Prayer
Prayer is, at heart, simply a way of sharing our thoughts with God.
We can bring anything to God in prayer; our worries, our fears, things we are sorry for and things we are grateful for. We can share our hopes and plans with God, and we can share our regrets and concerns. It's like talking to a parent, a friend, or a wise person about what's on your mind, or taking a few moments to turn your attention inward, away from the busy world, to seek peace, guidance, or strength.
We can pray when we’re sad and when we’re happy, when things are going badly or when things are going well. We can pray for ourselves, for other people or for places and situations in the world. We can pray silently or aloud, on our own or with other people.
If you’re not used to praying, it can be difficult to know where to start, but in fact prayer can be very simple. You don’t need to be in a particular place; you can be standing up, sitting down, kneeling or even lying in bed. You don’t have to put your hands together or close your eyes, although if you find that helpful, then do so. You don’t have to know particular ways to address God or set words to say; you can just begin, “Dear God….” and then share your prayers, aloud or in silence. God will hear you. Remember, God knows you and cares for you, so God will always want to hear what you have to say. And if you can’t find the words to pray, that’s fine too – God will know exactly what’s in your heart.
Prayers you might like to use
The most well-known prayer is the one that Jesus himself taught his followers, the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer. At church, we use it in two different versions; this is traditional one –
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
We don’t have to use the traditional style of words to pray this prayer; you might prefer to use words that are more like those that you speak in your everyday conversations, like this –
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Prayer at the beginning of the day
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of this new day.
Guide my every thought, word, and action.
Help me today, to love well, and to trust you fully.
Give me peace in uncertainty and strength for whatever the day will bring.
Be with me in every moment. Amen.
Prayer at the end of the day
Dear God, as my day ends,
I thank You for being with me throughout the day.
Guard my thoughts and dreams,
surround me with Your comforting presence,
and protect me from any fear or anxiety.
I pray that you let nothing disturb my sleep
and grant me the rest I need.
Grant me peace this night and all my life. Amen.
A prayer for those we love
God our maker,
I pray your blessing on all those I love,
Keep them from harm in mind, body and soul,
free them from all anxious fears.
Help them to know that you are always near,
and each one of us is precious in your sight. Amen
A prayer to use when someone we love has died
God, you know our hearts and share our sorrows.
We are hurt by our parting from someone whom we loved:
when we are angry at the loss we have sustained,
when we long for words of comfort,
yet find them hard to hear,
turn our grief to hope
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
A prayer for when we feel tired and overwhelmed
God, I feel worn out and unsure how to keep going.
Please give me the strength I need
to face today with courage and hope.
Remind me that I don’t have to do this alone,
And that you are with me, holding me up. Amen.
A prayer to use when we are worried
Dear Lord, I am worried about so many things.
I lay my worries before you, knowing that you will accept them.
Give me in return your peace, love, and understanding.
Help me to turn to you and be still. Amen.
A prayer when someone we love is ill
Gracious God, I pray for (name) who is ill.
You know their suffering.
We ask for your healing touch to be upon them.
Grant the wisdom and skill to those who care for them,
and may your loving presence provide comfort and strength to them
and to us all. Amen.
A prayer to use when we are grateful
Generous God, I come before you today with a heart full of gratitude.
Thank you for your many blessings and your unwavering love,
for providing for my needs and for guiding me with your wisdom.
May I never take your blessings for granted.
Help me to remain mindful of your goodness
and to share your love and kindness with others. Amen
Prayer Resources
Part of growing in faith in learning to pray in a way that suits your personality and lifestyle. Several prayer apps and webpages are linked below - you might like to try and few and see if there is one that you find most helpful.
You can find the Church of England Daily Prayer services here.
You can download the Daily Prayer app and podcast here.
We also recommend the Pray As You Go app here, and the Everyday Faith app here.
You can start to pray right away by lighting a candle online.
If you would like to know more about prayer, or if you would like us to pray for you or for someone you care for, please do contact us.
