Which do you think is the best type of praying?
By betterdays
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
Philippines
April 16, 2012 3:59am CST
There are many types of praying. There is what you call 'silent prayer' where you pray silently alone, and there is the group prayer where you pray together with a group of people. There is 'prayer meditation' where you pray while you meditate on Biblical message and spiritual things. There is the prayer that you say whenever you go to Church. There is also the prayer in songs whenever you sing spiritual songs. In your experience, which do you think is the best type of praying?
11 responses
@Leeper (79)
• South Africa
16 Apr 12
Great question and one I have strangely enough...been wondering about quite a bit lately. I am not great at praying, being reared Catholic can sometimes give you all kinds of hangups. However, as time went on...i found myself praying while walking in the park, at the beach, in the supermarket (mainly asking to keep me away from the candy and chocolate aisle...(-: (really!) haha. But seriously, it is just like this conversation with my one true protector and friend - the one Being that has my 100% trust.
It is a private thing for me and I started meditating about 10 years ago...I mean I would sit in silence and listen to that inner sense, listening to what I 'feel' it is I need to do. So hard to describe...A friend once described it like this: he said praying is when you talk to God and when you meditate, you listen to what he replies. It is like this for me. Nothing complicated.
I like the idea of singing praise etc, but I just cannot do that yet - perhaps I just have not found the right people to share that with yet. I feel a better sense of connection privately.
Anyway, that is my two cents. Happy days...(-:
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
I remember reading a particular book that says another type of Church is the one that you see in the streets, in nature and everywhere. I think being aware of God's creations and seeing his works through them adds up to our understanding of God and appreciating more his goodness. ( Opposite your prayer, I would be asking to be led to chocolait aisles and have my fill..lol ).
Yes, I think generally it would be private prayers that leads us to the most intimate relationship with our God. The outside world may be in turmoil...other people may not understand us or even misjudge us...but when we're alone with God, it's only about you and Him, and most likely than not you can feel his presence more easily when there's no other distractions in sight.
Let's pray for four cents. Happy days as well...:)
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
Thanks for saying that. Anyway, I respect your opinions so much and I think you're a deep person who knows a lot. Nobody can judge you in the choices you make in life...even in the spirtual choices. But for me, I think as long as you feel God even outside the Church, then I feel the presence of God is with you.
I hope you take care also...and best wishes :)
@Leeper (79)
• South Africa
18 Apr 12
(Smile), you are funny...but also very wise and I do agree with a lot of what you say. I left church when I turned 14 as I do not believe in religion and could not bring myself to get confirmed: so cancelled my subscription basically. I get what you say about church being everywhere...and I even feel that God (or any other reference to God) is everywhere...is everyone even.
And as long as we act in love, be love...yes, eat that chocolate in love, it becomes a kind of blessing bestowed upon ourselves and those around us. Is it a way of making me feel better that I have not stepped in a church or a temple in a very long time? Maybe, but I do not think so.
I feel God with me every moment, In me and around me...I see God in people I speak to...and sometimes I see an absence of God in some - and that is what concerns me more than anything else really? Why would I?
Anyway, you take care yeah...
In gratitude.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
Yes thumbs up! Come to think of it...if there is silent prayer, is there what we call 'noisy prayer'? Just curious...hmmm.
@triplejazzm51 (1373)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
Hell! BetterDays, i usually pray silently, upon waking up and before going to sleep. My prayer before going to sleep is longer than my other prayers, i read passages from the bible first then meditate on the message and pray. If i am happy, or sad i thank God for those because they strengthen my faith. I also love listening and singing praise and worship songs. It is another type of prayer and the bible says that when you sing songs about God, you drove away evil. I think those two are the best methods in praying because we really feel what we say and feel the presence of the Lord. Pray a lot the bible say.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
Hi triplejazzm51. I remember someone said that singing (spiritual songs) is like praying twice. When we sing spiritual songs, it's like a prayer with double the strength. Which comes to my mind that praying with more emotions are more powerful prayer than dry prayers...quite obviously. Anyway, you seem to be a complete Christian :) I hope I can go back to reading the Bible...thanks for the reminder!
