Tuesday Talk

Today I am linking up with Ashley and Erika for Tuesday Talk.

I love this link-up because you can talk about anything that’s on your heart.  No set topic.

Today, I wanted to talk about prayer.

How do you pray?  I was talking to a friend the other day and she was saying how she only prays right before bed.

This got me to thinking.  How do most people pray?  Are people taught to pray?  Do you pray aloud or silently?  Do you pray as a family?  With your spouse?

I think of prayer as just having a conversation with God and it’s pretty much ongoing during the day.

During my quiet time in the mornings, I guess you could say I have a “formal” prayer.

I read my devotion and Bible.  Then, I end it with a prayer (aloud).  During this time I usually thank God for the things He’s done for me in my life or for prayers He has answered.

I sometimes have to ask for forgiveness if I’ve had a particular bad attitude with things.  I ask for guidance and patience.  Whatever pertains to the day.  I then pray for others (Chris, girls, family, friends, lost loved ones, etc.)  I simply end it with asking God to be with me wherever I go for the day and then say AMEN.

Even though I do this at the beginning of the day, I’m not done talking to God.   I am always talking to Him throughout the day and therefore, “praying”.

I will never forget my youth pastor growing up told us to envision Jesus as a big teddy bear that we could curl up on his lap and talk to him anytime we wanted.  I’ve also heard of people saying to pretend Jesus is like your “invisible” friend and talk to Him throughout the day.

This always stuck with me and ever since, I have prayed like I’m having a conversation.

I pray when I am in the shower.

I pray when I am in the classroom and a student is having a “rough” time or I might know of something they are going through.

No, I don’t pray aloud where others can hear me.  But I silently say a prayer for whatever the situation is and then go on with my day.

Something I have started doing this year that I think is going to help me is I started a prayer journal.  I want to visibly write down my prayer requests and praises so I can go back and look at what God has done throughout the year.

How do you pray?  One time during the day and that’s it?  Or do you pray throughout the day?

I’d love to hear from you!

Some of my favorite Bible verses about prayer:

1 Chronicles 16:11 ~ “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”

Mark 11:24 ~ “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!