I got a leaflet by Emmet Fox from Unity Church today. I'll write down the basic idea of how he advised people to pray. First, I'll just add that I used to pray asking specifically for what I desired, if it were God's will, which often seemed to get good results. But later I heard that it's better to pray thanking in advance for what we want and expect to get, if it's God's will. I think it was Bible-based. So I tried that too, and it seemed to work even better. So now maybe I'll have another improvement to make in my method of praying. I don't know yet for sure.
Here's what Fox said to do.
Stop thinking about the difficulty, whatever it is, and think about God instead.
Do not try to form a picture of God, which is impossible. Work by rehearsing anything or everything that you know about God. God is wisdom, truth, incorruptible love. God is present everywhere, has infinite power, knows everything, and so on. It matters not how well you may think you understand thses things [about God]; go over them repeatedly.
But you must stop thinking of the trouble, whatever it is. The rule is to think about God. If you are thinking about [the] difficulty, you are not thinking about God. To be continually glancing over your shoulder, in order to see how matters are progressing, is fatal, because it is thinking of the trouble, and you must think of God and nothing else. Your object is to drive the thought of the difficulty out of your consciousness, for a few moments at least, substituting for it the thought of God. This is the crux of the whole thing. If you can become so absorbed in this consideration of the spiritual world that you forget for a while about the difficulty, you will find that you are safely and comfortably out of your difficulty [].
For a minute there, I thought he was probably being overly afraid of a little incorrect thinking, but then he said to discipline your thinking "for a few moments at least". Adding that to the advice made it make more sense to me. So I guess that's clear enough for me to experiment with. I'm not sure how long a few moments is, but for now I'll pick 5 minutes. I'll think of a problem and then see if I can think only of God for 5 minutes and then see if the problem is solved.
I thank the Father for all because even the adversity strengthens our faith, and it's a blessing to know he is operating all according to his will for our good.
"Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:28,29)
"in Him in Whom our lot was cast also, being designated beforehand according to the purpose of the One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11)
In these Bible passages, there seems to be support for both Fox's and Tom's ideas.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
1 John 3:22
And whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Jeremiah 29:11-15
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. "Because you have said, 'The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,'
John 14:13-14
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
Ephesians 6:18
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Matthew 21:21-22
And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."
Matthew 6:9-13
Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
1 Timothy 2:8
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
Proverbs 28:9
If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Luke 11:9
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
1 Timothy 2:1
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
Luke 18:1-8
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" ...
Acts 16:25-26
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
Acts 2:42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
James 5:13-14
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
Psalm 141:2
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
I did my first two prayer tests now. (The time of this post says 5 a.m., but it's 10 p.m. here, Eastern Time.)
I prayed on these four problems:
1. what to pray for.
2. companionship/fellowship
3. Tyrone's homelessness.
4. my health.
First I prayed on #2 for 5 minutes, then on #3 and 4 for another 5 minutes.
When I prayed on #2 I realized that #1 was answered when I wrote down the remaining 3 problems.
After thinking briefly about #1 and 2, I closed my eyes and rocked back and forth repeating over and over "God is" "all loving, all knowing and all doing." When I opened my eyes to check the clock, I saw that there was less than half a minute more to go. The time went surprisingly fast. The second time after thinking briefly about 3 and 4, I did the same and I opened my eyes after just over 5 minutes.
After the first prayer I had the sense that my companionship/fellowship problem may be resolved.
Tyrone is someone I met at church today who said he's been homeless for some time. I hope to attend meditation tomorrow evening at the same church and pray more for Tyrone there.
I started taking a nutritional supplement for my health a day or 2 ago, so maybe that will be resolved too, or maybe I need to pray more.
"not My will, but Thine, be done" (Luke 22:42)
Good Greif! thisis getting ridiculous IMO.........Jesus told you how to pray and hownot
to pray..inthe scriptures...........in private.... Mt 6;5,6-14
do notkeeponbabbling like pagqans.[God is allloving..Godis allloving like some ....
trance inducing mantra}
] Listen to Him!!!
...thisstuff is just teachings and doctrines of men..........
I fear you are being seduced..like Eve.
better a revealed rebuke...then ahidden 'love'
and a great big PS....answered prayer has nothing todowith your proper 'formula'...but allto do
with the POWER AND WILL OF GOD CONCERNING THE MATTER...it will be Nay,nay..or Yeah yeah
...........what about this....before the words are out of their mouthI willhear........
