I love to pray and walk around praying a giving a hug to those that a hurting...but to force someone to pray sounds almost a Hitler type thing to me...
Prayer must come from the heart...I have been in churches that prayer was more a show than a biblical prayer.
That's a constant problem that I've run into. To be honest, it really makes it hard to pray when you've got someone going around scolding people for not being as "spiritual" as they are.
Our pastor encourages us to attend pre-service prayer. It really does help create an atmosphere for the service. Alot of us come in with our mind on our jobs and problems in life, and when you pray...it helps get your thoughts on God and leave everything outside. If not...some it takes all of song service and part of preaching to get their thoughts together. As for being mandatory...it is highly appreciated...my pastor says it helps him...that we are pulling together for the service. But if you are part of the service...song leader, praise singer...he ask that you be there for prayer.
We have been having prayer all night every Friday night for those that can come...I told them IF they can come the church will be open...we have anywhere from 50-80 people praying...They can leave whenever and those that do not live close I fixed a place for them to stay when they get tired. Some pray the full time others pray a while and go rest as they work on Saturday. I usually stay the full time but a couple times returned early as I had such a heavy schedule on Saturday.
One of our sisters has been praying for her natural sister that was into drugs and very steeped in sin...last Sunday her sister came to church and said she wanted to be a christian...
God answers prayers...
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Except for that one sister... ooops.. I better zip it before I get in trouble.
But there is always a few who can't seem to read the writing on the big screens that say 'shut up people are praying'... lol
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
We work under very difficult circumstances and our people as a whole are bused in because they do not own cars. However we that live close many of us are praying before the service...
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Monies to help us may be sent to P.O. Box 797, Jonesville, La 71343.
If it is for one of our direct needs please mark it on the check.
Facebook Janice LaVaun Taylor Alvear
Just as affective as prayer before service is to have a "prayful" atmosphere in the auditorium before service.
Dimmly lit lights, soft music and hushed talking. Those that want to pray in there can or just sit and gather your thoughts and focus on the service that is about to start.
One thing that I HATE is walking into a service and the whole place sounds and looks like a convention. Laughing, kids running around, talking about any and everything!
Sometime walk in your service and pretend you know no one and are a visitor and see how YOU would feel.
I agree with you! I haven't read all the posts so I might repeat someone here... BUT, I believe there should be prayer before every service. Calling on God, praying for the lost, hurting, bound, depressed and so on is detrimental. It's God's anointing that will break the chains that have people bound and the saints of God need to see that need. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (Ja 5 16) Without the saints of God praying for the needs that will be in that service, then people just might not get what they need from God.
Saints also need to sensitive to God by not talking to others and not letting their children run around and play... IMO, you can go outside or in the foyer and talk. Sometimes I think when we've been in church for a while, we forget our desperation, our hunger for God.
And this is another reason I like prayer rooms. As where I think we should be reverent in the sanctuary, visitors may not understand the excitement of prayer and it might make them feel uncomfy...... As where if your church is able to go to prayer rooms, one can pray how they like to pray and the visitor will still feel the incredible, wonderful spirit of God!
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I never met a chocolate I didn't like!
*sigh* I did nothing yesterday.... I wasn't finished so I did nothing again today!
You cannot force people to pray...you invite them to pray...
Exactly.
Our church has pre-service prayer.... not mandatory, but expected-- especially of leadership and those who are on the platform during service.
We also have prayer meeting on Tuesday nights... The sad thing is that out of a church that runs about 160-180 on Sundays.. there are rarely more than 25 of us who show up regularly for prayer meetings.
I've heard my pastor say that he often wonders what kind of prayer life people have if they can't show up for prayer meeting....
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