Pray Often?

[hdtwice]

What does that look like?

A little context.....

I grew up in a house where there was no discussion of religion, Jesus, God, etc.

So, other than being at a friends house as a kid watching their family say Grace before the meal, I never saw any other prayer.

Fast forward.... middle aged and become a Christian.  

I pray every morning  giving thanks, asking for forgiveness, praying on behalf of others, and then praying for myself.

Now unless there is a special need that comes up such a friends health, or some such situation, I don't understand really what it means to pray constantly throughout the day.  What does that look like?  

I have a feeling that for some of you, you might find this question to elementary but I would appreciate any input on this for this newer Christian. 

Thanks

H.

[Not me]

27 minutes ago, hdtwice said:

What does that look like?

A little context.....

I grew up in a house where there was no discussion of religion, Jesus, God, etc.

So, other than being at a friends house as a kid watching their family say Grace before the meal, I never saw any other prayer.

Fast forward.... middle aged and become a Christian.  

I pray every morning  giving thanks, asking for forgiveness, praying on behalf of others, and then praying for myself.

Now unless there is a special need that comes up such a friends health, or some such situation, I don't understand really what it means to pray constantly throughout the day.  What does that look like?  

I have a feeling that for some of you, you might find this question to elementary but I would appreciate any input on this for this newer Christian. 

Thanks

H.

I would say it means to keep your heart open and soft before God...

Be blessed in your relationship with Him..

A fellow believer, Not me 

[Tristen]

Hi Hdt,

Prayer is communicating with God. God is with us always, and loves us, and wants to be involved in every part of our life.

We should be mindful that God is with us at all times. So we should talk to Him – throughout the day. For example, I may ask for help if I'm about to do something difficult, or thank Him for something good (e.g. a green light when you need one, a good park, the thing you want on a special price, good weather, good food etc.), or pray that God would bless or save someone who I pass on the street, or protect them so that they arrive home safely, or comment to God about an impressive cloud formation, or a pretty face, or pray for God's favour for the medics in a passing ambulance (and the person they are helping), or to help me understand something that's been stuck in my head, or just ask a question out of curiosity, or to pray for God's will in a circumstance or person's life that comes to mind etc. etc. etc. Just talking to God throughout the day like He is with you – because He is. It's difficult to be too specific because life and thought is varied – and you'll encounter things to talk to God about that I don't (And visa-versa).

Sometimes the prayer is in my head (especially if in a crowd).

And to be honest, even though I want to be mindful of God all day every day, I sometimes forget about God – for an hour or hours – even most of the day some days. But the days with God involved are better than the days without God (though God never left me).

If I find myself alone and want to pray, but not sure what to pray for, I might pray in tongues (Which may or may not be an option for you – since speaking in tongues is frowned upon in some traditions).

And none of this negates dedicated daily time with God – as is necessary for any good relationship. But we should be careful to not treat this dedicated time with God as a chore. We are fellowshipping (spending time) with a loved-One who also happens to be the Creator of the universe.

 

 

[Sower]

3 hours ago, hdtwice said:

What does that look like?

A little context.....

I grew up in a house where there was no discussion of religion, Jesus, God, etc.

So, other than being at a friends house as a kid watching their family say Grace before the meal, I never saw any other prayer.

Fast forward.... middle aged and become a Christian.  

I pray every morning  giving thanks, asking for forgiveness, praying on behalf of others, and then praying for myself.

Now unless there is a special need that comes up such a friends health, or some such situation, I don't understand really what it means to pray constantly throughout the day.  What does that look like?  

I have a feeling that for some of you, you might find this question to elementary but I would appreciate any input on this for this newer Christian. 

Thanks

H.

Very good question. 

Over the years I've gotten into the habit of practicing God's presence, conscious of the fact he's listening to my thoughts. I ditto what Tristen said above, starting in the morning, short prayer for the day, acknowledging God, agreeing with him that I need direction, asking to be kept aware for opportunities to sow some seeds, short prayer at night. The word says to pray without ceasing. I believe that is another way of saying how to abide. I do have to discipline my mental habits to stay aware. It doesn't just happen. Like times I am busy working, and I  I realize I haven't been conferring with God for a while. It's usually when I mess up to realize this. To make it clear, I do not stop and read/study a chapter of scripture, I just talk, mentally usually, to God about what I'm doing, or concerns that pop up, etc. The vast majority of my sins are in my mind. Thoughts. I do not blame them on the world-flesh-devil. And all my sins start in the mind. The battle for the mind.
If my mind is on God, and those 'Whatsoever things are true, honest, pure, lovely, etc, I will already have a 'defence' set up. So I am able(not I but Christ) to take every (mostly) thought captive. Look at it, decide (compare it to the word I hid in my heart) confess it/or agree, it's sin, then press on. I do not morph over them. At the end of the day going to bed, I go over the day agreeing/confessing with God about my sins, and thanking God for the victories he gave to refrain from other sin.
We all make decisions, every day, all day long. I cannot be obedient to the word with out help. I have to ask for it though. I Pray.
God is light. His promises are true. All of them. I just have to believe.
There's a lot of really good stuff God has for us if we only ask, and  believing he hears.
We have not because we ask not. In my prayers, I'm learning how to ask. And believe.
God has given me a grateful heart. For every thing.    (I count blessings without ceasing also)
 

