How much time do you spend in prayer?

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

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.

Carry on Daniel. I am not going to go down the bunny trail on this with you. If you believe that all the Apostles did was pray a 5 minute prayer we call the Lords Prayer, then you can continue in that belief.



The funny thing is, I start a thread with the intent to generate a desire for more prayer, and have to try and prove that we should pray more. Go figure.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

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?

I am not trying to make a joke here, but when I am in the shower, in my car, reading these threads, etc., I am alone. In fact, I am sitting in this room alone right now.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

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?

When Jesus told them to shut the door ... it has a broader context, Matt. It deals specifically w/ what MOW addressed in his post about letting the whole world know how much and when we pray.


Before we read these words, it's important to remember that Jesus spoke them in the context of a broader principle; and that broader principle is found in verse 1: "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds [or a better translation would be 'righteous deeds'] before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven." Our Savior is warning us against doing our acts of righteousness out of an unrighteous motive - that is, so that others will see us do them, and applaud us for them and think well of us. He tells us that if we do that, we may receive the temporal thing that we're after - that is, the approval of men; but we will not receive any reward from the Father.
And so in the context of that broader principle, He says;

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" (Matthew 6:5-6).

Also keep in my that there was no closet in most homes back then ... this expression referred to the inner room.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

The funny thing is, I start a thread with the intent to generate a desire for more prayer, and have to try and prove that we should pray more. Go figure.

I think what's really surprising you is that your idea of prayer isn't the same as everyone else's.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

59 views, and only 6 votes. Come on folks. No one can see how you vote. I believe this would be an eye opening statistic to show us where we are as a group.

StMatthew, I believe it's wrong to tell others how much you pray. So I can't answer your poll, even though it is private.

In general, there are days when I spend a little bit of time, and days when I spend a lot. My conversations with God are part of an ongoing, continuous relationship. While I agree that there should be private time set aside, on the other hand, there can be a lot of futile "hallelujah"'s called out by people who are just watching the clock and trying to "get their time in."

I do not teach my children to pray a certain amount of time each day. To me, that would be like teaching them they have to fast a certain number of days each year. I teach them to talk to God every day, to listen to Him every day, and to fast when they feel God is leading them to, or when they need to gain some self-control.

As far as I'm concerned, the carnality that exists in the church today is due in large part to a lack of relationship with God--not a lack of prayer--and that lack of relationship has been helped along by focusing on numbers, rituals, habits, traditions and outward trappings instead of quality time and a God-centered life.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Rico

I am not trying to make a joke here, but when I am in the shower, in my car, reading these threads, etc., I am alone. In fact, I am sitting in this room alone right now.

I'm sure your door is closed when you engage in these activities.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

StMatthew, I believe it's wrong to tell others how much you pray. So I can't answer your poll, even though it is private.

The true context of Matthew 6, Miss Bratt ... some miss it.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I'm sure your door is closed when you engage in these activities.

Well, it would be nice to get through at least one shower without someone opening the door 'cause they have to go to the bathroom, but that is a topic for another thread!

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Carry on Daniel. I am not going to go down the bunny trail on this with you. If you believe that all the Apostles did was pray a 5 minute prayer we call the Lords Prayer, then you can continue in that belief.



The funny thing is, I start a thread with the intent to generate a desire for more prayer, and have to try and prove that we should pray more. Go figure.

I think the point is, Matthew, that telling folks they need to pray a certain amount of minutes per day is not the way to lead them into a prayerful life. It leads them into tradition and ritual.

I agree that we should set aside a special time of day for focusing on God, reading the Word, talking to Him, etc. What I don't agree with is that we should limit that by assigning a time frame. What I have found is that if I am trying to fill up time--that is exactly what I do, but if I just go talk to God until I'm done--the time flies, and often I can spend way more than I first intended. OR, I might be back in the kitchen in just a few minutes.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

StMatthew, I believe it's wrong to tell others how much you pray. So I can't answer your poll, even though it is private.

In general, there are days when I spend a little bit of time, and days when I spend a lot. My conversations with God are part of an ongoing, continuous relationship. While I agree that there should be private time set aside, on the other hand, there can be a lot of futile "hallelujah"'s called out by people who are just watching the clock and trying to "get their time in."

I do not teach my children to pray a certain amount of time each day. To me, that would be like teaching them they have to fast a certain number of days each year. I teach them to talk to God every day, to listen to Him every day, and to fast when they feel God is leading them to, or when they need to gain some self-control.

As far as I'm concerned, the carnality that exists in the church today is due in large part to a lack of relationship with God--not a lack of prayer--and that lack of relationship has been helped along by focusing on numbers, rituals, habits, traditions and outward trappings instead of quality time and a God-centered life.

I agree completely with your whole post!