Marco took a photo of this wall in a friend’s house. What image can you figure here?
How do I pray?
Aside from a designated prayer/quiet time, I pray intermittently too, anytime, anywhere.
The moment I wake up
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little prayer for you
While combing my hair, now
And wondering what dress to wear, now
I say a little prayer for you.
When there are loved ones or friends in difficult situations, or who have some petitions or goals to achieve, they somehow occupy my mind most of the day. Hence, when I I learned that my niece was in the hospital and about to deliver her baby, I prayed every hour for her safe delivery. On school days, during my kids’ exam week, I utter a short prayer every now and then for God to guide them while they answer their exam papers. When hubby went to Manila for a job interview, my prayers were with him all throughout the time he was face to face with the panel interviewers.
I am not trying to exalt myself here. Neither do I want to appear heroic or saintly, because I am far from that persona. But I guess, being caring for others is just part of my nature. I see an ambulance zooming past me, and I say a quick prayer, “Lord, please let that person live.” For it matters not to me whether I know the person or not, so long as I know he or she needs prayers, I do pray for him or her.
I run for the bus, dear
While riding I think of us, dear
I say a little prayer for you
At work, I just take time
And all through my coffee break-time
I say a little prayer for you
Now, how do I pray during my quiet time?
I follow the ACTS pattern. ACTS stands for (in given order): Adoration (worship), Contrition (repentance, asking for forgiveness of sins), Thanksgiving (giving thanks for blessings) and Solicitation (asking for favors from God)
First, I worship God. I acknowledge His love, His power, His kindness. For instance: Lord Jesus, you are the most loving God, you are my Guide, my Hope, my Light. You are my only God, O Lord, and I worship and love you above everything else.
Second, I ask for forgiveness of my sins: Lord, I humbly and sincerely ask for forgiveness of my sins, sins that I have committed against others through my speech, thoughts and acts, through the things I did but shouldn’t have done, and things I ought to do but failed to do.
Third, I give thanks. Thank you, O Lord, for all the blessings you continue to shower on us each day. Thank you for granting these petitions: - I then mention all answered prayers. I thank you too, Lord even for not granting some of my wishes, because I know that in Your time, You will grant the same, or that if You never grant them, it just means they are not meant for me, and that you have other better plans. I thank you too, Lord, for the trials and the hardships that come to me day by day, because through these trials, I learn to be stronger.
Fourth, I ask for favors. Soliciting favors from God should be at the last part of the prayer because we should come before God clean. I mean, how can you ask for a favor when you don’t even feel sorry for your misdeeds? Or that you are not even grateful for received past favors?
I would like to mention too that when I solicit favors from God, I start with favors for friends, family and lastly, myself, strictly in this order. My rationale here is that: in any case that I am not able to finish my prayer, at least, I already have prayed for others, and I believe that when I pray for others, I am also saying a prayer for myself ten times over.
I know there was a point during the previous days when I felt so down and I even questioned my faith. But after awakening from that stage, I have renewed my faith with even more vigor and passion, and I have since started saying again intermittent prayers, and have resumed my quiet time, my ACTS time.
In closing, I want to share with you one of my favorite love songs. (Please click here to listen/view on YouTube)
Have I told you lately….
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there’s no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you doFor the morning sun in all its glory
Greets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter
And somehow you make it better
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
Theres a love that’s divine
And it’s yours and its mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the One, to the OneHave I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there’s no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles that’s what you doTheres a love that’s divine
And its yours and its mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the One, to the OneAnd have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there’s no one else above you
You fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
I don’t have a fixed pattern for my prayers so thank you for this post - the ACTS pattern will serve as a good reminder especially when I am very very tired and can’t think of anything to say.
I learned that anything that we do well - even simple household chores or our office work- can be offered as prayers. In the school where I grew up, we loved to sing prayers so when I can’t think of anything, I sometimes sing.
I learned about ACTS during my Youth for Christ days. I think until now I kinda follow that pattern but more often than not, I pray spontaneously. Like after making the sign of the cross “Lord you know what? this day is really crappy….” ganun kaagad ako hehe
I know whatever way or how we utter our prayers as long as there’s respect for God, okay na sa kanya yun. Me I’m more comfortable when I talk to Him in a friendly fashion..like anjan lang sha sa harapan ko nakikinig, like we’re just sitting in a couch and He was there listening to me. I don’t picture God sitting in a throne and me kneeling on His feet coz if I think like that, maybe I will feel so small and sinful and I wouldn’t be able to talk openly.
Thanks for this entry Tita Rhodes. I like it
Nice shot ! As they say, God really listens to our hearts when we pray and not the lips. Basta taus puso - that’s the key I believe.
Bugsybee, the pattern is just a guide, actually. Perhaps to make it easier for God to read our prayers.. hehehe.
Yes, worship songs are also forms of prayers!
You know what, Verns, I also learned about ACTS when hubby and I were active members then of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals. From then on, I have used it as my prayer guide, kasi I found it easier to pray if my prayer is organized in this pattern.
But of course, I say spontaneous prayers every now and then, and yes, like you - I treat and talk to God like He is my buddy!
