How much time do you spend in prayer?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

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.

Oh ... Glaaaaaaaaaaaawry!!!

[Sister Alvear]

Friends, let us all pray more than we ever have. The devil KNOWS his time is short. Pray at all times, driving the car, washing dishes, while you are working...Prayer is our weapon, from it we recieve our strength and many victories are won before we even get on the battlefield through prayer.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

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

Nice avatar, DA. One of you is really pretty.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

Friends, let us all pray more than we ever have. The devil KNOWS his time is short. Pray at all times, driving the car, washing dishes, while you are working...Prayer is our weapon, from it we recieve our strength and many victories are won before we even get on the battlefield through prayer.

Pray w/o ceasing ....

[SDG]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Nice avatar, DA. One of you is really pretty.

I feel the Holy Ghost up in here.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Nice avatar, DA. One of you is really pretty.

It sho ain't him! He must have a lot of money!

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Rico

It sho ain't him! He must have a lot of money!

LOL!!!!

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

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.

You are correct. It does refer to the inner room. And it does indeed mean that one is to "get out of site" so they can pray without making a show of it. But it also is a means of getting alone with God. Not to be crude, but when a husband and wife have relations, they usually get by themselves. They do not just "do it" as they go through the day. Our relationship with Christ should likewise have some "alone time". Time that we commune with him.

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by Rico

I think it's safe to say we all do. I pray in the shower, in my car, while reading some of these posts around here (), when I lay down to go to sleep, as I watch tv programs that stir me, etc. In my opinion, prayer is more about keeping an open line of communication between myself and God at all times. I see the benefit of a specific set time for on my knees kinda prayer too, so I don't want anyone to take my comment the wrong way. I just think we place too much pressure and emphasis on performance when it comes to prayer. It's easy to believe this lie that we don't pray when all along we've been talking to God during the day.

very true rico, i have always believed it to be a lifestyle rather than an event, dt

[Rico]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

LOL!!!!

I can't get over her eyes. Here she is, lookin all sophisticated, elegant, and what not. And then there's Dan, next to her, lookin like, well, Dan! Just doesn't make any sense to me!