praying everynight before bedtime?

Question

I'm a catholic...prayed every night for the last 37yrs ..the " our father" "hail mary" and "glory be"...after yrs of having my prayers not answered...I just gave up..nothing good ever became of my prayers..I have faith...but seems I prayed for nothing

Answer 1

God hears all prayers, even if the answer is no. Keep praying my friend.

Answer 2

How do you know this? What were you expecting to get? All prayer has a great benefit...if nothing else, keeping Satan at bay.

Have you ever read St. John of the Cross? The Dark Night of the Soul. Many of the saints experienced nothing from God. Yet, their faith was strong, their desire for him was everything.

Are you living a holy life? Receiving the Sacraments regularly? Participating fully in Christ's Church? Praying is only a part of it...but it's a strong part. Do not pray for things...a better job, more stuff, a happier life...these you won't get. Pray for faith, for salvation for lost souls, pray that your children will know God and walk in his ways, pray for the end to war and violence, pray for an end to abortion...

Answer 3

Are you praying just out of habit and or is it a repetitious prayer?
When you say the words are they just coming out of your mouth or do you really think of what each and every word means?
You say that none of your prayers have been answered. You might have had a prayer answered and you didn't know it. I'm not talking about I need a new car or I would like to have a better job, I'm talking about maybe you had someone in your life that was sick and got better or someone was sick and they went on to be with the Lord. That might be a prayer you didn't know about. maybe you asked for that person to get better but in God's eyes taking them home was better for them. There are a lot of things we pray for and the prayer isn't answered in out eyes but it's possible that no answer is the best answer.
I once prayed that I would get to marry this one lady I knew but it didn't happen. I was crushed. But a few years later AI met this other lady and we did get married and we are still married to this day over 27 years later. Trust me God know best. You just keep the faith and don't let anything get in your way of believing.

All of God's Guidance, Blessings and Love to you and your loving family
Your Brother in Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

Hello.

I feel for you. God cares for you even though He may not appear to answer in the way you expect. Have you thought about what you are asking Him for when you pray those prayers? What would an answer look like? Those kinds of formula prayers are quite general. Maybe try praying for something specific, something tangible and personal (an issue going on in your life, a person, a decision). That way it might be easier to see an answer.

Sincerely, H.

Answer 5

OK, you have said other peoples prayers, now it's time to say your own. God does not want to here what other people have said. Think how boring that must get for him to hear that over and over and over again from so many people. How would you like it if people spoke to you like that.

It's time to just speak with God. Just talk to him almost like you would talk to another person. He wants to hear what you really have to say in YOUR heart. Then, as you pray, pause in between different subjects or after you have asked a question. Listen with your heart and see if He doesn't speak to your heart from time to time. Give Him a chance to speak to you.

Often times, God also uses other people to answer prayers. When you have something that you are praying about and you don't seem to be getting an answer, start looking around you. Listen to people who cross your path and see if there isn't someone who comes by that has the answer you are looking for. They probably won't even know it. But it does happen.

Remember, sometimes the answer is No. I think that sometimes we think we receive no answer because it is not the answer we wanted. We have to be humble enough to accept whatever answer God gives.

Finally, remember that God helps the person that helps themself. Don't expect that God is going to do everything FOR you. That just does not happen. Search, Study, and Ponder your questions and look for answer for yourself. Then when you think you have found and answer, take that to God and ask him if it is right. Sometimes, He just wants us to do the work. The concept is very much the same as our children as they go to school. How much would they learn if they brought home their homework and we just did it for them. In order to truly learn, they must do their own homework and we just help out with guidance here and there. God does the same for us.

Good luck and don't lose faith. God is there and he does love you more than you can ever comprehend. He will help you. Just keep the faith.

Answer 6

I used to pray the same customary Catholic verses every night, but I realized that it was just rhetorical; I just grew up doing it. Now I pray every night (but I'm not Christian anymore) and my prayers are simply my thoughts and feelings about the day that I tell to "someone/something" that will listen. Just praying about your feelings is really nice and is much more valuable than reciting verses.

Answer 7

You have mastered discipline and persistence. Both of these are virtues, and without them one cannot succeed in having hope. And both of these traits can be focused on the rest of your life as well. Because you have prayed every night before bed for the last 37 years, you are far better off, and have more power to do good, than someone who has gotten drunk, rowdy or harmed someone else every night for the last 37 years.

You have my respect. I'll bet there's something good that you do better than anybody else because you care enough.

Answer 8

I pray at bedtime with my children. But we also pray all day long. Too much it's just a "ritual" thing. Have faith and pray like you mean it, from your heart, all day, every day. For me, it's more like I would have a conversation with a trusted friend. My husband only prays even at dinner and then only when I ask him to, at least out loud, but I'm pretty sure his relationship with God is not as it shoudl be. When I pray for him, I'll pray for you too.

Answer 9

Prayer must always come out of relationship with God.
Prayer as a ritual is not prayer. God is real - and He wants us to be real with Him. Speak to Him like your closest friend.

Because you can do this, however, you need to begin a relationship with God, and that must come through His Son Jesus Christ.

Admit that you are a sinner
Believe
Confess your sins to God
Repent - turn your back on sin
Enjoy a relationship with God.

Answer 10

I pray every night. I review my day and I pray for forgiveness for the things I did to hurt others, or to serve my ego. I then pray for the knowledge of God's will for me, and for the power to carry it out. I don't pray for things. I don't pray for outcomes. I pray to keep myself open, and honest, and humble.

Read through the link below. It is an eye-opener. Not for the faint of heart.

Answer 11

First off, memorized prays are useless. you have to pray out of your heart. second, you have to know the Word of God. You could pray for money, but if you're lazy and have bad work habits, praying isn't going to help. Start praying for wisdom, which God give freely to anyone who asks. Peace.