Pray some of the great prayers from the Bible. The Bible is full of prayers. One of the most familiar is the Lord's Prayer ("Our Father"), or the "model" prayer:
"Prayer" is just another word for communication between us and Someone who loves us more than we will ever be able to imagine. That Someone is God. It is hard to imagine that the Creator of the universe cares for each one of us individually, but that is the promise of Scripture. Prayer is talking to the God who desires to know us and to be our closest friend.
Prayer is a dialogue. We talk and we listen; God talks and God listens. Like any form of communication, prayer takes practice. It is hard work to be still and listen. It is hard work to learn to speak the innermost fears and desires of our hearts. But there is nothing more wonderful, more refreshing, more liberating and more empowering than prayer.
If you haven't spent time with God today, won't you take a minute right now?
The only "wrong" way to pray is not to pray at all! You don't need special words or a special formula to get God's attention. Simply tell God about your joys and sorrows, your needs and your celebrations. If you get stuck, use some of the prayer resources that are available as a starting point. Here are some examples:
Pray some of the great prayers from the Bible. The Bible is full of prayers. One of the most familiar is the Lord's Prayer ("Our Father"), or the "model" prayer:
Many people pray the Psalms, which is a venerable part of the Christian tradition:
There are also many beautiful prayers written by the Saints throughout the history of the Church. One example is this well known prayer of St. Francis:
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Use one of the prayers in a devotional guide or a prayer book as a starting point. Here is an example from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:
ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
Remember: It takes time to become comfortable in prayer, but it is well worth the effort and time!
If you have a reason to give thanks, or a special petition, leave it on the prayer list and I'll join with you in prayer.