Need help learning how to pray

[Morpheus]

I recall Jesus' words, " Seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all these things shall be added unto you."

[TroyMartin]

Originally Posted by Aesta

I know that god is/can be a source of anything we want if we ask.

The things I want are inner strength, an endless inner peace, love in my life in the form of a girlfriend who loves me.

They don't work because god is not a sugar daddy nor does god just infuse people with qualities. They have to be developed. So you may instead be presented with opportunities to grow as a person. And because women have free will they are not property to be given away. Notice that you said you wanted "a girlfriend who loves me", instead of wanting a woman to love. No one owes you love and many who do not love themselves are not capable of loving others so they use others instead often times to help suppress grief or other emotional pain as an addiction. LOTS of men seek out women for this ungodly reason. God doesn't support anything that is unloving and so it may be in your best interest to not have a girlfriend so that you can figure out why you need one first, resolve that, and then you may end up with one.

And regarding prayer, there are no formalities. God knows what's in your heart and god knows the condition of your soul. So god will only respond to what is healthy for you. So what you have or don't have is to help you grow, heal, learn about yourself, etc. It should also be noted that god will not do for you what you can do for yourself. It would be irresponsible for god to do everything.

[Baile]

Originally Posted by TroyMartin

They don't work because god is not a sugar daddy nor does god just infuse people with qualities. They have to be developed. So you may instead be presented with opportunities to grow as a person. And because women have free will they are not property to be given away. Notice that you said you wanted "a girlfriend who loves me", instead of wanting a woman to love. No one owes you love and many who do not love themselves are not capable of loving others so they use others instead often times to help suppress grief or other emotional pain as an addiction. LOTS of men seek out women for this ungodly reason. God doesn't support anything that is unloving and so it may be in your best interest to not have a girlfriend so that you can figure out why you need one first, resolve that, and then you may end up with one.

Always great to see new members who have done their spiritual wisdom homework.

[Endtime_Survivors]

Originally Posted by TroyMartin

nor does god just infuse people with qualities. They have to be developed.

Loved this bit. Very much agree.

[Endtime_Survivors]

A good place to start is with the "Lord's praye" where Jesus actually says, "this is how you should pray". I have a bit of a ritual where I start all my prayer times with the Lord's prayer, taking time to think about what each line really means. I've found it helpful as a guide for other issues I pray about.

[Morpheus]

Originally Posted by TroyMartin

They don't work because god is not a sugar daddy nor does god just infuse people with qualities. They have to be developed. So you may instead be presented with opportunities to grow as a person. And because women have free will they are not property to be given away. Notice that you said you wanted "a girlfriend who loves me", instead of wanting a woman to love. No one owes you love and many who do not love themselves are not capable of loving others so they use others instead often times to help suppress grief or other emotional pain as an addiction. LOTS of men seek out women for this ungodly reason. God doesn't support anything that is unloving and so it may be in your best interest to not have a girlfriend so that you can figure out why you need one first, resolve that, and then you may end up with one.

And regarding prayer, there are no formalities. God knows what's in your heart and god knows the condition of your soul. So god will only respond to what is healthy for you. So what you have or don't have is to help you grow, heal, learn about yourself, etc. It should also be noted that god will not do for you what you can do for yourself. It would be irresponsible for god to do everything.

Very insightful Troy. Loneliness is not pleasant and that may be at the heart of the issue. Aesta may be feeling desperate.

My question is, if he was attending a church? A community of believers, of like faith?

[PeaceChic99]

Originally Posted by Melahin

Your prayers can only work if you have faith, showing gratitude is one way to create that.

You have summed if up pretty well.

[Jeremy Bong]

For prayers: The Kingdom of God,The Grace of Jesus and His Father, The Will of Good, The Nature of Faith, The Action of Healing and Comfort ,The Strength of The Bible..... pour upon the needs and due with the ignorance and make people aware of the truth of sweet and healthy manifestation now and then, for you and me and everyone.

[H:O:R:A:C:E]

Originally Posted by Aesta

I know that god is/can be a source of anything we want if we ask.

The problem is, I think I don't know how to ask properly.

Please don't say there's no wrong way. My prayers this far have not worked. (Years of praying)

The things I want are inner strength, an endless inner peace, love in my life in the form of a girlfriend who loves me.

Do I pray to Jesus or God?
How do I start the prayer? Do I address him?
Is there a state of mind I have to be in?
How do I end the prayer?
How do I speak directly yo God, the creator of all good things, and have him fulfill my wishes?
Also does writing down prayers on paper work? How can I do that?
Is there a way to make sure my prayer is heard?
Can I make my prayers more powerful?

Thank you so much.
Much love.
-A

first things first:
you were not created lacking in anything whatsoever.
all that you wish/want/desire is present and available for you, always.
all of everything is within you, and it belongs to you.
that you may at times not recognize these facts simply means you have
forgotten and misplaced the memory.

to successfully remember, remove the obstacles to remembrance that
have been put in place by you (there is no "other" capable of deluding
you in truth).

God can be Source [not a source, but the Source].
i suggest approaching God with reverence; and gratitude.

prayer is communication. communicate with God in complete honesty,
relaying all aspects of self with clarity and candor.

[Aknaton]

Romans 8:26 talks about how we do not know what to pray for, but the Spirit makes intercession on our behalf according to the Will of God. But knowing indeed the the scriptures were inspired by the Spirit, we can conclude therefore that the scriptures are in line with the Will of God and if we were to pray according to the scriptures, then we have an exceedingly high chance that we are praying correctly.

I would like to add as well that since humans don't exactly know what to pray about, we also do not know what to meditate on. And as we pray according to the scriptures and accept this as correct, then it follows we can also meditate on the same scriptures.