Optional Assignment #2

[Aine of the Fae]

Start a prayer journal. It can be in any format you want, as fancy or plain as you want. This is going to be where you record prayers. You can record any and all prayers that you have, from the simple "Please God, don't let this cop give me a ticket" to long involved prayers like a rosary with a specific intention. Record the time and date of the prayer.

Every week or month or so, go back through your prayer journal and make a note of any prayers that have been answered, even if they were answered in a wierd or not obvious way!

[Charise]

oh, I like that idea Aine! I've never been much of a sit down and write sort of person, but have been interested in online journaling or blogging... can we do it that way as well?

[Aine of the Fae]

oh, I like that idea Aine! I've never been much of a sit down and write sort of person, but have been interested in online journaling or blogging... can we do it that way as well?

You certainly can!

[Shanti]

Prob Aine..I dont pray!!! I sometimes as a spirit for guidance in magickal work, but that about it. And that is rare!

[Aine of the Fae]

Prob Aine..I dont pray!!! I sometimes as a spirit for guidance in magickal work, but that about it. And that is rare!

That's ok! I'm planning to have a variety of optional assignments so everyone can hopefully find something or other that will work for them!

[Brinclhof]

Prob Aine..I dont pray!!! I sometimes as a spirit for guidance in magickal work, but that about it. And that is rare!


Personal opinion here Shanti, If you ask a spirit for guidance in magickal work isn't that a type of prayer. Prayer and spell work go hand in hand in my opinion.
Spellwork is just a ritualistic prayer with props.

[CleftOfLight]

is it ok if I just use my book of light to record my prayers in? Instead of having two notebooks?

[Aine of the Fae]

is it ok if I just use my book of light to record my prayers in? Instead of having two notebooks?

That's not a problem at all!

[charmedkisses1]

I'm so used to praying about every little thing like I'm talking to someone in front of me (i.e. "o no God/dess don't let me have forgotten that $100 check!") this is no problem for me :smile:

[Aine of the Fae]

I'm so used to praying about every little thing like I'm talking to someone in front of me (i.e. "o no God/dess don't let me have forgotten that $100 check!") this is no problem for me :smile:

It's those little prayers that we often forget we even did. If you write them down, then check them off when they are answered (or they aren't answered and that turned out to be a really, really good thing...) you can then work on being truly thankful!

[Pan]

I have the perfect notebook! I printed off a lot of information from catholic.org, and bought a little notebook to record some of the information in so I won't forget. I'll just use that!

[DixieWitch]

I've got a prayer/dream journal. I started on online version, but have yet to transfer everything to it.

[Trinity Faith]

I am going to start my prayer journal in an online journal. If I remember to write in it each time I pray, I think it'll be neat to look back on it later in the year to see how my prayers have turned out.

[Aine of the Fae]

I love going back over my prayer journal. It reminds me to be thankful.

"Thank you Lord for helping me through that gallstone attack."
"Thank you Lord for helping that liitle boy in Indiana."
"Thank you Lord for NOT giving me that...."

There are times when I am more thankful for the prayers God said no to!

[Annyka]

This reminds me of something I read somewhere for my brief look into the Kemetic beliefs. This is where you sit down daily to say your prayers and you write them down and pop them in a little prayer box like thing. At the end of the month you read through them, and if the goal has been acheived (either by the prayer being answered or a better outcome because of a prayer not been answered) then you discard the paper, and leave the ones that are not yet resolved in the box...

I was going to start doing that, but might just do the diary thing - coz then I can look through it later to be thankful for things I tend to neglect.

[Aine of the Fae]

This reminds me of something I read somewhere for my brief look into the Kemetic beliefs. This is where you sit down daily to say your prayers and you write them down and pop them in a little prayer box like thing. At the end of the month you read through them, and if the goal has been acheived (either by the prayer being answered or a better outcome because of a prayer not been answered) then you discard the paper, and leave the ones that are not yet resolved in the box...

I was going to start doing that, but might just do the diary thing - coz then I can look through it later to be thankful for things I tend to neglect.

That something a lot of people neglect, being truly thankful and grateful for answered and unanswered prayers. That's why I like the prarer journal. It reminds me of the blessings that I do have and to be really, truly thankful for them.

[Charise]

Oookay.... confession time..

This has been really nagging me.. and I need to get it off my chest..*sighs*

I have not prayed in years. Or at least not 'consiously prayed'. I use to...every day...all day long it would seem.. but I honestly don't recall ever having any of my prayers answered. So.. after the hurt feelings of being 'ignored' ... I began to think..well, God knows what's in my heart, and what is best for me, it can't be that he just doesn't care...must be that he just has more important things to deal with then my silly little requests... so, I eventually got over it and just stopped praying.

Later on though... years later.. if something good happened in my life.. I would send up a little 'thank you' to God.. but never have I personally asked or prayed for any of the good things that have happened in my life.

[OJOS VERDES]

I have not prayed in years. Or at least not 'consiously prayed'. I use to...every day...all day long it would seem.. but I honestly don't recall ever having any of my prayers answered. So.. after the hurt feelings of being 'ignored' ... I began to think..well, God knows what's in my heart, and what is best for me, it can't be that he just doesn't care...must be that he just has more important things to deal with then my silly little requests... so, I eventually got over it and just stopped praying.
.

I used struggle with this alot. Still do sometimes.

"Just because He doesn't answer doesn't mean He don't care...
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"- Garth Brooks

Country songs aside, I see where you are coming from. Sometimes I would ask for things and not be answered or I thought I wasn't answered, when I was answered...
That doesn't mean that it was too trivial or silly to ask, I mean this is God, nothing is too great for Him/Her, and nothing is too small..right?

So maybe He, or She for some, thought I didn't NEED it or for saw a potention risk or problem. And maybe I was answered in another way...depending on the request. Or maybe it would take time to come to fruitation.

I personally am clueless a lot of times on what I really need. So when something really nice happens sometimes I think to myself, "this is exactly what I need."
Maybe sometimes the good things He/She sends us are reminders of what we really do NEED. So a lot of times I ask now, what do I need? or what should I do?

Ok, I know I ramble a bit, but does that make sense?

[Charise]

I see where you are coming from. Sometimes I would ask for things and not be answered or I thought I wasn't answered, when I was answered...
That doesn't mean that it was too trivial or silly to ask, I mean this is God, nothing is too great for Him/Her, and nothing is too small..right?

So maybe He, or She for some, thought I didn't NEED it or for saw a potention risk or problem. And maybe I was answered in another way...depending on the request. Or maybe it would take time to come to fruitation.

I personally am clueless a lot of times on what I really need. So when something really nice happens sometimes I think to myself, "this is exactly what I need."
Maybe sometimes the good things He/She sends us are reminders of what we really do NEED. So a lot of times I ask now, what do I need? or what should I do?



Yup... I've mulled all those same exact thoughts over in my head as well...

My conclusion was simply this:

- He is only going to answer prayers that he see's fit to answer...
- He is going to do it in his own time..or his own 'mysterious way'...
- He already knows what's best for me... and finally,
- He already knows what I'm going to ask before I even ask it....

so then, why bother asking?

(*he represents all genders or no gender..either way*)

[Aine of the Fae]

God answsers every prayer. His answers are always one of three things:

Yes
Maybe
No

but every prayer has an answer.

[Charise]

lol...ok... I should have worded that differently then..

"He is only going to answer "yes" to those he see's fit ;)