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Post by Blaque on Oct 17, 2006 7:53:33 GMT -5
Just wondered what your thoughts were on this. I was asked this question to-day. My answer was:- Absolutely not - I truly believe that ANY positive thoughts sent out to the Most High is a good idea in my book.
What do you all think?
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jazzlover
B.E. Sergeant First Class
It Takes Pressure to Make a Diamond
Posts: 3,912
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Post by jazzlover on Oct 17, 2006 17:39:28 GMT -5
All you have to do when praying is simply BELIEVE! I am tired of folks trying to legislate Jesus, like they have a copyright on Him!
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drok9
B.E. Sergeant
Too Blessed To Be Stressed
Posts: 1,084
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Post by drok9 on Oct 18, 2006 22:11:46 GMT -5
Of course not .... God hears all prayers.
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sweetpie
B.E. Staff Sergeant
Posts: 2,081
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Post by sweetpie on Nov 5, 2006 5:01:33 GMT -5
My question is: How can someone not be religious and pray? What are you praying to? A god you don't believe in? If you believe in a higher being than you, you are religious. You may not be held up in some sort of temple 24/7 and you may only attend church on holidays or whatever ritual you do. Your belief in him is important, if one doesn't believe I don't see how prayers are even being heard. I mean I am sure he hears them but what DO they mean when you won't acknowledge him?. There are sacrifices that you make because a much bigger sacrifice was made for you. To me the most important thing is to remember him and we especially do this with communion and of course tell others about him, that is what he wanted. He doesn't ask us to do all of that other mess and believing in him is not a chore it is a choice given by him and a choice in which he hopes you make the right decision.
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Post by Blaque on Nov 9, 2006 10:13:22 GMT -5
I guess if someone hasn’t accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior but still pray to him, that would qualify as someone who is not religious.
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jazzlover
B.E. Sergeant First Class
It Takes Pressure to Make a Diamond
Posts: 3,912
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Post by jazzlover on Nov 10, 2006 15:28:54 GMT -5
Religious means routine, just because you follow a routine doesn't mean you are close to God, sometimes we think because we go to church regularly that means we have a "in" with God, God wants a daily relationship, I am not KNOCKING church I go every Sunday, but THAT doesn't make me closer to God than a person that maybe goes once a month, I pray and study EVERYDAY, when I was in the USAF I travelled over 200 days a year, I have been in jungles and desert places where there was NO CHURCH...but God was there....why? BECAUSE GOD is IN ME!
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sudan
B.E. Specialist
Posts: 414
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Post by sudan on Nov 10, 2006 15:52:03 GMT -5
Religious means routine, just because you follow a routine doesn't mean you are close to God, sometimes we think because we go to church regularly that means we have a "in" with God, God wants a daily relationship, I am not KNOCKING church I go every Sunday, but THAT doesn't make me closer to God than a person that maybe goes once a month, I pray and study EVERYDAY, when I was in the USAF I travelled over 200 days a year, I have been in jungles and desert places where there was NO CHURCH...but God was there....why? BECAUSE GOD is IN ME! Amen....I think you can be spiritaual without being religious, but can you be religious and not be spiritual??
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jazzlover
B.E. Sergeant First Class
It Takes Pressure to Make a Diamond
Posts: 3,912
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Post by jazzlover on Nov 21, 2006 12:18:17 GMT -5
Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made. Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God. Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian. Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope. Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord. The Bible speaks much of prayer. But, sometimes, too often, we ignore prayer and seek to accomplish in the strength of our own wills those things that we desire to have or happen. For those of us who are too often guilty of this, we need to bow our knees, confess our sin, receive God's forgiveness, and beg that the will of the Lord be done above our own. God is sovereign and loving and He knows what is best for us and others, even if it doesn't always seem to make the most sense. We so often come to the Lord with legitimate requests for healing, conversions, and needs and yet the answers we hope for often do not come. We wonder and sometimes doubt. Yet, we persevere and praise God. We pray because we know that God hears us and because we desire to see results. We should pray by faith, trusting God. We should pray consistently, trusting God. We should pray for healing, trusting God. We should pray for others, trusting God. We should pray and when our prayers are answered or are not answered remember this: If we knew what the Lord knew, we wouldn't change a thing. Prayer changes the one praying because in prayer, you are in the presence of God as you lay before Him your complete self in confession and dependence. There is nothing to hide when in quiet supplication we are reaching into the deepest part of ourselves and admitting our needs and failures. In so doing, our hearts are quieted and pride is stripped and we enjoy the presence of God. James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." I am reminded of another benefit of prayer: peace. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," (Phil. 4:6-7). I suppose that we can test our prayer life and dependence upon God by the peace or lack of peace in our hearts. In all things we are to seek the Lord and in His continued presence peace will surely be our gain. Prayer is the practice of the presence of God.
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drok9
B.E. Sergeant
Too Blessed To Be Stressed
Posts: 1,084
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Post by drok9 on Nov 21, 2006 21:31:58 GMT -5
True ... I know before I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior I prayed to Him. I was not "religious" at all ... I knew He existed just didn't go that extra mile to develope a relationship with Him.
I think there are lots of people who pray to God but not "relgious" because they do not want to give up certain things or perhaps they are not ready to give up certain things.
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sweetpie
B.E. Staff Sergeant
Posts: 2,081
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Post by sweetpie on Nov 21, 2006 21:50:16 GMT -5
You know you guys have really made sense. I never thought of it like that. I do agree if you have christ within you. It doesn't matter how often you go or may not go. Yes, religion is more like a routine. I do attend church every week and I pray on my own and I feel him where ever I am. I thank him when the most awesome things happen, things I know could have only been him and I am not necessarily at church. WoW!
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jazzlover
B.E. Sergeant First Class
It Takes Pressure to Make a Diamond
Posts: 3,912
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Post by jazzlover on Nov 22, 2006 12:49:00 GMT -5
When you can get to the place of giving up in despair, and when you finally stop trying to fix it all up and setting things straight, you will finally come to the place Jesus was before Pilate. Jesus made no answer. He stood meek before the man who had the authority to destroy Him and did not defend His actions. He made no excuses. He didn't try to make Himself look good. No, He stood as a lamb, silent before its slayer.
You see, Jesus had been talking to the Father. He knew something the rest of them did not. Beneath His peaceful façade and gentle answers lay the secret of the Universe. They did not see what was brewing within. They did not see or understand that He was going to snatch the keys of the Kingdom from Satan. They did not know what He knew - that soon, very soon there would be a resurrection that would rock the earth!
So stand silent today before your accusers. Stand silent in the presence of Jesus, because the keys He took from Satan are in your grasp. And once you have gone through this trial, you will indeed rise above the rubble and pain, to conquer and be a shining example to those walking the same road as you.
Hold on and be encouraged - your time of humility and pain will be short next to your time of reward and victory!
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