I love this posting because I am one who believes in the power of prayer, or even positive thinking.  For the longest of time, I've always said Thank You, because there are so many things around me to be thankful for, even in a world where there is constant turmoil.  Also, I pray and ask God to continue keeping me strong every step of the way since there is so much in life that can easily knock you off track, if you let it.  The wonderful part is that I know God is always there, keeping me upright and never leaving me.

That is awesome!    I'm not sure if you ever read or saw "The Secret" but this posting reminds me of people's dream boards.  I pray every day on my way to work and before I go to sleep (and when needed). Mostly my prayers are gratitude prayers. I just thank God for supplying all my needs and watcing over my family and friends. Sometimes I will thank Him for specific things.  Sometimes I will ask him to help me with things or for specific people who are in need.  When I'm not praying, I'm expecting God to take care of everything and I'm always expecting a miracle.  I feel so blessed and thankful even when everything isn't going right.  I know God will come through right on time.  I've received checks in the mail I wasn't expecting, calls from people giving me just what I needed and opportunities I didn't even look for.  

I sometimes say that the unexpected gift of receiving a blessing that was never requested in prayer is like a love note from God. I think that little assignment was a love note.

What you said also reminds of the scripture below:

4 Delight yourself in the LORD

      and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Actually, yes the Lord has delivered unto me a few small yet hugely significant unexpected blessings. I think in those times He is sharing His love in a way that only He can. The source cannot be misinterpreted. It's just a little communication with your most faithful friend, confidant, and lover. An example of true intimacy. Plus, it is encouragement to endure and to fight the good fight. Be encouraged.

(Last thing, when the going is just too tough; sometimes all I can muster is "I need You". I think He hears me just the same.)

Many Blessings~

I don't pray not because I don't believe in god as god has been taught to me by my parents and clergy, but I do have a star that I can see every night of the year here in upstate NY that I have, for the past 17 years called: "Grampa's Star." I picked it at random brcause it's bright and I can always find it around the North Star. I look a it and talk not to god but to my grandfather, who I know was a wise man who died too young but imparted a lot of wisdom to me in ten all too short years and I believe still gives me strength and wisdom from beyond, wherever that is. I remember the most beautiful moment of my life stitting on the ice on Lake George after a skate, in the dead of winter, looking at that star and all of a sudden I see the Northern Lights, a rare occurence so far south, and hearing a faint whisper in my heart telling me what I was dreaming of doing with my life (after years of emptyness in my heart) is my destiny. Nothing has been more inspireing than that echo.  

Good Night

I pray throughout the day but am most prayerful when I walk and begin a litany of the things I'm grateful for (including the fact that I can walk).  I also pray about what is troubling me.  My prayers have been answered directly and indirectly.  The most profound prayer that happened directly was  about six years ago, when I prayed that God would send me someone that loved me at the same time I loved them and that the man sent would become my husband.  I then prayed that if that wasn't to be, that God take the desire for a man away from me.  My husband came into my life - we grew to love each other fairly quickly, we were able to recognize that each other was the one we'd been praying for.

Prayer and giving thanks go hand-in-hand to me.

We've all got to pray in our own little ways. The most important thing is that we don't forget, becuase God wants us close, and we won't be close if we don't speak. But sometimes we forget to pray... http://sethandray.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/sometimes-we-forget-to-pray/

I pray whenever and wherever I feel moved, but my favorite way to pray is sitting in my bedroom in front of my altar, with one or both of my cats on my lap purring.

The spirit of joy and appreciation has most of my prayers being answered almost instantaneously.  Joy and appreciation even for those things that appear to be obstacles will open the door to immeasurable good fortune and good circumstances.  Bow to the goodness in others and it will come back to you.  Even for those people who are rude or discourteous to you (even while your driving) if you allow your "higher self" to come out - you will soar in terms of happiness.  Be well.

Tina

I am one person who has learned that God is faithful and is truly my dearest and most devoted friend.  Several years back God impressed me with the knowledge to be thankful for the  things that he does for me that I never even know about.  Sounds strange? Of course.  A few days later my teenage daughter comes in and tells me to sit down because she has something to say.  She and some friends had been drinking and wound up at the river some 30 miles from my home and decided to swim a little in the water.  This river has all kinds of very strong currents and immediately she was carried out into the middle of the river with no choice but to try and get across.  She was holding onto one of the huge columns of the bridge that crosses the river and she saw something dark and much larger than her swim by and she begged God not to let her drown there.  She made it to the other side but her friends were so drunk that they didn't even have enough sense to drive over the bridge and retrieve her so she felt that she had to swim back across.  DUH!!!  She asked me was I praying for her that Sunday afternoon at 5:30 and I told her I was praying and weeping so hard for her and was so upset that I couldn't even dress for church.  So when God impresses you with something,  I can promise you there is a valid reason for it, regardless of one's understanding at that moment.  

