Tip Toeing

[The emperor has no clothes]

back in. A handful of you might have noticed I have some posts recently. I'm going to attempt to moderate my posts. Honestly, I don't know if I'm capable of much change at 60. I hope though to refrain from some posts. We'll see. I did quit smoking at 45, so I guess change is possible.
Anyway, I was just wondering something. I recently read a post that made mention of praying. I pray seldom. To be honest, I could probably just use my hands to count the amount in my life. With that said, I'm definitely no expert on the subject. I guess rightly or wrongly I consider it the course of last resort.     
When those of you who pray daily, weekly or even monthly do you ask God for material or financial things ? Would you pray for the PowerBall ?
It's not a test, I'm just curious. As a teacher in my high school psychology class would say, "There is no right or wrong answer". At least as I judge it.

[Wizzard]

I never pray for material things. I pray for others first and myself last. I have never had a want for material things so maybe that causes me to not pray for them.
Pretty sure God will not hand me that powerball because I do not buy a ticket.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I never pray for material things. I pray for others first and myself last. I have never had a want for material things so maybe that causes me to not pray for them.
Pretty sure God will not hand me that powerball because I do not buy a ticket.

Randy, if it's not too personal. How often do you pray ?

[Robert]

Just be honest and ask Him for what you need, all things financial or anything. He already knows what you need, what your thinking and what situations your in, so just ask. Even ask Him if He hears you, but be prepared one day to make a real commitment. 

[Willow]

My view is likely different than that of many, certainly different than that of the culture at large.

I cannot reconcile the concept of prayer being simply informing the Lord of what we want Him to do.  He knows all and certainly knows what's best.  I see prayer as revealing in conversation with the Lord what is in our hearts.  That makes us ready, or should make us ready, for Him to work within us, sometimes to solidify; sometimes to instruct; and sometimes to change our own desires.  That said, I do pray for the needs of those for whom I care.  Mostly I pray for His changes in my life to make me more useful to His purpose.

As to frequency, multiple times per day.

I also am out of the possibility of a Powerball win.

Tiptoing

[Dave Ritsema]

This is pretty personal and I can't say that I have ever shared this but here is my response, flawed though it may be.

I pray several times a day. My morning prayer before I get out of bed is essentially expressing thankfulness for another day of life and the request of protection for my loved ones and myself for the day.

My evening prayer is thanking Jesus for saving me and for all the blessings he provides me every day. I also pray for the protection and happiness of my family and the souls of those that do not know him yet. I don't typically ever ask for things outside of helping me to be a better Christian, husband, father and leader  and for those that are sick or need him for other reasons.

I cant say that I am very good at it but its all I know to do. Hopefully I will get better in time but I can say that at a minimum I set aside two deliberate times to do so each day.

Probably more information then you wanted but I saw your question as very sincere and I wished to answer in kind.

[Wizzard]

I never pray for material things. I pray for others first and myself last. I have never had a want for material things so maybe that causes me to not pray for them.
Pretty sure God will not hand me that powerball because I do not buy a ticket.

Randy, if it's not too personal. How often do you pray ?

No real frequency, whenever I feel the need but always before I eat and always at bedtime and when I wake up.

[Moonshot_1]

I do not pray. If one is to believe that all this is God's plan, who am I to tell God to change it? I know I may not like God's plan for me at times, but I would think God would know better than I how I would fit into his plan.

I do, however, will think good thoughts for others, wish people well, hope for good things and good outcomes for those who are in struggles and dire straits. A little positive energy can't hurt.

[John Schmidt]

My habits are pretty much along the same lines as Willow and Dave Ritsema. Under the current circumstances I tend to concentrate on the needs of my wife, plus help for myself to be more aware of those needs and the wisdom and strength to meet them. The days are becoming more frequent when I literally ask for physical strength to make it through the day. My two remaining daughters have strayed somewhat from the teachings when young. That said, I pray for a chance to turn things around because I have a standing request....that all four will again be together through eternity. As Dave said, it's a rather personal thing for me as well. 

