Should we get to church early to prepare ourselves

[biblecatholic]

We get to sporting event early to sit up front and prepare for the event. For concerts we'll wait in line for hours, rain, sleet, or snow...then get there early all prepared and excited to see our favorite star hoping to get close enough to touch them

Do you(myself included) prepare and get ready before you spend time in prayer, that way your mind is(more) clear from many(not all)distractions. What about Church? do you get there early(if possible) as to prepare yourself for the King(not elvis) so you can reach out and touch His garment?

 

[paisley]

Biblecatholic, I think it depends on if a person has young children or not if they get to church early. I usually don`t get to church early although it would be nice to be able to silently sit and mediate on God before a service, but the reality for me is I am just glad to get through a service!!! There is no way I could get there early with young children who are active and need to be watched, and I doubt anyone would appreciate me letting my children run about as I closed my mind to the world to just talk alone with God. I think it is a good idea for single people or people with older or adult children. When I was single, I used to stay after church and pray in a small chapel. It was always a precious time to me, but those days are not possible in this phase of my life.

 

[GraceBwithU]

We get to sporting event early to sit up front and prepare for the event. For concerts we'll wait in line for hours, rain, sleet, or snow...then get there early all prepared and excited to see our favorite star hoping to get close enough to touch them

Do you(myself included) prepare and get ready before you spend time in prayer, that way your mind is(more) clear from many(not all)distractions. What about Church? do you get there early(if possible) as to prepare yourself for the King(not elvis) so you can reach out and touch His garment?

There is certainly something about your post that I like, (not really sure what it is).

I will respond in this way...

We should prepare ourselves daily and not wait until the morning of the Church service that we attend.

I spend several hours a day in Bible study. I wish I could say that I have always done so. But when I was younger I was probably distracted by the sporting event that you mentioned. I even saw Elvis in concert in the early 70's. I mean I think that was Elvis. I was in the Navy at the time and a Wave that I was dating got us tickets in the nose bleed section. Did you know that all of his later concerts were sell-outs. I wonder how many people would purchase a ticket to their church service. praise God that his gift is free. :wink:

 

[biblecatholic]

Biblecatholic, I think it depends on if a person has young children or not if they get to church early. I usually don`t get to church early although it would be nice to be able to silently sit and mediate on God before a service, but the reality for me is I am just glad to get through a service!!! There is no way I could get there early with young children who are active and need to be watched, and I doubt anyone would appreciate me letting my children run about as I closed my mind to the world to just talk alone with God. I think it is a good idea for single people or people with older or adult children. When I was single, I used to stay after church and pray in a small chapel. It was always a precious time to me, but those days are not possible in this phase of my life.

pasiley,

I totally agree. i was directing this more as an "if it is possible kind of thing"

I do think in some ways we can do this for our prayertime even if it means waking up before everyone else.....But life is busy so not always....just wanted to get people to think

Blessings

There is certainly something about your post that I like, (not really sure what it is).

I will respond in this way...

We should prepare ourselves daily and not wait until the morning of the Church service that we attend.

Amen.

 

[Archetype]

Yes. After work(job), I am a bit tired and frustrated..my mind is not in prayer mode, neither is it in after "gym work-out"-the temptations of females stir my mind. Therefore, what I do, is to turn on the tv or radio, calm myself down a bit and maybe have a snack.

I then reflect on what I have done and did not do for the day, which is the basis for my prayers, then I begin praying. I won't do so until I have calmed down, else I am afriad I might say something stupid when I talk to the lord.

How long are your guys' prayers? I try to keep mine simple, cover all the bases(forgiveness of sins/neeed to repent, health and safety of family, friends and enemies, my wants/needs, and thanksgiving)

Sometimes my mind dawdles and I keep the lord hanging. Thats why I try to pray when I am calm. Short and simple.

 

[biblecatholic]

Yes. After work(job), I am a bit tired and frustrated..my mind is not in prayer mode, neither is it in after "gym work-out"-the temptations of females stir my mind. Therefore, what I do, is to turn on the tv or radio, calm myself down a bit and maybe have a snack.

for me after work or the gym I'll listen to praise and worship music (I listen to it before also...well pretty much 24/7)or old school Gregorian chant or Byzantine music and kind of let my soul open up.....I also pray at work and in the gym...I like to pray over the grounds and consecrate them to our Lord pleading the Precious Blood all over.....praying at the gym also puts you in a mins set where you'll be less temped

I then reflect on what I have done and did not do for the day, which is the basis for my prayers, then I begin praying. I won't do so until I have calmed down, else I am afriad I might say something stupid when I talk to the lord.

That's awesome you reflect on your day that is a sure way of allowing the Lord to change you more into His image....But I'd say not to worry about saying anything stupid to the Lord, just speak to Him, He wont mind if it's stupid, as long as it's from the Heart

How long are your guys' prayers? I try to keep mine simple, cover all the bases(forgiveness of sins/neeed to repent, health and safety of family, friends and enemies, my wants/needs, and thanksgiving)

sometimes it's just one line other times its an hour or 2 on a good day...the one liners I pray through out the day(for people I see at the moment and myself in dealing with life situations) keeps me focused on God as much as is possible for me at the moment.... I begin the day with Praise and I give the day to the Lord then the Liturgy of the Hour's which is praying the Psalms and end the day with the Psalms as well.... But this year the Lord has been answering my prayer "to pray more" so typically I have a daily Holy Hour(keep awake one hour)...it's taken a lot of praying to be able to pray more, to pray more(if that makes sense) and the fruit form this is amazing..... I'm not a jerk as often(which is always good) and it really transformed my life being in His presence more, I'm a totally different person....unfortunately The Lord has much more pruning and shaping and chipping that He has do do on me... ive been a big project for Him....but He's patient, thankfully

Another huge thing for me is praying with people, ministering to them and them ministering to me
...where 2 or more are gathered...


Blessings