How often do you pray, and can you immediately feel the difference when you don't?

Question

I'm always surprised when Christians know the exact number of times they pray each day, or can't remember the last time they prayed. Some will say they pray every morning and right before bed. Or they pray before eating, or at church.

I can't speak for others, but if I can count the number of times I'm praying, or if I'm praying on a schedule, I'm not praying enough. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we should pray constantly. Prayer gives us peace, increases our power through Christ, and draws us closer to God. It also keeps our thoughts focused and pure. The devil never rests, so there is always time for prayer. Question: Can you immediately tell the difference when you miss an hour, a day, or a week of praying? How did it make you feel?

Star I don't pray to the clouds. Christ is with his children, and "within" them. Luke 17:21 says: The kingdom of God is within you. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says: Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 1

Mmmmm... self hypnosis.

Answer 2

I am like you, I do pray, but I don't think I pray nearly enough. My family and I are non-denominational Christians by faith. We were baptized in the church we used to go to, but we don't go to church anymore. Instead we watch a program called Shepherd's Chapel with Pastor Arnold Murray. It comes on at like 3a.m., so we record it with our DirecTV DVR TiVo thing so we can watch it at our convenience.

In answer to your question, I think it really depends. Sometimes you can feel the difference and sometimes not. It depends on how deeply you feel when you do pray. I think if you truly mean what you are praying about, then God will answer your prayer really fast and soon. But as all Christians know, God's timing is perfect. It may not seem perfect to us humans, but it is, in fact, perfect. If you are in a situation in your life where you feel like nothing is going right or you're up against the wall and don't know what to do, pray about it and ask your family and friends and anyone else around you to pray for you. Prayer is without a doubt the most powerful force that has ever existed. No other force can equal the power that prayer has. But I don't know if it is actually possible to actually tell the difference if you've missed a certain amount of time without prayer. But if you are a devout praying person, then you might be able to tell. Otherwise, I don't think so.

Answer 3

I feel the difference definitley! If I havent prayed in a day or two I start to not feel God's presence so profoundly compared to constant praying. Thats why Ive learned NOT to schedule or designate prayer time. In fact, when I pray, I never close off the prayer with the common "Amen". Instead I live my life as a constant prayer. Becuase without closing the prayer, I never have to begin a new one, and I can talk to God all day everyday, which is how it should be to maintain that relationship with Him.

Answer 4

I pray daily. Now, I can't tell you a exact number but I'm constantly in prayer. I pray when I wake up in the morning and thank God for letting me see another day. I then ask the Good Lord for the strength to get me through the day. I pray when I get into my car for the Lord to guide me safely to my destination, I pray to give me the guidance to help my patients at work, I pray for my family to go about their days in peace. I pray when I close my eyes at night and thank the Lord for getting me through the day.
For me prayer is a never ending process and it makes me feel good all day, every day. Even when I have days that don't go so well, I pray for the strength to get through them, and I make it through. My daily prayer is "Lord remind me that nothing will happen today that you and I together can't handle".

I don't think that you have to get a schedule down and count how many times a day you have to pray. It should just be a natural part of you. Do you count the number of breaths you take each day?? How about your heartbeat?? I don't think so. It just happens. That's how prayer is for me. It's always flowing through me and it keeps me alive.

Answer 5

5 times a day, and yes if I miss prayers I feel that missing sensation.

Just recite this once and see how good it feels



[001.001] In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

[001.002] All the praises and thanks be to God, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

[001.003] The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

[001.004] The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)

[001.005] You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).

[001.006] Guide us to the Straight Way

[001.007] The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).

(this is required and recited when we are standing) I won't explain the rest unless you ask

Answer 6

i say there IS a god...because God dus not give u everything that we want because it mite not be good 4 us!!!!
the word late mite be in the god's dictionary but the word Never is not!!!

ummm.... once...i didn't pray 4 abt a week or so...and i kinda felt the difference... it's a bit hard to explain cuz... u jus no how u feel!
there was this conscious that kept on telling me that i shud not ignore god...

So many people say that God dus not help them in the time of difficulties...but he dus help u in sum way or the other!!!!
everything that is happening to u is because the will of God...
In cruel times we as humans say that God has done very bad with us... but as the time goes by we tend to realise that no what he had done was rite...we jus misinterpreted his decision!!!

Answer 7

I pray 5 times a day at different times in accordance with what God has told us to do. Simple as that i dont make up the rules for myself. I pray before sunrise in the summer this can be as early as 3.20 at 4 other specified times of the day. If i am late for one of my prays due to certain circumstances i simply make them up before the next pray is due. Praying makes me feel i am thanking God and worshiping him how he wants to be worshiped.

Answer 8

Same with me,I pray non stop.But I love to pray with others.The power of two or three praying together.
When I am rushed and do not spend time in the word or praying.I get into a mess.I need Jesus to go before me,and prepare the way.<><

Answer 9

I didnt always notice a difference when I prayed... then I heard the term "P.U.S.H" which means "pray until something happens" I thought it was an interesting idea... tried it and what do ya know?? It works!!

Answer 10

I don't understand how people think god can hear every person praying in the world at once. I know he's supposed to be magical and all but come on. It's just like Santa can visit every house in one night. If you use some common sense you realize how dumb it is.

Answer 11

I should pray 5x a day but usually I don't and I feel weaker in faith :-( Well, there's my New Year's Resolution. Peace.