[Gryphon Rider]

I pray privately several times a day, most intensely in my morning devotional time, with my family several times a week, before meals, with individuals and/or small groups connected to my church at least a couple of times a week, and with my congregation during services, occasionally when leading the service.  Some of my prayer is properly motivated, some of it not, to be honest.

James 4:3 (NIV) - When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

What most know as the Lord's prayer, but could more properly be called the disciples prayer (as He was teaching them (and us) how to pray), gives us an excellent pattern for what to pray.  From Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV):

Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from evil.

A useful tool to remind us what to pray as we are praying, is the acronym, ACTS:

Adoration - praise to God for who He is and what He's done.
Confession of sin and asking for help in resisting temptation, and for the wisdom to do what should be done instead.
Thanksgiving for the many things/circumstances/people He has graced us with.
Supplication - bringing our needs before Him, not to inform Him of them, but as an acknowledgement that ultimately everything we need will be supplied by Him.  Also, we should be praying for the needs of others, firstly for their salvation if they aren't saved, which brings them into the Kingdom.

All of this should be prayed in an attitude of submission to His will, i.e. in spite of what we are praying, may His will be done, not ours.

Much of my prayer is not that structured, however.  Most of it is internal (though sometimes out loud within my helmet), sometimes being short thoughts of worship when I witness the glory of His creation or hear a story of His work in others, sometimes being short requests for the well-being of others (like when passing the scene of a traffic collision), sometimes a shout for help when facing an immediate physical danger or other urgent stressful situation, sometimes a cry of distress not immediately expressible in words.

While God can choose to listen to and answer the prayers of anyone at any time, I don't think it's the norm for Him to regard the prayers of unbelievers, as this article explains better than I might.  That being said, God always listens to the cry of sincere repentance that turns from sin towards the forgiveness available at the foot of The Cross, trusting in Christ through His death and resurrection to be the person's atonement and salvation.

Welcome back to the VRCC message board!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks, GR. Are there different versions of the Lords Prayer ? I remember it as "forgive us our sins and forgive those who have sinned us" . Or am I saying it wrong like I used to sing the Star Spangled Banner as "Jose can you see" ?

Edit, now I'm thinking it was "forgive us our trespasses and those who trespass us". Clearly I don't know my prayers. 

[Skinhead]

I don't consciously pray everyday, when I do, it is to ask for forgiveness for the wrongs I have done in my life, and mostly to ask to ease the pain and/or suffering of the sick.  I also pray for protection while riding.  (maybe that is selfish of me)

[The emperor has no clothes]

This is pretty personal and I can't say that I have ever shared this but here is my response, flawed though it may be.

I pray several times a day. My morning prayer before I get out of bed is essentially expressing thankfulness for another day of life and the request of protection for my loved ones and myself for the day.

My evening prayer is thanking Jesus for saving me and for all the blessings he provides me every day. I also pray for the protection and happiness of my family and the souls of those that do not know him yet. I don't typically ever ask for things outside of helping me to be a better Christian, husband, father and leader  and for those that are sick or need him for other reasons.

I cant say that I am very good at it but its all I know to do. Hopefully I will get better in time but I can say that at a minimum I set aside two deliberate times to do so each day.

Probably more information then you wanted but I saw your question as very sincere and I wished to answer in kind.

Thank you. One of the best things on this board is the honest, personal discussions.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My view is likely different than that of many, certainly different than that of the culture at large.

I cannot reconcile the concept of prayer being simply informing the Lord of what we want Him to do.  He knows all and certainly knows what's best.  I see prayer as revealing in conversation with the Lord what is in our hearts.  That makes us ready, or should make us ready, for Him to work within us, sometimes to solidify; sometimes to instruct; and sometimes to change our own desires.  That said, I do pray for the needs of those for whom I care.  Mostly I pray for His changes in my life to make me more useful to His purpose.

As to frequency, multiple times per day.

