#prayer reference

[rikkalorelei]

Hello! So, due to past stuff with family, my personal relationship with God is very distant. To the point where some Christian imagery makes me uncomfortable. Do you have any verse suggestions or really any suggestion to help?

Pray! Pray the prayers that speak to you, the ones you are comfortable reciting. Talk to God. Ramble like you would to a friend you are trying to talk about a problem with. Be awkward. Be raw. Speak anything, no matter how silly, that comes to mind.

Set aside time every day to pray. Pray in bed as you fall asleep. Pray in the shower. It doesn’t have to be the stereotypical, kneeling at your bedside praying. The more you talk to God, the more you will feel comfortable doing so.

Talk about why the imagery bothers you. Start researching the symbolism in most Christian imagery. Look at it from an academic viewpoint. Taking the emotional connection out might help.

I hope this has helped. I apologize for not getting to this ask last night. I pray you come to peace.

[rikkalorelei]

Hi rikka, Do you think it would be inappropriate for me to buy rosary beads for the purpose of using tnem as prayer beads? I'm non catholic.

As long as you use them to say the prayers of the rosary, I don’t see a problem.

If you are going to use prayer beads for a manner not intended during their making, then no. It would not be appropriate. This goes for a rosary, a chaplet, prayer beads for any diety, etc.

It would be wildly inappropriate to use a rosary to pray to Zeus and just as inappropriate to use prayer beads for Zeus to pray to Jesus. (Zeus was the first god that came to mind this morning.)

If you have a specific set of prayers you want to say, but cannot find a set of prayer beads that would be appropriate, I’ve heard that @beadeddevotions will do custom sets in any format you would like.

[rikkalorelei]

Do you know of any prayers or spell to assist in getting in touch with yourself?

One that always speaks to me is the Prayer for Wisdom

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithfulAnd kindle in them the fire of Your loveV: Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be createdR: And You shall renew the face of the earthO God, Who instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, Grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen

Remember, the biggest problem most folks have with this is they are not truly honest. It’s hard to be the honest with those we love, especially ourselves. Being blunt. Focus on the things that strike you so deep inside that you almost flinch. Talk to yourself like you are your own best friend. Consider meditation where you run into yourself and start talking like you are strangers becoming friends. Pray. Pray a lot. In moments of true abandonment of the world around you, the you hidden within will leap out.

Spells or stones that clear the air, aid in communication, reveal the true nature of one would be best. 

Matthew 7:7-8 NRSV

Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.