Evidence you are really talking to God and not yourself

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goodcatholic

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I have to be honest. (for a change?)
Praying doesn’t come easily to me. Half way through I will start doubting my sanity. ‘stop talking to yourself’ a voice will say. There is the heckler in my head who will try to sabotage anything I say or do.
So how do we know we are really talking to God? Sorry if this question has been thrashed to death already. It’s new to me.
Should we seek evidence that we are really talking to God? Or just pray on regardless.
 
God is omniscient so He would know.
 
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It seems that you could ask the same question about the very existence of God, right?
 
I think many of us have been right there with you. But Jesus taught us how to pray in Luke 11 and Matthew 6 and we trust what Jesus says, so we believe God hears our prayers.
 
The focus? Well communicating withGod SHOULD be the focus of my prayer.
The focus of this thread you mean? To get better at praying and have less doubt that what I am doing when I pray is valuable.
 
No, the focus of intention should be loving God, not for a desire to have an experience from God.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Prayer is an act of love.
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If I say a Hail Mary or Our Father, that is an act of love then?
Depends in what spirit I say it though doesn’t it? If I am in a hurry (Racecaller’s Rosary comes to mind), is that an act of love?
 
It depends on where your heart is.

Just reciting the words by rote, isn’t prayer.

Jim
 
I think this is where faith comes into play. Faith that He hears us, knows us down to the number of hairs on our head and loves us. As someone else mentioned, Christ taught us to pray, so we should trust in His words. If it’s our intention to turn to God and to pray to Him, then He hears us.

“Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.”

“Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”

“Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.”

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
 
I don’t know the number

But many Catholics don’t know how to pray.

Jim
 
I think I remember you now. You are a contemplative Carmelite? I envy you in a way. Though I’m sure your life is harder than it looks. I need to look into that. The Rosary desont work for me. As you say, a lot of rote stuff doesn’t seem to pass the mustard for some.
 
I TRY to follow the acronym of “ACTS”, Adoration, Contrition, Thsnksgiving, & Supplication with adoration being the utmost important. While I would like to say i spend most of my prayful time in adoration, im not sure that is the case. As a matter of fact i find myself often talking to God as one who would talk to a father, seeking advice, asking questions, and expressing my frustrations, confusion and concerns. My conversations turn into frank discussions especially in the middle of the night when i cant sleep and this is one of the questions/discussions i have with Him…Ok God im awake, what is it you would like me to know, what am i missing, what is it you will have me do…

My prayer usually ends with - Lord i need you to speak plainly to me as apparently i do not understand the methods in which you choose to use.

Im confidant my prayers are sincere therefore if He wants to show me this evidence, it will have to be His will. - Lord let it be your will! :pray:t3:

Peace!!!
 
Hmm, this is coming off as just a touch elitist. Prayer is awfully personal, don’t you think? How can someone “not know” how to pray?
 
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