I also am out of the possibility of a Powerball win.

Tiptoing

tip2ing ?  ??? We use our toes in the desert. 

[Chrisj CMA]

It's wrong to think of God as another Santa.  He's not there to give us stuff.  In his word he cautions Christians that we have not because we ask not.  But what he said he'd give those that ask, is whatever is needed to carry out God's will.

So how does one even begin to understand the will of God if they are not a child of God?  Also all prayers to God are mediated by Jesus. Jesus will only be the mediator for those he knows.  No relationship with Jesus, no way to get your prayers heard.  So, if someone is not a Christian, the only prayer they can get an answer to is a confession of sins, repentence and asking Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.  Then they will have a much better understanding of what to pray for.

[Oss]

when lighting sabbath candles on friday sunset it is blessing god and thanking the Lord for all of the blessings that our family and friends have received for keeping us safe        I do not ask for anything.

On the sabbath the lord's day of rest I was taught not to ask for anything except it is ok to ask for healing for those sick. On any other day you may ask, On Yom Kippur I pray to be forgiven those sins which may be forgiven and for my family to be inscribed for yet another year in the book of life.


I will occasionally ask for blessings for those who bless us and cursing those who curse us as I am not a turn the other cheek kind of person 

I have always thought that I was blessed to recover from what should have been an early death and that if I would proceed from a point of passing along blessings and working to repair my world where I can, all will work out  So far so good  YMMV

[Avanti]

Now this is what makes for relationships and God is all about relationship!

[hubcapsc]

"The Lord's Prayer" is in Matthew 6, 9-13... it is an example
prayer, to teach us generally how to pray... it praises God,
begs for His will to be done and for our needs to be met.

I don't think He means for us to always pray in a rote kind
of way, or say the same prayer each time like a chant. Seeking
God through prayer goes hand-in-hand with reading the Bible,
since that's how we know what He's got to say.

-Mike "welcome back..."

[Jersey mike]

Ok here goes. I had 9 years of Catholic school growing up. I prayed my butt off but mostly because we were told to.

As an adult, well things went sideways. When my kids were born I started just talking to God, Jesus, Mary in conversation form in my head. Asking for guidance,patience,understanding and strength.

I asked for my kids to be watched over,protected, and to have the guidance to understand the difference between right and wrong and the strength to choose right.

I asked for my wife to be watched over and to grant her strength in everything she did.

I still talk to whoever will listen and continue to ask for the same things. However until just a couple weeks ago I began say The Act of Contrition a few times a week. There are things I will need to answer for.

Hope that helps. Praying is not reciting certain prayers in my opinion, but they can be powerful tools for you well being. Don't decide to recite The Rosery unless you really have the time,patience and conviction it deserves.

Just begin talking to God. All it takes is "Hey God, it's me" believe me he knows all his children.

[Robert]

Php 4:6  Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 
Php 4:7  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

Rom_8:26  In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words

[Dave Weaver]

God wants to converse with you...so pray as Meathead, don't try to be someone else.  Be real.  Read the Psalms to get an idea of how real to pray.

[DIGGER]

I say prayers daily.    I talk to God like a friend.    I thank him for my life, my wife, my kids and my grandkids.    I thank him for all my families good health, ask him for forgiveness for my sins, ask Him to keep me on a straight and narrow path,  and to direct me in my daily life to make me a better person, to help me make the best decisions I can make.   I pray for our soldiers to do their jobs and make it home safely.         

   Manoman this sounds like a sermon but just talk to God like he was standing there in front of you. 

[Leathel]

Great to see you back posting MH

The religious culture over here doesn't seem to be anywhere near as ....well trying to find the word ... entrenched in society as over there, people go to church yes, but it's the minority who go often. I have been a few times but not many.

