[Xenalyte]

Any advice would be so very appreciated . . . I thank you in advance. Y'all are THE best!

[Tax-chick]

It's a shame you're so far away ... I'd love to loan you a half-dozen kids to solve your quiet problem :-). And I'll pray about your job situation. It's a bummer this time of year. To cheer yourself up, you can think of Saddam Hussein cowering in a hole in the ground, and those immortal words, "How can I urinate when my people are in bondage?"

For your difficulty with prayer, I suggest the Psalms. Choose one to suit your mood, and imagine you made it up in your own head to speak to the Lord. You can't go wrong with the Psalms!

Cheers,
Xy

[ETERNAL WARMING]

I don't get the peaceful feeling I used to,

Persevere till you break thru. Nothing wrong with your prayers, just that fear is blocking your reception. We'll be praying from our house!

[EuroFrog]

Do you pray the ACTS way?

Adoration - tell God how awesome and wonderful he is.

Confession - tell him all you did, ask for forgiveness, and ask Him to show you any sins you might be committing and are not aware of.

Thanksgiving - tell Him everything you are thankful for, including His sacrifice for you

Supplication - time to ask for your specific needs

If you havent picked up your Bible in a long time then it is definately time to pick it up again. Sounds like you have alot of time on your hands so unless Im way off base you have time to spare for reading.

Something I have also found useful (not going to say it will work for you, but doesnt hurt to try) is when I have been really really desperate, I have demanded that God get me through a hard time (namely my hubbys deployment.) I made sure He knew I couldnt do it on my own (I think He likes to hear that) and demanded that He do it for me. Amazingly enough, this was the first time my hubby was gone for longer than 2 months (7 and a half total!!) that I did not get on an antidepressant.

Another 'phrase' I use alot when Im not sure what is going on and things seem pretty bad, is to tell God, I dont understand, but I trust You anyway.

You are in my prayers.

[Johnny Gage]

As one who's wife was let go last week, I offer my prayers that the right job will be soon in coming.

Ditto's on the Psalms.

God hears us no matter how we pray.

It's His answers that we may not always hear.

[trussell]

Prayer ping.

Please post your replies to Xenalyte.

Xenalyte-My family will be praying.

Pray to bind the enemy, be sure to use the words "In Jesus' name" or "In the name of Jesus" to your prayer. The bible says: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14;6

Blessings,
trussell


If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

I really don't have any advice to offer.
However I will say some prayers for your peace of mind and soul.

[Dubya]

Praying
FYI

“And when you pray, you shall not pray like the hypocrites that love to pray standing in the synagogues on the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say unto you, they have their reward. But you when you pray go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your father who is in secret, and then your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. But when you pray, do not use vain repetition as the heathen do for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them for your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask it.” (Matthew 6:5-8)

There are two thoughts that I want you to have on that one scripture. Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask it. First of all, the purpose of prayer is not to inform God of your need. Most Christians believe that. God knows your need before you ask Him. So what is the purpose of prayer? I believe that God sends need so that He can have fellowship with you because the only time God ever hears from you is when you have a need. Think about that. God's omnipotent. He knows all things from beginning to end, and what He wants above all is fellowship with you. Now if the only way He can get it is send you need, that's what He's going to do. Above all else, you are His created, and He's still looking for that Garden of Eden experience, walking and talking. And that's what it's going to be in the paradise of God.
The second issue is plainly what it says that God knows what you need before you ask it. Before you were ever cold in the winter, God placed in the bowels of the earth millions of tons of fuel to heat ever human being on the planet. Before you were ever hungry, God gave the earth the ability to reproduce food. And we have the ability to reproduce enough food to feed the world, and if the dictators who were over people would allow the food to get to them, we could feed them. Before you ever knew what sickness was, Christ made it possible for you to be healed. Before you ever knew you needed to be delivered of sin, the Bible says, From the foundations of the earth, before Genesis 1:1, God laid redemption's plan because He knew the end from the beginning. And before there was ever such a thing as sin, God made it possible for you to be delivered from sin.
So when you kneel down and tell God about your need, don't in your own childish way think you're informing God of something He doesn't know. He knows it and is waiting and wanting to meet your every need.
May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of the Word.”
– Pastor John C. Hagee

[Pegita]

Heavenly Father, we return to give You thanks for the Power and Truth of Your Word:

"Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in thee." Psalm 56:3

Thank You, O God, that we go by faith and not by feeling ... thank You that even the silent aches do not escape Your ear ... bring to Xenalyte the joy of fellowship with You, for out of faithfulness, You bring peace and contentment and assurance and joy. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ...

