Judy26
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Post by Judy26 on Jun 22, 2024 13:29:37 GMT
So I was raised Catholic (whole other thread) and was taught to pray using formal prayers. These really didn’t feel authentic to me. Trying to pray using random thoughts felt very scattered and I didn’t feel connected to God or a higher power or anything at all. With everything that has happened with the Catholic Church I have fallen away from formal religion but felt a bit empty without it. (And guilty, but that’s again a whole different ball of wax.)
Anyway, I read in a book about praying using a G-N-S form of thought process. You contemplate on something you’re grateful for, something you need help with and something you are surrendering to God or your higher power. This has helped me focus my thoughts and allows me to pray much deeper, if that makes sense.
So I was just wondering how each of you pray or meditate to help you feel more grounded in your beliefs?
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jun 22, 2024 14:29:15 GMT
Well, I'm not religious, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
But if there is a god or higher power, I would think they hear your meaning behind your prayers, even when the words come out all wrong.
I would think it's like exercise. You don't do ten push ups and expect to have the physique of a world-class body builder. You strengthen your prayer/meditation abilities by doing it, and finding what works for you, and ultimately makes you feel better, and more connected.
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Post by cmpeter on Jun 22, 2024 14:41:21 GMT
I don’t pray, but will meditate to relieve stress. I have a little mantra and repeat it over and over while focusing on relaxing each body part from head to toe and on my breathing.
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purplebee
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Post by purplebee on Jun 22, 2024 14:44:44 GMT
As a non-practicing Catholic, 12 years of Catholic school, etc. etc., I have found that for me, praying the Rosary is a form of meditation. It is one thing that I have kept, and I find that just saying the prayers and trying not to let my mind wander to other thoughts clears my mind and is calming.
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Post by disneypal on Jun 22, 2024 14:52:52 GMT
I start by thanking God & praising Him for my blessings, which are so abundant..I am specific about the blessings received.
I then confess my sins (again specific) and ask for forgiveness and help to avoid committing sins.
I then asks God for my needs and the needs of others (again, specific)
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paget
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Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jun 22, 2024 14:59:19 GMT
I’ve always been to nondenominational churches - no “formal prayers” or reciting anything. My prayers are just conversations with God - like a conversation with a friend. They can be a quick one sentence thanking him for something or asking for help.
When longer, they follow what the poster above stated- thanking him, asking for help for others and myself with various things, forgiveness from sin.
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Post by shescrafty on Jun 23, 2024 1:17:18 GMT
So I was raised Catholic (whole other thread) and was taught to pray using formal prayers. These really didn’t feel authentic to me. Trying to pray using random thoughts felt very scattered and I didn’t feel connected to God or a higher power or anything at all. With everything that has happened with the Catholic Church I have fallen away from formal religion but felt a bit empty without it. (And guilty, but that’s again a whole different ball of wax.) Anyway, I read in a book about praying using a G-N-S form of thought process. You contemplate on something you’re grateful for, something you need help with and something you are surrendering to God or your higher power. This has helped me focus my thoughts and allows me to pray much deeper, if that makes sense. So I was just wondering how each of you pray or meditate to help you feel more grounded in your beliefs? This is really lovely. I have been struggling lately and used this today after reading your post. Thank you 💕 |
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 23, 2024 1:22:40 GMT
 Pretty much how my brain operates. 🤪 |
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MorningPerson
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Post by MorningPerson on Jun 23, 2024 2:22:11 GMT
In the past I’ve used the PRAY form of talking to God:
P - praise and thanksgiving (thank you for these blessings…)
R - repentance (I’m sorry for … and this how I will attempt to do better…)
A - ask (please help me/others with these needs…)
Y - yield (I now give up my attempts to control, and I turn my worries over to you)
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Post by lesserknownpea on Jun 24, 2024 10:52:40 GMT
Sometimes it all comes spilling out, and I just let it. If it’s on my mind, weighing down my heart, or cycling around and around my head like that stupid Cher song, ( we all know which one) then I’m talking it over with my Father.
Other times I’m looking for a little more structure, so I loosely follow the outline of the Lord’s Prayer. I feel like doing this helps me remember to prioritize important things that we humans would forget about, and how they connect with my day to day life.
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Bridget in MD
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Jun 25, 2014 20:40:00 GMT
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Post by Bridget in MD on Jun 24, 2024 11:30:05 GMT
In the past I’ve used the PRAY form of talking to God: P - praise and thanksgiving (thank you for these blessings…) R - repentance (I’m sorry for … and this how I will attempt to do better…) A - ask (please help me/others with these needs…) Y - yield (I now give up my attempts to control, and I turn my worries over to you) this is what I was taught in Lutheran Sunday School/Confirmation class. I always felt guilty bc my "A" section was so long. LOL. |
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Jun 24, 2024 11:40:05 GMT
I know exactly what you mean when you talk about reciting prayers because my mind just wanders. I prefer meditation as a way of focusing on the inner self.