As for praying... I pretty much don't, I believe treating people in kind and treat them as you would want to be treated, If I need to ask for forgiveness I do so to the person I may have upset or wronged, I may have a thought for someone in sickness or pain but I don't verbally pray


over here politics and religion are things not really talked about outside of very close friends and even then politics is hardly discussed with friends of different views, agree to disagree

[Westernbiker]

I pray before every meal as to ask God to make the food safe and nutritious and giving thanks for it being provided.
I most of the time say a prayer before bed, thanking Him for another wonderful and safe day.
Maybe some of you say a prayer before you ride, maybe some of you never thought to say a prayer before you ride. I always say a prayer before I ride. Very simple one, goes like this.
'Dear Heavenly Father, watch over me (us) as I (we) ride this motorcycle today and this evening. Keep me (us) safe, help me make the right decisions and keep me (us) out of harms way. I ask this in your name, Jesus Christ, amen.'
You are welcome to adopt this before ride prayer or recite your own. 
God bless to you all.

[Psychotic Bovine]

I pray before bed every night.  I thank Him for the blessings of the day and for guidance with any issues (family, personal, etc).  I don't pray for material things.  If He feels that is what I need, then He will provide.
I also pray for help with my patience and to give me strength to overcome my inner demons.

[Gryphon Rider]

Thanks, GR. Are there different versions of the Lords Prayer ? I remember it as "forgive us our sins and forgive those who have sinned us" . Or am I saying it wrong like I used to sing the Star Spangled Banner as "Jose can you see" ?

Edit, now I'm thinking it was "forgive us our trespasses and those who trespass us". Clearly I don't know my prayers. 

Luke 11 contains a version shorter than the one in Matthew.

In Matthew's version of the lord's prayer, the King James version and some other versions add the doxology, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen" to the end, because the manuscripts they used to translate from had it, but other more recent translations use older and more reliable manuscripts, which scholars agree are more likely to be faithful to the autograph (original manuscript penned by Matthew himself), which don't include the doxology.

Regarding "forgive us our ___ as we forgive ___," the words used might be "trespasses", "debts", or "sins".  I'll quote Jon Bloom, at desiringGod.org, from this web page:

Forgive Us Our What?

If you recite the Lord's Prayer by memory with a group of people outside of your local church, I imagine things usually go pretty smoothly till you get to the fourth line. Some will say "forgive us our debts," some will say "trespasses," and others will say "sins."

How we recite that phrase usually depends more on what English-speaking Christian tradition influenced us than what Bible translation we use. Those raised in Presbyterian or Reformed traditions are more likely to say "debts." Those who come from Anglican/Episcopal, Methodist, or Roman Catholic traditions are more likely to say "trespasses." Those whose churches were influenced by ecumenical liturgical movements of the late twentieth century are probably more likely to say "sins."

So which word is the right one? Well, nearly all of the most credible English translations over time have translated the Greek words, opheilēma/opheiletēs, as "debts/debtors." And that's because in the New Testament and the Septuagint, these words almost always convey the meaning of owing a financial or moral debt or obligation.

In Luke's version of the prayer, Jesus says, "and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us" (Luke 11:4). In this case, the Greek word used for "sins" is hamartia, which in general means "sins" or "guilt." But since it's paired with opheilonti ("indebted to us") it's still clear that Jesus had the sense of debt in mind when referring to sin in the prayer he taught his disciples. So, saying "forgive us our sins" is not inaccurate; it just loses the nuance Jesus apparently intended.

For more, and to learn why some recite "trespasses" instead of "debts" (hint: William Tyndale), go to the web page quoted:  https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/forgive-us-our-what

[Willow]

tip2ing ?  ??? We use our toes in the desert. 

You're right. I was wrong.  The e remains when adding ing for that verb.

As to the portion of the "Lord's Prayer" that you quoted it is slightly off.  The phrase on forgiveness doesn't ask for Him to forgive others but points out that we have forgiven others.  "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."  The reason that is so important is that Jesus immediately follows with a rather frightening instruction that if we do not forgive others neither will our heavenly Father forgive us.  

