|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
How to Pray to God
In any communication we talk (or write) to somebody and they talk with us. Prayer is simply this - taking time to speak to God, and to listen to Him.
We are always in God's presence - God is waiting to hear from you! As Christians we often pray that God would be present with us. However, the reality is that God is always present with us - it is we who have forgotten that He is there. It is written "he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Duet 31:8, NIV), and "Where can I go from your Spirit?
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Importance of Prayer
It is hoped that this section will provide a point of inspiration for times when we need to reach out to God and pray. Here you'll find some useful set prayers that can be used to guide your time with God. There's a page on prayer before meetings, including ideas on what to pray for before a church gathering, and prayer for business and directors meetings. Perhaps you are holding a bible study? This page features a psalm that will be useful to use as precusor to study, as well as two set prayers.
Praying in daily life is as important as breathing. Just as we all need oxygen to live, we need God's presence in us for us to be fully alive. There's four pages devoted to aspects of daily living. You may wish to begin the morning in prayer. If you have a job, why not pause and pray before you start work. As you eat your meals, you may want to spend a moment in reflection and thanks before eating. And as night falls, why not thank God for His goodness and pray at bedtime?
|
| |
Praying Before Events in the Day
There's a long tradition of christian communities that place a high value on praying before activities or events.
The religious monastic orders have a rule of life which bids them to pray at specific times of the day - sometimes in preparation for an activity, at other times to give thanks to God for the outcome and the results of prayer. At other times they may intercede on behalf of people and world events.
However, this pattern of daily community prayer ritual is not just restricted to the orders. The Northumbria Community have developed a daily office based on ancient celtic spiritual life. Anyone who joins this movement is invited to follow this way of prayer through the day. The office is divided up into morning prayer, a short midday prayer, evening prayer and an (optional) compline to end the day. This pattern of regular spiritual focus engenders an awareness of God throughout the day, and places prayer before, and after the events in life. The community is located at Chatton, Northumberland. However, one does not have to live there to follow this way of life and the movement has many adherents in the UK and a growing presence in the USA.
Free commentary and bible versions on John 4 - featuring analysis on Jesus and the women at the well. |
|
A Celtic Blessing (used in the morning prayers from the Northumbria Community)
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
|
|
|