An invitation to name that prayer

[Matthias]

From my X / Twitter “For you” feed -

“What is one prayer you have prayed for years and still haven’t stopped praying?”

Pastor Rich Bitterman (@w_bitterman) on X

What is one prayer you have prayed for years and still haven’t stopped praying?

x.com

 

[Matthias]

“The very act of prayer is a blessing.” - C.H. Spurgeon

 

[Matthias]

The Shema. The Lord’s Prayer is another.

 

[Lambano]

The Shema. The Lord’s Prayer is another.

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Does the Shema count as a prayer, or would it fall into the category of a "confession of faith" like the Apostle's Creed, the Nicene creed, or for that matter, the Shahada?

 

[Lambano]

A common grace said before meals. Learned in childhood; still usable today.

God is good,
God is great,
We thank you for
The food on our plate.

Which is a little more reverent than the grace used by certain (ahem!) relatives of mine who shall remain nameless:

Good food,
Good meat.
Good God,
Let's eat.

 

[Lambano]

When I think of the grace-before-meals prayer above, or the rote prayers we do as part of the communion liturgy, I wonder if those fall into the category of "prayers to be seen by men" or "vain babbling" as per Matthew 6:5-8.

 

[Matthias]

Does the Shema count as a prayer, or would it fall into the category of a "confession of faith" ….

Thank you for asking. It is both.

… like the Apostle's Creed, the Nicene creed, or for that matter, the Shahada?

 

[Matthias]

When I think of the grace-before-meals prayer above, or the rote prayers we do as part of the communion liturgy, I wonder if those fall into the category of "prayers to be seen by men" or "vain babbling" as per Matthew 6:5-8.

Is there a third option?

 

[Lambano]

Is there a third option?

Praying them from the heart is always a viable option. But then I'd have to pay attention.

 

[quietthinker]

I think when prayers are by rote, one is not communicating with God any more than if one spoke to another with pre chewed sentences.

 

[Matthias]

Praying them from the heart is always a viable option. But then I'd have to pay attention.

I thought about praying the scriptures during the night. I’m sure it had to do with our brief conversation. It was still on my mind when I woke up this morning. Thank you.

Reasons for doing it are offered in the linked article.

12 Reasons You Should Pray Scripture

I don’t want to give the impression that I’m a prayer-expert. I’m not. But that’s one reason I find praying Scripture so helpful (more on that later). My argument is simple: You should pray Scripture. Three qualifications: I don’t mean merely that you should pray. That’s a given. I don’t mean...

www.thegospelcoalition.org

Outside of the two I mentioned - with the former being daily and the latter being occasionally - I seldom engage in the practice.

I do enjoy reading prayerbooks. I tend to think of Hymnals as corporate prayerbooks.

 

[Matthias]

I think when prayers are by rote, one is not communicating with God …

I think when prayers are by rote, one is communicating with God. I’m certain he knows the intention of the heart.

Having said that, I can’t picture praying only by rote. Rightly or wrongly, that strikes me as being cold and robotic.

 

[Matthias]

“My father, whose prayer you heard just now - how often have I heard him pray for his children; and I can truly say the prayer that is nearest to my heart is for my sons, that they may serve the Lord. There is nothing I desire so much beneath the skies.” - C.H. Spurgeon

I don’t have a son. My grandson is seven years old, and I’ve prayed this regularly in regard to him since before he was born.

 

[Nathaniel]

From my X / Twitter “For you” feed -

“What is one prayer you have prayed for years and still haven’t stopped praying?”

Pastor Rich Bitterman (@w_bitterman) on X

What is one prayer you have prayed for years and still haven’t stopped praying?

x.com

Heavenly Father, I thank you for this food. I ask that you would bless it as nourishment to my body, bless the hands that prepared it, go with me, guide me and direct me, in Jesus name, and for His sake.

This was my grandfather's blessing. He never failed to ask, and neither have I over these many decades.

The prayer changes depending upon the circumstances of course. Lately I've been adding things like "no weapon formed against me shall prosper" etc. And so far, none has, at least not in regards to food.

I've been blessed with amazingly good health throughout my life, and I have no doubt as to why.