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The nature of prayer

Often times I wonder what my own nature of prayer is. Is it more of a commune with God, or is it more of 'I expect God to act in this situation'?

I'm beginning to believe it's more of a commune, but my wonder is then, why do I still pray for things? Why do I still at times pray for God to do that form of acting?

I watched a friend die in front of me and I was praying "God, keep her alive, I know you can because you're God" etc etc.

She died and it shook me and my nature of prayer, like, how I view prayer, up.

Does anyone have anything similar with prayer? Maybe prayer for something major that didn't happen like myself? Or Prayers that were answered in a completely different way?

8 years ago by Atilly with 7 comments

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  • shannondoah
    +3

    You might find Origen's On Prayer to be a useful text!

    • Atilly
      +3

      Absolutely!

      • shannondoah
        +2

        Also, Aquinas' On Prayer and the Contemplative life(if you are interested in orthodox Western Christian perspectives on prayer):How do you think it would be?

        Here is a link to a Project Gutenberg ebook of it.

    • Wockle
      +1

      "Since therefore it is so great an undertaking to write about prayer, in order to think and speak worthily of so great a subject, we need the special illumination of the Father, and the teaching of the first born Word himself, and the inward working of the Spirit" -Origen On Prayer, thanks for sharing, very helpful.

  • moottranslation
    +2

    I've definitely had doubts or concerns about prayer. This piece by CS Lewis has helped me a great deal with my prayer life.

    When something so traumatic invades our life, it's easy to be shaken. And it's totally okay to confused or have doubts.

  • Wockle
    +2

    Thanks for opening up like this. I think this is going to be something we all struggle with as life and especially death is scary. But I think it's important to remember to pray to our Father. Knowing he will take care of us and that he is inside us hurting with us as his very nature is love towards us which expresses outwards to all. You are to pray for all around you as the spirit which is in you expresses compassion and your hands and feet will follow. Much easier said than done however as our fallen nature fights against this. So we are to encourage each other which is why we are here :) We are in good hands.

    • ClarkKent
      +3

      I believe prayer is my private time with God and when I pray with other people its like bringing him to the forefront, I love praying and thanking God through the ups and downs. Sometimes I feel like their are plenty of downs but I still thank him because I know it will get better. I think in the end, everything works for the good of God. I have seen bad things happen to good people, and sometimes that person has a choice to let the bad thing define them or to make them stronger.