SteveO Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 This is sort of embarrassing as I'm a 30 year old who has been born and raised in the church--not to mention a returned missionary. I'm trying to find more purpose in my personal prayers. It's hard to not fall into the rut of repetition and end up thinking of other things that end up distracting from meaningful communication. I was hoping to see any tips/experiences others could share that have helped increase the purpose of their own prayers. Thanks! 1
Guest Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 4 minutes ago, SteveO said: This is sort of embarrassing as I'm a 30 year old who has been born and raised in the church--not to mention a returned missionary. I'm trying to find more purpose in my personal prayers. It's hard to not fall into the rut of repetition and end up thinking of other things that end up distracting from meaningful communication. I was hoping to see any tips/experiences others could share that have helped increase the purpose of their own prayers. Thanks! As the Book of Mormon says, we must all be born again...you are not the only one. Have faith in all of us that we are as well.
bluebell Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 I don't know if this will help you, but this article really helped me with my prayers. How To Pray So That God Can Answer 4
ksfisher Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 https://www.lds.org/new-era/2010/10/how-can-i-make-daily-prayer-more-meaningful?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/new-era/2001/01/idea-list-meaningful-prayer?lang=eng https://www.lds.org/topics/prayer/what-the-church-teaches?lang=eng 2
Gillebre Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 I suggest examining your expectations around prayer, as well as how you were taught to pray. Simplify it. Make it a conversation with Him, a shade more casual and many shades more open. Tell him what you feel, what you fear, what you need. Don't thank Him for something you're not actually grateful for, and thus be as genuine as you can. If you're angry or frustrated, tell Him as much. He hears it all, and we need to say more of what's really inside. Let go, a little, of some formalities for the sake of having a real conversation with your Heavenly Father. He is the King of all, God Himself, but before all of that comes you, His child, and before His many titles and glories comes His Fatherhood. I feel strongly that Church members would benefit from a loosening up of their prayer framework. We can sometimes get so caught up in the formality of talking to the God of creation and the Universe that we don't talk to Him as a friend, our Father. Keep it simple and heartfelt. It is your time to talk with Him, to both let things out and let them go. If you don't mean it, don't say it. and keep them short if that's what you need to help yourself focus. Put more meaning into what you choose to say to Him. I hope some of this helps. 4
rpn Posted July 2, 2016 Posted July 2, 2016 (edited) Change up how you are doing it. Have a conversation about work things on the commute home, or for a few moments when it comes up during the day. Talk with Him (in your head if not verbally) as you see things that need attention or you are figuring what your own part should be in doing them. When you see beautiful things are are inspired by the acts of others, sing praise to Him. Have you ever got that feeling that you can't wait to talk to your spouse, a parent, someone about something? Try to catch yourself in those moments of I can't wait to tell Him. Edited July 2, 2016 by rpn 2
Jeanne Posted July 3, 2016 Posted July 3, 2016 (edited) 23 hours ago, SteveO said: This is sort of embarrassing as I'm a 30 year old who has been born and raised in the church--not to mention a returned missionary. I'm trying to find more purpose in my personal prayers. It's hard to not fall into the rut of repetition and end up thinking of other things that end up distracting from meaningful communication. I was hoping to see any tips/experiences others could share that have helped increase the purpose of their own prayers. Thanks! You know..the evening prayers, before you rest,,is always thankful and full of gratefulness..which is repetitious but I think that is okay if you mean it..and mean it everyday But a real personal prayer ..as to ask questions..answers..and to build a relationship is just talking in quiet walk someplace..at least it is for me. Talk about your day and relive some moments and ask questions and have this actual conversation during the day. It has made a great difference to me. Just a thought. Edited July 3, 2016 by Jeanne 2
SteveO Posted July 3, 2016 Author Posted July 3, 2016 (edited) On 7/2/2016 at 1:32 AM, Gillebre said: I suggest examining your expectations around prayer, as well as how you were taught to pray. Simplify it. Make it a conversation with Him, a shade more casual and many shades more open. Tell him what you feel, what you fear, what you need. Don't thank Him for something you're not actually grateful for, and thus be as genuine as you can. If you're angry or frustrated, tell Him as much. He hears it all, and we need to say more of what's really inside. Let go, a little, of some formalities for the sake of having a real conversation with your Heavenly Father. He is the King of all, God Himself, but before all of that comes you, His child, and before His many titles and glories comes His Fatherhood. I feel strongly that Church members would benefit from a loosening up of their prayer framework. We can sometimes get so caught up in the formality of talking to the God of creation and the Universe that we don't talk to Him as a friend, our Father. Keep it simple and heartfelt. It is your time to talk with Him, to both let things out and let them go. If you don't mean it, don't say it. and keep them short if that's what you need to help yourself focus. Put more meaning into what you choose to say to Him. I hope some of this helps. I really like this. I've tried being--for lack of a better word--informal before, but I always was a little uneasy because the culture of the church made me feel irreverent for doing it. Its good to know that others have tried this. Thanks all for the responses and thoughts on the matter! Edited July 3, 2016 by SteveO
