how do you pray?

[Bob M]

(05-17-2012 11:23 AM)Darrell Wrote:  Loudly. In public. Hoping everybody sees.

I have a strange feeling I might be doing it wrong.

Yeah, you need to raise your hands and repeat after me "God, I thank you that I am not like these other people."

[Scorpio]

(05-17-2012 11:23 AM)Darrell Wrote:  ....Hoping everybody sees.

You have to make sure everyone sees and hears you.

Then people will say "Wow look at how holy he is. I want what he has."

[B-Ray]

if thats the case, then we need to be very inquisitive of other peoples business, so we know what to pray for.

[Ricardo]

"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."

Is God deaf? Why would we have to pray out loud?
Does God have Alzheimer's? Why do I have to continue repeating myself?

Why would God want or need praise from us? If I were god I would prefer to see a life well lived, not a bunch of talk. In fact, quite frankly, I cannot even imagine a god who would want its insignificant creations to spend any time praising him.

Obviously praying is NOT about God.

Praying is OUR way of sorting things out.

"Praying without ceasing" is a great way for us to live. NOT because of god, but because of us.

I’m not sure I will ever pray out loud.

On the other hand, sometimes prayers are more about liturgy, about form, about community. The prayer serves a role in the building of community, not necessarily for God.

So maybe I will keep on praying out loud...

[Papa Bear]

(05-17-2012 11:23 PM)Ricardo Wrote:  Obviously praying is NOT about God.

Praying is OUR way of sorting things out.

"Praying without ceasing" is a great way for us to live. NOT because of god, but because of us.

I’m not sure I will ever pray out loud.

On the other hand, sometimes prayers are more about liturgy, about form, about community. The prayer serves a role in the building of community, not necessarily for God.

So maybe I will keep on praying out loud...

Agreed. I know God knows my thoughts whether I speak them aloud or not. I also know that when I pray silently, (and I'm not saying this is necessarily the case for anyone else) my mind wanders, and I find myself daydreaming about nothing in particular, or asleep. So both silent and spoken prayers can be helpful at different times. And there are certainly examples of both in the Bible. I'm thinking, for example of Hannah praying for a son, and Solomon dedicating the Temple. Jesus pointed out that God doesn't need us to tell Him our needs, thoughts and desires, but then He tells us how we ought to pray:

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.