I have been thinking about prayer and how others pray. I came across a site I found interesting. Here in an excerpt:

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Why should we pray?
Prayer unleashes God's power so that he is able to work in our behalf. Prayer opens the channels of God's blessing. Prayer is how God accomplishes the things that He wants to see happen in our lives. Prayer opens new doors of opportunity for God to move. In fact you can view prayer like a door. You are on one side of a closed door and on the other side is God. But standing with God is all this incredible and unimaginable power. When you pray, it is you turning that doorknob and swinging that door wide open. For it is at that moment when all that power can step through that doorway and work for God's good, and for your good.

Link - How Do I Pray
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Anyways, I thought I would make a post on prayer in general. Maybe you can share how you pray, when you pray or share your prayer stories. I believe in the power of prayer. And I thought it could be inspirational and positive for others.

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WAYS TO PRAY:

ACTS
A - Adoration - praise God for who God is
C - Confession - own up to our sins
T - Thanksgiving - thank God for all God has done
S - Supplication - make requests for ourselves and others


Five-Finger Prayer
Thumb - pray for those closest to me
Pointing finger - pray for those who guide us: teachers, doctors, clergy, counselors, social workers, mentors
Middle finger (tallest one) - pray for those who stand tall: government, civic, and business leaders, police and firefighters
Ring finger (your weakest finger) - pray for those who are weak: the poor, sick, infirm, infants, homeless, and the powerless
Pinkie (the smallest, the least) - pray for me and my needs


Take a TRIP with God
Ask the following questions:
T - Thanks: For what am I thankful?
R - Regret: What do I regret?
I - Intercession: Whom do I need to pray for?
P - Purpose: What is my purpose or plan? (this day, week, my life)


PARTS of Prayer
P - Praise
A - Ask
R - Repent
T - Thank
S - Share

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Jesus taught us how to pray. . . . .

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever.
Amen

<excerpt>
God speaks to us in many ways. Here are some of them :

* Through the Bible. The Bible is God's living word. We should not be surprised that when we read a passage there is something in it which jumps out at us, that is particularly relevant to our situation. Particular verses come into our minds as we pray, and God will use some of them to speak to us. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that "the word of God is living and active" and "sharper than any double edged sword." Clearly we need to be reading the bible regularly if God is to use it to speak to us.
* Through Others. God can use others in unremarkable ways such that they themselves are often unaware that they are being used. We can recognize significance in their words or actions, or in their timing. A series of coincidences becomes God-incidences!
* To us in our hearts. When God speaks to us as we pray it can be similar to the "voice" of our conscience. Over time we come to recognize God speaking in our thoughts and placing things onto our minds. This will take practice, and there will be times when you are unsure whether it is God or your own thoughts.
* Through words and pictures. Through the Holy Spirit, God can give us certain pictures, visions or words. We may understand the meaning of these immediately, or they may require sharing with others, so that someone else can explain them to us, or God may reveal it to us over time.

Pointers for Prayer : Hearing God takes practice. Do make sure that you leave some time for God to speak to you in your prayer time, and do ask him to speak to you - tell him that you want to hear his views and that you seek his will.

i am praying