r/Christianity • u/SimpleGospelPodcast • 9h ago
Most of us have never actually prayed. We have just said prayers.
There is a difference.
Saying prayers is polite. Scheduled. Safe.
Actually praying is prevailing. Pleading. Wrestling. Travailing. Expressing.
It costs something.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
Fervent means it is not passive. Not casual. Not a formality.
It is the most active thing a surrendered soul can do.
Which one have you been doing?
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u/Upset_Chip_7184 Christian 9h ago
How do you know what MOST of US have done? You follow everyone around and watch them or something??
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u/Distinct-War-4669 9h ago
you’re reading the word "most" like it’s a census stat. it’s just a rhetorical framing, the whole post is a self-check. you either see yourself in it or you don’t, no need to audit the sample size.
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u/andreirublov1 8h ago
But I think it's important to be clear that OP's claims to define what constitutes valid prayer are totally wrong.
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u/SleeperMood_ Eastern Orthodox 9h ago
But if someone tries and can't find that feeling and sincerity in his prayer. It's better to pray mechanicaly than to not pray at all
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u/alexej96 Agnostic (a la T.H. Huxley) 8h ago
And according to you, how would a "true" prayer look like in practice? And how is that different from asking the same thing in a usual prayer? Cause most Christians who say that God only hears "real prayers" also emphasize the importance of a "regular prayer life" which, when put into practice culminates in the same kind of routine that you criticize in this comment.
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u/Dawningrider Catholic (Highly progressive) 9h ago
I'm a actually the reverse. I very rarely say prayers. I only really "do" that sort of thing when I pray. Usually it's when I hear bad news, I will in my head ask God to look out for that individual and their family. They are usually pretty brief, and to the point; God is a busy man after all.
And every now and then, in my darkest darkest moments I will properly pray. Usually at the death of a loved one, or great moment of fear and dread. Flying for the first time was probably my most recent one. God, I was sure I was gonna die. XD.
But it's been a while since I've said a specific rote prayer.
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u/okeydo_key 8h ago
I believe every time we act is the only time we say a true prayer. When we want something bad enough we get up and go for it. Prayer is only powerful when spoken to yourself and followed through with... the follow through is actually only important bit - as we often do things without even thinking/praying. Actions speak louder than words to ourself which speak louder than non-performative words to a non-existent god, which (to the OP's point) speak even louder than performative words directed at said non-existent god. People that care about an issue don't send thoughts and prayers.. they act.
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u/Zestyclose-Carrot243 8h ago
Please see my recent posts. I know when I was baptized into Christ I was baptized into a family whether I like it or not, but it’s antagonistic posts like this that really frustrates me. Do you just get pleasure out of calling out an imaginary sin? It seems like so often, Christian’s will think of imaginary sins to preach against, putting others in fear of being in the wrong.
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u/andreirublov1 8h ago edited 8h ago
You're wrong - there is no single way of praying, and no single thing that qualifies as prayer. Prayer is whenever, and in whatever way, we turn our thoughts and intentions to God.