Just some thoughts that came to me about prayer as I was studying Cognitive Psychology. Yes it is Cognitive Psych and NO there is not link in the two. But the thoughts came anyway.
Prayer should be focused outward or inward? This was the question that is central to it. As I think about the two years ago, as I served, how were my prayers and how was life then to now, I realised my prayer was of course God- will centric but also outward. It was for others generally and also like David, ask God what to do next. And to be frank, there was a sense of intimacy with the Lord back then as compared to now. Euphoria is another word that stands out as I look back.
But shouldn't we be honest to God and just ask Him for our needs. Well that is true but what I am suggesting here is to switch the focus. The best way to push our focus is to pray for others and His will, then God will give whatever is neccesary.
There are verses to back up my thoughts but as I ought to be studying. I shall take a break here and continue perhaps on a later day.
What are your thoughts on this?
Saturday, January 26, 2008
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8 comments:
when we pray, we should say:
our father in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
thy kingdom come, thy will be done..
........
so i think not so much of prayer for me or others, but praying for God's will to be done,
and for political,social,and personal good being as well..
for me, prayer means talking with God. there are no formulaes that say u shud pray this way and that. just pray whatever is on your mind. God want you to tell him.
You can say prayer covers everything:outward and inward. Inward for our own edification and outward to stand in the gap.
the Lord's prayer is not some instant prayer like instant noodles. to me, it shows every aspect of prayer from inward to outward. the first part is focus on God and the second part is about ourselves and our relationship with others.
Good thoughts guys, but above and beyond them, I guess what I was trying to express was also how intimacy lacks and there is no personal touch to it. one of the personal touch I meant is God's reply, as after all prayer is a conversation. But then again, some may say, God's silence does not mean no or yes. But it could also be me not being in tune with the Lord.
i don't understand. If outward prayer is what you consider important, does this mean that inward prayers are of lower importance compared to the outward ones? Could you enlighten me more on this? Thanks.
Addison
Sorry addison .. before i address your question, first define outward and inward prayer...
according to what you wrote, outward means praying for others whereas inward prayers are praying for ourselves, is it?
Haha addison, sorry for the blur reply by me. I myself did not recall what those terms mean. Anyways, now regarding to your former comment, I am not putting value on either one as being more superior. But perhaps what I am contending is that check our prayers, is it 100% about us us us us us... What we pray tend to reflect our outlook to life. If it is only about us... where then does the role of a caring hear play?
but as you may have read the various comments on my post, it has strike me as this, its very much normal for us to just pray for ourself and our needs.. thats fine. But as we progress closer to christ our affection for the rest will increase and we will pour out to God about it . Our worldviews will switch to God's one as well... But the key thing that is that we spend that time with God to know Him and grow in Him....
un un un un un!! haha!
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