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Featured Praying before meals

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Jun 29, 2013.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    We often say grace before meals, but:
    1) why do we do it
    2) is it necessary

    Many will say, we should be thankful for what we have been given - but -----

    Do we say grace, when we buy an ice cream cone? ( we are eating) or just a soda?

    Do we give thanks when we buy a new clothing outfit??

    Do we pray every time we get in our auto for a trip - or is it just long trips - but not short ones

    Do we pray before watching any/all TV/videos

    ......
     
  2. RLBosley

    RLBosley Active Member

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    I pray before meals usually only when I eat with others, particularly my wife. Just habit I guess. I don't think it's a right or wrong issue, but a preference issue.
     
  3. pinoybaptist

    pinoybaptist Active Member
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    I pray for the love of praying.
     
  4. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    Don't always pray before eating. Usually do at a sit around the table meal. Try not to make prayer a "habit", a routine, with little heartfelt meaning.

    That said, mealtime is a good time to simply pause and thank God for our blessings. Just as Daniel chose a specific time to pray.

    Daniel 6:10 KJB
    Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. ​

    To your other questions. Sometimes, yes, sometimes no. Just like I don't always thank God for a cooling breeze, as I did yesterday afternoon. Sometimes, and probably more often, just a simple prayer - Father, thank you for your blessings - without holding anything in my hand or seeking something in return (safe travel, for example)

    Most often specific prayer is in the mornings, to thank God for another day to try to do His will, while seeking His guidance for the same. Followed by prayer in the evening, yet again, thanking Him for another day. With a few more sprinkled inbetween for various reasons from asking forgiveness to seeking His hand for others in need of His care.
     
  5. jonathanD

    jonathanD New Member

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    What do you mean by necessary?
     
  6. Herald

    Herald New Member

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    Even if we do not pray at all times and for everything, why should we consider praying less?
     
  7. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Some people (like parents) will say "You cant eat until you pray - YOU must say grace at mealtime.
     
  8. Dennis324

    Dennis324 Member

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    I should pray before meals, but I haven't been doing it. I pray before bed and throughout the day, but I just don't know what to say before a meal. :tear:
     
  9. HisWitness

    HisWitness New Member

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    There is NO difference in praying when you get up in the morning and thanking Yah for his provisions and mercy and asking blessing for that day------than praying before meals---beside we are to be thankful 24 hours a day for his provisions and mercy.

    Some just do it out of habit and religious duty---but that that is done--if it is not done in charity(Love)profits nothing!!!

    Plus eating the right food that Yah gave us to eat is a good thing also.
    If you break his commandments--how can you give thanks for that ???

    I know you will say we can eat anything--but are you really sure ????
    the couple of scriptures you have to try and back that up is not saying what you think they are at all :flower::flower::flower:
     
  10. DrJamesAch

    DrJamesAch New Member

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    Why do you insist on using this name, and keep spelling it backwards?
     
  11. HisWitness

    HisWitness New Member

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    Yah----is it in the bible ????

    how am I spelling it backwards ?
     
  12. PeterM

    PeterM Member

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    Prayer before a meal follows a certain pattern Jesus established at the final Passover He shared with His disciples. He gave thanks prior to distributing each element. Expressing gratitude at meals is also seen in Acts 2.

    All that said, I think thanking God for His provision is a good thing... doing it before or after a meal (or at some other point during the day is up to them) is up to the individual.

    What I think is a bit humorous is that one of the common things to say is to ask God to "nourish our bodies with the food" knowing full well that's exactly what He designed food to do. Why do we do that? I heard a guy once pray, "Lord please let this food we are about to eat be used as energy and not stored as fat." :laugh:

    I find that to be a much more genuine request.
     
  13. HisWitness

    HisWitness New Member

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    asking to make that food nourishment for the body when you are eating what Yah said NOT to consume in the first place is kinda funny also:smilewinkgrin:
     
  14. PeterM

    PeterM Member

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    Question: Can you give some examples of what we are restricted from eating?
     
  15. HisWitness

    HisWitness New Member

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    its in the dietary laws of Yah in the OT--look it up---Pig is one of the meat

    before you say we are not under the law anymore---think the ONLY Law that we are NOT to observe is sacrificing animals anymore--ONLY because they were a type and that type has been fulfilled by Yeshua's own blood.

    the 10 commandments are still in effect and the dietary laws and so forth

    Yeshua said if you love him?? KEEP his commandments.

    please present scripture if you disagree though.
     
  16. DrJamesAch

    DrJamesAch New Member

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    I already told you. We Hebrews write from right to left, not left to right :) With all the emphasis you claim to have known about God's name, I thought you knew this already :)
     
  17. HisWitness

    HisWitness New Member

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    :smilewinkgrin::smilewinkgrin::smilewinkgrin
     
  18. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Interesting info, and they are worthy of new threads- BUT OFF OP for this thread
     
  19. Gib

    Gib Active Member

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    We don't always pray before our meals.

    Some of our youth came to a senior adult luncheon. The pastor asked one of them to pray. He prayed, "Father thank for this day. Thank you for the hands that prepared the food. Please help the old people not to swallow they're food wrong. Amen."
     
  20. 12strings

    12strings Active Member

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    10And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

    Christians can Eat stuff.
     
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