HOW TO PRAY
Many people ask the question’ How do I pray?’
For many Prayer is a daily, moment by moment, experience of talking to, listening to, and being with God. Talking to God, because our natural impulse is to share, to express the joys and sorrows we all know; listening, by opening our hearts to God’s voice and guidance in scripture.
Simply being with God, in a relationship where words aren’t always needed and sitting in God’s presence is enough. At a very basic level one might simply find a space in which to be quiet and bring to mind the people or situations for whom you wish to pray. Words can be helpful, but are not essential.
HOW TO PRAY
Many people ask the question’ How do I pray?’
For many Prayer is a daily, moment by moment, experience of talking to, listening to, and being with God. Talking to God, because our natural impulse is to share, to express the joys and sorrows we all know; listening, by opening our hearts to God’s voice and guidance in scripture.
Simply being with God, in a relationship where words aren’t always needed and sitting in God’s presence is enough. At a very basic level one might simply find a space in which to be quiet and bring to mind the people or situations for whom you wish to pray. Words can be helpful, but are not essential.
If you have a favourite place then you might imagine the person for whom you wish to pray being in that place with you, or you might light a candle as a symbol of God’s love (represented by the light from the flame) reaching out to them.
This experience of God in prayer not only renews our lives and the life of the Church. It also makes us fellow travellers with people of faith of many different traditions. In our Christian tradition there are many pathways into living with God through the Spirit of Jesus who lives and prays in us and for us.
The Lord’s Prayer
When his followers asked him how to pray, Jesus taught them the following, which has become the prayer that unites Christians across the world and throughout time.
This is a version of the prayer that is used by the Scottish Episcopal Church:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
are yours, now and for ever. Amen
If you’d like some daily reflection material for any time in the year – try “Pray as you go”.
It’s a 12-minute meditation for busy people. You can listen on your laptop or mobile device anytime, anywhere: https://pray-as-you-go.org/