The word ‘pray’ can bring up lots of questions – What should I pray for? Isn’t the little stuff not worth God’s notice? Or maybe the biggest one: How do I pray?
If you would like prayer for anything, please send us a prayer request.
What is prayer?
Prayer is simply talking to God. We’re told in the gospels that Jesus himself ‘got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.’ (Mark 1: 36) Jesus prayed because he wanted to speak with, receive from and maintain a relationship with his Heavenly Father. As Jesus set the model, so we follow: we pray to build up a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
The best relationships are completely honest. To build a relationship with God, we bring everything to him – our worries, fears, guilt, joys, confusions, uncertainties, pain, love. The Psalms are such great templates for our prayer life – every human emotion is expressed. Consider David’s words in Psalm 5: ‘Give ear to my words, O’Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help.’ David poured forth every emotion, knowing that God heard him. We too can bring anything to the Lord.
how do I pray?
A good place to start is where Jesus tells us to start: the Lord’s prayer. The Lord’s prayer focuses our hearts and our minds on the Lord, on his power and his plans, and then asks him to guide us in our daily doings.
Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed by your name
Your Kingdom Come, your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
Now and forever.
Amen
Another, simple way to pray is through the simple acronym ACTS:
Adoration:
Praise God for who he is – Creator, Saviour, Comforter, Healer,
Confession:
Say sorry for the stuff you need to say sorry for
Thanksgiving:
Thank God for all of his wonderful gifts
Supplication:
A fancy word for ASK! Ask the Lord for help, wisdom, guidance, humility, in your own life and in others’s
learning from others.
There are lots of great resources online. Check out this link from 24-7 Prayer for lots of ideas on how we can pray:
https://www.24-7prayer.com/helpmepray
BOOKS
Another great way to mature in our prayer life is to read about how Christians have prayed through the ages, particularly in times of great challenge. Here are four books that you might find helpful:
Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place – about a Dutch Christian’s experience under the Nazi regime.
Pete Grieg, God on Mute – addresses the challenge of unanswered prayer
Jackie Pullinger, Chasing the Dragon – about work in the darkest slums of Hong Kong and the incredible transformation prayer brought
John C Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides – about a Victorian Christian’s work amidst cannibals in the South Pacific – incredible and moving story about the power of persistent prayer in the midst of great suffering.