Prayer

[Phoebe]

Do you have a particular format you use when praying?

I think this one is good:

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

Something that I came across, that really jumped out at me a few days ago:
"Lord, tech us to pray, as John taught his disciples." Lk. 11.1

When the disciples asked Jesus for a prayer, he said "When you pray, say." -Literally, "say" means "repeat." Some Christians are wary of liturgical prayersbecause they may turn into mindless, heartless, repetition, to mere rote memory, and to external ritual. However, the Lord's Prayer provides a framework for prayer. It also provides us with a structured conversation with God.

[LuxPerpetua]

It really depends upon the prayer. When I pray "personal" formal prayers (usually twice daily, one in the morning and one in the evening) I basically follow the ACTS forumla you listed, although I have never really thought of it in those terms--this was just how I was taught to pray as a child. At other times of the day, I'll pray using Scriptural passages (like the Psalms, the Jesus prayer that Orthodox use which is also found in Luke, and I always enjoy the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on EWTN--if it's the contemporary one). A lot of time throughout the day I'll just "chat" with God--just short informal prayers or petitions, like if I am having a hard time or if I am watching the news on TV, etc.

[Caelum]

Kjære far, jeg har det godt, takk for alt som jeg har fått. du er god og holder av meg, kjære Gud, gå aldri fra meg.

:D

Dear father, I am so thankful/pleased, thank you for all you have blessed me with. You're kind and take care of me, never abandon me.

Short prayer thats very popular in Norway, I often recite the Lord's Prayer, usually spontaneously w/o particular reason...I find comfort in it, as far as format...when I address God myself I usually always start with confession and apologies cause I don't feel right speaking to Him otherwise, just me though :)

[ByzantineDixie]

I often recite the Lord's Prayer, usually spontaneously w/o particular reason...I find comfort in it, as far as format...Just a piece of information...I can't remember if I read it on this site or not, if so, pardon the repeat, but it is good enough to repeat anyway....

When Luther was constructing the Lutheran mass he intentionally placed the Lord's Prayer before the Words of Institution because he did not believe anything he or any other man could write would be worthy enough to immediately preceed that portion of the liturgy. :cool:

when I address God myself I usually always start with confession and apologies cause I don't feel right speaking to Him otherwise, just me though :)I don't always do this but I do this when I engage in longer, more structured prayer and especially when I do intercessory prayer. "Create in me, a clean heart, oh God...."

For example, I am a "Prayer Partner" at church. One of us will pray for the pastor, elders, congregation, etc., while the service is going on. I have a form I follow for this...first prayers of contrition and repentence, then prayers for the work of the Holy Spirit, then prayers of praise / adoration, then prayers for the servants and participants in the service itself, upcoming activities of the church, special needs of the church and lastly prayers of thanksgiving...but those prayers of thanksgiving are never planned, they just automatically come after spending over an hour in prayer with God.

So Phoebe, in this format I use when I pray during the service I use all of the 4 components you mention, only in a different order...C.A.S.T. Hmmm, I kinda like that. Fits into a "fishers of men" theme! :D

Peace

Rose

[Phoebe]

That's a good one, Rose. It was our pastor that told us about the ACTS format yesterday. Since I'm not teaching this year, I can be in the adult class.

[Flipper]

Do you have a particular format you use when praying?

I think this one is good:

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

Something that I came across, that really jumped out at me a few days ago:
"Lord, tech us to pray, as John taught his disciples." Lk. 11.1

When the disciples asked Jesus for a prayer, he said "When you pray, say." -Literally, "say" means "repeat." Some Christians are wary of liturgical prayersbecause they may turn into mindless, heartless, repetition, to mere rote memory, and to external ritual. However, the Lord's Prayer provides a framework for prayer. It also provides us with a structured conversation with God.
Wow! Great idea.

[SPALATIN]

Interesting in that I went to my old church on Sunday (the one I grew up in) and the Pastor was doing a teaching sermon on Prayer for Natural Church Development. He also gave the ACTS formula as well as the 5 finger formula. He referred a lot to different parts of the service.

[Phoebe]

Scott, were you raised in the ELCA?
Our adult study is The Jesus Creed.

I also like the confession to be right after the invocation when I pray. (when formulating a formal prayer)

If I have the store to myself in the morning, I sometimes carry on a conversation with God. We need to remember to have quiet time so God can answer us.

[JVAC]

Lately for prayer, I have been using my LBW in conjunction with my rosary. I use the different prayers, as well as different psalms, and I try to always pray the kyrie, that is one of my more favorites, and always the Lord's prayer!

-James

[Phoebe]

James, your Lutheran rosary?