DK Wench,

the "...why have you forsaken me..." reference you asked of was Jesus on the cross.

lj

I agree that it takes more than just doing for others.....reading the bible and going to church is important........and prayer.....but, how to pray...how about praying out loud......i mean, that is something that has always bothered me...something inside me feels it is wrong...to pray openly out loud in church for instance......i have always felt it should be done quietly and privately unless the whole church is praying for one certain thing ....when I'm in church and everyone is praying out loud it is very distracting and somehow I feel that God doesn't like it much....sort of like everyone is praying for recognition or something...i'm not quite sure what it is but I know I have issues with it. Anyone else feel this way? Maybe you can help me understand why I feel this way.

I love to sing and praies out loud. Love everyone and not judge

this is a good thread. i havent read all the posts, so i may be reinventing the wheel here, but i have found that God likes to be a part of whatever you are doing. when i am close with God, (my fualt im not always there) i talk with him like a friend, a father. i ask his advice, share a laugh, just like i was hangin out with a good friend. I think he is like a jealous kid, wanting all our attention. i always pray before i read the word, that his guidance will be with me. another important one.... tything. God actually challenges us to tithe, saying if we do, we will be blessed many times more than what we give. ... and it always is true. i will think that i cant afford to pay my 10 percent, but if i do, some extra money always comes accross, or something happens that i end up way better off than if i had kept the ten. he is true to his word and even though we may think that we have our finances all figgured out, he will show you how little we actually know.... but we must trust that he will take care of us.... and he will.

cherlock:

commaded Isaiah 55:6,Mathew 7:7,Phillipians 4:6.
To be offered:
To God, Mathew 4:10, Psalms 5:2.
To Christ, Luke 23:42.Acts 7:59.
To the Holy Spirit,2 Thesallonians 3:5.
Through Christ, Ephesians 2:18,Hebrews 10:19.
God hears, Psalms10:17, and 65:2.
God answers, Psalms 99:6,Isaiah 58:9.
Is described as:
Bowing the knees,Ephesians 3:14.
Looking up, Psalms 5:3
Lifting up the soul, Psalms 25:1.
Lifting up the heart, Lamentations 3:41.
Pouring out the heart,Psalms 62:8.
Pouring out the soul, 1 Samuel 1:15.
Calling upon the name of the Lord, Genesis 12:8, Psalms 116:4,Acts 22:12.
Crying to God,Psalms 27:12,34:6.
Dawing near to God, Psalms 73:28,Hebrews 10:22.
Crying to heaven, 2 Cronicles 32:20.
Beseeching the Lord, Exodus 32:11.
Seeking to God, Job 8:5.
Seeking the face of the Lord,Psalms 27:8.
Making supplication, Job 8:5,Jeremiah 36:12.
Acceptable through Christ,John 14:13,14. 15:16;16:23,24.
Ascends to heaven,2 Chronicles 30:27,Revelation 5:8.
Quickening grace,Psalms 80:18.
The Holy Spirit
Promised as a spirit,Zecharia 12:10.
Spirit of adoptions,Romans 8:15,Galatians 4:6.
Our infirmities, Romans 8:26.
Evidence of conversation, Acts 9:11.
The rightious avails much,James 5:16.
A delight to God, Proverbs 15:8.

Pray;
In the Holy spirit,Ephesians 6:18,Jude 1:20.
In Faith Mathew 21:22; James 1:16.
Assurance of faith, Hebrews 10:22,
In forgiving spirit Matthew 6:12.
With heart Jeremiah 29:13;Lamenations 3:41.
The whole heart Psalms 119:58; 145.
Preparation of heart Job 11:13.
With a true heart Hebrews 10:22.
With the soul Psalms 42:4.
With spirit and understanding John 4:22, and 24.
With confidence in God Psalms 56:9; 86:7; 1 Corinthians 14:15.

With submission to God Luke 22:42.
With unfeigned lips Psalms 17:11.
With deliberation Ecclesiastes 5:12.
With holiness 1 Timothy 2:8.
With humility 2 Chronicles 2:14; 33:12.
With truth Psalms 145:14; John 4:24.
With desire to be heard Psalms 27:7; 102:2; 108:6; 143:1.
With boldness Hebrew 4:16.
with earnestness 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
With importunity Genisis 32:26; Luke 11:8,9; 18:1-7.
Night and day 1 Timothy 5:5.
Without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Everywhere 1 Timothy 2;8.
In everything Phillipians 4:6.
For temporal blessings Genesis 28:20; Proverbs 30:8; Mathew 6:11.
For spiritual blessings Mathew 6:33;
For mercy and grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16.

These are the many ways it is said we are to pray and why. No prayer is without blessing.
Kat

((waves))

(At no time I am pushing my beliefs) ::

I have no advice how one could get closer to our heavenly father. I do know for me, my understanding in my heart is that we are here to serve. I do believe serving brings us closer to our heavenly father. It may not be the actual motions ur going thru, but the affects of what your doing, how many lives it touches. Everything people do has an affect on people around them and positive change will usually roll down to build a stronger family-stronger neighborhood-stronger friendships-stronger communities, etc..
Praying for me is random. I do it whenever, wherever. I say mini prayers while Im standing in line at stores,(in my head) while im driving in my car, while im at my kids school in the office bahahha.. those are times when I pray usually. I dont set time aside or I would never find time to do it. I take my bible just about everywhere I go, because I dont know when I will feel like reading it, and I want it handy. <shrug>
I have heard many people talk about this very subject of praying, and noone has really helped me figure out a better way. I think I used to always believe I was doing it wrong. But there is no right and wrong. I believe our father knows what you want before you ask, so just talk to him, he will hear.

cherlock; I may pray anywhere at anytime, anyplace. Out loud, quietly, in my mind. You see: It is my prayer at that time and place between me and my Lord. No one else around matters in that instance. If I am in a church or community of people, I have no fear of my prayers being heard by others or seen as unusual. If I fear what someone else thinks of me in my moment of prayer, then I am in a sense being embarrassed about my talk with my Lord.

I used to be the same way. I was afraid to be seen or heard trying to be spiritual.

Kat

Cali; you sound much like me. I pray just about anytime anywhere. Wierd places too. And times. Sometimes people think I am talking to myself. I let them think what they will.
Kat

Yea, It could appear I am talkn to myself, never really thought to much about that, cuz I discuss stuff w/myself sometimes

But yea, Sometimes things cant wait, I have a major issue I got to complain about, or something that needs immediate attention.. (well I think)... (maybe people think im talkn on a handsfree phone, when Im in ma car) lol

If I**