Scared to pray.....

I am a very religious person. You are right on track with how I believe one should pray. Humilty is really the key to bringing and recognizing God in your life. Once you do that and try to conform your life to how he would want you to live, you will develop a stronger relationship with God. Keep in mind that God isnt a waitress who is there to take your order. The key is to try to open your heart to be willing to accept what his will is for whatever he has in store for your life. We dont always see the full picture and he sometimes has much better things in store for you.

To directly answer your question, express gratitude for the blessings in your life and thank him. Then proceed to ask for whats in your heart, but always do it with the disclaimer "not my will, but thine be done" I know he will appreciate that

 

Agree.

And also agree.

For those who do not "believe". Consider "Pascal's wager". If you live a life as if there is no God, and when you die you find that He does not exist (no Heaven or hell), then you have lost nothing. However, if you die and find out that He IS real, then you have lost EVERYTHING.
I personally choose to live, love, and thank Him each and everyday for what I have and who He has made me to be. I pray like I'm talking to a friend, because He is my friend.

God Bless.

 

Don't be afraid to pray! And don't be afraid to let Him guide and direct you.........and spaghetti...yum!

Backatya Gary!!

In response to the three questions: Don't pray for others to make yourself feel better, unless you are going to him for your own health or issues...........yes you are asking God to make them feel better, for healing, or comforting, or someone else to come in their life in your place and give them advice or comfort. And yes sometimes people need answers or someone to turn to for support.

When someone asks for prayer, I sincerely and reverantly will ask God for the best outcome I would like to see, whether for healing, comfort, or another outcome, but then I trust Him that His will be done in His way and his time. He is God. I'm his child.

 

everything is becoming more clear now... thanks for the good responses all!

 

.......and I must get my favorite prayer reference scripture in this thread.


Philippians 4:6-7

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

I also like this one:
Matthew 6:34
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"

 

It has taken me some time to see everything that have missed. Then I found this. Alot of members touched on different views, I am going to try and give you my stand point. I consider myself a Godly man, I have looked to Him for the answers. I have questions no one can answer here around me. When Michele was sick I grew close to Him as a man could get. And even though He decided to take her I was in a place that was untouchable by man.
We all hurt, I personally felt I was betrayed, the backs of many people turned on me. But then I could get the feeling that I was being lifted up in prayer.
I pray because I honestly know that there is someone bigger than me. Michele made it a point to daily point that out during her last few weeks, I am sure Hoosiertaco can speak on that. The hardest part for me, was sometimes the answer is no. I was left with two girls and a household with no partner.
We all fall down, we all make mistakes. It comes down to when we fall down, we get back up, when we make a mistake we see it and we correct it. Sometimes the only way for me to do that is by prayer.
For me, and this is something I am not proud of, when Michele past away, I fell down a few months later. I thought I got back up, but I laid on the ground in the false hopes and issues of others. It took sometime for me to get back on my feet, but I am.
The closer to get to Him the closer He will draw to you.
Sorry for this rant, I could sit and talk for hours just on the past couple of years.
I will remember you in my prayers, just like so many people here.

 

God Bless you LB.

 

i have been inprivate school and public and only difference is a religion class and prayers in class
but i remember learning a way to pray altho its not the only way
a prayer is a prayer and a personal preference

 

I'm far from a religious person but there has been times in my life where I've felt like all hope was lost. For some reason praying seemed to make me feel better. I also include what i'm thankful for in my prayers "when" I pray. I'm agnostic to the whole god and higher being stuff. And I think of religions to be fancy laws. I've always thought to myself that I don't have to believe in an ivisible person or go to church to be a good person! I do right by people because thats what I want in return...

 

Religion is a man made thing...faith and living by God's word is being a Christian.

 

^ this.

It's like one of those "friends" who only call you when they need to borrow money. No point in praying if it's only when you need something.