Prayer Time Quanity or Quality ?

Scott Hutchinson · #1 10-20-2009, 10:06 AM

Prayer is a must for believers,Jesus taught His disciples about prayer and He said when you pray not if you pray.

Sometimes one hears people teach you should pray at least one hour a day and certainly there is get benefit from doing that.
However someone could rush their pray time,just to say they put their hour in and it wouldn't be perhaps thoughtful prayer.

So is quanity more important than quality in prayer,do we need both ?
Is one more important than the other ?

Certaintly time spent in prayer is important.

*AQuietPlace* · #2 10-20-2009, 10:19 AM

I've been thinking lately about the Lord's Prayer. When asked 'teach us how to pray' that was Jesus' response.

Do you think it was a guideline, and he intended for us to expand each thought? Or was it okay to just recite something similar to that? If so, it only takes a few minutes to say the Lord's Prayer. So did Jesus expect everyone to pray for an hour a day, or was it okay to just pray for a few minutes?

Scott Hutchinson · #3 10-20-2009, 10:33 AM

In my opinion The Lord's prayer is a model for prayer,there is benefit from spending time in prayer,and spending large amounts of time in prayer is a blest thing to do.

However I feel thoughful and heartful prayer is more important than the time element.
Prayer should be earnest and heartfelt and should not be done out of obligation and ritual as it should be done because one wants to spend personal time with The Lord.

missourimary · #4 10-20-2009, 10:50 AM

Just an hour of prayer a day, Scott? Tsk, tsk...

I Thes 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

missourimary · #5 10-20-2009, 10:54 AM

I prefer quality time to quantity. But there is a benefit from setting aside a certain time (and/or amount of time) during the day for God.

Michael The Disciple · #6 10-20-2009, 06:05 PM

Very good topic. Nothing is more important than talking to the Lord. The way life is unless I set aside time for prayer I probably wont get to it. Time with Jesus is the most well spent time of anything. We must be diligent seekers.

I mix prayer time with scripture study sometimes. Another thing that can be done is to pray several times through the day. I usually pray 3 times daily. Two of those times are when I am going to and from work. Thats some of my most focused times for some reason.

Pray in the spirit and the understanding. Sometimes my entire session is in tongues. Thats what they are for! Sometimes the session may be part intercession and part praise and worship!

I think I have mentioned before I also do prayerwalking. When I am to fatigued to sit or lay down without falling asleep this is a great way to pray.
I love praying on my knees but I have five compression fractures in my back so it is not often I do anymore.

Keep praying! Pray without ceasing to me means dont give up on prayer!

Jermyn Davidson · #7 10-20-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missourimary

I prefer quality time to quantity. But there is a benefit from setting aside a certain time (and/or amount of time) during the day for God.

I agree with this.

Not every prayer meeting is going to be fiery.

When looking at the passage that talks about Daniel's prayer habits, it simply implies that he prayed according to the routine he had had already established before the decree.

His steady, consistent prayer life was a part of his relationship with God.

His story shows that God will honor consistency, and of course it must be heartfelt by GOD.

Aquila · #8 10-20-2009, 08:56 PM

I think it depends on the nature of the prayer in question. To pray for a need or the need of another often all one has to do is offer prayer in faith and it's done. On rare occasions, as when breaking spiritual strongholds, "pushing through" is necessary and that will take as long as it takes.

On another vein regarding prayer... if one's goal is to be like Jesus one is benefited by the time actually spent in prayer and meditation - speaking to God and meditating upon the word.

You will never become like someone or understand them if you do not spend significant amounts of time with them.

Aquila · #9 10-20-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Very good topic. Nothing is more important than talking to the Lord. The way life is unless I set aside time for prayer I probably wont get to it. Time with Jesus is the most well spent time of anything. We must be diligent seekers.

I mix prayer time with scripture study sometimes. Another thing that can be done is to pray several times through the day. I usually pray 3 times daily. Two of those times are when I am going to and from work. Thats some of my most focused times for some reason.

Pray in the spirit and the understanding. Sometimes my entire session is in tongues. Thats what they are for! Sometimes the session may be part intercession and part praise and worship!

I think I have mentioned before I also do prayerwalking. When I am to fatigued to sit or lay down without falling asleep this is a great way to pray.
I love praying on my knees but I have five compression fractures in my back so it is not often I do anymore.

Keep praying! Pray without ceasing to me means dont give up on prayer!

Beautiful! Amen Michael!

MissBrattified · #10 10-20-2009, 09:45 PM

Good posts, Michael & Aquila.

For your personal prayer time, you need both. You need to talk to God on a regular basis, and it needs to be quality, focused communication. Communication is a two way street, so if you spend the whole time talking, you're missing out. Part of it needs to be meditating on God or on His Word, and giving Him the chance to talk to you.

There are different types and reasons for prayer, but in general, if you want to have a deep relationship with God, you have to spend time with Him. I think prayer becomes more of a burden (chore) when we're less focused on God and just trying to fill in a time slot, or meet an obligation. It shouldn't be obligatory--it should be heartfelt. When the communication is from the heart, God responds in kind, and you'll want to go back, again and again.