I always ask about Christian prayers but I never got a proper one, can I get a brief idea?
2007-09-24 16:33:09 · 13 answers · asked by RandomOne 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some Christian denominations have specific prayers that they pray, others view prayer as having a conversation with God.
I'd argue that most Christians know what's commonly called "The Lord's Prayer" (from Luke 11)...paraphrased as follows:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen" (some conclude with "for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever, amen" though that part isn't in any version of the Bible I've read).
Some Christians say this prayer regularly, some (Catholics for example) have other prayers they say regularly (for example, Catholic "grace" before meals is "Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen."
Many Christians, myself included, don't engage in ritualistic prayer. I have certainly said the Lord's Prayer and even grace (when eating at my Catholic grandma's house). For me, praying is a conversation.
Just yesterday our pastor gave a sermon on prayer entitled "What do I say?". He used the Lord's Prayer in Luke to identify an acrostic to help us learn how to pray the way Jesus taught his disciples to pray (in Luke 11). The acrostic was PRAY (Praise, Request, Admit, Yield) that he described as follows:
Step 1 - Praise ("hallowed be thy name")...start by thanking God and praising his holy name.
Step 2 - Request ("give us this day our daily bread")...ask God for things that you want (he discussed the importance of asking with the right motives the previous week).
Step 3 - Admit ("forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin against us")...ask God to forgive the mistakes we made and ask him to help us forgive others.
Step 4 - Yield ("lead us not into temptation")...suggests that we need to acknowledge that "his will be done"...that we yield to his greater power and knowledge.
After I heard this message I realized that it was a pretty good model for the way I typically pray. I certainly send up many short prayers ("Lord give me patience" is a common prayer for the mother of a 6 year old *smile*!)...but when I have my special time with God and even when I say nightly prayers with my son, I typically follow the pattern above.
If you're interested in seeing that message it will be available online next weekend...feel free to contact me for a link.
2007-09-24 17:01:05 · answer #1 · answered by KAL 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Lord's Prayer is a good example: Giving thanks and praise and asking that God watch over and protect us. Some people pray the same prayers over and over, but prayers are as individual as people. Some people are like spoiled little kids: "Give me, give me, give me." Some people are more selfless: "Feed the hungry, help the children, etc." Many families say prayers at meal times to give thanks for what they are about to receive. The are so many different Christian denominations and many have their own traditions about prayer that I don't think you can really generalize how Christians pray. In many cases, the only prayer we really have in common is The Lord's Prayer and even that has a couple different versions.
I know I don't pray often enough at home, even though I know I should. Things like this question are good reminders to me that I need to do better, so thank you!
2007-09-24 16:45:32 · answer #2 · answered by Kay3535 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Prayer is different for everyone, but there is no 'proper' prayer. Prayer is simply communion with God. When you are communing with someone all you're doing is talking with them. All God wants you to do is talk to Him. Have a regular conversation with him. Tell him things like you're talking to your best friend. Yes, there are prayers that the Bible teaches you and that's fine...those are the kinds of things you can say as a group in church or around the dinner table. However, when you are alone (or just speaking in you head) it should be informal. God accepts everyone, no matter how proper or informal. He just wants you to be you.
2007-09-24 16:37:44 · answer #3 · answered by NYinFL 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus gave us what we call the Lord's prayer, and you can use it as a model to get started:
Our Father in heaven ( and the word Jesus used here was "daddy!"),
hallowed (holy) be your name (acknowledging the holiness of God)
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (asking for God's will in the matter to be accomplished)
Give us this day our daily bread (and whatever else your need is).
And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive those who have debts against us (this is the hardest part for a lot of people, to live in a constant state of forgiving) You can actually name those who you need to forgive -- it is very powerful to do so.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (keep my heart, mind and actions pure. Guard us with divine protection)
For yours is the kingom, the power and the glory (again acknowledging that God is God).
Amen (means "so be it.")
That's just one way. But all the elements of prayer are there - prayer, intercession, worship, acceptance, forgiveness...
Another way is just to start talking to Jesus as though he is right in front of you. There is nothing you cannot tell him. I'm pretty sure he has heard it all before! You can ask your questions, rant and rave, worship, tell him what your concerns are...You do not have to use any special, formal language. You can talk how you always talk.
Hope that helps.
2007-09-24 16:46:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some pray from the heart. Some pray formal prayers. Christians prayer is as unique as the Christian praying.
2007-09-24 16:38:11 · answer #5 · answered by thefinalresult 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a model prayer that Jesus gives in Matthew. again a model..."Our Father who art in heaven..." Jesus says to pray in this manner. If you break it down that is a great example. It is not a rule to pray like that. But each person is different and prayer is simply communication with God...do it however you feel comfortable.
2007-09-24 16:38:07 · answer #6 · answered by The 2 points guy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I alway start out with forgiveness,asking the Lord to forgive me if there was something I done without knowing and or if I did,,I ask Him to reveal it to me so that I can't change for the better...After that I go into praise,,I praise Him for all things,,living the day out,being able to see,hear,walk,run,,etc...and that no harm has came to me...I praise Him for who He is,,,I usually start crying,,lol about that time,,His awesomeness is to much for me at times...I ask if there is someone I should pray for,,the Holy Spirit then guides me and a name will pop up,so I pray over who ever it was,,I always ask for prayers for people I have interacted with in that day,,,Then I just talk to Him about things that happened in the day and tell Him what He means to me..I usually fall alseep praying...
I do pray through out the day,,when something happens or when I get overwhelmed by His presence..
2007-09-24 16:43:30 · answer #7 · answered by I give you the Glory Father ! 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Lord's prayer.
2007-09-24 16:35:48 · answer #8 · answered by Sweet Suzy 777! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ramadan - "The blossoming of the indoors coronary heart." One would not could wait until the eve of (7-11-2010), the day until now Ramadan starts off, to start up praying for worldwide peace. in the life of guy, praying for worldwide peace could grow to be a on an usual basis ritual. ~~~~~ Ramadan grow to be given as a modern to all of mankind, no longer in basic terms to those familiar as Muslims. Ramadan grow to be given to be of income to guy, and encompasses all of mankind. each and all the "Prophets of God" pronounced fasting. Jesus (pbuh) fasted, did he no longer? Ramadan assists and aids a individual in looking peace interior of them-self. If a individual could discover peace interior of them-self, it would extra help facilitate peace with the aid of the finished worldwide. If one can't even pray and discover peace interior of oneself, only how then can one be able to desire for peace in the worldwide? *footnote - authentic Prayer is definitely a reality, yet might you be so type as to enlighten all that are observing this question, as to what precisely is authentic Prayer? How precisely does one pray? What may be your definition of authentic Prayer? Peace be continuously with you. could the wind be continuously at your back. Meechum Anbu (plenty Love) Salaams,
2016-10-19 21:22:04 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:7 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.
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
2007-09-24 16:44:22 · answer #10 · answered by iamh2ok9 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