Author	Thread: Prayer
Admin	Prayer Posted : 22 Jan, 2011 08:41 PM Not sure if anyone has posted on this topic, but would like to see what everyone thinks on this subject. Basically it seems like in the "Modern Church" we use prayer to ask God for everything we want, but rarely what He wants. I know a lot of people claim that God will give them the desires of their heart, but are what they asking for the desires God gave them? Shouldn't we instead be asking for what God wants for us? Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 07:13 AM MountainLas. About how to pray without it being a grocery list. I have never been great at prayer, I never really know what to say other than some of the basics. One thing I have started doing though is "praying through the bible". I like reading the bible left to right. As I read though I highlite verses that stand out to me. But then I turn those verses into prayers. I don't have to think of things to say in prayer, things are given to me to pray right form the Word. Sometimes it is request (usually about changing of the heart, avoiding something, being more like something), other times it is blessing and thanksgiving. Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 09:55 AM Pixy almost every sentence you is the complete opposite of the word and will of God, and all that Jesus provided for mankind. Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 10:18 AM Mountain Lass, we've had a Prayer and Discipleship Conference at the church I attend for the last 3 years. The "grocery list" prayer is one that God has convicted me of a few years ago. And it's one that I see more and more common in young people today. It's because we do not know how to pray to God without listing only our wants and desires. If you want, I can see if they have any cd's still available from the conferences. As for starting a prayer ministry, the first step is to ask God for help. God will direct the right people who will become a part of this team. Right now, it might need to be started with just you. As you begin to pray to God, He will bring those to you who will support you in this ministry One way to remember how to pray is to use the acronym, ACTS. Adoration: Declaring who God is. Holiness, Righteous, etc ... Confession: Going to God and repenting of sin. Thanksgiving: Praising God for what He's done. Different from adoration. Supplication: Asking for needs of others and yourself to be met. Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 10:27 AM PJ, Pixy's statement seemed pretty spot on. If you are going to make such a broad accusation, you should back it up with scripture based argument. Are you saying you buy into the health and wealth prosperity doctrine? Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 10:56 AM Mountainlass, The key to any good conversation is "Listening". In order to 'listen', one must stop talking. To really 'listen' one must really try to understand what the other is saying. To 'listen' one must try to see things from the others perspective. To really really 'listen' one tries to hear and see the heart and mind of the other. Instead of the grocery list, take each thing and "Listen" for God's heart, mind, perspective and desire for each, then come into agreement. Dont worry about putting some of yourself in there, you will...lol, and its all good, if you are really "Listening ".... I am sure that makes God smile, cause He is really "Listening" to you to! : ) Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 12:37 PM What is this "word" you're reading, PJ? What Pixy said lines up spot-on with the one I read. That would be great, Kat! Or if you can provide the names of the church/people/curriculum involved, I can hunt it myself. I know I need to listen more. My struggle is that when I stop talking, I hear . . . ::crickets:: . . . . Clearly I'm doing something wrong. And please don't think I haven't asked God for help on this. I've begged, through tears, and read and read and read my Bible. I feel walled-off in many areas of my walk, frankly. And before I completely hijack this thread, I'll stop blathering. Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 01:25 PM Mountainlass, Don't stress, be still and know God. When you hear crickets, pray for them, thank God for them and move on. Listening is not only about not talking, it is also about asking questions. Shawn, has shared about using the Bible. By all means this is a GREAT thing to do. Especially the Psalms. Pick one and read it aloud to God, identify with them where you can, read aloud them in two or three different translations. I use the NAS, NIV and the NLT. Sometimes the amplified bible will have a particular word that strikes a cord with my spirit. Read a Psalm aloud to God on your knees, when something moves you, just stop and reflect on it. When the words are Praise, then Praise! When the words are conviction, then be convicted. Most Psalms will lead you from the perspective you have to the perspective you should have. The perspective of man to the perspective of God. Good stuff!....food for the soul! Post Reply
View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 04:01 PM As everyone has sort of said, Psalm 37:4 does not mean that God will give us what we truly desire, as if he was some sort of genie. Instead it means that God will place his desires in our hearts. God will remove our desires and give our hearts his desires. "I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God- it changes me." � C.S. Lewis "I didn�t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don�t recommend Christianity." � C.S. Lewis Post Reply
MargoSolo View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 05:20 PM Cobbler, I loved that last C.S. Lewis quote. Christianity is NOT a comfortable religion. Anyone who believes we are meant for "blessings" on our own terms is believing a very sad lie. Post Reply
shepherdess View Profile History	Prayer Posted : 23 Jan, 2011 06:12 PM "Basically it seems like in the "Modern Church" we use prayer to ask God for everything we want, but rarely what He wants. I know a lot of people claim that God will give them the desires of their heart, but are what they asking for the desires God gave them? Shouldn't we instead be asking for what God wants for us? " The Best kind of prayer is Matt 6:8, where Jesus Himself is teaching: after saying what not to do (vain repetitions, etc) I am reminded that it is to be directed to God the Father, with reverence (vs.9) vs. 10 is all about HIS will and our prayer for it vs. 11 our needs vs. 12, forgiveness (two kinds!) vs. 13 request for protection from evil Post Reply

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