I will be totally honest here. I have always had a problem with prayer. It has always seen so sacrilegious to me. I instead converse with Father, and the words: "Thank you Father" are said quite often throughout the course of a day. With all that Father has given me: my sight, hearing sense of touch, the ability to smell the freshness of the morning and freshly brewed coffee is simply priceless.
I do not "like" asking for things, as I know Father knows my needs far greater than I. If I ask for anything, it is for wisdom and strength to cope with a situation where Fathers love might be compromised.
If I ask for something other, I feel my trust has been placed in a box and hidden away. If I ask more than once or given gentle reminders; trust and faith has left the building.
Gratitude for everything and I mean EVERYTHING even those things that push buttons is an absolute requirement. For if I cannot appreciate and be thankful for even the smallest lesson in patience, understanding, Love, etc. then I feel I am unworthy of anything.
I am not saying that this is for everyone.......
Love Julie :HeartThrob:
Quote from: Lloyd on October 14, 2013, 05:08:19 AMI started taking a nutritional supplement for my health a day or 2 ago, so maybe that will be resolved too, or maybe I need to pray more.
Lloyd, listen to your intuition, that feeling that you cannot explain. Test it as Paul instructed and if you find the feeling is laced in Fathers Love, trust it.. Father speaks using Spirit, be still and you will be amazed at how often the "right" answers/options present themselves as if by magic.
If you are torn between two choices, and no amount of rationalization can provide an answer. Just put whatever you intuitively feel is the "correct" choice (for the highest good for all) out there and just sit back and wait. The "correct" choice will reveal itself free from worry or stress. Not saying that what you "felt" will happen, (in my experience) it usually does. However, the answer given will be amazing in itself. :HeartThrob:
Putting it out there is silent and done on the fly. It is really this simple. You will be letting Father know that you have a slight problem and do not know what is best. Adding that you want the solution that provides the highest good for all, demonstrates that you do not have a vested interest in the outcome and that you Trust Father totally, regardless. Whatever, the outcome will be worry and stress free and Perfect.
Love Julie :HeartThrob:
"Relax and know that I am Elohim" (Psalms 46:10)
http://concordant.org/expohtml/PraiseAndPrayer/index.html
Lloyd, listen to what the above posts are telling you. I agree hundred percent. If you see a sharp object by which someone might get hurt and remove it --- that is prayer too. God is near us and knows us inside out. Don`t make prayer look like a vending machine.
Thank God for relief from nagging.
Here's an interesting prayer from Unity Church.
Father, You made my mouth. Father, You made my tongue. Father, You made my mind. Think with me, Father; I am Yours to think with. Speak with me, Father; I am Yours to speak with. Do with me, Father; I am Yours with which to accomplish!
I think it doesn't much how someone prays.
It's the motive behind the prayer.
Not a test of literary skills.
:2c:
This is from Unity's Metaphysical Bible Interpretation at http://www.truthunity.net/mbi/matt.-3 (http://www.truthunity.net/mbi/matt.-3):
[R]esolutions to improve our conduct or any outward condition will prove beneficial only if we get to the root of things and correct our thought habits. [] We get at the root of the problem by correcting and lifting up our thoughts and concepts. Systematic use of denials can help us hew down any unwanted "tree" of habit, or conduct. Then, through affirmative prayer and the constructive action that follows, we plant and grow the kind of tree that bears fruit of harmony, success, and well-being. Do you want better health? If you have habitually thought of yourself as subject to illness, grub out the roots of poor health by denying a belief in it. Then plant a healthy tree of life through affirmation. Prayerfully use such statements as these: There is no disease or discord in my body. I am God's child, demonstrating His pure and perfect life. I am strong and healthy, because my mind is in tune with infinite goodness. Would you like more harmonious relations with others this year? There may be thought habits of criticism, anger, jealousy, or selfishness that have hindered you. Hew them out by denial, and replace them with affirmative love, understanding, and generosity.
