I would like to know more about prayer.?

Question

I hate being repetitive in prayer and its always seems to be that way.

Answer 1

Even the apostles asked Jesus to teach them how to pray...which should encourage us if we feel we don't know how to pray. They needed help, and so do we. Jesus showed us a pattern in Matthew 6:9-13. Talk to God as you would someone you are close to. You can thank Him for His blessings. Ask for forgiveness for your wrongdoings. Ask for the things you need, or areas you need help with. And you can also pray for those whom you think need prayers.

Nevertheless, wanting to learn how to pray is very commendable. But first, learning about who you are praying to is more important. You may want to visit this site to learn more:

http://www.gty.org/index.php?section=how_to_know_jesus_christ

Answer 2

Thomas,

It is good that you are on the path of prayer. There is a great deal of confusion concerning prayer, because there is a great deal of confusion, concerning God. The Bible clearly teaches, that God does not hear the prayers of the unrighteous. The only exception, is the prayer of repentance. The scriptures compare the prayers of God's Children, with a sweet incense, rising up to Him. While this is very lovely imagery, it is misleading. Those who truly study the scriptures, know that when you have received God's Spirit into your heart, He literally dwells within you. He is not out in space, waiting for a message from you. He bonds with our spirit, and becomes One with us. He is your Father. Try to learn to be intimate with Him. So many religious people pray as if they were talking to some powerful beaurocrat, who had control over their affairs. While it is true that God reigns over all things, He is not far off. He desires above all things, our love and trust. We are supposed to be His family. He has already told us, He knows what we need before we ask. For me, prayer has evolved from petitioning, to intimate worship. The word worship, means placing the ultimate value on something or Someone. Try spending more time, just letting Him know how happy and grateful you are to be His son. He is not dull of hearing, and He knows your thoughts. Sometimes, just thinking about Him, is enough. Remember always, prayer is not a religious exercise, or discipline. It is quality time, spent with the most loving Being in the Universe. A Father, who loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Answer 3

That's something I run into as well. I don't think God really cares what we're saying or how, just that we're praying. It can be just like a conversation, it doesn't have to be formal at all. Another element to prayer that a lot of people forget is just listening to what He has to say to us. Other than being still and listening for Him, when I feel like I'm repeating myself, I start flipping through the Psalms and reciting some of those. For instance, one Psalm I read a lot is Psalm 4, an evening prayer of trust, because that's when I usually set aside my prayer time, is at night. Hope I could help, God bless!

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with repetition and in some ways there is not a good way to avoid it because we tend to need the same things over and over --however,

One way to way your prayer life might be to try some different --here are a few ideas and some links to pages the describe the methods of different kinds of prayer:
Centering prayer (silent, wordless, prayer) http://www.thecentering.org/centering_method.html
Lectio Divina http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html
Art as Prayer http://www.prayerwindows.com/art.html
Journaling prayer http://www.springfieldop.org/journalingprayer.aspx
Body prayer http://soulfoodministry.org/docs/IntroToBodyPrayer.htm

Answer 5

Jesus addressed this before he gave the model prayer at Matthew 6:5-8, "“Also, when YOU pray, YOU must not be as the hypocrites; because they like to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the broad ways to be visible to men. Truly I say to YOU, They are having their reward in full. 6 You, however, when you pray, go into your private room and, after shutting your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; then your Father who looks on in secret will repay you. 7 But when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. 8 So, do not make yourselves like them, for God YOUR Father knows what things YOU are needing before ever YOU ask him."
So 2 main things to remember: 1. pray in privacy, it is not something to be showy about, it is a personal matter between you and God. 2. Jesus said to not say the same things over and over again. Isn't it ironic that so many people say the following model prayer over and over like a chant when Jesus had just instructed not to do that?
You obviously need to be respectful when praying because you are praying to Jehovah, the Almighty God. But you should ask for forgiveness, and the things you need. You should also thank God for the wonderful things he's done for mankind, and maybe you personally. But make it your own words, pour out your heart to him and be confident that he will hear you.

Answer 6

God does not look at it this way. If you pray for something, and don't get what you pray for, the bible tells us to keep praying. God answers all prayer in His time, but not necessarily in our time. I know myself, my nighttime prayer is about always the same, but I am sure God listens all the same. God bless

Answer 7

being repetitive is good. it shows you really care what you keep praying for. if you want more of a range of prayers, visit your local CATHOLIC priest or look some up

Answer 8

instead of "praying" in the traditional way, have you considered "meditating," which has always been to me, more like a comeradery between the individual and the universe instead of one person begging a larger entity for something over and over again. when we meditate, we picture what we want to happen in our minds eye. we can go to places in our psyche that we never thought possible and we can become one with heaven. when you pray (if you still feel the need to, in the traditional way) you might just want to ask the universal knowledge (or your god) to do what's best for you in this situation and try to leave it with him... and then I would meditate... it can be a beautiful thing... and feels very liberating.

Answer 9

When we pray, we should at first acknowledge who God is, our heavenly father, in heaven, hallowed by thy name, as Jesus taught, then we should pray for the Kingdom Come, and then we should honestly tell God what we want to say, whether, and it should be, thanking him for the many blessings, our freedom, and nourishment through Jesus Christ, and for the gift of Jesus, forgiving our sins, so that we can have a relationship with God,We should then ask God to work his will in us, and people close to us, and pray for our needs, God always hears you, everytime, God is our father and holds us close, more than any other, with the Love and guidance he gives us.

Answer 10

See the following link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord%27s_Prayer Also read Matthew 6:9-15.