Do you say prayers?

I am ashamed to say that I only pray when someone I love is ill. But I do believe in the afterlife so perhaps I should do what I did when I was a child back in the 1940's, say a prayer each night before going to sleep thanking god for the wonderful childhood and married life I had. Yes, my husband of 50 years died a few years ago but until that happened we had a wonderful life and now I am nearly82, I am fit and well with only minor medical conditions, I have a comfortable life and a lovely home.

So thank you for the post, it has really made me think and from now on, I will say a prayer each night before going to sleep.

Yes I prayer and God has been near on many occasions.

Yes I pray every night and any time I’m in our church. I am Anglican so pray to Christ not the Virgin . I know that I have been listened to in the past and when my son died someone wonderful came into the hospital room to take him. Whether that was Christ or an angel I don’t know

To go on from my last post, I was staying at her cottage the night before she died. I went into the garden very upset, looked at the sky and said “God, please don’t let her suffer anymore, she does not deserve it”. She died the next day which she may have done anyway but I like to think my prayer was answered.

Before my mum died age 97, I could hear her praying out loud. I thought originally that she was talking to herself. She had a bit to say about each member of the family but what made me smile was when she asked God to help J* stop smoking!

I pray. Prayers work. 🙏

I have always considered prayer to be a relationship with God who gives and keeps on giving. If this relationship is separated from church and religion and wars and disasters (as in why does He allow this etc) it becomes more meaningful to the individual. We are born as individuals, live as individuals... our relationship with our God must therefore be individual. And I try not to judge other individuals whose relationship is their business only...

Me too. And the list is getting longer and longer. Not kneeling by the bedside though. Usually after lights out and ready for sleep. A little prayer of thanksgiving and prayers for those in need.

Yes still pray I don't feel the need to kneel at the side of the bed however not sure id get back up! But yes I do and like some others sometimes have a quiet word during the day.

I do pray but I don't know who to. I was brought up as a Catholic and suffered from constant guilt as a result. Then I got involved with a group of evangelical Christians who constantly talked about sin and hell. It put me off organised religion.

Agreeing with Moggycuddler and Sarnia. I worked in Children's Hospice and the cruelty of one family whose child recovered going around saying "Thank you Jesus! You've answered our prayers" (This was obviously in America, but not the deep South), and another family who were devout churchgoers, praying by their child's bedside all day and night, only for their child to die a painful death, never did sit right with me.
I believe in a higher power, but when I pray it is always a 'Thank You' for the health and happiness of my family but never to request anything.

I'm a christian and, 'Yes, I do pray' - but not in the kneeling by the bed way. I often pray for someone because they simply come to mind in the course of my day. Our church have a WhatsApp group for prayer requests and I find it very reassuring to know that friends will pray if I'm in need.

Me too!

Charleygirl5

The nuns finished me off with religion of any sort at the age of 17.

Me too <shudders>
They condemned any girl who wasn’t RC, especially if they refused to convert to the religion.

Moggycuddler

Gave up with religion a very long time ago when praying to an invisible something started to seem absurd. I also wondered why a loving "god" would answer the prayers of some and not others. Why does one person's beloved child die but not another's? Living without religion is freeing.

I agree with you. What loving and compassionate 'God' would allow the carnage the world is seeing at the moment? Religion is in the mix of most of the wars and conflicts. I was brought up to treat others with respect 7 days a week and that's what I try to do.

Yes, ‘Thoughts and prayers’ has become a cliche, which may well not imply any actual praying.
I avoid it. Partly because I don’t subscribe. Partly because it’s tainted as the standard utterance of gun-supporting American politicians after a mass shooting.

Gave up with religion a very long time ago when praying to an invisible something started to seem absurd. I also wondered why a loving "god" would answer the prayers of some and not others. Why does one person's beloved child die but not another's? Living without religion is freeing.

I’m a staunch non believer so no

I’m amazed at these posts. The majority saying that they pray. I don’t know anyone, family or friends that has religious beliefs. I’m 74, so not a cool young person.

Some people will say that they will offer prayers because they feel it is the right thing to say. How many times do you hear people saying things like 'God help me' when they are non-believers?

I do pray, but not in an organised or kneeling down by the bed way.

mumofmadboys

I don't kneel to pray. I like to pray when I am out walking but also when I potter round the house.

I can no longer kneel to say my prayers, but like you, MMB, I pray as I got about my daily business.
My mantra is ^ Laboratory est orare!^.

I pray every morning and during the day if a situation arises that I need to pray about.
It is a great comfort to me

I don't kneel to pray. I like to pray when I am out walking but also when I potter round the house.

My husband and I actually met at church, so our faith has always been fundamental to our relationship. We pray, both together and individually, and because many of our friends know we do we’re often asked to pray for particular situations. We usually do so immediately or as soon as we’re able. Sometimes prayer is accompanied by fasting, though that’s more frequently my husband’s response than mine.