I'm not formally religious but I still wonder sometimes about the power of prayer. I'd like to try it myself but have never understood how to do it, so I have not.
Every so often when someone brings prayer to my attention I ask for practical technical advice but have never managed to get anything which worked. When I was a little kid the school religious assemblies told us we had to close our eyes and put our hands together. This never did anything for me I used to stand there thinking "now what?" and "why am I doing this."
So any advice welcome but if you are offering then please keep it real. In the past people have actually given me woowoo like "open your heart" which they obviously don't mean literally as I would bleed to death. TIA.
Thanks for your openness. You are free to humbly talk with God directly. Acknowledge His divinity and worship Him as you are able. Confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, and repent. Make requests and envision their fulfillment in faith. These can be done aloud or in your thoughts. Search the Bible for prayers and make them your own, beginning with the most famous one: The Lord's Prayer.
Prayer is simply having a conversation with our Father. Tell Him what’s on your heart and mind even though He already knows.Thank Him for everything He has done in your life (especially the things you don’t know about). You will begin to see your life change as your relationship with Him grows and deepens.
Honestly- I struggled too when I first started. I had this preconceived expectation that I had to do it “the right way”.
I made it a conversation with God while I was driving. I would talk about my worries (kids, work, relationships, etc). I could put everything on the table- things that were hard to admit but I knew the truth of (e.g. what if I screwed my kids up by being a bad parent? What I said 3 years ago to someone still haunts me. I need help letting a grudge go… just anything).
That was cathartic. Even just by putting it out there i felt lighter.
I started to add in “Lord, I don’t know what to do about these things, but I feel better talking to you about them and I could use some guidance”.
As time has gone on, my prayers have changed… following a sort of winding path. Asking for guidance, thanking Him for listening, being grateful for the good in my life, wanting to increase my spirituality… etc…
There is no formula.
I am not as consistent as I would like to be. But I am more at peace as a whole.
Prayed. Will do again.
At one point in my life I thought God was a thing, but not THE thing. I never gave prayer a thought.
Now, prayer brings me peace- because I know it is powerful and I know it has impact. Thank you Lord for calling me back to You.
I just prayed with the spouse. I prayed for their protection and success.
I read your response wrong at first... But I'm glad. Because of that I have realized that the loved ones of those in the trenches also need prayers.
I'm not formally religious but I still wonder sometimes about the power of prayer. I'd like to try it myself but have never understood how to do it, so I have not.
Every so often when someone brings prayer to my attention I ask for practical technical advice but have never managed to get anything which worked. When I was a little kid the school religious assemblies told us we had to close our eyes and put our hands together. This never did anything for me I used to stand there thinking "now what?" and "why am I doing this."
So any advice welcome but if you are offering then please keep it real. In the past people have actually given me woowoo like "open your heart" which they obviously don't mean literally as I would bleed to death. TIA.
Thanks for your openness. You are free to humbly talk with God directly. Acknowledge His divinity and worship Him as you are able. Confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, and repent. Make requests and envision their fulfillment in faith. These can be done aloud or in your thoughts. Search the Bible for prayers and make them your own, beginning with the most famous one: The Lord's Prayer.
Prayer is simply having a conversation with our Father. Tell Him what’s on your heart and mind even though He already knows.Thank Him for everything He has done in your life (especially the things you don’t know about). You will begin to see your life change as your relationship with Him grows and deepens.
Honestly- I struggled too when I first started. I had this preconceived expectation that I had to do it “the right way”.
I made it a conversation with God while I was driving. I would talk about my worries (kids, work, relationships, etc). I could put everything on the table- things that were hard to admit but I knew the truth of (e.g. what if I screwed my kids up by being a bad parent? What I said 3 years ago to someone still haunts me. I need help letting a grudge go… just anything).
That was cathartic. Even just by putting it out there i felt lighter.
I started to add in “Lord, I don’t know what to do about these things, but I feel better talking to you about them and I could use some guidance”.
As time has gone on, my prayers have changed… following a sort of winding path. Asking for guidance, thanking Him for listening, being grateful for the good in my life, wanting to increase my spirituality… etc…
There is no formula.
I am not as consistent as I would like to be. But I am more at peace as a whole.