How Important is YOUR Prayer Life 2 U?

[WISDOM]

Have you ever put some thought into it?  Do you even know what it is you're doing and why?  If so, please do share!

[boblandis]

If you want a relationship with the Lord you need to put prayer at a high priorty. God wants you to interact with Him even though He knows what you are going to say. He want you to rely on Him instead of yourself and to let Him take care of your need. This is done through prayer.

[gatorgirl]

I want my prayer life to be top priority, but I am ashamed to say that I struggle with prayer.  I have a difficult time expressing my feelings and thoughts into words.  That goes the same with prayer or communicating with people.  I respond to the posts only if I am sure of my thoughts and how to get them across.  

Prayer has to be a priority though, because I struggle spiritually and I KNOW why.  My prayer life is not good.

Prayer and time spent in the Word does a body good.  Now if I could just perfect that within my own life I would grow spiritually and not stay stuck in baby world.

[WISDOM]

Hello gatorgirl:

I truly know where you're coming from!  Regardless of how much a believer knows about the Bible or its doctrinal truths, he/she MUST pray if they expect to grow and be of service to our LORD.  This hit home with me several years ago when I finally understood the depth of Mark 11:17.  Like the Temple, so should our body be a "House" of prayer.

Probably the best analogy of the importance of prayer I've ever heard is that of breathing.  It should be as natural to us (Christians) as breathing is to the human body, for prayer is our spiritual breath.  Consequently, the disciple who does not pray regularly will spiritually suffocate.  Gatorgirl, in my own life I've found that my unconfessed sin has at times caused me not to pray on a regular basis.  I know for a fact this happens because I don't want to go into the presence of GOD in a conversational way.  I'm uncomfortable.  With that unconfessed sin I become discouraged in my words/thoughts.  So I've learned to be honest and most of all, BE MYSELF when I pray to the LORD.  Heck, HE already knows me no matter what "front" I try to put up!  I don't have to be an "expert" in the "King's English" either!  All I have to be is natural.....me.

One more thing gatorgirl....I've learned that our FATHER always answers our prayers.  However, we need to be careful NOT to tell HIM how to reply.  We must always give HIM the freedom to answer in HIS own way AT HIS OWN TIME!  Sometimes HE says YES, sometimes HE says no, sometimes HE says wait awhile, and sometimes HE answers with even MORE than what we asked HIM for.

[gatorgirl]

You hit the nail!  I've been in the situation when my unconfessed sin has kept me from going to God in prayer.  Seems God wants to take care of the sin BEFORE doing or hearing anything else.  

Do you like to pray openly infront of a class or group?  I don't really.  When I talk to God it is very personal.  One person told me not to be ashamed, but it has nothing to do with shame. I proclaim Christ openly and joyfully before all.  Im not saying everyone feels intimidated with praying before a group though.  That's just how I feel about when I go before God in prayer - just me and Him, no one else.  What are your thoughts?

[WISDOM]

Quote: from gatorgirl on 9:59 am on Mar. 14, 2002

You hit the nail!

[gatorgirl]

I love Psalms.  106:1-2

The Living Bible

Hallelujah!  Thank you Lord!  How good you are!  Your love for us continues on forever. 2.Who can ever list the glorious micacles of God?  Who can ever praise him half enough?

Once in Sunday school we looked at a passage in Psalms and after each verse was read, we prayed quietly or outloud focusing on each verse throughout that chapter - really meditating on the word.  It was the first time I'd done that and a wonderful way to pray and praise.  Have you ever tried doing that?

[CWJ]

It's important to me every day.  I just don't do it long enough I feel sometimes.

[Prime Number]

  What do you mean by pray? Pray for things? Pray, as in ponder God's will? Pray as in think about God? I very rarely pray for things, and rarely pray in general(big shock huh). 'Things' I pray for are: peace, or comfort for someone struggling with a tough problem, or the loss of a loved one. The loss of a loved one most of all. After that, I find the idea silly to try to communicate or 'guess' what God has planned for me. God has a plan for me, and he will let me know what to do, when he is ready. I could pray all day, everyday, and it won't change his plan.

 

Prime#

[kiwi]

I always pray first by thanking God for all he has given me: health, family, basic needs.  There is SO much that God has allowed for me in my life!  At times, this takes up the bulk of my prayers.  Then, I pray for Him to bless those who do not know Him and to give me the strength and confidence to allow me to do His will.  I ask for myself, confidence~I am not a very confident person, but I have also learned that I am very approachable.  I am not shy whatsoever, just not as confident as I'd like to be with God's Word (understatement).

My prayer time usually is not lengthy.  I concentrate on prayer at bed time and in the mornings and I pray often and sporadically throughout the day: especially since there have been numerous REQUESTS from people in my lives to pray for them...I find more and more, I seem to be having 'conversations' with God - I am growing in my spiritual life for sure!  :biggrin: