Post by Sheila on Apr 16, 2024 14:51:53 GMT -5
I've been asked many questions about prayer. There are a lot of verses about prayer that address specific things about prayer and it may take some reading and piecing things together to get the bigger picture. This thread will contain some of the generalized questions I've been asked.
How do I start a prayer? Who do I pray to? The most obvious answer is you pray to God. The "Lord's Prayer" in Matthew 6:9-13 was the prayer Jesus taught the disciples. He started "Our Father in Heaven" (verse 6). If Jesus taught the disciples to start a prayer with those words, there's no reason we shouldn't do the same.
What words do I use? There isn't any set words you need to use. You're not giving a speech before an audience or a teacher who will grade your performance. Talk to God just like you'd talk to a friend. Tell him what's going on in your life and ask him for his help. Don't forget to thank him for what he's already done for you.
What if I'm too upset and can't think of what to say? At least start a prayer. Tell God you or someone you know needs help, but you don't know what to say. God already knows what you need so you can say something such as "God you know what's happening. I need your help. Please help me".
Do I need to be in a certain place to pray? No. Whenever you have a need to pray, do it wherever you are.
Do I have to kneel to pray? No. You should if you're able, but that's not always possible. Physical disabilities that prevent a person from kneeling doesn't mean God won't hear their prayers. If you need to pray while driving, working, etc you can't kneel. Again, not being able to kneel doesn't mean God won't hear your prayer.
I need God's help, but I've been told he's too busy. What do I do? Pray to God. He's never "too busy". If it were possible for God not to be able to listen to every prayer from every person, he wouldn't be God. He can't be limited to only one prayer at a time.
1. "Explaining why Catholics pray to saints"; St Paul Seminary web site.
* All quotes are from the New International Version of the Bible.
How do I start a prayer? Who do I pray to? The most obvious answer is you pray to God. The "Lord's Prayer" in Matthew 6:9-13 was the prayer Jesus taught the disciples. He started "Our Father in Heaven" (verse 6). If Jesus taught the disciples to start a prayer with those words, there's no reason we shouldn't do the same.
Is okay to pray to Jesus? Some people do start a prayer by addressing it to Jesus or by saying something like "Dear Lord". This shouldn't be seen as wrong. Jesus is our mediator. "For there is on God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). The other reason this is acceptable is because, as I've stated in another thread, Jesus is God.
Why do people end a prayer saying "in Jesus' name"? Not everyone does, but those who do will probably point you to John 14:13 which states, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so the Father may be glorified in the Son". However, it's also not a necessity to end a prayer this way. For example, the "Lord's Prayer" doesn't and God still honors the requests in that prayer.
What words do I use? There isn't any set words you need to use. You're not giving a speech before an audience or a teacher who will grade your performance. Talk to God just like you'd talk to a friend. Tell him what's going on in your life and ask him for his help. Don't forget to thank him for what he's already done for you.
What if I'm too upset and can't think of what to say? At least start a prayer. Tell God you or someone you know needs help, but you don't know what to say. God already knows what you need so you can say something such as "God you know what's happening. I need your help. Please help me".
Do I need to be in a certain place to pray? No. Whenever you have a need to pray, do it wherever you are.
Do I have to kneel to pray? No. You should if you're able, but that's not always possible. Physical disabilities that prevent a person from kneeling doesn't mean God won't hear their prayers. If you need to pray while driving, working, etc you can't kneel. Again, not being able to kneel doesn't mean God won't hear your prayer.
I need God's help, but I've been told he's too busy. What do I do? Pray to God. He's never "too busy". If it were possible for God not to be able to listen to every prayer from every person, he wouldn't be God. He can't be limited to only one prayer at a time.
What saint do I need to pray to? None. The Catholics believe people should pray to saints because they say those saints "can intercede on their behalf with God due to their closeness to Him" [1]. As mentioned, Jesus is the only person we need as a mediator or to intercede for us. And, contrary to any belief from any denomination, no one Christian is any more special or closer to God than any other Christian. Take your prayer straight to God.
I hope these answers can help someone else who may be asking the same questions. If you have any other questions about prayer, you can ask them as a response to this thread and I'll at least try to find the answer for you.
1. "Explaining why Catholics pray to saints"; St Paul Seminary web site.
* All quotes are from the New International Version of the Bible.
Copyright © 2024 by Sheila Rae Myers