Prayer: Asking about your personal experience with prayer

General Faith
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The Practice of Prayer

As Christians reflect on how prayer functions in daily life, we invite your voice in Crosswalk Forums.

How Do You Define Prayer A Biblical Look at What Christians Really Mean
How Do You Define Prayer A Biblical Look at What Christians Really Mean1200×630 136 KB

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Prayer
I would greatly benefit (be edified) by a conversation on prayer. I am only interested in ideas about prayer that come from a biblical perspective, and as a Christian practice. I am aware of other non-christian practices, but for this discussion I hope to limit it to the Judeo-Christian understanding. I have personally grown by considering the prayers recorded in The Bible, looking at the person(s) praying, the specific setting, the situation, and the motivation (as far as it can be discerned). I would like to get other believers perspectives on prayer, not necessarily opinions (…to me, prayer is like…), but how The Holy Spirit of God has formed a prayer life as a normal expression of a genuine and active relationship.

For discussion: If I were to say: “This morning I prayed”, what do you primarily think I did?

(1) Asking / petitioning: I was asking for God to change some situation, or to protect some plans I have made.

(2) A monologue / expression: I was telling God something about myself, or about how I see Him. This includes praise, adoration, thanksgiving, reliance, acceptance of His works, and details about my life.

(3) Conversation / dialogue: I was speaking to God on some subject(s) and expecting Him to respond in some way. I was both speaking and listening with expectation. I experienced times of expression (giving out) and times of ingesting (receiving in).

(4) Something else: This may include things like recitation, conversational meditation, ritual, reciting scripture, bodily posture, or anything else that is not included here.

While the etymology of our English word “pray” comes from the idea to “ask” or “entreat”, we use the word in modern parlance to encompass a larger scope than to “request”. How do you use the word; what do you mean by it; and how close is your practice of prayer to those we find recorded in The Bible?

Hoping to grow from your perspectives.
KP

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Friends,
I posted this topic several days ago, and although it has 15 views it generated no discussion. I am resisting the conclusion that the topic is of no interest and thinking maybe it was just poor timing, or my inept way of introducing the subject. From my observations of Christian prayer practice, I am convinced that while prayer is of paramount importance, it recieves too little promotion or testimony of how God has gifted us with this wonderful spiritual communiction with Himself. I am updating this post to get it to show up again for your consideration.

In Jesus
KP

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: EFFECTIVE PRAYER

Related to one’s personal relationship with the Triune God
Related to the Father’s will
Matt. 6:10
1 John 3:22
1 John 5:14-15
Abiding in Jesus
John 15:7
1 John 3:24
Praying in Jesus’ name
John 14:13,14
John 15:16
John 16:23-24
Praying in the Spirit
Eph. 6:18
Jude 1:20

Related to one’s personal motives
Not wavering
Matt. 21:22
James 1:6-7
Asking amiss
James 4:3
Asking selfishly
James 4:2-3

Related to one’s personal choices
Perseverance
Luke 18:1-8
Colossians 4:2
James 5:16
Discord at home
1 Peter 3:7
Sin
1 John 1:9
Psalm 66:18
Isaiah 59:1-2
Isaiah 64:7
All prayer is answered, but not all prayer is effective. Prayer is a two-way relationship. The worst thing God could do is grant believers’ inappropriate requests.

J.

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Thanx @Johann
I appreciate the list of verses that speak to the subject. They are helpful.

How about you? In your own relatioship with Jesus, what can you tell me you have found sincere spiritual communtication to be like for you personally?

Thanx again.
KP

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In everything I do, I carry on a conversation with Jesus—from the moment I wake up early in the morning, throughout the day, and as I lay down to sleep. I speak with Him about my fears, my failures, and the ways I fall short of His standards.

J.

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I originally started this thread 10 days ago. I’m not sure why, but it has generated very little discussion, and no response to my original inquiry. This is an important topic for me, and I believe it is among the most important admonitions in The Bible for true disciples. I am writting this gentle “nudge” to try to bring this topic back to the top of the proverbial stack; to resubmit it for your sincere thoughts and responses. I’d appreciate your help.

KP

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@KPuff
In my own relationship with Jesus, sincere spiritual communication has proven far more than words, though words matter deeply. I have found it to be a living, responsive exchange grounded in His Word and shaped by His Spirit. I have learned to approach Him honestly, not with polished speech but with a heart that confesses, thanks, cries out, and worships. Sometimes it’s silence, waiting before Him, like Psalm 62:1 says, “My soul waits in silence for God alone,” and sometimes it is wrestling, pouring out my heart like Psalm 42:4–5. His Spirit has taught me that prayer is not performance but communion, because of the cross of Christ that tore the veil (Hebrews 10:19–22). I have found that when my words dry up, His Word gives me words, and when my feelings falter, His promises hold. I have also learned not to confuse sincerity with ease, often I have to deliberately confess sin, resist pride, forgive others in prayer, and discipline myself to keep my mind on Him. For me, spiritual communication is deeply personal but never private, because His Spirit convicts me to love and speak the truth even to others (Ephesians 4:15, James 5:16). So, personally, I would describe it as a daily surrender and conversation, humble, expectant, and anchored in Scripture, knowing He hears because of His grace, not my eloquence.

J.

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Brother @Johann

Your sincere and candid explanation brought tears to my eyes. I sincerely appreciate your transparency, and your testimony of a life built on communion. Your practice of “waiting”, or “listening” is refreshing to hear. I often help younger disciples with the phrase, “let the one with the most to say, say the most”.

Thank you again for your testimonial response. I loved every word.
KP

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Stay strong in Messiah brother and shalom to you and family.

J.

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This is such a rich and well-framed question. Thank you for opening the door to this kind of conversation.

Personally, my understanding of prayer has grown as I’ve moved from just asking God for things (Option 1) into something closer to Option 3: a real conversation. I often pray while walking through the woods or around our hay field. Something about being out there helps me focus and talk to God without distractions. Sometimes I just listen, knowing He’s near even if He’s quiet.

This article may help reset one’s understanding of what biblical prayer really is. It’s not just communication, it’s communion:

Curious to hear how others have experienced the shift from talking at God to listening with Him.

1 Like
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Thanx @Fritzpw_Admin
Once again, I am asking for your comments and testimonies about your personal experience with prayer; what it means to you, how have you grown in practice, and on what do you base your convictions. You might comment on where you find your prayer life on the spectrum of “waiting on The Lord”, eager to follow His direction, to “giving God information and then sending Him to do your errands” and everything in between? What distinguishes Christian prayer from the prayers of other belief systems? I’d really like to hear from The Body Of Christ on this important topic.

Thanks in advance. (Hoping to not step on sacred toes)
KP