Epoisses
New member
I'm not selfish! I do this and I do that and I do other things to. I'm always doing for God and I do in the open to so he can see everything I'm doing.
Why pray with eyes closed?
- Thread starter iouae
- Start date
I'm not selfish! I do this and I do that and I do other things to. I'm always doing for God and I do in the open to so he can see everything I'm doing.
genuineoriginal
New member
"Praying" with eyes closed is a natural next step after people are taught to "pray" by thinking at God instead of by praying to God.
People bow there head or close there eyes to avoid visual distractions that could disrupt concentration and the power of the prayer.
It is done for reverence
It is done for reverence
glorydaz
Well-known member
When I look out at the beautiful clouds, the trees, the mountains, I pray with my eyes open because I see God there. When I look into the face of a child, I pray with my eyes open thanking God for this wonderful blessing. When I'm in a crowded room or a place with distractions, I close my eyes. I agree...there is no need to close our eyes, but there are times it's right to do so.
ok doser
lifeguard at the cement pond
Your response is a sign that you have no response, so it is interesting that you posted anyway.
But of course what response could there be to gods allowing children to get cancer? No decent human with the power to stop it would hesitate for even a second. Maybe gods aren't all they are cracked up to be.
They sure aren't loving.
Stuart
iamaberean
New member
Right on, they say this is the same reason one closes their eyes when we kiss.
genuineoriginal
New member
Praying with your eyes closed is not a problem.
The problem comes when you pray with your mind closed.
The problem comes when you pray with your mind closed.
Though this can be an advantage when voting. (either)
iouae
Well-known member
While driving to work, it is probably better that one prays with one's eyes open.
I know that God is extremely happy to hear from us at all times, even while driving to work.
The prayer does not even have to be that long all the time. Think of your child just giving you a quick call to say they were thinking of you, and how happy that makes one compared to no call.
I know that God is extremely happy to hear from us at all times, even while driving to work.
The prayer does not even have to be that long all the time. Think of your child just giving you a quick call to say they were thinking of you, and how happy that makes one compared to no call.
Tradition isn't automatically a bad thing, if it has purpose and/or meaning. My conservative Wesleyan churches tend to pray with eyes closed and, while it is generally unspoken, the intent seems to be to avoid distractions and embarassment. Since we practice "altar calls" and often ask "are there any upraised hands" for prayer or spiritual needs, it generally encourages some more timid individual to step forward to kneel and pray or seek prayer who might not do so if they sensed that others were watching. We simply want to minimize anything that might hinder someone who is "teetering" on the edge of making an important spiritual decision. Don't read anything more into it than a sincere desire to focus on Him and give others the freedom to be as open and unhindered as possible. It's more a "courtesy" than a tradition, in our camp anyway.
Makes sense
Well, this is the wrong thread for that post...
:carryon:
:carryon:
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It's symbolic of what most people do with their minds when they pray.
That is to say that most of what passes for prayer these days is little more than superstitious ritual that means nothing and accomplishes just as much.
You're far ahead of the game having done nothing more than taken the time to figure out that the practice has no biblical president (which doesn't imply a prohibition, by the way). It would never have occurred to most people to even ask the question, never mind to take the time to look it up.
I'd be curious to know if a member of the Church of Christ, who rejects such things as the use of musical instruments during worship on the basis of there not being any biblical president for it, also rejects closed eye prayer on the same basis?
Resting in Him,
Clete
P.S. I agree with those of you who have commented on some of the positive aspects of closed eye prayer, by the way. Don't take this post as my attempting to argue against the practice.
The worst is when a church will dim the lights at the beginning of corporate prayer.
Had a late night, then needed to go to the early service, struggling to stay awake because the coffee hasn't kicked-in yet, and now you're going to dim the lights on me? Oh, you sadistic...