Reflections and insights from life(prayer)

[Anonymous]

I have noticed a considerable difference between my prayers when I compare my spiritual peaks with my valleys. During my valleys my prayers are short, inconsistent , unfocused, self-focused, random, something that’s secondary not primary, and I feel distant. During my peaks my prayers are long, done all throughout the day, and I pour out my heart for others. They carry a spirit of humility, gratitude, joy and an amazing stillness of peace. I’m submissive and receptive to God. I often meditate before, during, or after I pray. Its in these prayers that I have had my most profound spiritual experiences and blessings. How about you what have you notice about prayer in your life? Is it more important to pray in the right order of format or in the right spirit?

What has worked for you to lift you out of the low valleys up to those peaks?

[Anonymous]

I have pretty much always felt like my prayers bounce off the ceiling, and I cannot point to one instance where I could testify that I believed a prayer was answered. Intensity, frequency, fasting, etc., seem to make no difference at all. Prayer was/is a crucial part of my faith crisis. While I do feel what I believe is the influence of the Spirit, it is rarely associated with prayer, however, I do sometimes find some sort of comfort in prayer.

This is not to say that others don’t have good experiences with prayer or that the prayers of others are not answered. Your experiences are yours, mine are mine. I do believe that some people have different experiences with prayer than I do.

Here is a thread I started about prayer last summer: http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5840” class=”bbcode_url”>http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5840

And this one is kind of related: http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5817” class=”bbcode_url”>http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5817

[Edited to fix the first link and add a second]

[Anonymous]

My experience is closer to DJ. There is only one time where I can say I prayed and I felt something that I would consider an answer to that prayer.

I am not saying I have not had any other spiritual experiences, but if I put on my rational cap and remove my “try and have faith” I can’t say I am one that is blessed with being able to receive answers to prayers. I am rather envious of those that do, but since I have my rational cap on, I do sometimes wonder if others really are able to commune with God.

I still do pray often, I bit less often at night in the morning. But I do still have prayer “conversations” throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

I have had some really powerful experiences with prayer – but the vast majority have been casting thoughts upward with no noticeable return.

There is nothing I can identify as something that would explain the difference. I have come to the conclusion that I need to experience the countless unanswered to be there when the powerful few occur – but I also understand, accept and respect the fact that others never experience the powerful despite everything else in their lives being the same as or even traditionally more in line than mine.

This is one case where I am completely comfortable saying about the why of it all, “I don’t know.”

[Anonymous]

Levi714 wrote:

What has worked for you to lift you out of the low valleys up to those peaks?

Time?

I think we’re meant to experience valleys and peaks. How could you tell you were in a valley if you had never experienced a peak, or the converse, how could you tell you were at a peak if you had never experienced a valley? Both serve their function and sometimes when we’re in a valley the only thing we can do is tell ourselves that “this too shall pass.” …but here’s the thing, we were able to recognize we were in a valley.

Another way to look at it… we can’t always be “on.” We experience life and life is all about the ebb and flow of various conflicting priorities.

Levi714 wrote:

Is it more important to pray in the right order of format or in the right spirit?

Hey, if there’s a wrong way to pray I don’t want to know about it. Who is to say what the right order is? Especially if I make a successful connection in an “unconventional” manner.

Sometimes when I want an internet connection I don’t really care whether DHCP assigns me an IP or if I’m using a static IP address, I don’t care which DNS I’m connected to, etc. I just care whether or not a connection is established. Now to destroy the point I was trying to make, in some circumstances I actually might care about those things. :crazy:

I guess the main point is that the connection itself is the most important thing and that might require me to either change the order or format or it might require me to adjust the spirit in which I approach things. I also have to be prepared to not get connections from time to time… and that doesn’t always translate to me doing things in the wrong order or in the wrong spirit.

[Anonymous]

I think we try to pigeon-hole the connection possibilities too much – often because we assume that what works for us will or should work for everyone else.

That applies to FAR more than just prayer.

