Effective Prayer To be effective, our prayer must coincide in principle with the work of sowing and reaping:
1) Prepare the soil
2) Sow the seed
3) Attend to the seed and soil
4) Harvest the fruits Anyone who has worked the field or in the garden knows that sowing and reaping is a process that takes place over time. Likewise, our prayer must continue over time. However, the term prayer also refers to a variety of prayerful acts (affirmations, treatments, recitations, repetitions, ritual incantations, etc.), most of which require only a moment of time. Science of Mind considers the act of prayer (whatever technique you use) to be the mental work that establishes a consciousness, which is actually the prayer. Praying may take
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Praying is what we do. A prayer is the mental work we 've done. Prayer is what praying accomplishes. We stop praying when our work is done. Ernest Holmes ' taught that if we don 't yet have the results, then we still have work to do. We continue to do our work, establishing and maintaining a consciousness through which the creative work is done. When our work is done, God 's work has just begun. We must remember: Our work is not the creative work. We facilitate the process. We don 't make it work. We don 't do the creative work. There is a power within that works through us. We don 't make things work. We don 't make life work out. We don 't make seeds grow. We have enough work to do, sowing seeds and harvesting the results. Daily treatment work is good practice and a practical discipline, keeping us mentally prepared and present to reap what we have sown. In this sense, one prayer is enough, but that prayer is unceasing; for our prayer is the consciousness we maintain every …show more content…
It is easy to forget, but impossible to remove anything from Mind. To our chagrin, we may see the effects of that which we used to believe, even though we 've refuted it and refuse to accept it; yet there it is. The roots may run deep. This years flower garden may give rise to a few of last years vegetables. Seeds can lie dormant until the conditions are right. It may not surprise you that Jesus had a parable about this too. In the Parable of Wheat and Tares, a field is sown with wheat; however, as the crop grows, weeds grow up along with it. The weed in question (a tare) looks like wheat while they are growing side by side. It is difficult to tell them apart — until harvest time. While we find it difficult to distinguish one from the other, we can see the results, or lack thereof. One bears good fruit, the other does not. This is the way it is with many weeds. They manage to grow up along side beneficial and desirable plants because they look similar, until one flowers and the other has nothing to show for itself. A negative results in nothing. The positive provides something. It is a mistake to try to judge what will be. Simply let them be, for eventually, the choice will be
E.M. Bounds wrote a wonderful book devoted to prayer entitled Power Through Prayer. This book encourages the preacher to become a true prayer warrior. E.M. Bounds has written many books on prayer, encouraging Christians to devote their life to prayer. Since the writer is coming from a preacher background himself, one can clearly see the passion he has for prayer in his life. Fellow preachers will hopefully be encouraged by this and want to devote their life to prayer, so that they will better their preaching. Bounds exemplifies through his work that preaching has no power without prayer. He also sets forth the idea that prayer is the life-giving force behind our work for God. In reading this book, it inspires one to pray more and be able to be more effective in their ministry.
Screwtape uses psychology to manipulate the patient into replacing the intellect and will in prayer with imagination and emotion. To remind the patient of his childhood prayers is the fist step; it causes him to repel from this way of prayer, and on his own attempt to create a prayerful mood that is spontaneous and inward, and that is void of will and intelligence. Another way is to keep the patients prayers solely focused on himself instead of God, so that when he asks for favors or graces he will develop imaginary emotions to satisfy these requests; replacing intellect and will with imagination and emotion. Furthermore, Screwtape shows how twisting the patient’s object of prayer so that he is praying to it, a crucifix or an icon, instead of God, inconspicuously deletes will and intellect in prayer. Using effective psychology, Screwtape shows how to successfully replace intellect and will in a persons prayer life with imagination and emotion.
Religion is one of the most controversial issues in society today. The concern of allowing prayer in schools is an on-going debate and has resulted in numerous lawsuits. Religious school clubs, after school activities, curriculums, and moments of silence during school are just a few of the court cases that judges have administered. People in favor of prayer in schools believe that their children can only learn certain values through religious practice. On the other hand, an individual against religious practice in schools views this issue as an infringement on his or her children’s rights as Americans.
Over the years, there has been a very controversial debate on whether there should be prayer incorporated within the public schools; half the population votes no on the topic. Many individuals feel that allowing prayer services within the schools will be offensive and time consuming. A common fear among the people is that there would not be an equal way to recognize everyone’s religion. There would be even more controversy as to which religions should be taught, in what manner, and it’s a very big possibility that one person’s religion may offend someone else’s which would simply cause even more controversy.
