I always welcome comments, suggestions and questions regarding my column. Recently, I was asked to talk about prayer. Here, I will uncover what it is, the role of prayer, how to pray, when to pray and why pray. I will wrap it up with some practical tips to deepen your prayer life.
What Is Prayer?
The concept of prayer is a universal spiritual practice. It holds importance across cultures and religions, is the most basic, foundational way to communicate to and with God and it provides comfort for many people as well as an avenue of hope.
Prayer can be very powerful in your life. During this conversation with God, you are able to share your concerns, your hopes and your dreams without judgement. You can and should offer thanksgiving and praise. prayer provides a spiritual connection, an act of faith, and a means of expressing gratitude, requests, or worship. It can take many forms.
Philippians 4:6 reads, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. “ (usccb.org)
How to Pray
Many people struggle with how to pray. You can just talk to God like you are having a conversation with someone. I will sometimes do that while in the car by myself. It is important to take time and listen. If you haven’t been one to pray, this may feel uncomfortable. You can always start with rote prayer. A simple internet search can provide one if you do not know one. If you would like something a little more advanced, I offer this step-by-step guide to prayer:
- Find a quiet place for reflection.
- Center your heart by giving gratitude.
- Speak openly about your needs, concerns, or praise.
- Listen for God’s response and reflect on it.
Remember that there are many different kinds of prayer including worship, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.
It is often helpful to use journaling as a reflection. If you are unsure with how to start, offering the Lord’s Prayer as shared in Matthew 6:9-13, “This is how you are to pray: 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; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;” (usccb.org) Know that there are different versions to this prayer and that is ok.
When to Pray
The appropriate time to pray is anytime and anywhere. Pray in the mornings in gratitude for another day. Offer up your challenges and your successes. As for guidance to have an open heart and an open mind to do God’s will. Give thanks throughout the day for blessings, solutions and meals. Pray in the evenings for gratitude and to reflect on opportunities given and opportunities missed.
Do not forget to pray for the needs of others. Also pray in moments of urgent need. These prayers can be quick and to the point. Remember to include gratitude. Most importantly, remember 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” (usccb.org)
Why Pray?
The biggest benefit of prayer is building a stronger, more personal relationship with God. Prayer also brings peace and clarity in times of trouble and times of doubt. Life is a faith journey and should begin with prayer. Prayer should also be woven in because it gives hope. It offers a time for gratitude and praise. It also strengthens faith and trust in God’s plan. God does have a plan for your life. You need to know who God created you to be. These discussions with God, or prayers, will help lead you on your path to purpose and fulfillment.
There have been studies done about the potential effects of prayer on mental and emotional well-being. The benefits of regular prayer is discussed in this online article from Psychology Today. One of the research studies indicated that the Serenity Prayer was extremely comforting. In fact, studies cited in this article show that people believed prayer helped with recovery from mental illness.
Also, the National Library of Medicine published an article entitled, “Unpacking the Relationship Between Prayer and Anxiety: A Consideration of Prayer Types and Expectations in the United States.” This article was highly scientific and they concluded more research needs to be done on the effects of prayer as they see both positive and negative results based on the focus of the prayer. They did determine that there is a positive outcome when prayer is focused on the positive.
So, pray with positivity. Pray with gratitude and definitely pray for others. Your intent will make a big impact on how your prayer affects you mentally. Pray continuously for a positive way to move forward in whatever circumstance you are facing.
Practical Tips for Deepening Your Prayer Life
There are many ways to deepen your prayer life. You can create a prayer schedule to ensure that you are praying regularly. Join a prayer group. There are many variations available. You join a prayer group that meets in person or sends out requests electronically. You can use online social groups to ask for requests or a church bulletin that has prayer needs already listed.
More tips would be to use a prayer journal to track thoughts, insights and results. Many times we just don’t notice when our prayers have been answered. Sometimes it is a yes and sometimes it is a no. You can also use prayer apps. Many Bible apps have built in prayer resources.
Just Pray
Always remember that at its foundation, prayer is a discussion with God.It doesn’t matter how you pray, but do remember to pray often. Lean into resources to help strengthen and deepen your prayer life. God wants to hear from you! Here is a scripture verse to remember,
Matthew 21:22: “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” (usccb.org)
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