[Anonymous]

For me the connection between these two states and prayer is there. In reflection I wouldn’t say that my prayers create the spirit as often as the spirit creates the prayer. To be honest and open I struggle with depression, I find it much easier to forgive others then I would find forgiving myself. My demons from my past come back in dreams or memories pulling at me trying to bring me down. And my demons in my present state try and keep me from moving forward trying to make it seem that I’m unworthy of staying in Gods grace. Its a constant battle for me. When my whole being grasps God’s love for me this is when for me things begin to change my world begins to brighten up and my prayers seem to change. I realize that God loves me for who I am and not the conditions this life has dealt me. In those time where I have messed up some times really badly and sinned its His love that brings me back and brings me to a state of true repentance. I have a picture on my wall illustrating Romans 8:31-39 to remind me.

“31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

[Anonymous]

That’s cool, levi714.

I am really glad you have found something that helps with depression. That isn’t easy to do, and it’s a real blessing.

[Anonymous]

Prayer has always been part of my life tool kit. I have now grown to a running conversation with God. Someday’s it is me complaining, hurting, grieving. Other’s it’s full of chat. Other’s are gratitude days. Even during crisis, I have poured my heart out. Prayer and breathing work for me. That said, my husband was a prayer and finally said, no thanks. He figures this life is up to us.

Levi wrote

Quote:

I find it much easier to forgive others then I would find forgiving myself. My demons from my past come back in dreams or memories pulling at me trying to bring me down. And my demons in my present state try and keep me from moving forward trying to make it seem that I’m unworthy of staying in Gods grace. Its a constant battle for me. When my whole being grasps God’s love for me this is when for me things begin to change my world begins to brighten up and my prayers seem to change. I realize that God loves me for who I am and not the conditions this life has dealt me. In those time where I have messed up some times really badly and sinned its His love that brings me back and brings me to a state of true repentance.

I get this. I can’t explain all the prayer workings, but I believe that if it helps keep doing it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing. Depression can be tough to deal with and I’m glad you found something that works for you. Understand, however, that just because something works for you doesn’t mean it works the same way for everybody else. Prayer certainly is an important part of life and the relationship with God for many people, but for others it just doesn’t work the same way.

[Anonymous]

I think prayer can help focus and sharpen the mind.

Especially in today’s world of constant stimulation and distraction…closing my eyes, being still, and thinking (meditating) is good to focus my mind.

I could see it helping people with depression, if it brings hope. Sometimes we need to believe in power beyond ourselves to help lift us to a higher state, and away from depression and lack of movement.

But I also know depression is more complex and chemical based for many. I would never generalize that someone with depression just needs to pray and they’ll get over it. While that works for some forms of mild or temporary depressed states, someone with serious depression needs professional help and medication and skills to overcome it.

It’s pretty hard for me to see any kind of patterns in my life related to prayer. Peaks, valleys, prayer, no prayer…just no confidence in any correlation.

Prayer is more internal than external, more spiritual and mental than anything to do with the physical realm.

[Anonymous]

Heber13 wrote:

I think prayer can help focus and sharpen the mind.

Especially in today’s world of constant stimulation and distraction…closing my eyes, being still, and thinking (meditating) is good to focus my mind.

I could see it helping people with depression, if it brings hope. Sometimes we need to believe in power beyond ourselves to help lift us to a higher state, and away from depression and lack of movement.

But I also know depression is more complex and chemical based for many. I would never generalize that someone with depression just needs to pray and they’ll get over it. While that works for some forms of mild or temporary depressed states, someone with serious depression needs professional help and medication and skills to overcome it.

It’s pretty hard for me to see any kind of patterns in my life related to prayer. Peaks, valleys, prayer, no prayer…just no confidence in any correlation.

Prayer is more internal than external, more spiritual and mental than anything to do with the physical realm.

Having a very close relative who has suffered with depression for many years, I agree with this. It’s just like trying to pray the gay away – it won’t work. That doesn’t mean there’s no benefit, but there is not necessarily a direct correlation. Same for the peaks and valleys, as I already said. I do think payer is much more about and for us than it is for and about God.

[Anonymous]

Heber13 wrote:

I think prayer can help focus and sharpen the mind.

Especially in today’s world of constant stimulation and distraction…closing my eyes, being still, and thinking (meditating) is good to focus my mind.

I could see it helping people with depression, if it brings hope. Sometimes we need to believe in power beyond ourselves to help lift us to a higher state, and away from depression and lack of movement.

I really like what you said. Especially the part about belief that God will help lift us to a higher state.

[Author]

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