Your thoughts on prayer 2

I think we're amazingly lucky to be alive in 2008. 

 I remember talking to my father about the changes he'd seen in his lifetime. He was born in 1912 and died in 1999.

 He saw huge changes, but assuming I live another 30 years or so, I shall see much, much bigger changes. It's an exciting time to be alive.

LOL @ Mick!! Saints preserve us!!!!

Here's a prayer that kind of illustrates what the writers have mentioned about prayer changing us.  It is attributed to an unknown soldier from the American Civil War.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve....

I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey.

I asked for health that I might do great things.....

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.....

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men......

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life......

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for,

But everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself,

My unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men, most richly blessed.

Thanks for sharing that Ruth.

Just a quick question to everyone - When you think of God, are talking about him/praying to him etc, what does he look like to you? You must form some sort of mental image, whether it be silhouette against a glow of light, or a man of a particular appearance. I'm sure everyone doesn't picture the same image. It would be great if you could describe whatever it is you see.

When praying, I don't see a picture of God at all; I have no idea what He or She might look like. What I do have an image of, is the subject/topic of my prayer to Him so He knows what I am praying about. It might be a person; a particular problem, or an object. Then explain to Him what I wished done, or to receive,  and have an image of Him doing what I was praying for.Then, I would let Him work on it and thank Him for what ever answer was given.  I would also be very wary of praying but not realising you're doing it, for I believe God will still be trying to answer those prayers too. He always listens to you.

But, we might read in the Bible along the lines of God made man in His image. My interpretation of what that might mean may well be different to other people's ideas, thus my contribution to the original Prayer thread was nothing at all.

 It does seem the modern trend today when refering to God as He/Him to write it in small letters as he/him. This constantly happened in the original prayers thread. I guess I'm old fashioned.