[glock rocks]

Any advice would be so very appreciated . . . Trust in Providence.

I'll be praying for you. Have a peaceful Christmas. God bless.

[BlessedBeGod]

Prayers on the way!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Thanks for the ping TR...

I think that as long as you pray with passion you are doing fine. I think as long as you go about your business, in the best spirit of giving as you can, and you have a lead a life of kindness, and with a faithful heart ,you will have all of the passion you need.

I don't know if anyone knows how to pray the "right way" . There are some here who will give you some good advice, and I hope someone will give you the words you are looking for.

But who are we really to judge what another prays for, or what words another person uses while asking for their heart's desire. I think thee words come from the heart of each individual.

God knows your heart and motivations, He knows what has brought you to the circumstances that find you in need.. to me that is what counts.

I hope you will find the words and the motivations to use your passion, and that you find the answers you seek.

[barker]

.....what kind of fool doesn't even know how to pray?

That's not the problem in your case. Possibly trying too hard to get it exactly right. God hears you no matter how you pray and knows what you are trying to say. Try to relax and just let your heart go.

[tiki]

Every kind of fool doesn't know how to pray. It seems that when you need prayer the most that you can't talk to God. If you're like me you begin to have your doubts and that's when you have to let God take over and by an act of your will aknowledge that He can and will help you. Maybe not in the way you're asking but in the way that He knows is best. I tell him I can't seem to pray and of my doubts and fears and that I'm going to trust in Him. And then I just try to trust Him:-}

[EagleMamaMT]

God bless you, Xenalyte. I'll be praying for the Lord to send you a wonderful new job and that He'll give you peace about, and help with, your your financial situation in the meantime. God bless!

[Alamo-Girl]

I join with the others here lifting you up for God's blessing, peace and guidance!

The only advice I have for you is to meditate only on Who God is and on Jesus Christ. Putting everything else out of your mind, focus only on loving them until you are overwhelmed anew. Your petitions are already known.

[MeekOneGOP]

Hang in there, Xena ! Something will come up soon, I just know it !!

[BSunday]

once you start worrying if you're even praying right, you're in a big downward spiral

Sounds to me like that assertion is based on shakey theology. The bible tells us to examine ouselves constantly, and that includes our prayer life. Nevertheless, this isn't the time/place to split hairs.

Prayers are up for you Xenalyte

[r9etb]

Praying for you, Xenalyte.

FWIW, my wife has been having the same difficulty as you with prayer -- that peaceful feeling is elusive. We've all had it at one time or another. It's hard to say what's happening, but I think perhaps it's probably busy-ness, worry, and stress.

One thing you might consider: when you pray, might you really just be looking for that peace, and perhaps not really listening?

Here's an idea for you: listen to Christmas music -- the real stuff, with a choirs and orchestras, and music by people like Handel, Mendelsohn, and Bach. Look for something with In The Bleak Mid-Winter, maybe.

A really good place to find music, and maybe a different perspective on worship, might be an orthodox Episcopal Church -- I believe there are several in the Houston area. If I may be so bold, you could try St. James in Conroe. The rector there is Linda Seracuse, who used to serve at my parish. She's wonderful.

[mombonn]

the house is eerily and freakishly quiet.

Many times the LORD speaks in a still, small voice. Ask Him to speak. Be silent, and listen.

He delights in answering prayers when we are open to His answers, not ours.

[MaeWest]

Perhaps this will help. Gospel.com