There are many different philosophies regarding prayer in public school. It seems to be a difficult issue to decide upon. The opinions are wide-ranging and convoluted. This paper will attempt to highlight the many ideas and opinions as to whether prayers in public school should be allowed and to what extent. It will further show how our founders' idea of a separate church and state has been taken out of context and why prayer in school should be allowed, but not required.
The focus shifts from primarily being on the self, to being on God, Scripture and the self. This practice is also known as contemplative prayer and has been around for over 2000 years with a variety of definitions and strategies all focusing on God and the Scripture as well as the self to examine experiences. In practicing Christian Devotional Meditation instead of Mindfulness, the client can gain a deeper relationship with the Lord and others and “cultivate spiritual growth or emotional healing”. Christian Devotional Meditation takes mindfulness a step further in incorporating faith with the practices of a secular
The United States has continued to be a country where religion plays a major role in the lives of American citizens. Depending on the type of school students attend, organized prayer is mandatory, allowed, or banned. In the United States, organized prayer in public schools is prohibited because it goes against the Constitution’s separation of church and state (Jinkins 123). The United States promises religious freedom, but is yet to define the degree and limitation of that liberty. However, American citizens have been debating for many years, whether organized prayer should be an option or obligation in public schools. Some people believe that organized prayer or religious classes would be a benefit to young people and should be allowed in American public schools. Others: however, see this as an affront to the First Amendment and believe that religion does not belong in the classroom, and should never be permitted under any circumstances.
Prayer does not get our will done in Heaven, it gets God's will done on earth. It does not change God, but changes us when we voluntarily turn back to him. Prayer does not inform God, since he is omniscient, it involves God. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. There are many types of prayer, the most important are prayer as Blessing and adoration, prayer as petition, prayer as intercession, prayer as thanksgiving, and prayer of praise.
... Christ is our savior. It is by sin that we face difficulties in being faithful Christians but only through Christ that we grow spiritually. Also we can see the importance of having faith in the field of work and the power of prayers that can assist you in your life as a messenger of God and how you develop yourself to know and be ready for the second life that is eternal life. Anfenson-Vance (1988) states that there is nothing in this world that we can do alone but with God we can do anything. Therefore it is important to converse with God in prayer and by faith to successfully overcome our burdens. So from there we can learn how important to have faith in us as young people. Prayer is one of the main concepts of faith and without prayer you cannot converse with God and share with him the work you did and the stress you face in your life as a servant of God.
According to the Meriam Webster dictionary, prayer is an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought. There are many different religions and everyone has a different way to pray, address, or become closer to their god, gods, or goddess. Most religions have a quiet to yourself kind of prayer and a loud kind of prayer. Hinduism is one of those religions. They have a couple of ways and places to address their god, gods, and/or goddess. They also have daily rituals of praying.
We need to look at prayer with deeper thoughts. Prayer isn’t just closing your eyes, folding your hands and speaking. Prayer is a much more meaningful part of religion. We all need to pray, God himself demands us to pray. Prayer is defined as an act of God, a god or another object of worship, such as in devotion, confession, praise, or thanksgiving. When most people pray, they just say the same prayer, like the Lord’s prayer for example. Saying the same prayer isn’t really such a bad thing, its more about the meaning and the time that you spend praying. Prayer shouldn’t just be looked at as a routine or habit, but as more of a love poem to express ones self to God. Questions such as: why do we need to pray? What is this prayer?, and What does God command us to pray for? Are what we should be asking ourselves before we come to God in prayer.
you say to someone how are you? You don’t expect to hear an answer of
...st always pray to God with such great and deep belief that everything we ask for, He will give to us and we will receive, of course if it is reasonable. Putting every single ounce of faith and belief that we have installed in our mind, body, and soul into God is the state we should always pray in. Making your requests to God specific and making them known to Him is absolutely crucial.
Prayer is so powerful that we don’t even realise what it can do for others and our own lives. The physical world is always effected by what’s happening in the spiritual world first so prayer is the place to go!
School prayer, in the context of religious liberty, is state-sanctioned or mandatory prayer by students in public schools. Depending on the country and the type of school, state-sponsored prayer may be required, permitted, or prohibited. Countries which prohibit or limit school prayer often differ in their reasons for doing so: In the United States, school prayer cannot be required of students in accordance with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.