How do you know...maybe a dumb question

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Deltadeliquent

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So how do you know if you are actually praying, or just talking to yourself?
If I am sweeping the floor and saying in my head, “please bless…” Or reciting a Hail Mary or two. How does that differ from sitting down, folding my hands and saying the same words in my head? If my intent when sweeping the floor was to pray, does it make it a prayer?

Does it matter if you do something else whilst you pray?

Sorry if this is too silly a question for answers.
 
It does not matter when, where, and how you pray. You can sweep the floor and say a Hail Mary at the same time. You don’t have to kneel, stand, sit, or fold your hands. You can pray while doing the dishes, folding the laundry, taking a walk, even in the bathroom. It is good to pray all the time.

However, on top of all that, it is good to have a daily disciplined prayer routine when you dedicate a period of time to God only and focus on prayer.
 
Deltadeliquent said:
So how do you know if you are actually praying, or just talking to yourself?
If I am sweeping the floor and saying in my head, “please bless…” Or reciting a Hail Mary or two. How does that differ from sitting down, folding my hands and saying the same words in my head? If my intent when sweeping the floor was to pray, does it make it a prayer?

Does it matter if you do something else whilst you pray?

Sorry if this is too silly a question for answers.
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I have faith that I am praying rather than just talking to myself.

You can fold your hands, kneel, and pray. I think that’s preferable. However, you can also be walking along the street and praying.

To me, those are all different expressions of love. It’s sort of like how you can hold hands, hug, kiss, attend someone while he’s sick, listen patiently. Well, in the same way, there are a variety of ways to pray.

As to work, in Opus Dei, they actually suggest also making the work a prayer of its own, besides the prayer!

And no, none of these questions are silly. Surely, somebody out there probably has the same questions!
 
OK…
How about if you say in your head something like, Lord! Please! Help me…and then you go ver, once again the thing that is troubling you.

What’s the difference in praying, and just going over the same same thing in your head.

I’m in a situation that I pray and worry about at the same time.
I find myself explaining it to The Lord over and over, but sometimes I wonder if I am just telling it to myself.

Is it intent? Is it the address to The Lord? Even if in a spur of the moment sort of way?
 
Great answers. Only thing to add is that there is no single prescriptive way of praying.

My favorite quotes are “Life is a prayer” and “A prayer is a conversation with God”.
 
Deltadeliquent said:
How about if you say in your head something like, Lord! Please! Help me…and then you go ver, once again the thing that is troubling you.

What’s the difference in praying, and just going over the same same thing in your head.
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When you said “Lord! Please! Help me”, you are pleading to God, not to yourself. You are praying. Prayer is a dialogue, a communication. Even you may have difficulty to hear God, you know God is listening.

When you just go over things in your head again and again and not include God, even the all knowing God knows what you are thinking, you are not addressing to Him, you are not communicating to Him.

That’s the difference.
 
Deltadeliquent said:
So how do you know if you are actually praying, or just talking to yourself?
If I am sweeping the floor and saying in my head, “please bless…” Or reciting a Hail Mary or two. How does that differ from sitting down, folding my hands and saying the same words in my head? If my intent when sweeping the floor was to pray, does it make it a prayer?

Does it matter if you do something else whilst you pray?

Sorry if this is too silly a question for answers.
Click to expand...
I’ve had so many “spiritual” experiences (from both sides) that I know full well that God’s there. So I know He hears me. And sees me. Not only that - He knows what I think.

Which is embarrassing at times when I think about it.

I know full well that it doesn’t matter what I say, or think, or do, God knows all about it. And that includes prayer.

I’ve gotten to the stage now where I don’t bother about the outcome much. He’ll either answer it or He won’t. So I just keep going through the motions.

But He’s there - don’t worry about that. He knows what you’re saying, doing and thinking. And He forgets none if it.

I’ll give you an example of the fact I know God reads what I think. At one stage, years ago, I had a crush on a young lady in the church. The pastor was trying to talk me out of it, but to no avail. Anyway I was on a bus travelling home from work, and whinging and complaining in my mind alone about this particular situation and being very single minded about it, when this “voice” just broke clear through my thoughts and said, “Bob! Is (young lady’s name) SUITED to you??”.

It sure didn’t come from me. I think either it was God Himself or an guardian angel who put the “voice” there. Very clear, very pronounced, and straight to the point. But I hadn’t mentioned this to another soul on the bus. He’d read my thoughts, and cut straight across them.

He’s there all right.
 
Yes. I’ve had a few instances where a voice came to me and turned me from making a bad decision, or led me to make a good decision.
I too think it was my Guardian Angel, sent by God.

Thanks Bob, it fills me with peace to know He is listening to me.
 
Yes… Bob hit the nail on the head… That’s exactly how it happens to myself…

And I pray and sometimes sing praise to The Lord as I work…

I find it very relaxing… Some people need a radio to work… I have one in my head…👍
 
This whole thread has been so refreshing to me. I can’t really explain why, I just really enjoyed hearing all of yours experiences with prayer. Thanks
 
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