The hewing down of bad thinking habits makes sense to me, because I've had good results doing things like that in 12 Step programs. But affirming that there is no disease in my body doesn't make sense, if there is disease, because that would surely be false, and it would be comparable to affirming that there are no bad thinking habits in my mind. You can't hew down a bad thinking habit, if you refuse to see it, or if you're afraid to. And it seems very doubtful that observing disease in oneself is a bad thinking habit. It seems more sensible to say, instead, that I have a disease, but I thank God for healing me of it, including healing me of any bad thinking habits that may contribute to the disease.
I wonder what Unity would say about that.
well,by the SpiritofChrist we are to bring everythoughtintosubjection........
the man born blind was so..forthe Glory of God..so for himorhisparents tohaveused
the above 'program' would nothave beenof God's will.
Paul prayed 3 times for histhorn to beremoved..but the answer was........
my grace issufficient........
........the thing is..you have man's will andGod'swill..oftenat variance..........
God made manupright..buthehassought out manyinventions
take Job forinstance..........was it all athinking problemforhim?manifestedinsores
andtravail.
I worry about you,Llyod...just saying....your thinking isn't very clear.....what about
what about this.........Thy Will Be Done.........lest ye find yourself..struggling against God
The other stuff was fine, but I don't care to be worried about. That's annoying, because it's a put-down [or at least seems like it]. [Of course, feeling annoyed is also due to misconception.]
I'msorry Ioffended you,Llyod....but Ithinkwe allshould have concernforone another....
andnotjust ourselves... whenI become worried/troubledover a brother orsisters well-being
I offer a prayer for them untGod. AndIwouldhopethey would dothe samefor me.
actually,I requested prayer onthe board because Irealized something wasn't rightin my thinking
processes..the past few weeks..and become 'worried' formyself...........itisnotthat Iwanted
to put down myself..but that through prayer God wouldlift meup.......
Quote from: Lloyd on October 22, 2013, 01:13:01 AM
Here's an interesting prayer from Unity Church.
Father, You made my mouth. Father, You made my tongue. Father, You made my mind. Think with me, Father; I am Yours to think with. Speak with me, Father; I am Yours to speak with. Do with me, Father; I am Yours with which to accomplish!
LIKE
He is our father. Just tell him what's on your mind. If there is nothing on your mind, ask him to put something there. Even if you ask for something wrong, he knows how to give good gifts instead. When I have a request, I just ask every day. I have seen many of my daily requests granted, especially when I ask through grief and tears! I have seen many of my casual, light-hearted, one-time requests not granted. Father :HeartThrob: knows what we need before we ask, and is the giver of good gifts! :thumbsup:
Sheila, I modified my previous message. Some of my messages on this forum seem to draw a lot of unfair criticisms, so I get tired of posting anything at all. I hope your worry about yourself is short-lived in a pleasant way.
Glad to see JB liked a previous prayer message etc.
A friend in India just emailed me saying he's desperate and is considering doing something evil. I don't know if it's because his Mom needs medical help, but they can't afford it. Maybe he just plans to steal something to help his Mom. I don't know. I told him doing evil will backfire. I also asked if sending some money might help.
So there's something else to pray for. Thank God for providing him a good solution.
Sheila's a carer Lloyd. She worries about me all the time and I love her for it. Definitely not a put-down!
It's is good to use prayer aids if they help you. For example, a prayer list can be used as a tool to help me remember all that is in my concerns. It is too easy to promise a friend you will pray for them, then forget to do so. :doh: After all, Yeshua himself gave us a model prayer, and I believe he expects us to use it. I know I do. However, if a prayer aid comes from a religious organization, USE CAUTION! Check it against the scriptures to be sure there are no known doctrinal errors in it. If you do not detect any, then use it if it helps. I know what it's like to have a lack of anything to say to Yahweh and the words just won't come. I have occasionally thought to myself, "I just can't pray right now." On one such occasion, I later realized Yah just wanted me in his presence to listen - he spoke to me and it turned into a pivotal experience in my life at the time. Yahweh is so awesome! :dsunny:
Jbb that's how most of my prayer time is spent now. "Be still and know that I Am God."
TY Liloyd........I seem to have an 'anxious care" kinda thing in me...I really don't knowifthat
is always a good thing.....there is a difference bewteen mothering and smothering... :eek:
one is Mother wisdom from above...the other is Babylon......I,too,have my own struggles
battles,as we all do. God Bless you,Llyod...may you find shelter under His wing