Have you ever wondered how you should pray? If you have, you are not the first person to do so! In Luke 11:1, one of the disciples asks Jesus to teach him how to pray, and Jesus responds by teaching him the Our Father. Blessed John Paul II said,
"By teaching us the “Our Father” Christ establishes the pattern for all prayer. He explains our relationship with God and with one another: God is our Creator. He is our Redeemer. With him as our common Father we are brothers and sisters to one another." (JPII Homily)
As Christians, it can be hard to find time to develop and nurture a strong prayer life. There are lots of recited prayers, such as the Our Father, St. Michael prayer and the rosary, but how should you pray if you just want to talk to God? Lifeteen, a Catholic organization that works with youth ministry, lays out six tips for prayer in an article.
1. Say hello! To begin prayer, we must acknowledge that we are in God's presence.
2. Be yourself. God wants to be in a relationship with us just as we are. He wants us to grow in holiness through Him so that we can radiate His love wherever we go.
3. "Teach us to pray" Even the Apostles, who spent so much time with Jesus, did not know how they should pray. So they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Ask God to help you, and remember that He is always listening.
4. Hit the brakes! There is so much in the world that is constantly surrounding us and keeping us busy. Take a break from something you do everyday, (the internet, tv, etc.) and spend even ten minutes praying instead. Keep God as the center of your heart and mind.
5. Keep it alive. If you keep your prayer life strong, this will reflect into other areas of your life.
6. Let it transform you. The only way to perfect your prayer life is to practice it. Take time to enter into prayer, let God speak to you, and be amazed by the ways it will effect your life!
There are many ways of praying, and each one has its strengths. Each person can discover and use the form of prayer that suits them best. Just as the disciples did, ask God to teach you how to pray.
To read the full Lifeteen article on prayer, click here!
Personally I like to pray as casual as possible because I think that brings me closer to God. Everyone has a different way of approaching this but I like to stay as real as possible.
ReplyDeleteCasual (talking to God in your own words) is certainly a good method. However, so is praying out of prayer books and already written prayers. For instance, the Mass is all prayers that are "out of a book," but that doesn't detract from its beauty.
ReplyDeleteAw, I love this! Very sweet and informative Nicolette! It's a new way of praying I've never seen laid out before!
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