To pray is to make our hearts ready to experience the love of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Praying regularly will help us to develop a spiritual rhythm. A discipline of prayer changes the way that we think about our lives, because it creates new habits of heart and mind. Prayer opens us more deeply to the transforming grace of God. We enter into God’s presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to pray in us.
When should I pray?
Traditionally, prayer times have been morning and evening, but you can choose a time which is best for you. It helps to be somewhere quiet, where you can have some time for yourself.
What do I need?
You might like to set up a special place in which you pray regularly. You might also place an open Bible, a cross, a candle, an icon or another picture, to give the time and space special significance.
You don’t have to know any prayers if you want to pray – in fact, words can often get in the way. But you may wish to write down or memorise some prayers that speak to you, especially the Lord’s Prayer. You could build up a collection of favourite prayers and sayings and keep a scrapbook.
Do I have to kneel?
Kneeling is the traditional posture for penitence and standing for praise, but you can pray anywhere – walking, standing, sitting, whatever feels comfortable.
Structure
Sometimes we need to offer ‘arrow prayers’, asking for God’s immediate help in a particular situation. But thankfully we don’t live all our lives in moments of extreme crisis. What about day-to-day praying?
Use your hand as a model
Your fingers can be used to bring to mind different things to pray for.
- Thumb
This is the strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for all the strong things in your life, like home and family, relationships that support and sustain you. - Index finger
This is the pointing finger. Pray for all those people and things in your life who guide and help you. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on. - Middle finger
This is the tallest finger. Pray for all the important people who have power in the world, like world leaders and their governments, members of parliament and local councillors, the Royal Family, other world leaders and their governments. - Ring finger
This is the weakest finger on your hand. It can’t do much by itself. Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the sick, the ill and the bereaved. - Little finger
This is the smallest and the last finger on your hand. Pray for yourself.
Find a prayer that speaks to you and meditate on each word one by one
For instance the Jesus Prayer: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner’.
Read a psalm
The Common Worship Psalter gives prayers after each psalm.
Use a prayer book
You can write to us and we will send a prayer book. Write to us info@indiaedi.com