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Religion/spirituality

Do you say prayers?

(142 Posts)
Daddima Mon 02-Sept-24 14:00:03

I’ve just been reading social media posts to someone who has been bereaved, and many say things like, ‘ My thoughts and prayers are with you’. This made me wonder how many of these people would actually pray for the bereaved person, and being the cynic that I am, I’d guess not many, and the Facebook post will be as far as it goes.
I’m not a big prayer as such, but I do like a wee quiet time in church.
Do people still do the kneeling by the bed at night kind of praying?

TwiceAsNice Tue 02-Jun-26 15:43:37

Yes I pray every night when I go to bed and sometimes say a quick prayer in the day.

Recently had an operation I was very scared about. Both our vicars ( both women coincidentally) sent emails with prayers attached the one every day from the week before. They said prayers for me at services and the congregation and personal friends from church also prayed for me regularly.

It gave me a lot of comfort and helped a lot as the operation went well and it carried a lot of risk . I thank God that it was ok.

Oreo Tue 02-Jun-26 14:49:36

I do pray sometimes and should do it more often.

Oreo Tue 02-Jun-26 14:48:27

Marydoll

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!^.

😁
Laborare est orare ? I know it’s an old thread but am sure you didn’t mean laboratory…unless you actually worked in one?

nanna8 Tue 02-Jun-26 14:27:32

I wish I prayed more often. I take things for granted . I am in a prayer group which means at least I pray then, they are lovely sincere and warm people and a lot more Christian than I am.

Allsorts Sun 31-May-26 18:49:27

💐 Greyduster and Kate.

Franski Sun 31-May-26 16:45:53

Yes, I pray, and occasionally on my knees. Mostly the Lord's prayer which seems to cover every human need and conflict.
If we don't pray, what else is there..?.

Coops74 Sun 31-May-26 16:35:43

I pray every night .

Maremia Sun 31-May-26 15:09:17

Just having the thought about the sending, is a form of prayer.
You don't have to go full candle, but do so, if that's your thing.
🙏

Macaydia Sun 31-May-26 15:01:36

I pray to give thanks and I pray encouragement to God's will. No kneeling here either but I try to keep the relationship dauly. I have never found a church that has similar beliefs to me. I believe that the writings in the Bible really happened.

Micksterbs Sun 31-May-26 14:30:34

Buddhist and Taoist here.

I do offer ''wishes' and 'blessings ' I suppose they could be defined as.

Nanny27 Tue 07-Apr-26 04:25:30

Prayer is a very important part of my life. I'm a Christian and have a relationship with God so why wouldn't I talk to him. I am a member of a very busy church with very few rules apart from showing love and support for each other.

giulia Mon 19-Jan-26 12:05:41

While I no longer attend a church (was brought up Anglican and converted to RC after marriage), my faith is stronger than it ever was. I pray nearly every day. I speak directly from the heart and use few recited prayers. These are directed primarily at world situations and, secondly, at problems of people I know. For myself, I ask for greater courage, patience and to love better.

I feel that while Life is hard enough for those of us who believe and whereby find both comfort and strength, it has to be more difficult and lonely for those without spiritual support.

My personal proof that prayer has power lies in the fact that at least five of my impossible prayers over the years - those where I said "I know I'm asking too much but..." have been realised. On one occasion I actually gasped out loud when something I had prayed to happen did so in front of my eyes.

I have read the six preceding pages to this one and most comments made me feel very sad.

nanna8 Mon 19-Jan-26 11:26:34

I go to a Presbyterian church. I can’t handle the ritualistic stuff and the church I go to doesn’t have any and the pastor doesn’t wear weird robes, just ordinary clothes. We are all different and we are all God’s children.

GoodAfternoonTea Mon 19-Jan-26 09:14:48

I pray to a Great Spirit, not sure if he is The God. What about all the other religions in the world? Do they believe they are the chosen ones? Who knows the truth? I did go for a while to an Anglican Church and found it all rather evangelical. I was supposed to be the fallen one and sinner and they had found what meant something to them and carried out ministry etc. It was all rather creepy. It was a shame that their ministry was conditional upon you fulfilling a set of beliefs and actions. They seemed programmed to me.

Luckygirl3 Mon 19-Jan-26 09:11:52

As an agnostic, when I am in pain I have been known to say: "Come on God, you can do better than this!" ... or similar more colourful words! Does this qualify as a prayer?

Smileless2012 Mon 19-Jan-26 09:00:24

Like you Lovetopaint prayer brings me comfort. I also believe that God has helped to strengthen and guide me through some extremely difficult and stressful times in my life.

I don't know how I'd have coped without my faith.

Lovetopaint037 Mon 19-Jan-26 00:50:06

I pray to God and have found this to be a comfort and know He is listening and has certainly helped me in so many ways.

nadateturbe Sun 18-Jan-26 23:53:04

Prayer is an important part of my life.

Labradora Wed 14-Jan-26 19:07:17

Deedaa

If I have a crisis with the cats I pray to St Francis. He's usually pretty reliable

Terrific. Glad that St Francis is coming good for you. Seriously.

I pray from time to time for the souls of some dear departed , mind you probably more appropriate that they pray for mine.

Shel1951 Wed 14-Jan-26 16:01:35

Yes I pray when I say I will, I believe in the power of prayer

nanna8 Mon 27-Jan-25 12:40:35

I pray but I am slack about it so sometimes I pray for forgiveness for not remembering my Saviour. Prayers do work, my word they do. Before I believed this seemed like imagination but now I know it is not.

Jane71 Mon 27-Jan-25 11:25:06

As a non-believer I don't pray. I understand that it is comforting to know that other people are thinking about you in difficult times, but I can't understand how praying can possibly alter a future state. Does it depend on how many people are praying for an action: the more people praying, the more likely it is that this all powerful 'god' will intervene?

BigBertha1 Mon 27-Jan-25 10:16:51

No I don't pray but I sometimes ask the Universe for kindness.

Kate1949 Mon 27-Jan-25 10:08:32

Greyduster I echo your words. I hear people say that we all have a guardian angel. I think 'Mine left the country on the day I was born and never returned.'

Thepanaramawoman Thu 23-Jan-25 13:04:30

When we were told my sister (who was in her 20s) was not going to recover from her cancer my parents got quite distressed when anyone said they would pray for my sister. My dad had always been an atheist and had no time for religion and my mother lost all her faith when we found out how poorly my waiter was. So no I would never offer to pray for anyone, if they asked me to pray for them I would say yes and do so.