Prayer is "conversation with God." Are your conversations with other people similar to your prayers to God?
MATTHEW: CHAPTER NUMBER TWENTY SIX
36 Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani. And he said to his disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray.
37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad.
38 Then he saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death. Stay you here and watch with me.
39 And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh to his disciples and findeth them asleep. And he saith to Peter: What? Could you not watch one hour with me?
41 Watch ye: and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 Again the second time, he went and prayed, saying: My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he cometh again and findeth them sleeping: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And leaving them, he went again: and he prayed the third time, saying the selfsame word.
<> The ball is in your court, Ace. <>
You may want to consider Jesus's words concerning counting or repeating prayers:
Matt. 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 7 posted on 10/2/02 12:15 PM Eastern by Onelifetogive [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
42 Again the second time, he went and prayed, saying: My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, thy will be done.
44 And leaving them, he went again: and he prayed the third time, saying the selfsame word.
The Scriptures you quote do not indicate that Christ was reciting over and over and over the same prewritten prayers, or counting beads as he recited standard prayers.
The Scriptures you cite have different language each of the two instances Christ spoke to His Father. Even the third case which says "selfsame word" only indicates that he was praying for the same thing. I can even accept that He used the same exact words, but there is no indication the it was a prewritten prayer. You are making my case for me!
Christ was obviously not reciting rote prayers, but was presenting His wishes to God.