FAQ/Help |
Calendar |
Search |
Legendary
bpcyclist
has no updates.
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: Portland
Posts: 12,681
(SuperPoster!)
40.2k hugs
given |
#1
Just curious how different people pray. I know we all have our own routines likely, and if you feel comfortable sharing a bit of yours, that is great. If not, that's also great.
My routine is pretty simple and undoubtedly, needs some work. For one, I seldom drop to my knees anymore. As it turns out now for me with everything I have been through, I am pretty much in a continuous conversation with God. All day long. So, I pray about almost everything I can think of to do so for throughout the day and evening. That's just how things have evolved for me. I feel like I have a personal relationship with my HP and am comfrotable talking to Him, like, all the time. He probably gets a bit tired of me. Oh well. For my prayers before bed, again, I should get on my knees but do not. I just do all my sleep hygiene prep, crawl in, and start praying. I have a set list of people I try to pray for every night--my kids, my elderly dad who I love so, all the homeless and mentally ill and addicted persons--and I just work my way through the list. I always add whatever I feel I need to from the news that day (Coronavirus, helicopter crash, etc.). And that's what I do. Then, I try to sleep. Now, the problem comes when I am manic. Then, my bedtime prayers can go on and on and on. Forever. I feel I have to pray for the whole planet and everything on it. It can be quite tiring. Anyhow, that's a bit about how I pray. I did not go to Christian schools, quite the contrary, and my mother used to get angry at me when I asked her to drive me to church as a child, God rest her soul. So, if I have offended any more formally trained Christians or anyone else here, I do apologize. I'm just doing the best I can with what I've got. __________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
Reply With Quote |
*Beth*, Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, Fuzzybear, happysobercrafter, seeker33, Serpentine Leaf
|
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, Fuzzybear, happysobercrafter, seeker33, Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Threadtastic Postaholic
sarahsweets
has no updates.
Member Since: Dec 2018
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 6,006
(SuperPoster!)
192 hugs
given |
#2
I pray like you, its like a conscious contact with my higher power. In the beginning of my sobriety I got on my knees but now i am comfortable speaking out loud.
__________________ "I carried a watermelon?" President of the no F's given society. |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, bpcyclist, Breaking Dawn, happysobercrafter, Serpentine Leaf
|
Anonymous42019, bpcyclist, Breaking Dawn, happysobercrafter
|
Guest
Anonymous48672
has no updates.
Edit
Posts: n/a
|
#3
I'm an Atheist so I don't pray. But I do mediate. I view meditation as a form of prayer. I observe my thoughts and my breathing, and I try not to judge my thoughts as they come in. I just practice being observant without judging myself. I send people good energy when I think about them consciously stating, "I want to send good energy to [person's name]."
|
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, bpcyclist, Breaking Dawn, happysobercrafter, Serpentine Leaf
|
Anonymous42019, bpcyclist, Breaking Dawn, happysobercrafter, Serpentine Leaf
|
Legendary
bpcyclist
has no updates.
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: Portland
Posts: 12,681
(SuperPoster!)
40.2k hugs
given |
#4
Quote:
__________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
|
Reply With Quote |
Breaking Dawn, happysobercrafter
|
Breaking Dawn, happysobercrafter
|
Guest
Anonymous48672
has no updates.
Edit
Posts: n/a
|
#5
I've learned to just ignore all of my thoughts and focus on my breathing. Like, when you cycle you're on auto-pilot, correct? That's how I treat meditation -- I'm setting my mind and body on autopilot, so I just ignore and observe all the thoughts -- whatever they are -- and just focus on breathing in and out.
