Sanctuary International

Age : 47 Joined : 21 May 2007 Posts : 260 Location : Omaha

From Pastor Bob's Blog...

I don't know how many times people have told me that they are praying for me. I always appreciate the effort, but I usually realize that it simply isn't true. Besides, I don't think we really understand much about prayer anyway. It has become a Christian "cliché" at best.

To say that prayer is "communication with God" seems to miss the point. Growing up in the Church, I spent my fair share of time with my eyes closed while someone delivered a lofty prayer – complete with thee's and thou's. My mind usually wondered elsewhere, as I am sure was the case with everyone else as well. When I think about the prayer that I have sat through (many times "suffered through), I can usually put them in one of 4 categories:

First, there is the "Prayer To Impress."
Using all the right words and phrases, you get the idea that this person is more concerned with getting all the words right than he is actually communicating with God. It usually sounds profound grammatically and is correct theologically, but it is received with deaf ears.

Second is the "Prayer To Instruct."
This person usually has a little mini-sermon involved in their prayer. I always wonder why they think they are actually praying! They would do better to open their eyes, and tell everyone to simply open their Bibles. It is not really prayer at all. I used to be guilty of this one a lot – and still am at times.

Third is the "Prayer To Demand."
I really dislike this one! The focus is on telling God what to do. To "name it and claim it" so to speak. To explain to God what you need in your life, and demand that he do it. It honestly presupposes that we have an idea of the infinite – and have it all figured out. The older I get, the more I realize what folly this really is!

Lastly, is the "Prayer From Your Heart."
This is the one I am learning to do. It has honestly been difficult to train myself. I have had too many years of doing the previous three. But I am learning that God really doesn't listen to my words as much as he does my heart. And I am grateful for that. When I run out of things to say, he goes beyond my capacity and finds my hearts deepest yearnings.

And I find myself asking for less, and seeking his will for my life a whole lot more. I am learning. To listen. To wait. To feel. And I think I am also taking it a lot more seriously as well. When I tell someone I will pray for them, I am spending more time listening for wisdom and less time telling God what to do for them. I am finding that my biggest gift to my friends is not just telling God what to do for them, but to encourage them spiritually with my thoughts and gleanings from my time with the Father on their behalf.

I am excited for where prayer is taking me. I have a lot to learn.
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peace and grace,

gary

If you feel far from God, guess who moved...

http://myspace.com/rock4king

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now that spoke to me....I understood it.
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A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself
(A.W. Tozer)
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well put Rock...

often, i worry wether im praying for what I want, or for what God wants..so what i end up doing quite often is simply opening my heart and letting the holy spirit speak for me, it just feels right somehow.

well, that sounded really weird.......oh well, take it for what it's worth.
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hakuna matatta.

Age : 47 Joined : 21 May 2007 Posts : 260 Location : Omaha

So maybe it means that all those little breathed prayers, prayers in the shower and on the can, in my car driving, at work, etc actually IS a prayer life? By the way I really do pray for Pastor Bob. And I'm one that is more likely when I tell someone I will pray for them, I just do it then and there, and then I don't forget but that's just me because I'm a flibbertigibbet, ha ha. So perhaps some ladies at a church I used to attend, which I won't name hint hint hint, LOL, were wrong when they told me that I had no prayer life because I didn't specifically get up at the crack of dawn with my little notebook, face eastward, take off my shoes, etc, etc, etc.

I knew I felt condemned by them for a reason.

flibbertigibbet........there's another word i dont know..

i think if you say that you'll pray for someone, and mean it, then it's all good.

but too often people run around offering prayers for every tom dick and harry that jus stubbed thier toe.
it makes it seem meaningless.
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hakuna matatta.

Love the article - thanks much for sharing it.
I totally understand. See me, besides people here that I'll pray for and my immediate family I don't just pray for anyone. I like the sneak attack prayers, like if a friend is having a hard time and you pray for them without telling them. I think it's better that way.
I mean I know a very sweet Baptist lady who told me she was praying for me when I was sick and ever since then I'm kinda always making sure I'm all smiles and whatnot when I'm around her, even when I'm thunderstorms inside. Know what I mean? When you put someone on the spot for anything they get all deer in headlights.
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Life and death, energy and peace. If I stop today it was still worth it. Even the terrible mistakes that I made and would have unmade if I could. The pains that have burned me and scarred my soul, it was worth it, for having been allowed to walk where I've walked, which was to hell on earth, heaven on earth, back again, into, under, far in between, through it, in it, and above.
-Gia Carangi

This is the hardest and most frustrating aspect of the christian life for me, study is cool, I love to read and engage in debates, prayer seems fruitless to me. Yet I am told is is at the heart of the christian life. I started praying the rosary daily a few weeks ago, I know God wants more than prescribed prayers, but it's a start, and more than I've done in a very long time!

I actually had to buy a 15 cent pamphlet from the Christian book store because I couldn't remember how to pray the rosary. Now I have to get a rosary - no I'm serious I don't have one.
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Life and death, energy and peace. If I stop today it was still worth it. Even the terrible mistakes that I made and would have unmade if I could. The pains that have burned me and scarred my soul, it was worth it, for having been allowed to walk where I've walked, which was to hell on earth, heaven on earth, back again, into, under, far in between, through it, in it, and above.
-Gia Carangi

All you do is talk to Him like He's your best friend sitting right beside you.......because He is. Smile

well said Tonne Very Happy

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Life and death, energy and peace. If I stop today it was still worth it. Even the terrible mistakes that I made and would have unmade if I could. The pains that have burned me and scarred my soul, it was worth it, for having been allowed to walk where I've walked, which was to hell on earth, heaven on earth, back again, into, under, far in between, through it, in it, and above.
-Gia Carangi

Joined : 20 May 2008 Posts : 1

YES! amen to Pastor Bob's bog on prayer. Thanks so much to him. Blessings!