[R. Hartono]

Thanking God repeatedly for everything during our days is also a form of praying.

[Who me]

12 hours ago, hdtwice said:

don't understand really what it means to pray constantly throughout the day.  What does that look like?  

I can best explain through a true life story.

 

Billy Bray a 19th February Cornish man was asked about prayer. His answer was," See that copper kettle the wife has been polishing. Now you give that a rub every now and then and it will stay bright, but you let it go green and you'll have a hard job getting it all bright again."

 

Have set times in he day when you read scripture , think and pray, also as you have need pray. God knows your intension so quick ' arrow ' prayers kin an emergency, or rapidly mumbled prayers about a friend's situation are as acceptable to God asking eloquent verbose prayer.

 

[Guest clancy]

13 hours ago, hdtwice said:

What does that look like?

A little context.....

I grew up in a house where there was no discussion of religion, Jesus, God, etc.

So, other than being at a friends house as a kid watching their family say Grace before the meal, I never saw any other prayer.

Fast forward.... middle aged and become a Christian.  

I pray every morning  giving thanks, asking for forgiveness, praying on behalf of others, and then praying for myself.

Now unless there is a special need that comes up such a friends health, or some such situation, I don't understand really what it means to pray constantly throughout the day.  What does that look like?  

I have a feeling that for some of you, you might find this question to elementary but I would appreciate any input on this for this newer Christian. 

Thanks

H.

I talk to God ,most of the day, he is involved in every part of my life, as soon as I get up in the morning,I thank him that I am alive, I also ask him to walk in front of me,I want to be more like you Jesus, I have my very own special relationship with him, I’ve had a really upset tummy for a week, where it affected my bowels, I just couldn’t understand what was causing this, I got in my mind, stop taking that vitamin D supplement,I stopped taking it yesterday morning, it’s now 14.47 pm here, tummy and bowels seem back to normal, I guess that was answer to prayer.

I want God involved in everything, it would be hard not to involve him now, but then,I wouldn’t want him not to be involved,...He is my “ Number One”!

Edited February 5, 2021 by clancy

[Starise]

I would say throw out any formal ideas about how you imagine talking to God. 

Know He is there at all times to listen. We are told to come BOLDLY to the throne. I always address Jesus because HE is our mediator.

We are given the Lord's prayer as a guide on how to pray. I often will say this at the beginning of a day letting the words and meanings take hold.

The rest of the day prayer is a converstion. Lord should I turn here? Lord what should I do about this or that. Lord please help me to get past or through this ****. Lord please give me wisdom. Lord please help my friend. Thank you Lord for your blessings, for this amazing day and for my family.

For me it can look more like traditional prayer or more like simply a conversation. Not out loud. Internal.

I awake in the middle of the night unable to go back to sleep. I lay there asking God to help me go back to sleep or to help me think the right thoughts.

I sometimes vent frustration and ask why. I believe He hears and considers it all. 

[hdtwice]

Thank you to all for taking the time and sharing with me your thoughts and info.  

Sincerely,

H

[johnthebaptist]

22 hours ago, hdtwice said:

What does that look like?

A little context.....

I grew up in a house where there was no discussion of religion, Jesus, God, etc.

So, other than being at a friends house as a kid watching their family say Grace before the meal, I never saw any other prayer.

Fast forward.... middle aged and become a Christian.  

I pray every morning  giving thanks, asking for forgiveness, praying on behalf of others, and then praying for myself.

Now unless there is a special need that comes up such a friends health, or some such situation, I don't understand really what it means to pray constantly throughout the day.  What does that look like?  

I have a feeling that for some of you, you might find this question to elementary but I would appreciate any input on this for this newer Christian. 

Thanks

H.

The Apostle Paul taught us to pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Perhaps what you are missing is that prayer not only means talking to the Lord - it also means listening to him. We should be doing that all day long. It is also called "walking with the Lord." It's like having a friend with you all day long, every day (though this particular friend is also our Lord and Savior).