Only when i'm completely overwhelmed by life. Or when in social situations where not praying would make me the target of scorn.
I usually pray when things are going bad - but I usually put other people first. Like I pray for other people (including BBS members) who are going through hard times, I pray for assistance and safety of others when I see an ambulance pass, those kind of things... Then I'll pray for me once in a blue moon if I'm seriously going through some **** (which I'm pretty sure I can count on both hands how many times that's happened).
Once a year, when I'm forced to attend a Hindu ceremony at my parents house which happens to fall during the Jerry Lewis telethon every year.
I pray before every birdie putt and every Rockets playoff game. Obviously, G-d wasn't listening to me last night..... And G-d NEVER listens to me on the golf course!!!
Wow, that's so cool and unselfish. I'm the other way, unfortunately... I do try to pray for other people (when I remember), but as soon as I get in trouble, I'm busy praying for me... even if it's that I won't screw up in an orchestra concert, or that I won't oversleep my alarm when I'm going to get less than 2 hours, or (most often) that I can get some sort of guidance in terms of where my life should be going. Some people get those kinds of signs and voices; I don't. Anything I get is really subtle. I try to make everything out to be some kind of divine sign, but what if it's not... With all that, usually I say my share of prayers (conversations, not rituals... unless I just happen to be at a church service). I'm not good about having a daily quiet time, though. I would usually do that in bed at night and of course before you know it you're asleep... or half dreaming and even your prayers don't make sense. That's bad. I also don't pray for things like outcomes of ballgames (other than that the deserving team will win and no one will get hurt).
I should pray more often and go to church more often. My father was a minister's son so we went practically every Sunday. After my parents split and I went to College, it was hard to go after 2 straight nights of binge drinking to all hours of the morning. I tried to find a church when I lived in Austin, but could never find the right one. Ive lived in Houston for a year and 3 months and havent really put forth the effort. Thanks for the reminder...... I need to get off my lazy ass and go to church!
Basically I think prayer is an important moment of contact between you and God, one that builds on your ongoing relationship with the Great One. And God is like Mighty Joe Young, powerful and silent. But He does like hearing from His lil buddies on Earth. So having said all that, I pray when I want something. GOD, HELP THE ROCKETS WIN THIS BASKETBALL GAME, SCREW DALLAS, YOU KNOW THEY SUCK AND THEIR FANS ARE ALL IDOL-WORSHIPING SODOMITES But God works in mysterious ways so sometimes these prayers go into the "No, But I Will Explain When You Get To Heaven" folder. GOD, GRANT ME A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH, NO CRUST THIS TIME DAMNIT But God helps those who help themselves. Therefore, I must cut the crust off MYSELF. OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD YES That's a prayer that does not get used as often as I would like, but judging by the normal results it's one that gets answered with the most frequency.
Interesting stuff, I've often wondered of the people who don't pray what do you have to lose? I think religion has people so divided that the prayer has been somehow minimized and clumped into the image of money hungry preachers and corruption in the church. One of my prayers is to be a better person, and even if there weren't a God, if I pray this often, at least it's on my mind when I about to choke a Mavs fan or something . Thanks for your honesty....
According to Hammer, you're supposed to pray just to make it today... That's word,we pray(pray,pray) We got to pray Just to make it today I said we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray(pray) We got to pray Just to make it to pray That's word,we pray All my life I wanted to make it to the top (That's word,we pray) Some said I wouldn't They told me no,but I didn't stop (That's word,we pray) Working hard,making those movies everyday (That's word,we pray) And on my knees every night,you know I pray That's word,we pray(pray) Ah,yeah,pray(pray) we got to pray Just to make it today I said we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray(pray) We got to pray Just to make it today That's word,we pray Now I just think that you Can do what ever you want (That's word,we pray) I'm bustin' these rhymes Making this money and I won't (That's word,we pray) Forget my people or may town or my ways (That's word,we pray) And on my knees.every night I'm still gonna pray That's word,we pray(pray) Ah,yeah,pray(pray) we got to pray Just to make it today I said we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray(pray) We got to pray Just to make it today That's word,we pray Time and time and time and time again (That's word,we pray) I kept on knocking,but These people wouldn't let me in (That's word,we pray) I tried and tried and tried and tried to make a way (That's word,we pray) But nothing happened till that day I prayed That's word,we pray(pray) Ah,yeah,pray(pray) we got to pray Just to make it today I said we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray(pray) We got to pray Just to make it today That's word,we pray Childrem dying,oh,so fast from this or that (That's word,we pray) Needing that money Smoking that dope and doing that crack (That's word,we pray) Ten years old stand outside Better look out (That's word ,we pray) Dead and gone,necer had a chance What's it all about? That's word,we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray We need to pray Just to make it today I need to pray(pray),ah,yeah,pray We need to pray Just to make it today That's word,we pray That's word,we pray( x3) That's word,we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray We need to pray Just to make it today I need to pray(pray),ah,yeah,pray We need to pray Just to make it today That's word,we pray On a mission start to doubt.here we go (That's word,we pray) Kicking back,read these words we need to know (That's word,we pray) Living high,living good,living long (That's word,we pray) Take a minute,bust a prayer And you're good to go That's word,we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray We need to pray Just to make it today I need to pray(pray),ah,yeah,pray We need to pray Just to make it today That's word,we pray We're sending this one out to the Lord (That's word,we pray) And we thank you and we know we need to pray (That's word,we pray) Cause all the blessings that are good they come from above (That's word,we pray) And once again we want To say "thank you" to the Lord with all our love That's word,we pray(pray) ah,yeah,pray We need to pray Just to make it today I need to pray(pray),ah,yeah,pray We need to pray Just to make it today That's word,we pray
Basically what questioned my faith in god, was that over the years I've seen things that have made no sense to me. Why do bad things happen to good people, and why do good things happen to bad people. Why is their suffering in most of the world? Why is it usually the most devout people are usually the ones who struggle the most?
