How do you pray, if you do?

[Manatee]

A lot of my prayer is formal. I pray the rosary, because it's incredibly versatile. If I'm trying to get through something that's difficult, or trying to fight off some sort of temptation (like anger, or frustration, or whatever) then it's very calming. Even if I can't give it my full attention, it's there, in the back of my mind, helping to bring the level of everything else up -- like St. Peter taking the hand of Christ when he started sinking beneath the waves. Of course it's best when I can give it my attention. Sometimes I'm able to just meditate on the mysteries, to get inside the life of Christ, or to look at the different things that happened in His life from different perspectives (what does the Birth of Jesus look like if you meditate on the experience of St. Joseph instead of Mary?) Sometimes my prayer is very intellectual, and I gain a deeper understanding of what I'm meditating on. Sometimes it is emotional, and I grow in my love for God and for Christ. Sometimes it is very personal, I bring my life to Jesus and come to understand it in the light of His life. And of course it is possible to include petitionary prayer, intercession, praise, and so forth. Of course I do other forms of prayer as well -- informal, meditations on the meaning of the created world, morning offering, and so forth. But the rosary is the centre of my prayer-life.

[elcharrom]

I just pray sister, I just pray, when I feel the need to, I just pray, block everything out, pray and do what feels right at the moment. And like Zerbie I sometimes find myself talking to God out loud. So for me its just me abd God, me talking to him and him talking to me as I an there silent praying to him

[scott snedeker]

I meditate to music or chant Chakra tones while sitting nude up in my treehouse (a bit challenging because they are not in a 12 tone row), focussing on whatever thought feels best, reading,and writing.

[Progo35]

Like Vanessa, I'd have to say that every second I am awake, and even when I am asleep, I am aware of and connected to God. Thus, as Vanessa says, prayer occurs during activities that do not necessarily constitute prayer but become prayer because of their spiritual significance.

For instance, I've always felt a very strong connection to God when I'm singing. When I am singing, esp. in church, it is as if God and I are joined and He is speaking through the music I am creating. I feel very close and very safe in this relationship.

One interesting note is that many times, I feel like the fulfillment of a prayer for improvement in my own behavior is answered and repeated when I actually improve it. For instance, for years (and still) I've prayed to be a better daughter to my mom and dad. I've done this every night, and gradually I've begun to discipline myself enough so that even when I'm feeling depressed, I at least help my mother with the dishes at night. And, I've learned to be more compassionate towards my parents as people. As I say, I've a long way to go but I know that God has been working through my prayers.

Sometimes I pray when I am angry: I say, "God-are you UP THERE? Do you CARE??? Do you think that this is FUNNY? HELLO??? Am I just here for your sick, twisted amusement?" I have to say I'm ashamed when I put God down because God is God. Who am I to call him sick and twisted when He is divine and perfect? But, on another level, my mind is already thinking those thoughts and I'm already feeling those emotions. When little children don't get what they want, they cry to their parents. But, the parents still love them, and I am glad that I can be honest with God. I think that he can handle it as my heavenly father. The one weakness this does reveal, however, is an intense anger that is inside of me that hurts my spiritual life. But, I am hoping that by being honest with God, I may be able to get rid of self-destructive anger.

One of the most powerful forms of prayer I've experienced of late is organized prayer iwth other people. I feel much more cleansed after prayer when I do it with more than one person. This makes sense in terms of the verse, "when two or more are gathered in my name, I am there."

[tpdncr4christ]

I wake up saying "Dear Lord,"
And go to bed saying "Amen."

[BrentRichards]

Originally Posted by tpdncr4christ

I wake up saying "Dear Lord,"
And go to bed saying "Amen."

Wise so far beyond your years ... if you were 30+, kid ...