How much time do you spend in prayer?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Altho at times it may vary usually 3 times a day for around 30 minutes each time. Regular prayer is the most important thing I know. Why? Because its fellowshipping with Jesus.

Sounds perfect.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Prayer defined as follows:

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.


I am basically talking about a definite time that you set aside to pray, not just talking to God throughout the day.

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

This prayer would take less than 5 minutes to make.

I assume if we just recite it this would be the case. But one could spend countless hours and never leave verse 9 if they use it as a guideline.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

This prayer would take less than 5 minutes to make.

I have prayed that prayer and the 23rd Psalm for years. One night a year or two ago, the verse of the 23rd Psalm that says, He restoreth my soul, really hit my heart. How marvelous is that one verse. My soul is now restored from darkness to light, from sin to salvation. It is restored to the way it was before sin ever claimed it. Praise the Lord, that is enough to make you shout.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

Yeah, yeah I know. I like to hear and watch her teach too. As long as she is in the Word I have no problem with her and others.

I will give JM credit for one thing: She does give some practical advice for daily living. That's the best I can do for ya on her!

[SDG]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I think that as a general rule, most of us do have secret prayer for 1 hour a day. I would say many do not have a specific 30 minutes that we give only to God in prayer. To me this is tells the tale of why we are seeing so little deep spiritual growth in the OP movement in general.

I think think the reason litte "deep spiritual growth" in the OP movement deals more w / shallow teaching w/ little emphasis on daily Christian living ... which would include prayer among other things

[SDG]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I assume if we just recite it this would be the case. But one could spend countless hours and never leave verse 9 if they use it as a guideline.

Very possible that one could and at times do just that ... but it does seem that Jesus was answering a question as to how should we pray ... and that's what they got ... a sample prayer.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Rico

Another point that just came to mind is that some people may need that structured type of praying to make them feel like they've prayed. That's cool too.

Rico, Jesus commanded that "when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly". It is obvious that he expected us to pray (When thou prayest). It is also his instruction that we get alone (enter thy closet) and pray, and close out the world (shut thy door). We have a promise that God will hear our secret prayer, and reward us openly.

I am not trying to promote a ritualistic time of prayer. But how many of us go through the day praying as Rico stated he does, yet never take a definite time to be alone with the lover of our soul?

[Cindy]

But the disciples couldn't stay awake and watch when Jesus went to the garden to pray.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I think think the reason litte "deep spiritual growth" in the OP movement deals more w / shallow teaching w/ little emphasis on daily Christian living ... which would include prayer among other things

Maybe my thread can be a help to promote a better daily Christian life for us OP's?

[Rico]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I think that as a general rule, most of us do have secret prayer for 1 hour a day. I would say many do not have a specific 30 minutes that we give only to God in prayer. To me this is tells the tale of why we are seeing so little deep spiritual growth in the OP movement in general.

I can see what you are saying. However, speaking for myself, I have grown more from studying the Word of God than because of my prayer life. As I have already stated, prayer is more about keeping an open line of communication between me and God at all times, regardless of circumstances. I don't pray to get anything from God. I pray just to talk with Him, share my feelings, give Him thanks, that sorta stuff. I know that there's power in prayer and that it can be used to get things from Him (healings, miracles, direction, etc), but getting something from Him isn't my reason for praying.