Bible Study How do you pray?

[sehad]

I am the assistant youth pastor of a church here in Winnsboro, La. I've started something with my youth trying to get them to pray, read their bible, and fast consistantly. Afterall, it is my opinion that God does not want someone that goes on a week fast once a year, or prays two hours once every other week, or reads 2 books of the bible but only does it once a month. From my experience more power comes from being consistant than from trying to spend extensive amounts of time praying, reading your bible, etc.. I've started a bible reading chain with them that has seemed to work beautifully. Now I'm working on teaching them how to pray. I've laid out simple questions that I want to answer for myself before I present this to them. Just wondering if anyone would have any worthwhile input on these questions. I've answered them as far as my knowledge can take me so I'm just looking for additional insight, scriptures, and so on. Here they are:

1. Why do I have to pray?

2. What happens if I don't pray?

3. How often should I pray?

4. How do I pray?

5. What should I pray for?

6. Why are some of the things I pray for not answered?

I would appreciate any insight. Thanks.

 

[ChristineES]

I am pretty sure that I really can't give you any answers that you have not already learned, but I will try. I hope I am of a little help to you.

1. Why do I have to pray?
Prayer is communication to God. It is the only way to talk to God.

2. What happens if I don't pray?
If one does not pray, then how can he communicate to God?
3. How often should I pray? You should pray all the time. While you are walking down the street, while you are watching TV, while you are driving, or whereever. You pray in your heart. No one will know you are even praying at times. Jesus said grace before he ate, so I think we should, too. At night or in the morning or another set time of day, you should have what I call an organized prayer. This means one should bow their heads, and thank The Father for all their blessings, ask Him for what you need, pray for others on your prayer list (if you have one), and whatever else. What you want you should come last. (it is okay to ask for things you want, but not need at times, but not too much)

4. How do I pray? You should be humble when you pray. Don't just ask for things. Tell God how you are. Remember that it is communication to God. Pray respectfully

5. What should I pray for? I cannot answer that.

6. Why are some of the things I pray for not answered? All prayers are answered. Sometimes the answer is no. God knows what is best for us, and what we really need, and what we really want. For example, you really want a new computer game, and God knows that if you have it, you will spend too much time on it, or if it will cause you to fall away, so you don't get it.

Good luck with the youth you work with. They are lucky to have someone as dedicated as you are.
_________________

 

[AHIMSA]

1. Why do I pray?
I often call prayer "inner dialogue". Regular prayer keeps me balanced, and it brings so many of my thoughts to the surface. In prayer I repeat to myself what spiritual areas of progress I need to make, so that I maintain a state of self awareness, and of course, a constant awareness of the divine. God's presence is always there to be percieved, prayer is the primary channel of that percpetion.

2. What happens if I don't pray?
I begin to lose my sense of personal and divine awareness and I begin to slip into the temptations of egotism (more easily that is)

3. How often should i pray?

Formally, I try to pray every evening before bed, but it is also something that I aim to do throughout the day whenever the oppertunity arises, even if only for a moment.

4.How do I pray?

I will speak to God's various manifestations, using petitionary prayer or simply stating what I need to change in my life. But I find that, often, silence is the most effective form of prayer.

5. What should I pray for?
That I will be open to God's love and that in every moment, and in all things, I will pour forth that love unto every manifestation of life.

6. I don't "pray" in the sense that I am asking God to intervene supernaturally. As Jesus said "If you seek you will find, if you ask you will recieve".

 

[CarrieY]

I pray (talk to God) nearly every moring I can.
I say Good Morning to him and Good Night.
I say thanks for my meals and I have gotten into the habit of telling him I love him at the end of every prayer, except when i'm saying Good Morning.
Me myself I always ask for something. uppydogeyes: I ask for him to take a heavy heavy burden away from me. I beg even, over and over. I used to thank him for all the good things and the bad things that'd happen througout the day. but mostly now it's gotten to just begging for him to awnser me :o
Mostly :smt022 I'm gracious that this happened or i think i might've gone to hell but still

