Tell me how to pray?

[bonthan]

Christians, teach me how to pray? What image do you have in your head when you pray and should you visualize God when you pray? And please respect my belief and don't come here to rain on anyone's parade with your "God is not real" lecture, I don't need it. Atheists are welcome to tell me what they know, just no religious arguments.

[Replicon]

Maybe it's just that I've been reading about the prayer habits of other cultures and belief systems, but it seems to me that the big thing christians fail at when it comes to prayer, is proper breathing. They just completely ignore breath altogether. I would consider incorporating breath properly.

[bonthan]

Hmm. I never knew that, but I read in the Bible that you meditate when you pray which probably include proper breathing, like a form of meditation. Thanks Replicon. Keep the suggestions coming please, I'm so new at this.

[Sandform]

It depends on what your desire is when praying. If your intent is to be closer to your god then you have two options. The first is to close the door to your room and go over to some area where you can kneel and position yourself in a pleading position either with your hands up in the air or in a bowing position with your hands clasped together. Some people also place their hands together and kneel over their bed. With this option you speak to your god verbally or mentally depending on which you prefer. Doing this will give you a sense of relief, which is usually what religious people take as a sign that god has listened to and reflected upon whatever it is you're saying to him or her. At this point you can feel confident that you've felt what other people feel when they say they're close to God and Jesus. The second option is to pray in a group. Group prayer is usually offered during church. Doing this, like anything done in a group, makes you feel more assured that you'll get whatever you're looking for. Hearing religious stories can even give you a tingle that most people refer to as God touching their hearts. You've probably already felt it before when you heard something like Martin Luther Kings famous speech or listened to the national anthem. When you feel this you'll know you're doing prayer right. If you're looking for your god to grant wishes then I suggest that you do either of the previous things but also threaten him or her or by saying something like "or I'll become a Muslim," or if you are Jewish sacrifice a lamb. Nah, I'm just kidding, I don't know what people do when they pray for stuff, I do know that right before a test I see the kids who didn't study put their hands together on the desk and closing their eyes really hard when I was in grade school. So I guess if you want things you can do that.

[Serentripity]

I am not a Christian, however I have recently become fascinated with the similarities between prayer and conscious manifestation. Understanding that we live in an attraction-based universe, the tone, or vibration, or feeling that you have when you are praying is what will be echoed back by God, or the Universe (bear with me as I try to navigate translations between belief structures, lol). Therefore, it stands to reason that if your mode of praying is begging, or feeling unworthy before God, the tone of your prayer is one of not having what you are praying for, and the tone is what is returned. For example: There is a huge difference between the tone of "God, my life is so difficult right now, I'm barely making enough money to survive. Please God, if I could only get a job that pays more, I would be happy." and "God, I am doing the best that I can with what money I am making, and I am grateful for these things which I have learned from the experience of having less than I would like to have. I know that You have already provided opportunities for me to improve my situation, and I wish Your guidance in finding them.". Personally, I believe that the most effective method of prayer is to joyfully and gratefully behave as though you already have what you are praying for - thank God for the opportunity to want it, be grateful for the contrast that not having it has provided you, and truly allow yourself to experience the joy of having it! Like the Native American concept of a rain dance - dance as though it is already raining, stomp in the puddles, vividly imagine the feel of the rain on your skin, lose yourself in the joy it brings you, the gratitude you feel for it - allow the prayer itself to lift your spirits before there is even any sign of it being answered. I believe that ALL prayers are answered... though if the sender is not aware of the tone of their prayers, they would appear not to be. I see it kind of like an echo. You can't cry "MY LIFE SUCKS!" into a canyon and expect it to echo back "HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS!" Every thought we have, every word we speak, every action we take IS a prayer. God doesn't stop listening when we get off our knees, so be aware that you are not working against your prayers during the rest of your day! Every bit of energy that flows thru us is reflected back upon us - always put out what you want to get back, hold close the joy of having your prayers answered, and don't let yourself dwell on "what sucks about now"! Also, I don't think that the position you are in matters very much to God - but hey, He loves you no matter what you do, so pick one that you like and I'm sure He'll be cool with it! In peace and love - and absolutely adoring the connections between faiths!!