above all I love to pray and love those people who also pray for no reason except communication..
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
hello my dear freind. i praise the LORD for the opportunity of sharing to you.. well, we are subjected and i respect your practices my friend.. hope that we could be friends.. thanks to mylot.. i meet a new friend, and this time a Hindu.. could we be friend?
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
14 Aug 08
Every day I pray according to my beliefs, which say to pray at least three times. At these three times, we say specific prayers which come mostly from the Torah and Tanach. We say the Sh'ma twice a day which comes from Dueteronomy and Leviticus and lists many of the things a Jew must do and believe. Then thoughout the day I just chat with my Maker whenever I need to.
Shalom~Adoniah
1 person likes this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
14 Aug 08
my friend, with all respect i respect you.. you are entitled of your belief. but i want to share to You JESUS. HE is a personal God. HE knows you and wanted to have a relationship with You.. and He is answering my prayers like a person near me. and we talk too. i read His word through the Bible, and it feels so right deep inside. it is like He is right there in front of me. and in the area where i am , i am assured that He is actually talking to me. so when i pray, there is the Bible beside me, to know of His purpose and His answer..
hope that we could be friends, and that we will be sharing with each other our beliefs. let us not debate on thigs, but let us be friends.. could we?.. please add me
1 person likes this
@sridharsahu (544)
• India
14 Aug 08
my praying is like talking to god about my problems and asking him to help me solve them
2 people like this
@granite_butterfly (448)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
Firstly, I am not a Christian but as part of my spirituality, I do pray. I make every effort to do the bulk of my prayers and intentions in the quieter times of the day, such as dawn or before bed. Most times, I pray for others and the universe first, then to my own small tidbit of the world. Sometimes I have specific needs I feel I must pray for but of these, my greatest prayer request for myself is to be strong and for forgiveness. I never forget gratitude in my prayers.
I was raised in the Catholic discipline of praying and I never found much satisfaction in these methods of feeling faithful. So once I understood my conflicting beliefs, it seemed appropriate to leave the Catholic church and the way I had learned to talk to God. I am ever evolving my spirituality and will until I am with my divine creator. Praying keeps me close.
1 person likes this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
29 Aug 08
so what is your condition right now?.. are you still active in your prayer life?...
1 person likes this
@magojordan (3252)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
Usually when I pray I say first my prayers then give some time to God to answer back in my silence. Most of us pray pray and pray to God who always listens. However have you thought of listening to Him? 
Maybe we should consider this also to listen to God who is in our hearts always talking to us but often we don't hear because we talk too much too most of the time.
Maybe we should consider this also to listen to God who is in our hearts always talking to us but often we don't hear because we talk too much too most of the time.@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
bu i am just curious of how you are tho listen to God when He is a billion miles away?,.. well, we i have the solution to that question.. uhm let us also learn to read and meditate our Bible, because in there, He had told us already what is His will and plan for all of us.. thank you!
1 person likes this
@melcahjone (135)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
i'm not really a church-goer,but i always pray to GOD as if I'm just talking to him..i pray with what is in my heart and what i want to say to HIM...
2 people like this
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
thank your for the response, but i advice you do the ACTS:
A- ADORATION,
C- CONFESSION
T- THANKSGIVING
S- SUPPLICATION
it is simple my friend, and if you do it, you will really be approaching God at its highest form.. try it, and couple it with the WORD OF GOD thru the BIBLE... thank you
1 person likes this
@urcheekyangel (438)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
i pray with my heart, i pray anywhere, for me i depends on you, wherever am i, i always talk to him, and it also is a form of praying.
@jingbautista (2456)
• Philippines
15 Aug 08
but i am just curious. do you know whether your prayers are being answered?.. if so, how do you know it my friend?...
1 person likes this