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Post by snowsilver on Jun 24, 2024 13:11:10 GMT
My prayers are to my very best Friend--in fact I often pray to "Daddy". Jesus said we pray to Abba which means "daddy". Since I loved my own father so much, it makes it so personal to pray to my Heavenly Father by thinking of Him as a Father who loves me far more than my own Father did though that seems impossible. I pray on my knees morning and night and then try to be in an attitude of prayer all day. Prayer is the song of my soul. I pray to become like Jesus.
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Post by Patter on Jun 24, 2024 15:54:06 GMT
My prayers are to my very best Friend--in fact I often pray to "Daddy". Jesus said we pray to Abba which means "daddy". Since I loved my own father so much, it makes it so personal to pray to my Heavenly Father by thinking of Him as a Father who loves me far more than my own Father did though that seems impossible. I pray on my knees morning and night and then try to be in an attitude of prayer all day. Prayer is the song of my soul. I pray to become like Jesus. Absolutely! I am constantly talking to my Abba Father (Daddy). I start my mornings with my quiet time of prayer and praising Him for who He is (Creator, Sustainer, All-Knowing, Gracious, Provider, etc., etc., etc.), and then constantly talk to Him. It's a precious, daily relationship. |
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bethany102399
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Post by bethany102399 on Jun 24, 2024 19:10:13 GMT
I saw on Instagram a woman who phrased her morning prayer as "inviting God in" as in she said: When I sit down for morning prayer I invite God in and ask for… in her case she is a surgeon so she asks God to bless her patient, her hands and thanks him for the gifts he has given her. I found this interesting, this intentional act of letting God in when you sit for prayer. I've been thinking about it lately.
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sweetpeasmom
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Post by sweetpeasmom on Jun 24, 2024 19:42:39 GMT
I first start by thanking God. Then tell him what my prayers are. So I guess I sort of follow that GNS way. I find I do pray all throughout the day for various reasons and times. I try to always say my bedtime prayers. I sometimes get through them and sometimes fall asleep during them  . |
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Post by Linda on Jun 24, 2024 19:58:36 GMT
Also Catholic
I'm struggling with my spiritual life right so the vast majority of my prayers are asking for intercession on behalf of someone else. I usually do a mix of rote prayer (Hail Mary, Our Father) with freeform prayer added on - something to the effect of please comfort x or heal y or give z a peaceful death...
Other than that? right now? just Grace at meals (rote)
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Post by Patter on Jun 24, 2024 21:56:51 GMT
I saw on Instagram a woman who phrased her morning prayer as "inviting God in" as in she said: When I sit down for morning prayer I invite God in and ask for… in her case she is a surgeon so she asks God to bless her patient, her hands and thanks him for the gifts he has given her. I found this interesting, this intentional act of letting God in when you sit for prayer. I've been thinking about it lately. I love this. I love to sit and listen for the Holy Spirit's promptings. I really should listen more than talk so much. I also love what the surgeon prays. I pray something a bit similar for my daughter (surgery resident). I will share this with her. Really beautiful and perfect. |
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kate
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Post by kate on Jun 25, 2024 0:55:07 GMT
As a non-practicing Catholic, 12 years of Catholic school, etc. etc., I have found that for me, praying the Rosary is a form of meditation. It is one thing that I have kept, and I find that just saying the prayers and trying not to let my mind wander to other thoughts clears my mind and is calming. I love the Rosary as meditation, too (full disclosure: I am a still-practicing Catholic) I find the rote prayers very helpful, especially when I'm having trouble collecting my thoughts and/or connecting. After all, isn't that why Jesus gave his friends the Our Father prayer? I like the PRAY acronym - I may use that. I have taught my kids PACT (Petition/"please", Adoration/"Wow", Contrition/"sorry", Thanksgiving), but I do like PRAY - and Yield is an important one! |
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gina
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Post by gina on Jun 25, 2024 1:36:32 GMT
I am Catholic and I pray to God like he's my homeslice - not formal at all. I mostly pray in bed at night but I also will pray in the car or in the shower. lol I don't care if I am addressing God while naked. I'm extremely casual in my praying and I feel so much comfort after. The actual formality or lack thereof of the words or the location are of no concern to me.
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Post by Merge on Jun 25, 2024 20:15:29 GMT
Not a believer in any divinity, but I like to listen to music and just open myself to whatever the universe needs to tell me at that time. Live music is especially effective, but a good recording at the right time also does the trick.
All the 34 years I was a church member, the music was the only thing I found meaningful, so it makes sense that’s what I’ve hung on to.
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Post by workingclassdog on Jun 25, 2024 22:15:53 GMT
I was raised the same way, now I am just a generic Christian, not really belonging to any group. I prayed all formal and all that.. 10 Hail Mary's, Our Father, etc. While I kinda look back at it, I like the symbolism of it I guess. But really, it was just something you learned and repeated.
Now I pray just like having a conversation with God. Usually before falling asleep. But whenever the mood strikes I suppose.
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