4 Myths About Prayer

[phkrause]

What many people have been taught to believe about prayer is just plain wrong.

Here are four myths about prayer and some thoughts on how prayer may become more meaningful to you.

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Gallerie..._term=yahoo.com

[debbym]

the first one i disagree with.

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Stop thinking of God as “out there.” Instead, think of God as inside yourself. The breath God breathed into the first humans (Gen.2:7) is the life of God in each of us. Stop thinking of yourself as separate from God. You aren't.

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if i am not separate from God then i don't need to pray. i look out of myself when i pray, to another other than myself. i do not pray to God towards myself.

there are boundaries between myself and God. This does not mean God is not omnipresent. Just that God regards all of my boundaries, and regards my prayers and the presence or absence of them.

He opened the door to our relationship and he makes the relationship possible through his graciousness. He made the commitment expressed in the gift of the promises then the fulfillment of those promises in the life and sacrifice and intercession of Christ.

my prayers reach the Throne of God without delays. The communication with heaven is something beyond our understanding. He says before i pray He answers. Now that is quick. He is a God who has no limitations of time.

[Tom Wetmore]

I think it may be the way the writer phrased some of the points more than the substance of what is meant. The idea that God is in us comes from Jesus own words, "Abide in me and I in you." (John 15:4) A translation issue perhaps, but a few verses later he sort expands or explains the meaning by saying it a bit different as "my words in you". But then that has to be compared with His statement John states out with by referring to Jesus as the Word. And then there is the idea of the "indwelling Spirit of God, which certainly sound more than God with us and more like God is even in us. Or the idea of inviting Jesus to come into our hearts.

I think the point is not that we are God, but that a omnipresent God is everywhere both far away and near, so near to us that it is as if he is even inside of us. I understand it in a metaphorical sense that it is a way of expressing oneness, being such close unity that we are as one, a bit difficult to know where one ends and the other begins. But I think the metaphysics of God is that he is not "out there", but exists in a dimension that totally intersects with our own to the point that we can sway in terms of our own 3D perception, He exists inside and outside of us, apart from us, but intrinsic to our existence.

In the context of prayer, I see it as enabling me to focus my thinking on God who reads my very thoughts and not even having to audibly express my prayers. It is really like He is in my head.

[debbym]

Quote:

I think it may be the way the writer phrased some of the points more than the substance of what is meant. The idea that God is in us comes from Jesus own words, "Abide in me and I in you." (John 15:4) A translation issue perhaps, but a few verses later he sort expands or explains the meaning by saying it a bit different as "my words in you". But then that has to be compared with His statement John starts out with by referring to Jesus as the Word. And then there is the idea of the "indwelling Spirit of God, which certainly sound more than God with us and more like God is even in us. Or the idea of inviting Jesus to come into our hearts.

Tom i do appreciate your sincerity and the integrity of what you are saying.

i cannot tell by how the words were used in the myth busters to know if what he is talking about is the God is in everyone new age Christianity or not.

it may be how the author phrased the words, and then maybe not. how would we know.

Yes we have texts that refer to "Christ in you the hope of Glory."

Christians also read the Scripture that says, "In me dwelleth no good thing", and "the carnal mind is at war with God is not subject to the law of God, and neither can be." "Of myself i can do nothing", and "the heart is deceitful above all things who can know it."

when we walk this line talking about God being in us, without recognizing that we are depended on a power from outside of our human nature, we leave a door open to consider God is dwelling in us by nature, and it is rather that God is dwelling in us by faith, and our decision.

Prayer is the result of God working from outside of us and then in us and through us, through our will, both to want to and do do His good will.

if we are taught and believe that God is already in us by nature, and in everyone, then we will not need to make a choice regarding God, he is already in us and in everyone, we just need to talk to Him, anytime.

and this is not sound.

i am sure the writer has wonderful intentions.

[Tom Wetmore]

I really do understand what you are saying and am not really in disagreement. It is more that we all have a limited view of God and are apt to hang our hat on that one verse that supports our limited view, as can be seen so often in these forums, and in this topic. We try very hard to put Him in a little box of human design. I believe in a big God that human words just fail to contain. The best we can hope for is like the useful and apt illustration of the blind men describing the elephant. To the one touching the trunk it is quite different from the one touching the tusk or the tail or the ear. All true and correct from their limited perspective, but still very incomplete and inaccurate. We have to listen to all the witnesses and find the bit of truth within their inadequate and incomplete perspective. But we can't get hung up on what are minor discrepancies and reject all of it as of no use.

[debbym]

Quote:

We have to listen to all the witnesses and find the bit of truth within their inadequate and incomplete perspective. But we can't get hung up on what are minor discrepancies and reject all of it as of no use.

Yes The Christian may listen to everyone, and support them in seeking truth. Yes we can show respect for every person wherever they are coming from, and not judge their walk with God, we cannot see into any one's heart. We never know the moment when a soul will surrender to the Lord. and we do not want to be found accusing them as they step under the standard of Christ and Christ alone.

but we can kindly recognize when error is bound up with truth, and when the principle of fear toward God and giving Glory to God is obscured.

counterfeit Christianity will do nothing but become more and more powerful and deceiving, and reach it's pinnacle of power just before Jesus comes.

i do recognize that small mindedness, and fear mongering, proof texting without acknowledging the principle presented in scriptures are painfully asserted among Christians of all faiths. And asserting the power of human spiritual authority over the principles in the word of God can be pleasing and even seductive and reassuring. For me this is especially painful among those who have their focus on all the precise fulfillment of bible prophecy, the exact time the close of probation occurs, and find holiness in following carefully every rule of the book. They can be so confident and holy.

carnal Christianity can be so lofty in ideals, and glorious in religious discipline and practice. When the flesh decides to be "Christian" it can produce amazing counterfeits of Christianity. It can produce a much more wholesome alternative to addiction enslavement, laziness, diseases, and mental emotional afflictions. but freedom from these kinds of things does not comprise Godliness.

the natural heart does not seek the cross, that self denying path Jesus leads into. this is not a minor principle or a minor point. this is where we live for God's glory or for the glory of ourselves. God is bearing with us patiently working to bring us egocentric human beings to comprehend His love, and to love Him Supremely.

There has always been forms of Christianity that do not present the reality of self denial through the power of the Spirit alone. as long as one does not have to ever really move away from that love of self, all kinds of discipline, struggle, and effort may be held up for evidence that one is doing right, getting it right and is right with God.

the thought that all you need to do is talk to God because he is already in you, is erroneous. The suggestion that you are already righteous, and can stand before God as you are without really ever being born again is promoted. this is not any better then to assert that all you have to do is follow this book of rules exactly and you are holy.

Righteousness by works has many forms and faces. it is our human default and takes the form of whatever religion or non religion or culture one is in, whether Islam Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant, even an atheist has some a form of i am OK and doing what is right.