The right way to pray

[Gypsy Feet]

A friend of mine's mother went to the hospital this week, it was fairly serious. I wanted to say a prayer for her, because it seems like that's what people do. I have only very recently began infantile attempts at talking to God, and I almost always feel stupid. So I started and then thought:
'This woman is a good christian by all accounts, why would you listen to me above her. I have never met her. I am not on real solid grounds with You. I am SURE she is praying herself, and that she has a much better idea of how to go about it. And lastly, aren't you already watching over her, and what ever the outcome of her surgery, isn't it suppose to be part of Your plan?"

Today someone I like very much posted a frightening thing she is going through on the forums. I wanted to say "You are in my prayers", but I can't, because frankly, I suck at praying at the moment. I feel bad asking God for favors, and I think I still harbor some resentment that the answers I get, I may not like.
Any suggestions?

[Rusty Zipper]

hey lisa, one thing i have come to see is...

it never mattered what i believed, felt, or thought about God...

what only matters is...

God believes in us...

for me, IMO, learning how to pray "rightly" takes a bit of time, we have to learn to not ask for favors, just to pray for the outcome in Gods hands...

good, bad, or indifferent...

prayers out to your friends lisa...

[Ann]

lisa, it helps me pray to just talk to God like an old friend, saying what is in my heart, because he knows my intention already.

Something my favourite author, Melody Beattie, once wrote touched my heart...she said "Pray for anything you want to, God will sort out the junk".

That thought just made it a lot easier for me.

Hugs

[jurneyman]

Praying within the same framework as the previous post's. When I say a prayer for someone, It is usually asking my Higher Power to grant strength and courage wherever it is needed, not only for the person that is afflicted, but also their family, who in some ways need those prayers as much if not more.

[grateful2b]

Lisa, I believe that God Loves all of us equally, and hears and answers all our prayers, however they come to him...

It is the "heart" in our prayers, that is important, I feel..
my way of talking to God is nothing fancy, and mostly inner conversation throughout my day, and always answered, (in His time of course)!

[indigo]

Yes I believe too a power stronger than myself can and does intervene and i talk casually to my HP as I would a trusted friend.

[justanothrdrunk]

For me, any activity which brings my HP's presence in my life to the forefront of my mind is prayer.

ANY activity.

[freya]

Oh, Lisa, your post makes me very sad!

As others have said, God loves you and listens to you no matter how you pray!

I have a friend who was in a cloistered convent (living in prayer and meditation with no contact with the outside world except for a few letters per year) for 35 years. She decided to leave the convent, and the first time I actually met with her after she came out, somehow in our conversation we were talking about certain ritual behaviors that are part of the Catholic mass, and I can't remember exactly what I said, but I was totally shocked when she just kinda giggled and said: "Well, you know, God doesn't care one way or the other about any of that." Now, I happen to believe that, but I surely didn't expect that she would -- it was really amazing to me that someone who had spent all of that time in a Catholic convent would say that. But, really, she has spent most of her life talking to God, so my guess is that she's in a much better position to know than most people!!!!!

For me, I feel like anytime I'm trying to connect with HP in any way -- even if I'm cussing HP out -- I am praying....and my guess is that HP listens especially carefully to "new" pray-ers, like yourself, and is "thrilled" that you are making the effort to connect with Him/Her. Just keep up the good work, and keep trying different methods of prayer until you find what works for you and what you feel comfortable with...and you will find things that work for you and that you feel comfortable with if you keep working on it. It really is worth it, because God is listening.

freya

[Missybuns]

I keep my prayers simple. I was led to this suggestion by someone I have met in recovery and it has been very comforting and effective.

I pray for only three things, for everyone and for myself.

I pray for courage, strength and guidance


Sincerely,
Missy

[citychick]

A lot of the time, for me, words of prayer detract from the actual communion with my HP. I seem to pray in mental impressions or 'pictures'.

And knowing that God understands my spirit 'groans' as well as it's joy is a great comfort.

[north]

I received some very basic recommendations for someone who was both uncertain and maybe even self-conscious about prayer:

- Try kneeling before your bed, and if you have trouble finding the right words, think about the day you had for a few seconds, reflect, and simply say "Thank you".

- He also recommended placing your keys and wallet under your bed. Why? In the morning, you'll naturally look down to retrieve them, and in the perfect position to say a small prayer before starting the day.

In the beginning, I drew upon the memories of my childhood and would simply recite Pater noster (the Lord's Prayer). Nowadays, I sometimes add the Prayer of St. Francis.

[serenityqueen]

I was raised in the Catholic Church, went to Catholic school until the 5th grade. When I first tried to get clean and stay clean many years ago, the HP "thing" and Prayer were the biggest obstacles to me. I was taught to fear God, raised on the 10 Commandments and thought that Prayer was simply repeating the Lord's Prayer over and over again. Maybe a few Hail Mary's thrown in just to be safe.

When I began working on the Steps with a woman who was my Sponsor, when the topic of Prayer came up, she could tell by the look on my face that I was really confused and troubled by this. I had to admit to her that I had no idea how to Pray. She smiled, put her hand on mine and asked me, "If you could talk to your HP right now, what would you say to Him?" I told her and in her loving way, she said, "You just Prayed,dummy."

I Pray several times throughout the day. I have a morning Program that I do each and every day. This includes reading from my meditation books, reflecting on what I just read and getting my morning spiritual fix. I thank God for waking up another day, clean and sober again. I ask God to help me deal with and accept whatever may be troubling me at that time and to get me through this day without feeling the need to pick up. During the day, if I hear a bird singing, I thank Him for it, being able to appreciate the beauty of it's song.

As many have said, Praying, to me, is just a conversation with my HP. As far as your Mom's friend, you can Pray for her to accept His will, that her pain (if any) be minimal and that she feels the comfort of His love for her. There is no right or wrong way to Pray. I don't think God has a scorecard, grading us on how we Pray.

Finally, I don't Pray for material things like I used to. . . you know, the old Prayers to win the lottery. I no longer bargain with God, "If you get me out of this situation, I will never . . . " I Pray that I am able to accept His will, I Pray to be able to realize the difference in the things that I can or cannot change. Most of all, I Pray that I continue to have the strength to not feel the need to pick up, Just for Today.

Judy

[Rusty Zipper]

I no longer bargain with God

SQ, around here, there was a store called, Bargain World

it went out of business...