I was taking our 10 year old to school this morning and he was nervous about a canoe trip/field trip. I asked him "do you want me to pray for you and the other kids?" He said "yes, but you are driving how can you pray?" I replied..."Jesus hears us whenever or however we pray. I don't need to bow my head or close my eyes to pray". "In fact the Bible doesn't mention how to pray, but Jesus looked to the heavens when he prayed before the day he dies".

 

So I prayed for him and got home and told Momma about this and she said "I always pray when you are driving".

 

Paul tells us to kneel and lift up hands when we pray.

 

How about you? Do you think we have to "bow our head and close our eyes? I once told my sunday school clas to "bow your eyes".

No, you don't have to take any special body posture or close your eyes. It may help you to focus, and that is fine, but you don't have to. I often pray while driving, showering, doing yard work, or during many other daily activities. It is a conversation with God and he knows my prayer whether I say it out loud or silently.

 

So I say there is no SOP for prayer.

I was taking our 10 year old to school this morning and he was nervous about a canoe trip/field trip. I asked him "do you want me to pray for you and the other kids?" He said "yes, but you are driving how can you pray?" I replied..."Jesus hears us whenever or however we pray. I don't need to bow my head or close my eyes to pray". "In fact the Bible doesn't mention how to pray, but Jesus looked to the heavens when he prayed before the day he dies".

 

So I prayed for him and got home and told Momma about this and she said "I always pray when you are driving".

 

Paul tells us to kneel and lift up hands when we pray.

 

How about you? Do you think we have to "bow our head and close our eyes? I once told my sunday school clas to "bow your eyes".

 

This is really nice.

I try to pray unceasing as we are called to do and that takes many different forms. Here are some I can think of.

 

Sometimes when the setting is right, I do kneel.

This morning at 5:00 AM while standing in the front yard looking at the stars in the sky while the dog was going about his business, I prayed to God staring up at the stars holding a leash.

At meals, I bow my head and remove my hat.

White driving, I pray like I am holding a running conversation in my head with God.

One of my favorites is in the hammock on a nice evening with a prayer conversation with God that he iniates through my reading of Scripture.

I have written in a prayer journal.

I have said prayers out loud during communion and during a parent's prayer meeting for our children.

I have prayed through song with my hands outstretched to the heavens above.

I have said quiet prayers over the heads of my sleeping children.

I have held my wife in my arms and said prayers of thanksgiving.

While standing and hugging a close friend, family member or student, I have said prayers of comfort upon the loss of a loved one or devastating news.

And as I typed this, I received a chain email asking for prayers.

Which makes me think of prayers I have typed on BGP.

I think that there are times to pray "in posture" if you will, othertimes I just like to rap with God, both are extremely effective.

ladies coach --nice reply ----To answer the original question ---- "early and often" LB

I think that there are times to pray "in posture" if you will, othertimes I just like to rap with God, both are extremely effective.

 

:thumb:

 

I agree. I think sometimes it's nice (and important) for us to kneel (for example) just to show with our actions and not just words that we're putting ourself before God in a manner that is saying, "Here I am...I'm bowing to you, I give my life into your care because I know you can take better care and do more with it than I can on my own." Something like that...

 

But, also like you, I don't think it's necessary to do that every single time.

 

Most importantly I think we just need to be honest with God. If we're frustrated, discouraged, etc., with the way things are going then we should bring that to Him in honesty. Or if we're happy about something, we should let Him know it.

How do I pray? I pray facing the Kaaba in Mecca, five times a day.

I think that there are times to pray "in posture" if you will, othertimes I just like to rap with God, both are extremely effective.

 

:thumb:

I pray mostly to myself when ever I feel the need to say something. I like best to look at the clouds and say what is on my mind and to give thanks for what I recieved.

How do I pray? One day at a time, that's how. Thank God I'm alive and where I am, because it sure could be worse. I'm forever thankful and forever curious of His ways.

I look to Matthew on prayer...Matt. 6:5-13

 

5"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

A prayer should come from the heart and the meaning should be real.

^^^ you are so right. Sometimes I do the prayer for the offering. And one time I was asked and I sat there for 15 minutes practicing my prayer.

 

When it was time for me to go and pray I got to the Mike and looked at everyone and went blank. I just closed my eyes and prayed from heart. I said never again will I "practice my prayer". The next time I just went up there and did it.

 

Sometimes at church we will gather around someone and pray as a group. This is hard for me because I'd hate to start at the sametime as someone else...so now when we do this I go first.

When you pray it is not necessarily the position of your body but the position of your heart. Your heart must be in a humble state as well as your mind. If not it doesn't make no difference where,how,when, or anything. God wants us to be humbled and in a thankful state when we are addressing him.