im confused, should u just pray one prayer for your familys well being and then if anything specific comes up to pray for that, or should i pray for the well being every night??
2007-01-21 02:23:48 · 11 answers · asked by stlg1234 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Keep praying just as you are. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing. Scripture and Tradition both agree with you.
Matt. 6:7 - Jesus teaches, "do not heap up empty phrases" in prayer. Protestants use this verse to criticize various Catholic forms of prayer which repeat phrases, such as litanies and the Rosary. But Jesus' focus in this instruction is on the "vain," and not on the "repetition."
Matt. 26:44 - for example, Jesus prayed a third time in the garden of Gethsemane, saying the exact same words again. It is not the repetition that is the issue. It's the vanity. God looks into our heart, not solely at our words.
Luke 18:13 - the tax collector kept beating his breast and praying "God be merciful to me, a sinner." This repetitive prayer was pleasing to God because it was offered with a sincere and repentant heart.
Acts 10:2,4 - Cornelius prayed constantly to the Lord and his prayers ascended as a memorial before God.
Rom. 1:9 - Paul says that he always mentions the Romans in his prayers without ceasing.
Rom. 12:12 - Paul commands us to be constant in prayer. God looks at what is in our heart, not necessarily how we choose our words.
1 Thess. 5:17 - Paul commands us to pray constantly. Good repetition is different than vain repetition.
Rev. 4:8 - the angels pray day and night without cessation the same words "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty." This is repetitious prayer that is pleasing to God.
Psalm 136 - in this Psalm, the phrase "For His steadfast love endures forever" is more repetitious than any Catholic prayer, and it is God's divine Word.
Dan. 3:35-66 - the phrase "Bless the Lord" is similarly offered repeatedly, and mirrors Catholic litanies.
2007-01-21 02:31:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Repetitious prayers are saying something like chanting a mantra over and over again. Praying for your family every night is not the same. Keep on praying.
2007-01-21 02:33:42 · answer #2 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a really good link about prayer. It will detail the Example of what Jesus taught his followers to pray for at Matthew 6:9-15.
It should help you.
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1996/7/15/article_02.htm
What are proper matters about which to pray?
Matt. 6:9-13: “You must pray, then, this way: ‘[1] Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. [2] Let your kingdom come. [3] Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth. [4] Give us today our bread for this day; and [5] forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And [6] do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.’” (Notice that God’s name and purpose should be given priority.)
Ps. 25:4, 5: “Make me know your own ways, O Jehovah; teach me your own paths. Make me walk in your truth and teach me, for you are my God of salvation.”
Luke 11:13: “If you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!”
1 Thess. 5:17, 18: “Pray incessantly. In connection with everything give thanks.”
Matt. 14:19, 20: “[Jesus] took the five loaves and two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, he said a blessing and, after breaking the loaves, he distributed them to the disciples, the disciples in turn to the crowds. So all ate and were satisfied.”
Jas. 5:16: “Pray for one another.”
Matt. 26:41: “Keep on the watch and pray continually, that you may not enter into temptation.”
Phil. 4:6: “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God.”
2007-01-21 08:36:07 · answer #3 · answered by wannaknow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey, here are my thoughts. I read the bible. Some stuff doesn't make sense, some stuff does. Then, when i was older, i thought about where the bible really comes from. It is supposed to come from men through god. I know that i cannot trust men. I also know that most people are not going to trust someone today who says that god is speaking through them, so why do we trust these men? After much thinking i came up these beliefs. Christianity and the bible is just another religion. It tells you general life lessons, but it also limits what you can think and what you can do. It limits you from real free thinking by telling you that you will go to hell for having those thoughts. That doesn't sound like a loving god to me. When you look behind the scenes and lose your fear, it really isn't too hard to figure out. What you come up with after that is the fun part. I encourage you to really think about and question everything.
2016-05-24 04:47:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
:
Luke 18:1-5
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me
:
2 Tim 1:3
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
:
1 Thess 3:10
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
There are many more scriptures, ignore what the first person answered.
God doesn't want you praying a repetitious prayer over and over, but a prayer from the heart.
Peace be within thee
2007-01-21 02:34:08 · answer #5 · answered by Sirius 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about repetitious but I do know about long ones. It talks about how people think their lengthy prayers will be answered and says to keep it short cause you are on Earth and God is in Heaven and God knows what you need before you even say a word. So KISS! Keep It Simple Stupid!
2007-01-21 02:30:34 · answer #6 · answered by Roll'n Bluntz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chill
In a sense as long as you're being yourself and letting God be himself you can't pray a wrong prayer.
Think about it like this - God wants a relationship with you as your perfect Heavenly Father - he wants to hear whatever you want to talk to him about.
Spending time with people we become more like them so as you spend time with God (paticularly if you listen to him nudging you towards praying for things or speaking good things into your imagination) you might find you end up moving closer to the things that are on God's heart.
A good thing to do in prayer is to spend a bit of time thinking about God's character and worshipping him for it - you might want to do this by putting on some christian worship music if you have any or just speaking out or writing down thank yous for your favorite characteristics of God - "Thank you God that you're always kind ... thank you God that you made everything ... thank you that you're always true" etc (there's a cool list of them in 1Cor 13 where Paul is talking about love - but you can change the word love for the word Jesus"
Remembering who we're praying to helps us to get closer to him in our prayers.
The only thing Jesus was against in prayer is when people lost sight of God and stop being real about who they really were with God.
Hope you have lots of fun learning how to pray more
We're engaging with a God who is alive and active... Prayer was never designed to be boring!
2007-01-21 02:39:09 · answer #7 · answered by Grace 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should pray what's in your heart. God already knows what you need and want. He just desires a relationship with you. Talk to Him as you feel. In the Bible, Jesus teaches us how to pray. Whenever you feel the need to talk God is there to listen.
2007-01-21 02:32:09 · answer #8 · answered by c j 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you mean this verse?
(Matthew 6:7-8) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
(Mat 6:8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
IN ORDER FOR = God = = to Hear YOU, = = YOU have to be = = One of His Children!
Perhaps you should read, John 7:38-39 -AND- Romans 8:All and see if you are?
Thanks, RR
2007-01-21 02:30:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
god is not santa claus. you are not supposed to pray for selfish things. pray for world peace, not special protection for your own family.
Remember, GOD answers all prayers, but sometimes the answer is NO.
2007-01-21 02:28:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