I’m glad you like this entry, my dear!
Thanks, BW!
Yes, ibang iba kung taos puso talaga ang panalangin, yung nanggagaling sa puso!
Oh, it’s the image of the Lord
impressive picture Rhodora
I see an angel in the first picture. Or maybe it’s just my failing eyesight…
I have to admit, my relationship with God can be at best, be described as tempestuous. Sometimes I wonder if he even listens, or even cares about what I’m going through.
I have so little faith nowadays….
i see an image of God or an angel. what do you see rhodes?
i pray at random, whatever comes to mind. since i drive on a busy road all day, i always ask God to send me an angel to protect me from wayward drivers. then, family and friends come next. before i go to bed, i spend about 15 min reading Bible. it tranquilizes me.
Thanks, Pining. Like you, I also see Him in this image.
Sngl, you’re seeing right and there’s nothing wrong with your eyes.. LOL!
No matter, you will always be a child of God.
We see the same image, Belle!
Yes, I do that too. When we are on the road, travelling, I call upon God to send an angel to clear our way.
The Bible can a solace, and a source of spiritual wisdom!
Happy weekend, my dear friend!
nice nice prayer.. nice site too…
nice prayer.. nice site too…
I do believe in the power of prayers so much that i mostly agree with what you say. In fact, I feel stronger and so refresh everytime I pray, especially in a seeming empty church, in late afternoons usually, that in my prayers I can talk to Our Lord and seek supplications and present my aims. Prayer is such a good thing for me.
I am not a very religious person but I admire people who have faith in God.
Great post .. and yes … your caringness shows in your post.
I also say one when i see an ambulance or a funeral cortege. For a long time, after my mother was hospitalized at the Heart Center for two months, whenever i pass a hospital i pray for all the patients and doctors there. It bothered me that so many people were suffering in those places.
I remember in grade or high school, a teacher taught us how to pray, in effect, the whole day. By saying each morning: “Lord, whatever I do today, I lift to you … may it be for your greater honor and glory.”
An angel!
Prayers offer a respite from challenging human experiences.
although my family are very religious, especially the bibs, I myself is not, but I have great respect for religions and charity. And all I wish my fellow human is good health and good fortune and peace with self.
To me, it’s the heavenly light; a sign given by God.
[:
You’re one hell of an angel!
Everybody needs a little prayer and thank you for all your prayers!
I pray whenever, wherever the thought of talking to Him strikes me. Minsan, I just say “thank you, God”. Or “please, God”. And I know He knows what I wanted to say at that particular moment.
Yes, I do believe that soliciting favors from God should come at the end of the prayer. And my personal belief is that we should always say thank you at the beginning and end of our prayers
Happy Monday, tita!
you seem to be a very religious and good person. i also do pray anytime and anywhere. even if it’s jus a quick prayer in the mall or anywhere. i just like talking to God.
until today i still do not have a pattern for my prayers. i learned about ACTS from a life in the spirit seminar in 1988. yes, i go to church to hear mass each morning and say the rosary with my family in the evening. i really do not have a quiet time, what i know is that i offer to the good Lord each moment of my life, in blind faith. every day for me is a miracle. slowly, i am trying to find my way to HIM, to a closer relationship with HiIM.
RHODYL, thanks! Nice of you to drop by! How come I can’t have access to your site?
MAJOR TOM, same here! I feel empowered whenever I say even just a short prayer.
SIDNEY, I myself am not very religious. But I find solace in prayers.
“Lord, whatever I do today, I lift to you … may it be for your greater honor and glory.”
ANNA, this is a beautiful and fitting daily prayer!
ERIC, yes! The image is that of an angel! I love angels, don’t you too?
VIC, I believe what is more important is what is in one’s heart, not what religion one has.
KYELS, you see it right, my dear!
LAR, thanks too, for providing such beautiful pics in your site! They somehow serve as source of inspiration too, to your readers and viewers!
SASHA, that is so nice! Little prayers are actually very effective. We shouldn’t wait for the sky to fall before we utter a prayer, right?
TIN-TIN, I am not very religious in the sense that I don’t hear mass regularly. But I do take time to pray, always!
Thanks for being here, TIN!
DINE, you know what - I think you are one of the well blessed persons I have known - seven children, loving husband, successful career, comfortable life, happy family… Oh, God must love you indeed, my friend!
Tita, pwede po bang makipag-exchange link sa inyo?
Sure, Sasha! I will link you now. Thanks!
ako. I am not so religious…pero isa sa nakasanayan ko na yung mag sign of the cross everytime na madadaanan akong patay..parang feeling ko makakatulong yung sign of the cross ko at maikling dasal para sa kaluluwa ng namayapa na..same thing with everyone na nakakasalubong ko na sa tingin ko e kailangan ng prayers..ewan ko..anywhere, anytime thank you lang ako dahil alam ko deep in my heart kahit na hindi ako relihiyoso, iyon lang ang makapagliligtas sa akin from harm.
Melai, I believe, one doesn’t have to be really religious to be close to God.
Just saying those prayers for others already wins you a place in His kingdom!