How to pray

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31/07/2009

How to pray - introduction

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The intention to pray is the beginning of prayer. So you've probably already started.

Beginning

First, make a bit of space in your busy life. Mentally bundle all your cares and anxieties and stresses into a bag and, for a moment, put them to one side.

Make yourself comfortable.

Close your eyes to shut out the world, close your ears to its noise, and bring your hands together to focus on God.

And just talk naturally to God (or to Jesus as you prefer), sharing your concerns honestly and openly, and listening quietly to whatever God indicates.

Do this briefly and often so that it becomes part of the rhythm of your life.

In a noisy world

Of course, sometimes it's impossible to find any quiet or escape even for a moment's peace.

If that's the case then simply say under your breath as often as you can, "Loving Lord Jesus, I give [this person, or this situation] into your hands."

In this way you allow him to share your responsibilities, your anxieties, your troubles, and your hopes.

A prayer for the start of each day:

"O Lord, you know how busy I will be today. If I should forget you, do not forget me."

The Lord's prayer

Some of his disciples asked Jesus how they should pray. When you pray, he said, say

Our father in heaven

may your name be held holy,

may your Kingdom come

may your will be done here on earth

in the same way as it is done in heaven.

Give us today the food we need.

Forgive us our debts -

just as we forgive others the debts they owe to us,

and do not bring us to testing times

but keep us safe from all evil.

Matthew 6: 9-13

Prayer on the Internet

Personally I find the computer a hazard to prayer - I recommend you switch it off to find the quiet to pray.

However there are any number of prayer sites and helps to praying on the internet.

Oremus has daily readings and prayer.

Sacred Space is an excellent use of the internet for reflective prayer with it sprayer for today.

An invitation to prayer - very Anglican.

Daily meditations (brief and manageable) on bible readings may be found here.

Praying with others

Praying alone is important, and so to is praying with others.

Praying as part of worship and in small groups adds our prayers to the prayers of the whole community of the church.

Praying together in worship and in groups makes the community what it is.

A small regular group who meet to pray and share one another's concerns can be supportive and valuable. The Monday Group welcomes new members. Other prayer groups are set up from time to time in the parish - see the Notice Board for details.

A group can also be good for keeping each other praying regularly!

Prayer is begun with the intention to pray. It may grow in a myriad of ways, but prayer has only one end - the final all-encompassing consummation in God.

[How to pray - next: Regular prayer]

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... our identity is the people we have chosen to be with. Our past is important too ...