Faith

How do I pray?

'Lord, teach us to pray'

That request was put to Jesus by his own disciples - which should encourage us if we feel we don't know how to pray. They needed help, and so do we, especially at troubled times such as these.

But there isn't just one right way to pray - what works well for one person may not for another. The following thoughts are offered just as guidelines which may be useful:

    · When we pray we come before God with the world on our hearts. We are also offering ourselves to be in some small way channels of love and peace in God's world.
    · God already knows what is in our hearts and minds. We can be honest with God, and say exactly how we feel, or even just sit in silence.
    · It might help to find a quiet space. You may want to be on your own, but you may also find that it helps to join other people, who may be gathering to pray in local churches, but also in schools, workplaces and elsewhere.
    · You may find that you can say just what you want to, using your own words. But many people find it helpful to use written prayers. This site provides a number of prayers for different people and situations as well as some simple forms of prayer for use at different times of the day.

Much of the prayer of the CofE is corporate, that is to say we do it together and this is reflected in much of what you will say when you recite Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer (see www.cofe.anglican.org/services/index.html) Yet there is another side to our prayer life, our own individual prayers.

Whether you are a child, young person or an adult, it's easier than you might imagine! Millions of people of every age pray every day.

You don't have to know any prayers if you want to pray - in fact, words can often get in the way. Say what is in your heart, what you feel.

Remember!
God hears every prayer - but not all prayers are answered in the way we might expect or desire!

'Arrow' Prayers can be offered to God anywhere, at any time.
But thankfully we don't live all our lives in moments of extreme crisis. What about day-to-day praying? We need to come closer to God, to experience His love for us and to try to make sense of where we are in the world. Prayer is the way we do this.

How to start?
Use your hand.
Your fingers can be used to bring to mind different things to pray for.

    · thumb - this is the strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for all the strong things in your life, like home and family, relationships that support and sustain you.

    · index finger - this is the pointing finger. Pray for all those people and things in your life who guide and help you. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on.

    · middle finger - this is the tallest finger. Pray for all the important people who have power in the world, like world leaders and their governments, members of parliament and local councillors, the Royal Family, other world leaders and their governments.

    · ring finger - this is the weakest finger on your hand. It can not do much by itself. Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the sick, the ill and the bereaved.

    · little finger - this is the smallest and the last finger on your hand. Pray for yourself.


When should I pray?
Traditionally, prayer times have been morning and evening, but you can choose a time which is best for you. It helps to be somewhere quiet, where you can have some time for yourself.

Do I have to kneel?
Kneeling is the traditional praying posture, but you don't have to. Prayer can happen anywhere - walking, standing, sitting, whatever feels comfortable.

What else do I need to know?
Be creative - use music, a stone, a feather, a flower, or a candle to help you focus - if you are little, or elderly, be careful with candles!

Prayer activity is a discipline - it can be difficult at times, just like keeping fit, being on a diet, or keeping weeds down in the garden! Little and often is best, but don't give up! No prayer, however inadequate you may feel it to be, is ever wasted or of no value.

What next?
Build up a collection of favourite prayers and sayings - anything that speaks to you. You can find them in greeting cards, cuttings in the press or bookmarks and prayer cards. You could make a scrapbook for them.

Visit your local church bookshop and have a browse. Most cathedrals have shops with good resources.

Here are some books you might find helpful. The first two are designed for children, young people and families, but they contain very powerful material which is ideal for adults who are new to praying.

Helping Children to Pray - Ruth Cardwell, pub Grail 1981,
Prayer for Children - Christopher Herbert, pub NS/CHP 1993,
Power Lines - David Adam, pub Triangle 1997 (reprint),
When You Pray - Gilling/Evans, pub Darton Longman &Todd (1995)
Still with God - Simon Bailey, pub NS/CHP 'Pocket' Series,
Prayers from the Edge - C Von Ruhland, pub Triangle Darton Longman&Todd,
Praying through Life - Stephen Cottrell, pub NS/CHP 1998,
Extract from Children and Holy Communion - Diana Murrie and Steve Pearce, pub NS/CHP 1997 is copyright © Diana Murrie and Steve Pearce and is reproduced by permission Church House Publishing.( www.chpublishing.co.uk )

There are many, many more designed to help. Prayer is life-enhancing. Try it!

Faith [1 2 3]