I've been told to treat thoughts like clouds, during meditation and just watch them pass by without sidetracking me to create more thoughts about the one thought that bothers me. Ex. "Blanche you've wasted 30 years of your life. You are a total loser." <-- This is the first thought that pops into my mind every time I meditate. The first thought. I used to react to it and feel bad. Now, 7 months later, I just listen to it and refuse to respond. I just let it happen and try to focus on my breathing in and out rhythm instead. When I was drumming regularly 20 years ago, and meditated, I felt stronger. So, I will need to start drumming every day in my roommate's basement. (Maybe that noise will finally get her to leave her bedroom.) The Buddhist monks who let the public meditate with them on the weekends (you'd have to climb up a semi-steep mountain to their temple) advised us all to ignore our thoughts and not try to prevent them. Just let them happen but do not react whatsoever. No CBT or DBT self-talk. No talk, period. Just silently watch them, like "oh yeah, there's that thought. Ok. Back to my breathing." Not "I AM such a loser!" And so on. I think the point of meditation is to practice breathing and learn to ignore random thoughts and not emotionally react to those thoughts as they pop up. Takes discipline. I'm obviously far from enlightenment if I need PC to post about my worries. But I do try with meditation (walking, not sitting) to just walk and breathe and ignore all the thoughts that pop into my head. You know that you can meditate while you cycle, right? Just focus on your breathing as you cycle and let your random thoughts come and go and just watch them, like a tv show. Just don't react emotionally and just focus on your breathing. Don't have a conversation with yourself about your thoughts or that's not meditating. Just my two cents! |
Reply With Quote |
Breaking Dawn, happysobercrafter
|
Breaking Dawn, happysobercrafter
|
Elder
happysobercrafter
is AKA Landon Clary Eason
Member Since: Jul 2017
Location: MO
Posts: 5,677
(SuperPoster!)
9,930 hugs
given |
#6
I don't think there is a right way or a wrong way to pray; I don't picture God as frowning down on me if I don't do something how society drills into people's heads we should do.
I pray most of the time too. Or I am Thanking God for everything I have, for how far I have come, and for clear guidance on what I am to do next to best use the skills and talents He Blessed me with. I gain so much comfort from praying, I can't see myself not doing it every minute of every day I am awake. My God loves me and protects me. To me, He is closer than my next breath. __________________ "Love you. Take care of you. Be true to you. You are the only you, you will ever know the best. Reach for YOUR stars. You can reach them better than anyone else ever can." Landon Clary Eason Grateful Sobriety Fangirl Since 11-16-2007 Happy Sober Crafter |
Reply With Quote |
Breaking Dawn, Serpentine Leaf
|
*Beth*, Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, Serpentine Leaf, will19
|
Account Suspended
feb2020user
has no updates.
Member Since: Feb 2020
Location: USA
Posts: 49
5 hugs
given |
#7
My prayers are mostly a form of rubber-duck debugging. I talk to the air for insight until I reach it.
Other times, I pray that I find a specific state of mind while meditating on it. You know, like a prayer for strength. This essentially acts as auto-hypnotic suggestion. Either way, I ball both of my hands into fists and touch them together with the thumbs towards me and the palms facing each other. Then I put a slight pressure on the center of my forehead with the knuckles of my thumbs (at their base, where they attach to the hand). For some reason, this helps me relax and better focus on the prayer. I don't really pray for people or to gain anything. I use prayer more like a pneumatic device. |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn
|
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn
|
Grand Poohbah
TunedOut
has no updates.
Member Since: May 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 1,523
6,983 hugs
given |
#8
I sit up in my bed, bow my head and say a prayer in my head when I first go to bed and when I first wake up. I always pray for my family, especially my son as he is homeless again. I now my head asking for inspiration and flow right before I begin teaching every morning. I pray in other places as well. The prayers are always silent but heartfelt. I rarely cry in front of people but praying and crying happens a lot for me.
|
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, Serpentine Leaf
|
Breaking Dawn, Serpentine Leaf
|
Legendary
Breaking Dawn
Thankful for my blessings.
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 16,689
(SuperPoster!)
42.2k hugs
given |
#9
Thank you, @bpcyclist, for this wonderful thread. My relationship with God has been helping me since I was a small child. My prayers are always one on one with God, usually expressing my thankfulness for my
many blessings, feeling some sort of shield when bad things happened. I thank God for all the incredible beauty on our planet, including sound. And life is so interesting! |
Reply With Quote |
Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Member
Serpentine Leaf
has no updates.
Member Since: Dec 2019
Location: Mid Atlantic
Posts: 166
687 hugs
given |
#10
I also don't think there's a right or wrong way to pray. I don't think God cares whether we're on our knees or walking in a park, just so long as we feel that personal connection with Him/Her/It/Them. I start by thanking God for my blessings, and then pray for the people I love and the people who are suffering.
A Tevye-like constant familiar conversation isn't at all a bad way to go! And God would never get tired of us, especially when we're in need. Thanks for a great post, bpcyclist! |
Reply With Quote |
Breaking Dawn, TunedOut
|
Breaking Dawn, TunedOut
|
Wise Elder
Have Hope
has no updates.
Member Since: Dec 2017
Location: Eastern, USA
Posts: 9,043
(SuperPoster!)
