Apparently there’s a right way of praying. A few weeks ago I was visiting my uncle’s home. The TV was on and turned onto an evangelical channel that my aunt was watching. I happened to overhear an ad for a book that teaches the correct way of praying. According to this advert the way most people pray is wrong and so the prayers don’t reach God. Sounded a bit like prayers were like signals and these were getting blocked by some unknown interference. Well, whatever it was, this book lets you in on the secret: the way to pray so that God receives your prayer and it doesn’t get lost somewhere along the way. I was rather taken aback when I heard the ad and even though I first heard it three weeks ago it still irks me. I now wish that I had tried to find out a little more about it; I will admit to being curious, but indignation won. I couldn’t imagine that God doesn’t hear my prayers. Quite frankly, I was offended that anyone would be so daft as to think that anything could block a prayer reaching Him who knows everything about us whether we tell him or not. We are talking about God, all knowing and all seeing, after all! I’ve always believed in the power of prayer.
“Jesus said, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh recieveth; and he that seeketh findeth: and to him that knocketh it shall be opened… And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, ye shall receive (Mathew 7:7-8; 21:22).’”
Now, I haven’t read the Bible from cover to cover but I’ve never before heard or read that there’s a wrong way to go about it. As a child I prayed with my parents every night before bed. My father and I would kneel side by side, prop our elbows on my bed and say ‘Our Father’ together and end by asking God to bless family and friends and thanking Him for everything. For many years when I prayed that was what I did. In my teenage years I started to develop a relation with Jesus. After saying ‘Our Father’ I would tell Jesus what was worrying me and ask him to help me solve problems, clear obstacles. More recently I’ve been praying for a job. As a recent graduate that’s hardly surprising, and though there have been times I’ve wanted to scream with frustration after praying I’ve always felt much better.
When I pray I speak as I would to someone who is a cross between my best friend and an older brother, one with wisdom, compassion and the ability to help me with anything and everything. My prayers don’t always happen at night before I’m going to bed, while I’m kneeling with my elbows resting on my bed. I pray all the time. Sometimes it’s for help and sometimes it’s just a quick ‘Thank You’ for a cool morning after weeks of heat with the temperatures soaring to almost 40° Celsius. It’s like having God on speed dial, but better because I don’t have to wait for him to pick up the phone because I know He’s listening as soon as I start.
My uncle, the one I went to visit last month, told me that I should pray about specific things. I used to be rather vague in my prayers, but since I’ve started being more focused I feel like I have a better relationship with God. I don’t think that there’s any one right way to pray and that different ways suit different people. All I know is that chatting; confiding and even gossiping a little to Him is how I pray and so far it’s been working out great!
© 2012 Zara Ramaniah, Ropra Ivy
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You know, prayer is such a simple process and at the same time remarkably complex. I guess that’s why there is so much room, because everyone has to be able to do it and it has to be meant for everyone. Nicely done!
I would only add that in erroneous methods of prayer, we block our ears, so to speak. He can hear everything, but that does not mean we are listening to Him very well or at all. Thanks for the post!
Hello Lamehousewife, it is great to hear from you again. I am always intrigued by notions of erroneous modes or methods of prayer. My own approach to faith begins with our first confession of faith; the Creed. We utter the words, “We believe on one God, the Father almighty” and are then confused by the seeming limitations of God. The almighty Creator, our Father in heaven, can have no limitations. Without prayer God knows what we need, and even when we are in pain and the darkness of anger with God, God remains God — and ‘God is love.’ Even when we do not pray God hears and is intimately engaged in our humanity. In this understanding prayer then is only for us. It is a gift that is forever free for us to use. God is listening regardless.
I agree with you completely. I said the same thing as you, I think. At least that was what I was trying to say. But I guess what I was just trying to clarify is that although God is always listening, we may not always be doing a good job in discerning what He is saying in reply.
I haven’t seen your posts lately. I don’t think my WordPress “reader” is always picking up posts for some reason. I think it sometimes is a matter of timing.
It was good to hear from you, too!
God bless!
It may be due to the fact that not all of the post now are from me. There are a number of contributors on the page now, so your reader might not recognise the post as being from ‘homophilosophicus.’
Oh, I will keep that in mind. Thank you.
Hi Zara. We must remenber however that Jesus did instruct His disciples in correct ways of prayer. Not so much in the method or manner in which we pray, but certainly in the correct attitude. It is attitude that can impede our prayers from being heard or answered, for example Jesus said “Mt 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Other things like unforgiveness and bitterness can impede our prayers….God does not grant to us things which we would deny to others, rather, I am inclined to believe that the things He blesses us with is for the express purpose of sharing with others, not to satisfy our own selfish desires.
Hi Brakelite. You’re right about attitude. What surprised me was not so much ones attitude while praying but when people tell you that there is one way to pray and if you don’t pray in that manner your prayers are somehow getting lost on their way to God. I found it almost blasphemous. He`s all knowing. I seriously doubt He`d miss or ignore any prayer that came from the heart.
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