What is prayer--really?

[Ginny Pamplin]

I woke up this morning thinking about the little old lady in that commercial "I've fallen and I can't get up!" Wondering if she were still alive---and why we all thought that was so funny. For some reason it touched off a urge to pray in me, and it was a rather different sort of praying this morning. It seems I have many forms of prayer--which led me to ponder again what IS prayer, really?

[Paula]

To me, prayer is simply talking to God, whether Father, Son or Holy Spirit. Just as we have many different types of conversations with our friends and family, so we have many different types of conversations with God. Honestly, I don't even like to call it 'prayer' because that makes it seem different somehow than just me talking to God. And it seems like I, personally, associate prayer with when I used to ask God for various things and felt my prayers were unanswered and maybe He was ignoring me. I looked at the whole process differently then so now I like to not refer to it as prayer. In fact, after coming out of the church, I would have to be honest and admit that I couldn't 'pray' so to speak. I had to get away from that mindset. I was content, but I think I had to learn how to talk to God honestly. It's not that I didn't talk to Him at all, but it was different somehow. I know this probably makes no sense.

In my little mind when I think of talking to God, rather than praying, I can talk to Him about my concerns or joys or thoughts or appreciation or whatever at any time. It's not like I have to go into a 'prayer closet' or get down on my knees or have prayer time. I can invite Him to help me in any way He chooses, I can invite Him to enlighten me, I can simply talk it out by talking it over. It's a whole different mindset for me and this may not make any sense to anyone else, but I enjoy it much more than what I used to think of as 'praying'. Now if there's something I need to hash out with God, I may seclude myself, just as I would if I had something to hash out with a person. Otherwise, I just talk to Him and sometimes I even listen. :-) Hopefully, I'll get better at that.

[Lesa Cox]

conversation with God.. a spiritual connection.. wow this is really interesting. thnking....HUMMM

[Ginny Pamplin]

The same thing happened to me, Paula, when I left a traditional church setting--prayer somehow changed. When I was in church, there would be times when I would pray out loud with my brothers and sisters, and part of me would be concerned about how my prayer sounded--was it scriptural? was it spiritual? would I be rebuked later?Even as all those thoughts came, part of me KNEW there was something wrong with that picture. I like the way you describe talking to God honestly--to me that is the heart of prayer. I had this very romantic notion that after I had forsaken all and followed Jesus outside of the traditional church setting, that our communication would be constant and continually sweet....maybe because the happiest times I have ever known have been those moments when my heart beats in time with His and it only semed fitting that He reward me with that which my heart desired most--a tangible sense of His Presence(since then I have learned alot about what's really all about Him and what is NOT!).My romantic notions did not materialize, tho.My prayer life changed from a recitation of scriptures to something fluid as water and as capricious as the wind. It puzzles me, and that is why I was asking for input from my fellow travelers. Thank you!
Paula said:

To me, prayer is simply talking to God, whether Father, Son or Holy Spirit. Just as we have many different types of conversations with our friends and family, so we have many different types of conversations with God. Honestly, I don't even like to call it 'prayer' because that makes it seem different somehow than just me talking to God. And it seems like I, personally, associate prayer with when I used to ask God for various things and felt my prayers were unanswered and maybe He was ignoring me. I looked at the whole process differently then so now I like to not refer to it as prayer. In fact, after coming out of the church, I would have to be honest and admit that I couldn't 'pray' so to speak. I had to get away from that mindset. I was content, but I think I had to learn how to talk to God honestly. It's not that I didn't talk to Him at all, but it was different somehow. I know this probably makes no sense.

In my little mind when I think of talking to God, rather than praying, I can talk to Him about my concerns or joys or thoughts or appreciation or whatever at any time. It's not like I have to go into a 'prayer closet' or get down on my knees or have prayer time. I can invite Him to help me in any way He chooses, I can invite Him to enlighten me, I can simply talk it out by talking it over. It's a whole different mindset for me and this may not make any sense to anyone else, but I enjoy it much more than what I used to think of as 'praying'. Now if there's something I need to hash out with God, I may seclude myself, just as I would if I had something to hash out with a person. Otherwise, I just talk to Him and sometimes I even listen. :-) Hopefully, I'll get better at that.

[Ginny Pamplin]

Thanks Lesa, fo r thinking about the subject. It is heavy on my heart right now and input is welcomed!

Lesa Cox said:

conversation with God.. a spiritual connection.. wow this is really interesting. thnking....HUMMM

[Paula]

Ginny Pamplin said:

When I was in church, there would be times when I would pray out loud with my brothers and sisters, and part of me would be concerned about how my prayer sounded--was it scriptural? was it spiritual? would I be rebuked later?Even as all those thoughts came, part of me KNEW there was something wrong with that picture.

