How has it helped, Is there a way to know if it works.
2007-12-07 05:19:49 · 17 answers · asked by doug g 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Just talk to God like you would another person. Prayer is nothing more than communicating with God. There is no right way, nor wrong way to do it.
2007-12-07 05:22:38 · answer #1 · answered by WC 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
You just talk. Some people pray conversationally, as if they are talking to a friend, which they are, in fact. Others approach prayer a bit more solemnly and seriously.
Use the example Jesus gave to his disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 (King James Version), and determine what works for you.
I pray more or less constantly. I have a prayer time in the morning, but I must say innumerable little prayers throughout the day, as well.
You can pray the words of the Bible, and prayer can simply be praise and/or thanks.
Prayer has been a tremendous help in my life. I have been in the hospital 7 times in the last year, and we have had various unexpected challenges to our finances this year. But God, who is faithful and just, has seen us through everything.
A good way to know if prayer works is to keep a prayer journal. You can get a book designed specifically for this purpose, or just a steno pad, spiral notebook, or some loose-leaf paper in a binder or folder.
Write down the reason you are taking a request to God (your need), and when he answers it, make a note of it near the original need. Don't forget to date the request notation and the answered prayer one. It is interesting to not only see THAT God answers prayer, but HOW, and HOW SOON he does.
The really nice thing about prayers answered is that you know that God has come through just for you! Because he cares.
That journal can be a great help to you during a time when you need an answer to prayer ASAP, and God's timing just doesn't match your own (I've been there, too). While you wait, you can encourage yourself with your notes on what He has already done for you.
Also, when God comes through, you just know that your prayer could not have been answered any other way, than by God's merciful provision.
There are also numerous excellent (Biblically sound)resources available on the subject of prayer; and many, many various examples of prayer in the Bible.
Feel free to email me if you have any further questions.
Hope I helped. God bless you.
P.S. pathfinder, PAULO, tiffanyhornik2005, peacetimewarror, and penguin_invader all gave excellent advice.
2007-12-07 05:51:32 · answer #2 · answered by 1985 & going strong 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My experience is this:
All my thoughts are prayers, so I pay attention to what I'm praying in my mind.
All prayers are answered. So how am I praying?
Prayer is what brings me closer to my Source, what I call G-d.
Prayer is aligning my thoughts with the Substance and Truth of All.
I demand my good share. (I'm told the Aramaic for ask and claim is demand - in a good way - like "Hand me the book off the shelf please, thanks)
Prayer has saved my live several times. Once I prayed to be invisible during a lifethreatening situation when I was a child and the person walked right past me and didn't even see me in plain sight. Recently I silently prayed peace for all during a hold-up at gunpoint my friend and I personally experienced at a fast food restaurant, the fellow took the gun away from the cashier's temple and turned it toward my heart and threatned to shoot me if I moved and I did move, I turned away from the muzzle so that if he shot it would hit my side or shoulder. He didn't shoot. I kept praying and he just left, and no one got hurt. I don't know how it would have turned out without the prayer.
Prayer always works and is always answered. But I have to be sure I'm looking in the right direction for the answer not just where I want to look. I might overlook it being answered then. (Like the book is behind me but I'm looking only in front of me so of course I can't 'find' the book).
ThankYouGodThankYouGodThankYouGod repeated quickly and endlessly is a quick prayer that really really has amazing effects when used every day as much as possible. Pray on :)
2007-12-07 05:32:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you are Christian, you can also try using the bible or a reading such as in http://www.sacredspace.ie/.
With continued prayer and reflection, you become a changed person, more sensitive to others and more aware of your actions. What kind of result were you seeking from prayer when you ask if "it works"? There are no guarantees that your prayer will be answered the way you want but it will help you build your relationship with the Higher Being you pray to.
2007-12-07 05:35:08 · answer #4 · answered by jan_mnl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You just speak to God, ask questions, etc., as if God was standing right in front of you. Verbal or in your mind, it doesn't matter.
Yes it has helped with more, done more, and been more beneficial than anything else in my life, I would say, besides simply doing right in my life.
As far as knowing it works, that is complicated, and takes many years of practice to learn. Things that are "law" according to God, work 100% of the time (ie, praying for provision). Things that are intercession or petition, work out according to whether it's God's will and the will of others (ie, praying a family member will not die). Things that are personal work out according to God's will too, but always end up good. (ie, you pray for the right job, and the one you get is right the one you don't get isn't right).
2007-12-07 05:27:24 · answer #5 · answered by peacetimewarror 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
really it doesn't matter how you pray i don't think God cares as long as you talk to him
and the only way to know if it works is by seeing it
my youth group leader say that God answers your prayers everyone of them sometimes not in the exact way you want but he has a plan for everyone and if he answers it in the opposite that than what you asked it's for the better good even if it seems bad to you
2007-12-07 05:31:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I talk to Him like he is in the room with me. He doesn't always answer the way I wanted and I have had to learn to watch what i ask for. For example i have prayed for patience and He sends me situations that I can't control and i have to learn patience. My prayer is answered...just not how I had hoped!
Listen in your heart, Doug..he is talking to you there all the time.
2007-12-07 14:00:45 · answer #7 · answered by Nurse Susie ♥ hugs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The way one prays is absolutely personal, or at least should be.
2007-12-07 05:24:07 · answer #8 · answered by gigi 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Pray from the heart to the Heart of All/God/love/all that is.
Pray as if it is.
Pray to give thanks and acknowledgement that it is here, now.
Live as if this is the case.
It then will manifest from the spiritual into the material.
2007-12-07 05:31:56 · answer #9 · answered by Astro 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you'll find the answers helpful.
If a theist says 'The god will answer' the atheist would say 'Nah, it's just a coincidence' or 'Actually the person who prayed actually worked it out themselves'.
2007-12-07 05:24:34 · answer #10 · answered by Santos Lucipher 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When you pray you should speak to God about whatever is on your mind. Here is a prayer that Jesus told us to pray to his father. I always feel better after praying because I know that everytime I pray I get closer to God.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.]
2007-12-07 05:23:43 · answer #11 · answered by Tiffany 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