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Nope, this isn't a prayer request. Actually, I'm wondering how to pray. You see, I've been praying for basically my whole life, but recently I've been struggling with some things. Like, how do you know who/what to pray about? Everyone around me needs prayer. The whole WORLD needs prayer. I get overwhelmed, and a lot of times end up neglecting my prayer time. I also don't know how much time I should be spending praying. I say many short prayers throughout the day, but I have trouble when I try to take special time to pray. I don't know what to do. Thank you for your time!

Prayer doesn't need to be so complicated. It's best when you focus your thoughts (and writing them down first is OK) and just speak your mind. God will understand. Also, pray for specific things.

You are right that everything and everyone could use prayer, but you will be more effective if you narrow your focus to people you know or recent events you have heard about.

If you know of a specific need - like the Tsunami victims or a friend's broken leg, pray for that. If you aren't aware of a specific need, but feel compelled to pray for some one or something anyway, then pray for things everyone needs - like wisdom or patience or to grow in Christ.

It sounds to me like you lack focus and can't decide what to pray about. So, I suggest you start by making a list of the things most important to you and then pray from that list. You don't need to pray for everything every time, either. Maybe there are a couple you pray for every time, but the others can rotate in and out.

If you take the time to organize what you want to pray about, I think you will find that your time will go smoother and it will be better spent.

different things work for different people, some people do 'free-form' and just pray about whatever comes to mind, others like organization methods, that will be different in content every time, but same in structure. but always remember that while you pray the Holy Spirit intercedes for you with groans that will say more than you can ever try to say.

some orgainzation methods i've heard of are ACTS and praying fingers.

ACTS:
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

praying fingers:
thumb=finger closest to yourself when you pray and finger you point at yourself with. pray for yourself
pointer finger=finger you use to point to others. pray for people close to you, anyone you know personally
middle finger=tallest finger. pray for those in positions of authority or influence
ring finger="weakest" finger. pray for the sick, downtrodden, depressed, misfortunate, etc
pinky finger=littlest finger. pray for those who would normally go overlooked or be ignored.


and the Bible says:
Matthew 6:5-13
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Mark 16:17: "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will.....speak with new tongues."

If you know how to speak in tongues--if you're baptized not only with water, but with the Holy Spirit--it doesn't matter if you don't know how to pray for someone. Man does not understand what he is saying when he is praying this way, but God does. It's perfect for praying something out when you don't know how!

Read in Acts to find out more about being filled with the Holy Spirit. Talk to your pastor/ youth pastor/ parents about it too if you have any more questions.

I found it hard to have proper structure to my praying time to but than I was told about the ACTS method and it works well. If you don't feel a hunger to read the Word or pray, ask the Holy Spirit to aid you, to create a thirst for growing in your faith.

Ssjvash, You don't have to be able to speak in tongues to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate all the suggestions. I will keep them all in mind.

Hmm this is an interesting topic, I must say I am interested myself. When I was younger my mother had me make a habit out of praying every night before I go to bed. It certainly is a good habit, but lately I have been wondering if its truely from the heart, as I am often very tired and want to get to bed as fast a possible so I sourghta rush through things. Sometimes I catch myself being repititious, and at one point in my life I even caught myself saying the same "Exact" prayer every night. No good, I know. To truely be able to speak to God it has to be from the heart and is best when you're fully awake and not in public. That way you're not focussing on how other people feel about your prayer but rather on what you really want to talk to God about. By the way don't worry about the right words so much as what you feel.

As for feeling the Holy Spirit, you certainly don't have to speak in tongues to be able to feel it. I will always remember the time I felt it, pecurlarly enough it too had something to do with this subject. I was told by my youth leader that when I wanted to ask for something from God that I was to pray with my hands open, like I was recieving a gift from God. Sorta like having my wrists together but my fingers spread outward. I had never praid like that before nor have I seen anyone else pray like this afterwards, I was wondering if anyone else had heard of this sort of thing.

Also does anyone happen to anything else concerning the Holy Spirit, as he (it?) seems to be left fairly mysterious other then giving guidance filling me up once with an amazing feeling. It was an experience that shocked my entire life so I was wondering if I could find out more about this phenomena. Does it affect everyone in the same manner?

Thanks
Pascal

Thanks, Pascal! Interesting points, Pascal. I've felt the same way before when praying. Perhaps I need to find a better time of day to pray. The problem is, lately I just haven't been able to concentrate well on much of anything. It's like maybe I have ADD or something... My mind just isn't with me. Or maybe my heart isn't with me... In either case, I need to spend some more time with God and straighten things out.

To answer your question (I hope) I have felt the Holy Spirit at least once before. I was feeling pretty helpless at the time. I believe I was actually on my knees, with my eyes closed, my head upward to Heaven, and my hands reaching up. Suddenly, I just felt a great feeling of peace and warmth. It was awesome to say the least. I was feeling so pumped up after that too. I just praised God.