That's why I got to the point where I just wouldn't pray out loud. I found I would focus on how I sounded to others - how absurd. Am I talking to them or to God - and what are they doing listening anyway - as if what I'm saying should be so important!! I felt like a Pharisee, it just seemed like I couldn't help myself. It made me feel fake, even though I knew my heart was connected to and longed only for God. There was a lot about church that was more about what others thought than about what God thought, including from myself. I couldn't stand it!

[Ginny Pamplin]

You hit the nail on the head, Paula. What bothered me the most was the level of acceptance of that kind of behavior...like it was normal or expected. Like the rush to be the first one to find a Scripture in church because after all, I am a good student trained in the Word! Pharisee indeed!Once I tried to share these things with my then pastor...let's just say he didn't get where I was coming from...I don't think he'd ever even visited the neighborhood. I know tho that there are times when this communication with the Holy One needs to come out vocally because sound can be a powerful thing. I don't know. I just know there is something...there....

Paula said:

Ginny Pamplin said:

When I was in church, there would be times when I would pray out loud with my brothers and sisters, and part of me would be concerned about how my prayer sounded--was it scriptural? was it spiritual? would I be rebuked later?Even as all those thoughts came, part of me KNEW there was something wrong with that picture.

That's why I got to the point where I just wouldn't pray out loud. I found I would focus on how I sounded to others - how absurd. Am I talking to them or to God - and what are they doing listening anyway - as if what I'm saying should be so important!! I felt like a Pharisee, it just seemed like I couldn't help myself. It made me feel fake, even though I knew my heart was connected to and longed only for God. There was a lot about church that was more about what others thought than about what God thought, including from myself. I couldn't stand it!

[Keren]

To me prayer is mainly, but not limited to, any active attempt to communicate with our creator, and any attempt to listen to our creator. When I make intentional prayers I try to keep them in the name of Jesus..in the name of Love.

Reading scripture is prayer to me, writing my heart-thougths and reading yours is prayer to me.
I love to pray outloud by myself and with and for others...

I hope it doesnt sound vain,
but I love to hear the sound of my voice when I pray and read scriptures outloud.
I like to think that it is not really Keren's voice,
but the "voice of the ages"
crying out for the same wants and needs people have always had and always will;
proclaiming the same scriptures that have been proclaimed for thousands of years,
praising and being thankful for the beauty and the blessings we receive.

I like to imagine that the words vibrate throughout the universe and touch people and places and creatures and creations that I may never see or know.

We pray the "Sanctus" at Mass.. and it represents the heavens opening up and all the angels and saints, our deceased friends and loved ones, all heavenly creatures praying together with us - transcending time and space... "holy holy holy Lord, God of power God of might, heaven and earth are full of your Glory, Hosannah in the Highest. Hosanah in the Highest!" gives me goose bumps!

I spend a heck of a lot of time in silence. Not just when i set aside a special time, but pretty much anytime I am alone - which lately has been alot.

I like to imagine holding people and situations and myself in my heart (I learned this at church),
and it seems I pray best when I am asleep, because my dreams often speak back to me.

Gimny, Thanks for asking,
There's more, but I gotta go.
Peace and Love
Keren

[Ginny Pamplin]

OK Keren-Tea I LOVE this! Have you ever heard of Ray Hughes and Selah Ministries? He talks alot about the very same sort of things you are saying, and the concepts strike a chord that resonates deep within me. No it doesn't sound vain~ I have had moments in the Presence when the mouth that was moving was my own but the sounds and words coming out had been infused with an other than me-ness...something that transcends the realm of ordinary limits, past time and space, and works the Will of the One who sent it. It just isn't always like that for me. One of the puzzling things about prayer to me is all its many faces and facets. It seems to me that it can open doorways into possibilities that have been locked for ages....all one must know how to do is hit the right "key". But then again, that is not the purpose of prayer....is it? Isn't it about heart to heart communion with the Creator and Lover of our souls? Or is it also a way to bring heaven to earth? OR---could it be somehow both, because one activates the other?

[Lesa Cox]

hey I am still thinking heavy... have not gotten insight yet...
thinking......

[Lesa Cox]

ok, here's something.. I find God speaks to me in odd ways. My "prayers" get answered through.. song, media, nature, and other folks.. sometimes the oddest person will be the one with the voice of God.
does this help?

[Ginny Pamplin]

thank you, my sister---I love the way you look at things...you see past the edges of the surface realm and go deep into the heart of the matter. Looking forward to hearing what you see!

Lesa Cox said:

hey I am still thinking heavy... have not gotten insight yet...
thinking......

[Ginny Pamplin]

Yes, it does---so many times I have had songs "chase" me on the radio....I've even had the song switch in the middle of another song...and it is always speaking directly to where I am at that moment. I never thought of that as prayer before....interesting....very interesting...I must muse upon this a while....thank you!

Lesa Cox said:

ok, here's something.. I find God speaks to me in odd ways. My "prayers" get answered through.. song, media, nature, and other folks.. sometimes the oddest person will be the one with the voice of God.
does this help?