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Danny Rojas
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Still learning to pray...
2 stars|3 comments|August 15, 2007|402 reads
 
I've been learning how to pray lately. It may sound strange coming from someone who's been a pastor and been in ministry for over 20 years, but it's true. For most of my life, praying has been a struggle, and it hasn't gotten easier through the years.
Don't get me wrong. I've done a lot of praying. Prayer happens every day for me. When I get up in the morning, I pray. Throughout the day, I'm constantly communicating my thoughts to God. We pray before meals in my house, and I pray with my kids at night. (I should also pray with my wife, but that doesn't happen as often!)
I've also read a lot of books on prayer. I've read solid Baptist books, Charismatic and Pentecostal classics, even some Eastern Orthodox books on prayer, which are TOTALLY unlike anything you've ever read before.
I've sat under some powerful teaching on prayer as well, and the teachers have ranged the spectrum in doctrinal differences. I've learned how to pray using the Lord's Prayer as a model, the Tabernacle, and several different acronyms.
I've prayed in tongues (that may get a hallelujah from some and a nod of disappointment from others). I've prayed written prayers, prayed the Scriptures, prayed in silence, prayed while stomping and marching around while shouting my prayers. I've practiced a bit of contemplative praying, as well as warfare prayer and the Jesus Prayer.
All of this to say that I still feel like I'm a beginner. But I think I've finally begun to understand some things about prayer and I might be on to something.
I've begun to understand that prayer is not merely something you do to communicate your thoughts to God. God knows my thoughts. It's also not a tool for getting what I want. (Even though Jesus says that whatever we ask in His name we shall receive, that gets balanced by having to ask according to His will and delighting ourselves in Him.) Prayer is ultimately God's means to teach human's how to breathe the atmosphere of heaven. Prayer is about us learning what it really means "to live and and move and have our being in Him" Acts 17:28 (NAS).

 
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Ruben Ortiz
 Ruben Ortiz
August 16, 2007

I'm still learning too! Thanks for remember me there is not a baptist or pentecostal way to pray. It's not about words, it's about being in God.

Me cambio al español que sabes domino mejor. Domitru Staniloae en su libro "Oración de Jesús y experiencia del Espirtu Santo" dice: 

"En la oración pura se trata de reunir intelecto (nous) con corazón. Ni el intelecto debe quedarse solo, ni el corazón. Una oración que solo se hace con el pensamiento es una oración fría; una plegaria que se hace solo con el corazón  es una plegaria sentimental que ignora lo que Dios ha dado, lo que nos da y lo que nos dará en Cristo.  (....)  Hablando con propiedad no se trata exactamente de un pensamiento, sino del hecho de que la conciencia se encuentra totalmente ocupada por la experiencia de la realidad misma de Dios". 

Sin dudas, un camino abierto. Algo por descubrir. Una materia sin pasar en la carrera evangélica. 

 

ali
 ali
August 16, 2007
" Prayer is ultimately God's means to teach human's how to breathe the atmosphere of heaven. Prayer is about us learning what it really means "to live and and move and have our being in Him' "

that's beautiful...just beautiful...

"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." - Saint Therese of Lisieux
Rafi Santos
 Rafi Santos
August 16, 2007

Rojas! I am in your club too when it comes to prayer! Although I must say that even being practically born Pentecostal, I have never "rodeahonda" or "salmahayek" or done an actual "chamaquitamiaerestu" prayer. I must say you surprised me on that one, brother! Ha! Ha!
In my walk I have come to understand over the years that God wants us to talk to him period! I have always had a hard time understanding prayer myself, which is why I have simplified it by just talking to him and trying to never forget that HE is my creator and my God but He is also my friend. The ONE that is always there for me. The ONE who always listens to me. The ONE who always understands me and inspite of the fact that I fail Him, He is always willing to forgive me. (What an awesome GOD!)
Many people don't pray because they feel that they don't know how to pray! Sometimes they are intimidated by the "professional prayers". The ones that are asked to pray and they clear their throats and start their "formal" prayer in which they even change their tone of voice and it becomes this deep radio voice. You know what I am talking about!
What I have learned is that God wants sincerity from us. Talk to Him and He is listening whenever you just simply open your mouth. I can honestly say that I prayed for a special blessing with my daughter and God outdid Himself. Hallelujah!
For me a prayer is offered up everytime you understand that what you have and who you are is all because of Jesus!
When you realize this and are thankful then you find the time to just simply TALK to him and share!