How do I pray?

by Country Girl 19 Replies latest jw friends

  • Country Girl
    Country Girl

    I am still praying, all the time, but I am saying at prayer's end: IN JESUS NAME. Do I need to say that since I believe that Jesus and God are one and the same? How does one say a prayer these days

    CG

  • Netty
    Netty

    I pray and teach my kids to pray. We just start off "Dear God" say whatever in the world we want to say, (with the little ones, its help this one help that one, thank you for the food, and thank you for the TOYS) but then whenever we are ready to end, we just say "amen". It took a while for me to untrain myself to not say in Jesus name, and I dont have any belief reasons for not saying it, I just want us to start our own traditions on how to say prayers, and I didnt want anything that sounded jw, so I dropped it. You dont have to say it. Felt akward at first, like not saying "dear Jehovah" to begin the prayer, but after a while it just all comes naturally. You say what you want to say, and when youre done with everything you want to say, you just end and say "amen".

  • blondie
    blondie

    CG, I hear trinitarians say prayers and they address it to God through Jesus' name so I don't think there is a problelm.

    Blondie (hi)

  • Insomniac
    Insomniac

    You can leave out "in Jesus' name" if it doesn't feel right to you. It's unfortunate that so many of us were so stifled by the rules of what we must say, that we find it hard to just talk to God now. God will hear you and will listen to you as long as it's coming from your heart.

  • shotgun
    shotgun

    Hi CG

    Do other religions end they're prayers with..(In the name of)...Just asking...I thought that was a JW thing.

    How about instead of in the name of Jesus...just end it with a Big..... Thank you JESUS

    Teasing aside...if you are to pray as to a friend why would it need to sound formal at all...couldn't it be almost like a conversation...careful that people don't think your talking to yourself again though...crazy Texans

    BTW...you have those beautiful horses and you use a wildabeest as your avatar?

  • LittleToe
    LittleToe

    Prayer isn't just about words.
    When you come to that bit (and there's nothing wrong in that formula) do you say it with real "intent" that it be through him?

    For a while I directed all my prayers to the Son, and still do occasionally. Sometimes I go to the Son before the Father. Othertimes in the manner you've expressed (always, in public prayer).

    I don't call my Father by His first name, though (firstly because it doesn't "feel" right, and not least because "Jehovah" is a made up name).

    There are so many more imaginative titles than "Our dear heavenly father Jehovah...." that I used almost consistently as a JW.

    So basically, do what feels right to you, as guided by the Spirit.

  • El blanko
    El blanko

    A ritualistic prayer only appears to have relevance to the purveyor and may serve as an afirmation of that ones beliefs. My vision of God is that God is omnipresent & omniscient and therefore there is possibly little need to pray in a specific way.

    Ritualistic people tend to grow wearisome to my mind and I am fairly sure that God prefers a genuine and open spirit within communication.

    Using the name Jesus also depends upon your faith and being as you are a Christian, it is probably necessary for the affirmation of your faith to use the name within prayer.

    The Bible obviously points out the relevance of the name Jesus Christ when approaching God.

  • LittleToe
    LittleToe

    U2K:What a shame Jesus broke his own rule, if that were the case...

  • Frannie Banannie
    Frannie Banannie

    Hey, CG! How about talkin' to him like he's a close friend and ask him how HE wants to be addressed if you feel the need to? Personally, I just start talkin' to him (in my mind)....and I know that he knows I'm talkin' to him....how could he not?

    Frannie B

  • simplesally
    simplesally

    My daughter is so cute when she prays. She always starts with Dear Gott (not John Gotti, she means God)........thank you for dis day, for da trees, for my dolls, or whatever else is on her mind. She thanks God for her Mommy and Daddy, her brothers and she even mentions herself by name. If I am praying, and say 'for my daughter' she sneaks in and says, "You forgot 'thank you for Teryn'"

    Then real quick she adds her friends and anybody she can think of and then "Jesus-name-amen" seems like one word.

    I am not sure what her concept of God is yet. She told me he lived in the trees. Then she told me he lives in the sky. She has told me that he is her friend and she misses him, she wants to go visit him. I know that she has heard about death and the concept of living in heaven from kids at school. But, I leave it pretty much alone right now since she is 3. I am not into religious training now.....

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