I pray more now than I did earlier in my life.  Two answered prayers come to mind as I enjoy reading this blog.  When began college I meet a young man and we became not so innocent boyfriend and girlfriend.  He smoked-I did not, but soon I began to indulge in the habit, one cigarette grew to two which grew to a pack-a-day addiction.  Very late one night, when poor judgment overruled common sense, I went to our neighborhood store to purchase a pack of cigarettes.  What I found were at least half-dozen young men filled with the power that comes with being armed with hand guns-the automatic type, not small Saturday night specials.

Upon approaching the front of the store one of the young men laughing point his gun at my head, for no other reason than it was something that he wanted to do and did so.  I stood, frozen and incapacitated by the horror which I felt was going to unfold.  The first and only thought was concerning my parents who were at home only a few blocks away, being informed that their firstborn was shot and killed because she wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes in the middle of the night.  God’s grace, he did not pull the trigger and I was “allowed” to walk through the gauntlet of young men, make my purchase and return home. To this day I still see the darkness of that night along with images of young men and that one young man and how close I came to losing my life because of a smoking addiction.

Secondly, I worked as a nurse and developed epilepsy without any underlying medical reason.  For years I suffered with at times uncontrolled and unexplained seizures.  The worst period was a two-year episode of having my period-having a seizure every 28 days for two years.  Needless to say, I was not employed at the time.  Time passed as it always does and I went back to work as a nurse.  In the interim God spoke to me loudly that it was time to leaving nursing and choose another profession-I didn’t listen very well.  

I lost my last nursing job due to experiencing a seizure on the job.  That night I cried out, literally cried out to God asking Him to take away these seizures as I cannot serve Him and honor Him being broke and jobless and ill.  A year later I found myself back in my parent’s home, experienced one final seizure and that was the last time I have had a seizure.  Subsequent EEGs show “No Seizure Focus”.  

PS

I since return to college, graduated with honors no less, and am happily working full-time as a web developer.

Thanks Be To God!

Thank you so much for sharing yourself.  I am an avid prayer as well, and my prayers don't consist of the normal on your knees thing. I've discovered that the words that come out of my mouth consititute a prayer, my thoughts are prayers.  And lately I've experienced a lot of peace of mind so much that when I do get on my knees all I can say is "Thank You"  Because I know that GOD didn't have to do what he's done for me or for my family!  Thank GOD for GOD and for you!

very sweet blog

i think prayer to be the antenna to God and me, i'm praying a bit more these days and i do it wholeheartedly trusting in his Love that what ever happens happens. Trusting God sounds easier then it is for someone like me who had very close loved ones break my trust....but these days things are looking bright i feel that i am walking in the spirit not just talking about it.

Your blogs are always so great to read.

Good morning:  What a delightful question.  How do I pray?  I pray without ceasing by way of kneeling, sitting, walking, standing, even dancing.  I must pray to, and praise God.  I have got to pray without ceasing, even in my moments of uncertainty.  I prefer silence and a quiet atmosphere, however, nothing stands in the way of my praying.  If I could, I would love to pray before the ocean or lake as often as feasible.  As a part of the "Intersessory Prayer Ministry," at my church, the ENON Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA, I especially enjoy receiving prayer requests that I keep before me, and, especially when I hear the results that my prayers for others have been answered.  My, my, my, what a special and powerful relationship to have with one who hears and knows, even before you ask.  Thank you God.

Marsha Cooper Stroman

Writer/Journalist/Author

Philadelphia, PA

(215) 849-0168

I pray in different ways. I pray when I open my eyes in the morning, while still lying in bed. I talk to God in the shower a lot too. My prayers are usually aloud. There are times when I feel the need to kneel in a quiet place and talk to God. Those prayers are usually long. That quiet place is usually my bathroom. I have started talking to God more throughout the day, asking Him to help me with patience or showing kindness when it's hard for me to do so. I write down prayers often and keep them in my bible. I like going back to read those prayers.

In the past three days, I have received unexpected hugs. A little girl in the park came up to me and hugged me. Later, my aerobics instructor gave me a hug out of the blue. I really needed those hugs this weekend. I feel like they were answers to a prayer I hadn't prayed.

Matthew 6:9,10 shows us a model prayer for those of you who have never read the Lord's Prayer in the bible.  Many of us have not been taught properly how to pray. Since God Almighty is the hearer of prayer, it is to him that we must pray. ( Psalm 145:18; 1 Peter 3:12 ) We do not pray to Jesus, but pray to Jehovah God. Jesus is God's Son! And, even he prayed to Jehovah, never to himself. (Luke 22:42; Matthew 7:21; Exodus 6:3; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2 and 26:4) ) We must always pray in Jesus' name at the conclusion. (John 14:13, 14; 2 Corinthians 1:20) Otherwise we are talking into the wind, especially if you do not change an unrighteous course. (Isaiah 1:15-17) Jesus is the only mediator between us and God according to the scriptures. (John 14:6, 14; John 16:23, 24) Always remember that faith is essential and always let your petitons be made known to Jehovah God! (James 1:6-8; Philippians 4:6)