How to Pray?

To ask "how to pray Christian prayer?" is to ask "how can I grow closer to God, to know God more intimately, to allow God to affect my life?"

Just as you talk to your earthly partner or friends in terms of endearment, praise, honesty, confession, exasperation, guilt, fun and more in order to strengthen your relationship, so too we speak with God in Christian prayer.

Communication between two people in a loving relationship takes place with the exchange of words, most often in general conversation but also in poetry, song, letter writing, and even phone texts and email! Prayer is also varied!

Christian Prayer Has Many Forms.

Christian prayer then, also, has many forms. Much Christian prayer is extempore, that is 'free flowing' just like a conversation with little forethought. Other Christian prayers are more poetic, with words and phrases that have been formed and chosen after much thought and deliberation. Some prayers are quick and short, almost subconscious reactions to an encountered situation. Other Christain prayers are extended contemplations and meditations, often with prolonged pauses for further thought and listening to God.

No two people are exactly the same. We are all unique and have different characters and attitudes, thank God for that! Some people are chatterboxes, others are 'strong silent' types. Some people are able to express themselves confidently with words, others struggle to find the right words that express their feelings. Each will, quite naturally, express themselves in ways with which they feel most comfortable. So too with Christian prayer.

No two relationships are the same either. Some partnerships are full of chatter, constant conversation about all aspects of life from the moment two people meet until they part, and then with lengthy phone-calls between meetings too! Other friendships are less wordy, more a quiet enjoyment of being in eachother's presence, with the occasional 'knowing' remark or glance. So too with Christian prayer.

All prayers, however, share some commonality. Most specifically, good Christian prayer is genuine and truthful. As Christians we believe that our God is omniscient and omnipresent, that is God knows what is happening in all aspects of our lives - including our thoughts! We cannot hide any situation from God, nor can we hide our motives. So, our prayer must be honest, truthful and genuine, it is on such terms that a loving relationship with God is built and strengthened.

What right have we to pray to God?

"If God is all knowing and all powerful, what right have we to speak with him?" An excellent and most relevant question! Even the best of us fall short of God's demanding expectations of us. How many of us can genuinely say we have never lied, cheated, behaved dishonestly, deceitfully or unjustly? The ways in which a person can misbehave, if listed, could fill this page!

It is through Jesus of Nazareth, God made flesh in human form, his work on the cross and resurrection from death that we have the right to talk with God. Jesus, in dying for us, reunited us with our creator and re-established the channels of communication. So, when praying, we must always remember to recognise Jesus Christ's work, and make our prayers through him.

About 'Pray Like This'.

Here at praylikethis.org.uk we invite you to explore all aspects of Christian prayer, to enrich your understanding of Christian prayer, to sample different traditions of prayer - but most of all, to strengthen your relationship with God, who loves you.