Questions!

[thestarofthesea]

Hello,

I want to start with a little background to explain why I'm here. Growing up, I was raised by Christian parents and had some church involvement. Because of that, I've almost always referred to myself as a Christian. Nominal or Sunday Christian best applies, I'm sure. Still, since around age eleven I've led a primarily secular life in which God and faith played little part. I've also had frequent involvement in the occult. Talking to one of the mods here has helped clear up the issues with the occult and I understand now that I was decieved by that. However, I still have some questions that stand in the way of me being ready to accept Christ.

My first question is about prayer. Now, I was taught to recite pre-formatted prayers such as the Lord's Prayer from the time I was about three. When I was a little older, say seven or eight, more independent prayer was encouraged; usually referred to as "talking with God" rather than reciting a uniform or group prayer. However, I never really understood this. I prayed a lot, speaking my mind, asking for help or advice, expressing appreciation for good things, etc, but the more I examine this, the more I realize I never felt the slightest connection to God. Mostly, it seems I was mentally reviewing or talking through my problems out loud. I addressed them to God, but never felt any response. I'd like to understand more about the experience of prayer. How is prayer done? What am I missing? Should I assume my prayers are being heard even if I don't "feel" anything?

[RebeccaG]

Prayer is done kind of like how you're describing it. sometimes I do things quite structured, sometimes I just talk to God. Sometimes I "feel" something, sometimes I don't. The great thing about God is that he does his part even when I don't "feel like" doing my part. Not everything about being a Christian is about feeling good or even "in tune with God" or something like that. Some people pray out loud, some people don't.

God is listening to you. Sometimes, when we pray, we have to shut up a bit. God listens but sometimes he needs us to listen. Sometimes I just sit and ask God to let me come closer to him, to feel his presence, to feel his love or something like that. I'm just giving examples. Yattering at God is great, but sometimes just sitting and waiting for Him is what we need to do.

[Tanya~]

Hi star,

I prayed a lot, speaking my mind, asking for help or advice, expressing appreciation for good things, etc, but the more I examine this, the more I realize I never felt the slightest connection to God. Mostly, it seems I was mentally reviewing or talking through my problems out loud. I addressed them to God, but never felt any response.

When we are praying "in the Holy Spirit" there is a very definite sense of connection with God. Praying in the Spirit is when our praying is in concert with God's mind, God's will. Whether that prayer be asking for something, giving thanks, confessing sin or whatever, there is a sense that God is hearing and answering. The best way to know that God is hearing us though is when we build up a history of answered prayer. This takes time but when we have answers to prayer, now THAT is faith-building.

If you have never sensed any connection with God during prayer, it was likely due to sin in your life.

Isa 59:1-2
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
NKJV

God wants us to seek Him with our whole heart. When we do that, then He will be found by us.

Jer 29:11-14
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity.
NKJV


I'd like to understand more about the experience of prayer. How is prayer done?

There are many ways to pray. One way of praying that I have found really fruitful is using some passage of Scripture as the basis for prayer. I'm not talking about reciting prayers like "Our Father..." but using passages of Scripture as a sort of outline that you can personalize and pray with more effectiveness.

What am I missing?

The Holy Spirit. It is God's Spirit that connects us with God and without the Holy Spirit, we do not have that connection.

Should I assume my prayers are being heard even if I don't "feel" anything?

When your heart is full of doubt, the prayer will not be effective. The power of prayer is not in saying certain words, but rather it is the faith of the person praying, and the Person to whom we pray.

As a non-Christian, the prayers that will bring you closest to God are those of confession and expression of your desire to know Him. The reason for this is that these are the things that will bring you closer to becoming a child of God. When you become His child, then you will have the right to petition Him as your Father.

[thestarofthesea]

Thanks to you both, that really cleared up that issue for me. I guess I was expecting to have some undeniable Hollywood experience without putting in the believe or the effort to connecting with God from my end.

[tango]

Thanks to you both, that really cleared up that issue for me. I guess I was expecting to have some undeniable Hollywood experience without putting in the believe or the effort to connecting with God from my end.

Even when you do have full belief in God you're unlikely to get the Hollywood-style experience. The chances of the skies splitting open, thunderstorms forming, whirlwinds smiting your foes, etc, when you pray is very small indeed. If anything like that happens then you are a seriously unusual person!

When Elijah spoke with God, the voice of God was the "still small voice of calm":

1Ki 19:11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
1Ki 19:12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

There was a huge wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but God was not in any of them. If we go looking for God in the things we call spectacular we run the risk of missing him completely.

[Sold Out]

Hello,

I want to start with a little background to explain why I'm here. Growing up, I was raised by Christian parents and had some church involvement. Because of that, I've almost always referred to myself as a Christian. Nominal or Sunday Christian best applies, I'm sure. Still, since around age eleven I've led a primarily secular life in which God and faith played little part. I've also had frequent involvement in the occult. Talking to one of the mods here has helped clear up the issues with the occult and I understand now that I was decieved by that. However, I still have some questions that stand in the way of me being ready to accept Christ.

My first question is about prayer. Now, I was taught to recite pre-formatted prayers such as the Lord's Prayer from the time I was about three. When I was a little older, say seven or eight, more independent prayer was encouraged; usually referred to as "talking with God" rather than reciting a uniform or group prayer. However, I never really understood this. I prayed a lot, speaking my mind, asking for help or advice, expressing appreciation for good things, etc, but the more I examine this, the more I realize I never felt the slightest connection to God. Mostly, it seems I was mentally reviewing or talking through my problems out loud. I addressed them to God, but never felt any response. I'd like to understand more about the experience of prayer. How is prayer done? What am I missing? Should I assume my prayers are being heard even if I don't "feel" anything?

You mentioned the Lord's Prayer. A LOT of kids are taught to recite it, but never understand what the Lord was trying to teach us!

Here's a little outline of the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11. It's a 'blueprint' on prayer.

I. Learning to communicate with on God on His level!

Step #1. Learn to praise HIM daily (Luke 11:1,2)

Step #2. Learn to petition HIM daily concerning HIS pleasure (Luke 11:2)

Step #3. Learn to petition HIM daily for provision (Luke 11:3)

Step #4. Learn to petition HIM daily concerning penitence (Luke 11:4)

Step #5. Learn to petition HIM daily for protection (Luke 11:4 & 18:1-7)

Step #6. Learn to petition HIM daily on behalf of people (Luke 11:5-12)

Step #7. Learn to petition HIM daily for power (Luke 11:13)

A HELPFUL REMINDER - Prayer defined is simply communicating with God on His level. These seven areas (praise, pleasure, provision, penitence, protection, people, and power), when addressed properly, place us on God’s level.

[markinro]

Thanks to you both, that really cleared up that issue for me. I guess I was expecting to have some undeniable Hollywood experience without putting in the believe or the effort to connecting with God from my end.

The one encouraging thing you need to remember about prayer - its a two-way street. Most think of prayer as petition and it is that but only 1/2 the equation. Prayer is communication - we have to be listening as intently as speaking.

I remember one speaker describing our prayers as beams of light from below illuminating the heavens. That would be a sight to see.

The one scripture that comes to mind is Matt 6 (the Lords prayer) when Jesus said "pray this way". I started with this and later "springboarded" into my own style.