waveslider Posted July 4, 2016 Posted July 4, 2016 I personally have found that I am better able to break up the monotonous, repetitive type of prayer by trying to listen more than talking. After the, "amen," I try to listen for his guidance and spiritual promptings. I try to get more in tune to my conscience, which is really the light of Christ. I try to obey my conscience throughout my entire day. When I see people, I try to see if there is something that I am prompted to do, like smile, say hello, give something to someone who might be hungry, if I happen to have a snack with me, etc.. I try to obey those heartfelt promptings when I am able to. When I'm not able to, I automatically find myself having a quick prayer in my heart telling Father that I wish I could obey, asking if I can be shown a way that I can. I then consciously try to thank Heavenly Father for those experiences. I find myself asking to be even more in tune with Him in my prayers, which creates a really nice snow ball effect, and gives me a ton of things to ask forgiveness of as I stumble my way through life, when I realize I could have obeyed the promptings that I missed, or rationalized away. I also find that I get promptings on what to pray for, during my prayers much more often. It helps me to realize how those righteous people I read about in scripture are able to get everything they ask for in prayer. It's because they are so in tune with the Spirit, that they are led to ask for the things they are asking for, instead of having selfish desires. Just my two cents worth anyway. 1
Jeanne Posted July 4, 2016 Posted July 4, 2016 15 hours ago, waveslider said: I personally have found that I am better able to break up the monotonous, repetitive type of prayer by trying to listen more than talking. After the, "amen," I try to listen for his guidance and spiritual promptings. I try to get more in tune to my conscience, which is really the light of Christ. I try to obey my conscience throughout my entire day. When I see people, I try to see if there is something that I am prompted to do, like smile, say hello, give something to someone who might be hungry, if I happen to have a snack with me, etc.. I try to obey those heartfelt promptings when I am able to. When I'm not able to, I automatically find myself having a quick prayer in my heart telling Father that I wish I could obey, asking if I can be shown a way that I can. I then consciously tryFro to thank Heavenly Father for those experiences. I find myself asking to be even more in tune with Him in my prayers, which creates a really nice snow ball effect, and gives me a ton of things to ask forgiveness of as I stumble my way through life, when I realize I could have obeyed the promptings that I missed, or rationalized away. I also find that I get promptings on what to pray for, during my prayers much more often. It helps me to realize how those righteous people I read about in scripture are able to get everything they ask for in prayer. It's because they are so in tune with the Spirit, that they are led to ask for the things they are asking for, instead of having selfish desires. Just my two cents worth anyway. Listening...I like that. From one who is mostly deaf. I have had to tell people..that even if I don't hear..doesn't mean that i don't listen..and listen hard. There is a truth to that. A peaceful one..in the quiet. Thank you. Perhaps I can only hear God sometimes..and so I believe sometimes that He is the only one who listens. 1
notHagoth7 Posted July 19, 2016 Posted July 19, 2016 (edited) On 7/1/2016 at 7:24 PM, SteveO said: This is sort of embarrassing... I'm trying t find more purpose in my personal prayers. It's hard to not fall into the rut of repetition and end up thinking of other things that end up distracting from meaningful communication. I was hoping to see any tips/experiences others could share that have helped increase the purpose of their own prayers. Thanks! A few suggestions to complement what you're already doing/seeking: 1. Pray to find and enlist yourself in a cause that you can't accomplish without God's help (which would encompass most anything of lasting value). 2. Consider going for a regular lengthy walk, and invite God to join you. Everyone has a different schedule, but *after* the stars come out in their glory can be a humbling/awe-inspiring/productive time for reflection, hymns, questioning, and receiving answers... 3. President Eyring has spoken repeatedly of the cycle of asking God what he would have us do next, promptly recording it to make sure it is treasured/not forgotten, acting upon it, and then thanking Him both for the guidance and for the privilege to serve. Wash, rinse repeat. Numerous such talks can be found at LDS.org. Key word "errand" in a title search might be fruitful along such lines. If you happen to be like me and often prefer to have a physical book in your hand, this is in my very biased opinion, the most fruitful LDS works since the days of Joseph and Parley P. Pratt https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Closer-God-Collection-Discources/dp/1590383222/ 4. Consider exploring the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, or even taking an Artist's Way workshop. (Some communities occasionally offer such workshops free of charge.) It might seem like an odd suggestion, but that book dramatically changed my life in more ways than I can express, still does, and is my favorite non-LDS book. It has a similar rubber-meets-the-road approach as the previous book, albeit on a weekly workshop model, mentoring/encouraging one to become a closer partner with a loving Creator. The most crucial part of that book assists one in developing the habit of incorporating a key but oft-ignored element of prayer .) There are obviously a number of other well-known, effective suggestions that we hear often in church. Meanwhile, some above are my ultra-secret weapons that shouldn't be shared with anyone else. (This is a private conversation, right?) ;0) If appropriate for you, I would love to hear in a few weeks/months how/whether such things fit the bill. God speed. Edited July 19, 2016 by notHagoth7 1
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