There are two different places in the New Testament that tell of Jesus teaching the "Lord's prayer".  The wording in one spot is slightly different but with the same meaning.  Translations also may use slightly different words but hopefully hold the same meaning.  Keep in mind the words of Christ in the New Testament have been through multiple translations.  Jesus most likely spoke in Aramaic.  The gospels were written in Greek.    

[Wizzard]

My favorite book in the scripture is James. He was the brother of Jesus and his teachings are so easy to understand but wow are they hard to practice for me. I have to read it often to remind myself. If everyone applied what James teaches this whole world would be a much better place.

Even if you are not a christian his writings have a great application

[Reb]

Complete honesty,

I probably use his name in vein more times in one day than I pray in a year.

4 years in the Navy opened my vocabulary up to pronounce consorted words of foul meaning that I am still trying to mitigate today. I used G-damn in the past as an adjective for everything.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Complete honesty,

I probably use his name in vein more times in one day than I pray in a year.

4 years in the Navy opened my vocabulary up to pronounce consorted words of foul meaning that I am still trying to mitigate today. I used G-damn in the past as an adjective for everything.

I'm sure I'm right there also. I'm afraid I started cursing before even joining the Navy though. 

[Mr Whiskey]

One afternoon when my Brother LawDog was over he kept using Gd, until my daughter ('bout 9 at the time) took both his cheeks in her hands, looked him square in the eyes, & said...
"God's last name is NOT damn".
I don't think I've heard him say it since

Me, I talk to my Lord & Savior regularly. I jus' talk to him like he is my Brother, because he is. We share the same Father, & we both bleed red

[f6john]

We are told to go in a closet to pray, Its not intended to be a boastful thing or bring attention to ones self. Public prayer has its place and can be very beneficial too. I am in the same camp a many others here. I have to have a talk with Jesus at most any time. Most recently, this week I have been battling some of the worst pain I have ever experienced. For the last two nights I had to ask for sone relief just to get a little sleep. Made it to a clinic today and the pain was already subsiding but got some antibiotics to speed things up. I also thank him for all the miracles that happen all around me everyday.

[czuch]

Yup. Every day.
Mostly thanks, often for the strength and benefit of others.
He knows my intent if the lottery comes my way.
I figure, much like bragging, if you say it for yourself, it means nothing.
If someone notices, they'll do the bragging, or praying for you.
Just thanks. I'm alive and doin fine.

[cookiedough]

Complete honesty,

I probably use his name in vein more times in one day than I pray in a year.

4 years in the Navy opened my vocabulary up to pronounce consorted words of foul meaning that I am still trying to mitigate today. I used G-damn in the past as an adjective for everything.

An older lady I work with very nice and helpful has come up to me not liking my foul words enough to say she is going to collect money from me for every bad word said. I told her I might as well put 100 bucks in the kitty now to cover me for a few weeks.....

She could retire even earlier with the cookiefundme  campaign drive.....

[RainMaker]

Typically pray twice a day, when I get up and when I "lay me down to sleep".  I don't pray for myself - I pray for others.  As with others, I'm pretty sure God does not need my help in my regards but asking for others makes me feel great and I think that praying for others sends energy their way.  Masses of folks praying intensifies the energy.  IMHO.  

[cookiedough]

pray away all anyone wants to, fine with me.  The time praying (or more so religion) comes and ticks me off is when it tried to change what I do and who I am taking over.  For example,  my big time Catholic religious in-law grandparents (now deceased several years) tried to preach their Catholic ways some 25+ years ago to my wife's mom who told my wife that I needed to convert to Catholic religion or both of us will go to HELL.   Who thinks like that?  I let it slide and brushed it off, but even my wife's very Catholic mom converted her now deceased husband to Catholic religion am sure her parents at the time in the 1960's had something to do with that as well.  It is like they thought the Catholic religion was the all mighty way or NOTHING else will do.

You should see what I do when the Jehova Witness ladies come to knocking on my house......   
the wife tells me to knock it off stop doing that.....