@triplejazzm51 (1373)
• Philippines
19 Apr 12
Sorry Betterdays, My greeting in my response is Hello not Hell, o my! i did not read before posting. Anyway,we can sing and dance if we want to praise God, that is what the bible says too. So lets enjoy praising Him. God Bless!
@shylade (3132)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
for me, i pray with all my heart and that's what really matter. you need to be sincere on what you are saying and as the one of the sermons that i have heard, you don't need to go into details when praying because God knows what our hearts desire. you don't need to enlist them as if you are directing or instructing God about what you want.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
Amen to that brother! Because we ask anything from God, he already knows what we need. I also remember what God taught to 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and everything shall be provided unto you'...this is why I think the first instinct of man when he faces difficulty is...to pray.
@toyota4k (1208)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
Based on the Lord's Prayer which was given by Christ as an example is an outline of a prayer. We may pray in congregation, or individually. We pray to ask favors from god and also in gratitude for all He gave us as well as pray for loved ones or pray for peace...
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
With so many terrible things happening around us, you have given us a good reminder to pray for peace. In the Lord's prayer it says also to be delivered from evil. I also hope and pray that the world be delivered from all types of evil...whether it be spiritual, physical, biological, social and all types. The Lord's prayer is probably the most spoken prayer and most powerful as the Lord himself taught us this prayer.
@superbadx (484)
• Malaysia
17 Apr 12
For me i like to pray in silence where i can get everything out of my system without the distraction of people around me. But in my religion, we get better exposure or "reward" if we pray together. Because this is just our way to creating a bonds together with the people in our same religion and get to know each others better. I think this is actually great because like friends, we can contact each other and tell them about out problems and actually get their help for something that they can actually help us in our certain problem. Religion people actually a good listener when it comes to listening our problem.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
It reminded me of a Bible phrase that when two or three are gathered together in my name, the I am in the midst of them. Yes, what you said reminded me that prayers said by two or more people becomes more powerful compared to prayer done by one person alone. So if only all people would pray for only good things to happen in this world and to all humankind, then I believe this world would be a much better place to live in.
@thewonderboy (7501)
• India
16 Apr 12
Different person uses different way for praying. Some use silent prayers, some have loud chant of mantras . The way we does it doesn't matter. The only thing is that, we are dedicated to it with our devotion.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
I believe too that everyone feels more comfortable in one way different than others. God made us all different, and that's the beauty of each and every person having the own special gifts and choices in life.
@Tamosree1993 (1525)
• India
17 Apr 12
Hello friend,
Personally I don't believe in god. But I think that the 'silent prayer' is better process to call the god.
Have a nice day.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
Hi Tamosree1993. Thanks for the feedback. I remember somebody said to me before that 'silent waters runs deep'...that's how I look at silent prayers.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
16 Apr 12
I agree with you, chicgale. I feel most 'relaxed' and 'comfortable' when I'm praying alone as to compared with group prayers. I think group prayers helps in the other direction when you feel lonely.
1 person likes this
@Teep11 (7674)
• United States
17 Apr 12
Many times I enjoy praying alone. I want to build a relationship with god. I really enjoy singing so I will also worship in this manner. Praying changes things. Through prayer you'll here what God has to say. Praying in a group is also beneficial. It doesn't matter in what manner you pray as long as the prayers are from the heart. http://www.triond.com/rw/465173
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
You pointed it very clearly...all types of prayers are beneficial. I believe too that prayers can change the world. It is an invisible power that cannot be denied.
@shekinahmia (233)
• Philippines
16 Apr 12
I didn't know there are so many types of praying. Anyway, I prefer the one which you call the 'silent prayer'. I love talking to God alone. I can tell Him all the things that I want without being heard by other people. Although I also do group prayers, but between the two, I prefer the silent prayer the most.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
It's interesting to consider that silent prayers my have the strongest impact to God, because I think if you pray silently your prayers go deeper. It's like your relationship with God grows more intimately with a one-on-one conversation with him. Anyway, I also used to be a part of a Charismatic group but I also still prefer 'silent prayer.'
