The other day I was eating with a Bible Study friend. As we were about to eat I noticed he started praying, When he finished I told him that when I was younger I used to pray before my meals, but that I don't do that anymore because I have my communion with Christ before I go to sleep. He then told me, if oly you knew why it is that people pray before meals you would pray, too.
I must admit, there is a bit of a pride issue that shouldn't be there, perhaps that is the reason why I haven't asked him. So, I wanted to see what you could say about it. I suppose I will still ask him this week when I see him, but still, I want to get there knowing at least something.
2007-10-23 16:07:41 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, yes I realize the thanking business, and I don't think he meant it in a way to force me to do it. I just thought that perhaps there was some early Christian story to accompany the custom. Just for the record, When asking the question I very carefully inserted an address. Christians.
2007-10-23 16:14:11 · update #1
Well, this is a little hard to explain.
So I'll do my best.
This is not what a religion has taught me, instead it is what I have learned from my relationship with God. Life, in essence has no meaning but to accomplish a certain task. The reason why we are so mad at God when we see an African dying is because we don't understand that in essence life has no meaning, that the true meaning is what is after it. It is our instinct of life preservation that makes us angry at sickness or afraid of it.
I don't necessarily want to die, but I want to accomplish my mission as fast and as efficiently as possible so that I can inherit the land that my God has promised me through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
2007-10-23 16:20:28 · update #2
And umm by the way. I am sure that God loves me, I realize he won't love me more if I pray before my meals, i understand common courtesy and I know he creates anything. I'm not a new believer or a fundamentalist. I believe in Christ and I believe in his plan, I like Obama, and I go to church once a week. I plan to be a Minister, and believe there is a plan for me. I just want to have an idea of what my friend is going to say.
So... it looks like Ill have to ask him tomorrow when I see him.
2007-10-23 16:29:52 · update #3
Jesus set the example of thanking God for the provisions that He supplies everyday.
I am truly grateful for what God gives me, I thank HIM throughout the day, not just for food but for a roof over my head. There are so many people out there homeless and hungry who would love to have what we are blessed enough to have......and to bow our heads in thanks is such a little thing to do, and it should be done with respect and love.
Thank God while you can, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us.
I pray for those who are not as fortunate as I am, because I could be in their shoes and God knows that I wouldn't want to be!
2007-10-23 18:15:47 · answer #1 · answered by sugarbee 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When God says not to repeat yourself in prayer is not talking that you should not pray twice but that you should not think God will listen to your prayer if you make just plain repetition by saying the same words again and again. God is not looking for some particular period of time that you should pray but you must pray because you love God and want your need to be met by God. If something you want desperately then you would pray repeatedly there is no problem in that but the problem is when you think that God will only give you when you make repetitions. Just pray your heart out it doesn't matter to God if you are saying the same thing. But always thank God in prayer. God bless you.
2016-05-25 08:24:09 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To thank God for the food you're about to eat; He did after all create the animals killed for meat, the earth used to raise vegetables and fruits, and He was the one who gave you the gift of health so that you may work to afford the food you have.
While it may not be a sin not to pray before meals, I think it's just common courtesy. I mean, whenever someone does something for you, common courtesy says to thank them, right? The same goes for God; you're nor morally or spiritually obligated to pray, but it's just the courteous thing to do.
2007-10-23 16:18:14 · answer #3 · answered by Deadman 666 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God's love for you will not deminish in any case !!!
The reason for praying at meal time before or after is to give God thanks for it !!! Modern life as we know it makes us grow soft in the head and we become ungrateful to the God who gave it in the first place !!! By being thankful for the smallest gift given to us begins to open out eyes to seeing life in a happier way !!!
2007-10-23 16:20:13 · answer #4 · answered by rapturefuture 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the custom came from the culture.
not only were certain foods not kosher to the Jew.... but in that era, food was regularly "blessed" by pagan idols before offered to the public.
so the christian would naturally not want to partake of the pagan blessing.
so... before eating, the christian would pray over the food .. acknowledging that God is the supply of food and drink.. for nourishment.. all with thanksgiving..... and thus sanctify it for consumption.
.
i didnt used to pray over my food... but with the increase of tainted food products and factory recalls... i've started doing it.
.
2007-10-23 16:25:52 · answer #5 · answered by opalist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are both arguing over legalism. Christianity is freedom from that. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing, so technically that would be before, during, and after the meal. (so you're both wrong) None of us are good enough to accomplish that, that's why we need Christ.
The heart of the matter is a matter of heart. We pray at meals to give thanks to God, for without Him, nothing is possible!
=]
2007-10-23 16:12:19 · answer #6 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Praying before eating is not a custom but it was written in the bible a bout prayers before eating or before receiving the grace of God.
jtm
2007-10-23 16:16:43 · answer #7 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To thank God that u have food b/c many ppl. dont have any. Its also good to pray over ur food to make sure the food doesnt bring u any harm.
2007-10-23 16:16:07 · answer #8 · answered by thickes 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First of all it is to thank the Lord for providing the food that you are about to eat. Secondly it is for him to bless the food so that you are kept safe from any impurities in the food and from food-borne illness! God bless you!
2007-10-23 16:15:21 · answer #9 · answered by Jenny 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I do it to thank God,
you know,
for the meal he has givin me,
as opposed to those who dont have,
like that shizzhead who is insulting God,
anyways,
At the end I personally always say give to those who don;t have,
for obvious reasons,
because i am asking God to bless all of his people .
Also, yes, because Jesus Did .
(=
2007-10-23 16:15:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