3,619 hugs
given |
#11
I pray in the shower, of all places. LOL. I don't know why either. But it's where I have complete privacy. I pray every morning almost.
__________________ "Twenty-five years and my life is still trying to get up that great big hill of hope for a destination" ~4 Non Blondes |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, Fuzzybear, MickeyCheeky, Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Breaking Dawn, Gasplessy, MickeyCheeky, Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Legendary
Breaking Dawn
Thankful for my blessings.
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 16,689
(SuperPoster!)
42.2k hugs
given |
#12
I also pray privately. It's just between me & God.
|
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Fuzzybear, MickeyCheeky, TunedOut
|
Anonymous42019, MickeyCheeky, Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Wisest Elder Ever
Fuzzybear
has no updates.
Member Since: Nov 2002
Location: Cave.
Posts: 96,301
(SuperPoster!)
81.2k hugs
given |
#13
__________________ |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, Gasplessy, Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, TunedOut
|
Legendary Wise Elder
SlumberKitty
is staying stable.
Member Since: Jul 2018
Location: CA
Posts: 27,329
(SuperPoster!)
117.7k hugs
given |
#14
I try to have at least one prayer of the day that follows this acronym:ACTS
A--Adoration C--Confession/Repentance T--Thanksgiving S--Supplication The rest of the time my prayers are just like having a conversation with a friend. Sometimes when I am stressed I'll do the Lord's prayer. I hope it is okay to say that here. And some of my prayers are the "Please help me right now, God!" variety. Short. Sweet. To the point! Usually when I am in crisis mode. __________________ Dum Spiro Spero IC XC NIKA |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, Fuzzybear, Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, feb2020user, Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Legendary
Breaking Dawn
Thankful for my blessings.
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 16,689
(SuperPoster!)
42.2k hugs
given |
#15
Oh, my goodness, @SlumberKitty! I feel the same way! Thank you!
|
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Fuzzybear, SlumberKitty
|
Serpentine Leaf, SlumberKitty
|
Member
justlexi93
has no updates.
Member Since: Feb 2020
Location: Florida
Posts: 58
|
#16
All lights are off and then I just say "thank you and sorry" for what happened today.
|
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, Serpentine Leaf, TunedOut
|
Anonymous42019, TunedOut
|
Guest
Anonymous48672
has no updates.
Edit
Posts: n/a
|
#17
For someone like me who doesn't pray to a deity, I saw the number 3:33 today and googled it. So I looked up the meaning and it was interesting to see the advice; focus on the solution of a problem instead of the problem itself, and that's supposed to create ideas and opportunities. Seems like good common sense advice; focus on the positives, not the negatives.
|
Reply With Quote |
Breaking Dawn
|
Breaking Dawn
|
Magnate
Anonymous42019
VOID
Member Since: Sep 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 2,406
3,106 hugs
given |
#18
I sit on my bed or if the weather is dry, outside in our woodland clearing. Sit and open my hands out, palms upwards...that is when I begin stilling myself within, before praying. Or, in the evening I'll kneel with my partner and our children join us, and that's when we'll pray together as a family.
As many have said there is no right or wrong way to pray. Anyone, anywhere, whatever faith they have they can pray quietly to themselves, be it in the car or at a bus stop...anywhere. Thank you everyone for helping enlighten me __________________ |
Reply With Quote |
Breaking Dawn, Have Hope, TunedOut
|
Gasplessy, TunedOut
|
Member
Gasplessy
has no updates.
Member Since: Oct 2016
Location: Europe
Posts: 401
553 hugs
given |
#19
I have a christian catholic background but stopped going to the church when i was around 15, then tried again, than moved away
I currently find myself in a situation where i feel the need to pray but i haven't been paying respect to Jesus in a long time so I can't pray in a christian way plus i don't really believe in it anymore It's hard for me to believe in anything but still I try by lighting a candle and have a sort of penitence in my own way. I ask for forgiveness and peace even if somewhere I think they won't come. It's a hopeful, not hopeful cry |
Reply With Quote |
Anonymous42019, Breaking Dawn, SlumberKitty, TunedOut
|
Member
Prycejosh1987
has no updates.
Member Since: Jul 2020
Location: UK
Posts: 368
|
#20
I pray in peace. Closing my eyes, but sometimes i talk to God walking around the room. Other times its a more formal prayer. I do this to declare success and happiness and righteous behaviour for myself.
|
Reply With Quote |
TunedOut
|
TunedOut
|