Samantha Rinne
Resident Genderfluid Writer/Artist
Ahahaha, I was thinking this morning of making a poll over how prayer works.
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Fair enough. Unethical and devoid of compassion, but logically consistent.
Corporate prayer is in a whole different box than private prayer. Jesus was addressing private prayer, not corporate prayer. Jesus himself prayed with his disciples.(In particular personal private prayer, as opposed to mass prayers said aloud in a place of public worship)
Some questions to get going:
What is your religion?
Who do you pray to?
How do you pray?
What do you pray about?
What do you pray for?
How do you address The Almighty?
Do you feel any closer to God when you pray?
Why do you pray?
What do you get out of praying?
Have your prayers ever been answered?
Basically, tell us all about your prayer life!
(I’ll follow this OP up with an account of my own prayer life)
In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:
When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you.
(Matthew 6:5-6 CEB)
But let’s bring it all out into the open...
Let’s talk about prayer!
(In particular personal private prayer, as opposed to mass prayers said aloud in a place of public worship)
Some questions to get going:
What is your religion?
Who do you pray to?
How do you pray?
What do you pray about?
What do you pray for?
How do you address The Almighty?
Do you feel any closer to God when you pray?
Why do you pray?
What do you get out of praying?
Have your prayers ever been answered?
Basically, tell us all about your prayer life!
(I’ll follow this OP up with an account of my own prayer life)
In particular personal private prayer, as opposed to mass prayers said aloud in a place of public worship)
Some questions to get going:
I'll respond in Italics:
What is your religion?
Baha'i Faith
Bahá’í Prayers
Who do you pray to?
God
How do you pray?
I pray daily in private usually one of two prayers that are short or long with instructions such as turning to Bahji in the Holy Land and performing ablutions. For more information see:
Short Obligatory Prayer
I also usually pray in the morning and evening.
What do you pray about?
The prayers generally promote nearness to God and sometimes prayers for healing and advancement of departed souls in the spiritual worlds.
What do you pray for?
As above... nearness to God and sometimes special needs.
How do you address The Almighty?
Here are some samples: "O Lord my God"; "O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and the Maker of the heavens!"; "O Thou the Desire of the world and the Beloved of the nations!"; "O God, my God!"; "O my Lord"; "There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful. There is no God but Thee, the Ordainer, both in the beginning and in the end. O God, my God!"
Do you feel any closer to God when you pray?
Yes it does help...
Why do you pray?
As above to be nearer God and sometimes for healing or to remove their difficulties.
What do you get out of praying?
It provides nourishment for my soul.
Have your prayers ever been answered?
I don't pray for "things" as much as being nearer to God and for spiritual nourishment.
Basically, tell us all about your prayer life!
As above...
In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:
When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I assure you, that’s the only reward they’ll get. But when you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees what you do in secret will reward you.
(Matthew 6:5-6 CEB)
But let’s bring it all out into the open...
Let’s talk about prayer!
(In particular personal private prayer, as opposed to mass prayers said aloud in a place of public worship)
Some questions to get going:
What is your religion?
The God and Father of Jesus Christ.Who do you pray to?
Sometimes out loud but often in silent communication with God in my mind.How do you pray?
Using the Lord's Prayer as a template, it is appropriate to pray for the sanctification of God's name in a world that has lost sight of him and discredits him. We look forward to the benefits of his Kingdom when it rules the earth and ask our Father for the strength to endure the many trials that life in this world brings upon us.What do you pray about?
To remain faithful to all that Christ has taught us, never making excuses for disobeying him.What do you pray for?
How do you address The Almighty?
It helps to see ourselves before the lofty throne of God to offer our prayers and petitions and supplications, with due reverence but also as speaking with a trusted friend.Do you feel any closer to God when you pray?
Because God has offered us this channel of communication even in our sinful state. He has provided a mediator to bring our prayers before God with the assurance that he will hear us.Why do you pray?
The satisfaction of knowing that my God has heard me and that he cares about all of us as individuals.What do you get out of praying?
Have your prayers ever been answered?
Basically, tell us all about your prayer life!