The way in which believers communicate to God
32
votes
5answers
565 views
Praying to people outside the Trinity
I understand that the Roman Catholic church direct some prayers to Mary, the mother of Jesus. For me it would be strange to address my prayers to anyone outside the Holy Trinity. Do Catholics pray to ...
18
votes
4answers
606 views
What is the purpose of Prayer?
We are having a lovely discussion in chat about the purpose and efficacy of prayer.
I am of the opinion that God has a plan and the future is completely set. However I also believe that you should ...
24
votes
6answers
370 views
Is the “sinner's prayer” important for salvation and why?
In evangelical churches the sinner's prayer is a very much emphasized aspect for someone to become or convert to being a Christian. In fact, most church services I attended growing up ended with the ...
14
votes
6answers
1k views
Can we pray from any position?
I enjoy praying lying in bed just before I sleep ... until I fall asleep. In church I usually pray with my hands simply by my side or even with my hands in my pockets. I just let them stay wherever ...
10
votes
1answer
836 views
What is “intercession” and what kinds of “intercessory prayer” are there?
Different traditions seem to have different ideas about intercession.
What are the major different types of "intercessory prayer" and which traditions employ them?
If applicable to the definition, ...
-3
votes
4answers
320 views
Why not give credit where credit is due?
Why do people often seem to give credit to their God instead of themselves or those directly deserved of the credit?
For example, the food you eat likely came from a farm or store, why not thank the ...
16
votes
7answers
312 views
How should Christians meditate?
In the recent years the word Meditation is used widely by everyone, and the word is used widely in non-religious context too.
Should we, Christians meditate? If yes, what should we do while ...
5
votes
3answers
204 views
What biblical reasons are there for using the Lord's Prayer as a pattern for prayer rather than a prayer to repeat verbatim?
In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gave the disciples what we refer to as "The Lord's Prayer", (though Jesus Himself would never have prayed this, having no sin to confess).
Some traditions use this prayer as ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the meaning of “anything” in Matthew 18:19-20?
In Matthew 18:19-20, Jesus says:
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
Are silent prayers heard?
Growing up in the church, silent prayers are pretty much part of how I pray. However, challenging assumptions, I'm curious to know how biblical this is.
Every prayer I read about in the Bible is ...
10
votes
1answer
156 views
What is the basis for the solicitation of prayers from dead saints?
How did the practice of soliciting the prayers of dead saints originate? Is it in the bible? The apocrypha? A papal decree?
On a side note, which groups practice this type of prayer?
I am ...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
How much are psalms and other prayers from Bible understood as actual prayer in Protestantism?
I know psalms and other Biblical songs are often sung as hymns, read and cited, but I wonder to which extent is this understood as a prayer by Protestants.
To be more concrete, is the use of psalms ...
8
votes
3answers
235 views
What is the Rule of Prayer?
I often hear people thank God about how their prayer being answered such as in competition. But what I'm thinking is, the winner is not absolutely the only one that prayed. I believe everybody in the ...
14
votes
5answers
749 views
Praying for someone's salvation. Is there a point?
According to I Timothy 2:4 (NIV), God "...wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth".
But since we have free will, God cannot make us choose to accept the salvation that is ...
6
votes
2answers
251 views
How can I teach someone to pray?
So, the best question any pastor can be asked is "How can I learn to pray?" I know how I do it, but what resources (preferably in Scripture, although classic works are acceptable) would be useful for ...
12
votes
3answers
345 views
“I will lift Your Name”
Lots of Christian Rock songs have a curious metaphor about "Lifting Your Name". Is this a direct reference to the words of St. Paul, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend (Phil 2:10)?
...
9
votes
1answer
132 views
Is veneration worship?
I answered this question calling adoration and veneration honor given to God and the saints accordingly.
If you look at the edits for my answer, I think I had some confusion as to the terminology ...
5
votes
1answer
83 views
At what level of detail does God lead His children?
It seems that some people worry and pray about every aspect of their life, while others only sweat the big stuff. For example, I doubt any believer does not pray about whether they should marry a ...
3
votes
5answers
1k views
What does the Bible say about how we should pray?
Context
In Matthew 6:7-15, we see Jesus
telling his disciples to not use vain repetitions as the heathens do
giving a specific example of how to pray
It's furthermore noted that prayer is a ...
8
votes
2answers
227 views
What substitutes for prayers for the Pope's intentions during sede vacante?
One of the requirments one must meet to obtain an indulgence is to pray for the [edit]intentions of the[/edit] pope. When there's no pope, what's the substitute? I guess it's the conclave and the next ...
8
votes
3answers
259 views
Is it OK to question God about doubts?
Are there any biblical references that indicate that it's ok (or not ok) to bring any doubts to God in prayer?
7
votes
1answer
714 views
What does it mean to pray in Jesus' Name?
A few times in the book of John, Jesus instructs us to pray "in His Name". What does this mean? How do we know if we are praying in His name? How would we not be praying in His name?
I don't ...
6
votes
1answer
124 views
What isn't spiritual communion?
Spiritual communion is a prayer one can pray if they can't receive communion at Mass and it's a good prayer to pray if you're making a visit to a tabernacle outside of Mass. Sacramental communion can ...
5
votes
2answers
129 views
How are devout Christians viewed by other believers, when they are not delivered from “evil”?
If a devout Christian is not "delivered" in this life, how are they viewed by other Christians?
For example, a black Christian pastor in segregated America, who truly loves the Lord, is killed by ...
5
votes
2answers
387 views
Do angels pray for us? [closed]
I was reading about henotheism and it hinted at the fact that some Christians believe that angels are intercessors.
Quite simply, do angels pray for us? Can we ask angels for intercession?
5
votes
2answers
180 views
How does God speak today? [closed]
I've heard people say, "God has spoken to me." In the OT there were prophets proclaiming what God said. Sometimes in the Bible God speaks audibly (e.g. to Samuel).
But today: in what way does God ...
4
votes
2answers
83 views
Why did Protestants abandon Liturgy of the Hours?
In Divine office or Liturgy of the Hours as it is practiced in Catholic Church there's nothing bad for Protestants (or at least nothing of which I know that Protestants consider bad); prayer is good ...
4
votes
3answers
534 views
Why pray if God is omniscient? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the purpose of Prayer?
What the question says, why do people pray if God knows everything?
2
votes
2answers
122 views
Do those who pray to saints ascribe to them the quality of being able to hear many people at once?
I mean, there could be thousands of Orthodox Christians at this moment praying to, say, Saint Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, and there could probably be even more of Catholic Christians praying ...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
Purpose of prayer?
Let's assume both a non-believer and a Christian has a fever. The Christian prays to God for healing of his fever. The non-believer doesn't do anything. 1 week later both recover from their fever.
...