:smt018 <--- This is what God has been telling me (no no no)
I'm being humerous at the same time i'm speaking the truth.
:smt062 <--- Me and I imagine God when i don't get what i ask for, at least it's me I can be a baby sometimes.
I think i expect what i've been asking for to happen in an instant because I can pray to God and then really fast start praying to Jesus, like he's going to say ok when God the Father probably already said no and i don't want to hear no.
I even told him that. I don't want you to say No. (kind of crying) in that manner
I've asked him to do this in my time and not his. (never say stuff like that to God) That's asking for your will to be done not his.
It's kind of funny now that I think about it. But I can't help it at the time I pray that to him ,It gets hard sometimes and I wish it to stop. ( I hope he looks back and thinks it's funny to)
I must know him or he must be nearby for me to talk like that to him and feel so comfortable.
I feel God loves me, and i feel like When i read about God that's it's real for me. I feel love.
I just wanted to type that and be humerous about myself

Carrie

 

[Heal Nations]

1. Why do I have to pray?
It is the ordained way of communication with God. Plus Jesus did, so shouldn't we follow his example.

2. What happens if I don't pray?
I feel far from God and I fall into sin.

3. How often should I pray?
At least once a day but you should pray whenever you feel it is needed. I pray five or six times a day oftentimes.

4. How do I pray?
There is no set way to pray but I usually give thanks for everything God has given me, say that I put my faith in Christ and God, ask for the Holy Spirit to guide me in life, pray for wisdom understanding God's will and the Word, ask for forgiveness of my sins through the act of Christ, praise Him for his grace and mercy, say that I repent and am truly sorry for my sin, and close with "In the name and grace of Jesus Christ I pray amen."

Although there is no set way to pray, the Lord's prayer is a good place to learn how to.

5. What should I pray for?
For the Holy spirit to guide my life, for the Word of God to be heard by all, my thankfulness of God, for Wisdom understanding the Word and God's will, for forgiveness, tell God that I repent for my sins, for people to be saved, and for whatever I find of importance to inquire God about.

6. Why are some of the things I pray for not answered?
God always answers prayers. The answer is always yes, no, or wait.

 

[JM]

I pray that God's will be done, I'm able to accept it, and pray God will allow me to understand it.

Peace,

jm
PS: see my sig

 

[Nocturnal_Principal_X]

(My answers are in green)

1. Why do I have to pray?
Pray is the way one communicates with God. Just like any other relationship a big part of that is prayer. One also must pray because, well Jesus did it and a Christian is to strive to be Christ-like.

2. What happens if I don't pray?
Ones relationship with God can not grow without prayer. Prayer is done for many reasons and among them is to overcome sin and for God to speak to those who are lost.

3. How often should I pray?
I don’t think there is a set number but I do believe one should pray as much as possible.

4. How do I pray?
When I’m by myself I actually pray out loud and with my eyes open. I do that because having my head bowed and doing it in my head is distractingâ€â€my mind tends to wonder.

5. What should I pray for?
I pray for many things such as the guidance of the Holy Spirit and help with overcoming sin. I also pray for those who do me wrong and for those I have recently witnessed to.

6. Why are some of the things I pray for not answered?
Every prayer is answered, sometimes God simply says no. In other words what sometimes looks like an unanswered prayer is simple a ‘no’ from God. I think also that one must consider that one must wait on His timingâ€â€so the answer may come much later then we want it to.

 

[online worship]

How to Pray ?

http://www.online-worship.com/Articles/ ... Study.html


I hope this helps...

 

[ibliz]

1. Why do I have to pray?
I read the bible in order to know who God is, what he likes and what he dislikes. I pray so I can be closer to him, to know him personally.

2. What happens if I don't pray?
Sometimes, when Iam busy with work or spending too much time on something, I tend to ignore praying to God. The consequences are, I can really feel that iam getting farther and farther away from Him, until one day I can feel that He is no longer with me. I became afraid and doubtful when faced with important decision. This has happened to me times and times again.

3. How often should I pray?
I pray before I even open my eyes in the morning, during shower, during my daily walk to work, before each meal, before I hit the sack and especially when Iam in trouble.

4. How do I pray?
Humby and submissively.

5. What should I pray for?
I pray for His blessing and guidance in everything that I do. I asked him to correct my weakness, to always remind me to be humble and patient, to give me the courage to face problems, to pardon my sin and to lead my loved ones back to Him.

I have never asked for anything worldly such as money, car, video games, etc. But I do ask for His help when I am having problem in life or at work (I wonder if this should be considered worldly)

6. Why are some of the things I pray for not answered?
The Lord has His own plan and time-table. Abraham waited for 25 years from the time when the Lord promised to bless him and his descendants until the fulfillment of that promise through the birth of Isaac.


I sincerely hope these helps.