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| Christianity Explained |
God, Jesus Christ, The Trinity, The Bible, Prayer, Worship, The Church
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| Prayer | |||||
 The word 'Prayer' is derived from an old French word 'preiere' meaning a solemn request. There are several types of prayer because there are several reasons for praying, and there are several ways of doing it, dependent on the individual's need or belief. Similarly there are several ways in which prayer is answered. (Return to top)
Through the Christian holy book, (see 'The Bible'), God can talk to humanity, and through prayer humanity can talk with God. (Return to top) 'Prayers' have been offered to gods since well before Christian times. Different religions have different rules. Some allow for an individual to pray freely to their god, whilst other religions can require prayer to be very formal and even to be done in a group (eg: by ten male adults), or through the priest. (Return to top) Christians are encouraged to pray regularly in order to deepen their faith and knowledge of God and to acknowledge his involvement in every aspect of their life, but it's not mandatory at a particular time or place, although it is usual in certain situations such as during 'worship'. (Return to top) The form of Christian prayer: is very varied but will usually include praise of God, plus a request (eg: for guidance or assistance), or confession of wrongdoing (sin) coupled with a request for forgiveness, or for a specific purpose such as for healing, or expression of one's thoughts to God, or listening for God's reply, or any combination of these. Many Christians use words addressed to God, either said out loud or silently 'in their head', whilst others will include some silence to allow God to put his reply into their mind, or they may pray entirely in silence - sometimes called 'being in the presence of God' or 'waiting on God'. (Return to top) Prayer may be done on one's own or together in a group, privately or publicly, depending on your circumstances or belief. Most Christians would accept that prayer is a form of communicating with God and most believe that any individual may communicate with God on any subject at any time, but some prefer to The posture adopted for Christian prayer is not mandatory either. Some like to close their eyes and clasp their hands together to avoid distraction, some like to kneel or to prostrate themselves on the ground as a sign of humility, most like to avoid anything that might distract the mind - so sit comfortably, still others like to stand, often with their hands raised to symbolise prayer flowing between God and themselves. (Return to top) Distraction whilst praying can be a problem. Some overcome this by withdrawing to a quiet place, others keep a notebook to hand and write down thoughts such as "I must remember to buy some jam" so they can turn their mind back to God unhindered, others regard such interruption as part of life and therefore part of God's creation, so deal with it as appropriate before returning to their original topic. (Return to top) Christian prayer often acknowledges the Trinity so Christians may pray "To the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit". Christian prayer often ends with the word "Amen" which is a Hebrew word translated as "So be it". This is especially so where the prayer is being said by a leader and the rest of the people say "Amen" to show their agreement with the prayer. (Return to top) |
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| Types of Prayer | |||||
 Arrow Prayers: Many people when faced with a difficult situation, or in danger, or a similar circumstance, say a quick informal prayer asking God to assist them to overcome the problem. That type of prayer is sometimes known as an arrow prayer - shot at God like an arrow! (Return to top)
Intercession: The word 'intercession' comes from the Latin 'intercedere' meaning to intervene on behalf of another. Intercession prayers are therefore prayers said by one individual or group on behalf of another. It's this form of prayer which is often said in Christian public worship. They may be said for any purpose, but in the Church of England's weekly 'Communion Service' the are usually said for (i) the church (ii) the world (iii) friends and neighbours (iv) the sick and suffering (v) the departed. (Return to top) Litany: Prayer can be very formal, or informal (made up as you go along). 'The Litany' is a series of formal petitions set out in a book of prayers (such as the Anglican 'Book of Common Prayer', or the more recent 'Common Worship'') in which the priest leading the Service recites a series of petitions and the people respond to each with a set reply. (Return to top) Meditation: This is generally done in silence or in a calm and still environment in an attempt to get beyond the thinking mind into a state where communion with God is heightened. It may involve concentrating on a particular object, thought, or written passage to help exclude other thoughts and focus one's mind on God. (Return to top) Contemplation: This is similar to mediation except that it usually involves clearing the mind of thought altogether to avoid all distraction and allow the practitioner to 'enter into the presence of God'. (Return to top) |
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| Faith Healing & Talking in Tongues | |||||
 If the format of general prayer can be a difficult subject for some, then two areas of prayer for special purposes can be even more difficult for many to understand.
Faith Healing: This is the use of prayer to invoke religious or spiritual means to promote healing or to cure disease, and is based on reports in the Bible of Jesus effecting cures by prayer among the people (Matthew 4:23) and his claiming that his followers will do 'even greater things than these' (John 14:12). It may be designed to bring about a peaceful state of mind, or to achieve gradual relief of the problem, or to obtain an immediate 'miracle cure'. To be most effective, it is useful if both the practitioner and receiver have 'faith' that it will work. (Return to top) Cures have been claimed for a range of diseases from mild agitation of the mind to inoperable terminal cancer. Attempts to 'prove' the effect of Faith Healing have seldom resulted in conclusive results, which leave many sceptical of the process. (Return to top) Talking in Tongues: Some Christians, especially members of 'Pentecostal' churches, believe that a sign of becoming a Christian and receiving the Holy Spirit is 'Speaking in Tongues'; that is, an unknown foreign language, because the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you (see 'Trinity'). This is based on reports in the Bible that Jesus' Apostles received the Holy Spirit after he returned to heaven and consequently spoke in many different languages, such that visitors from foreign countries could understand them (Acts Chapter 2). It's quite common for the person praying in 'Tongues' not to be able to understand it themselves but for someone else present to be given the gift of translation. (Return to top) Many other Christians, although aware of this effect, don't consider it a necessary sign of becoming a Christian and may never Speak in Tongues themselves, or may even have never heard anyone else doing it. (Return to top) |
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| Prayer Groups | |||||
 As well as praying in public worship and praying alone, many Christians find it helpful to regularly come together in small groups to pray for themselves, the local community and the wider world. Such prayer will probably be offered for all people, not just for those of Christian belief. By praying together they receive mutual support and a strengthening of their faith. Prayer Groups often meet at regular intervals, such as every week or every month. (Return to top) |
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| Is Prayer Answered? | |||||
| If God knows everything, he knows what we need, so why do we have to ask for it in prayer? Christians would suggest that God does indeed know what we need but, like any good parent, he likes us to recognise it for ourselves and to ask him for it. In that way, we grow and develop as a person in the same way that a child does. (Return to top)
Most Christians believe that all prayer when asked properly is answered; that is, so long as it's not been asked for selfish reasons or to overcome one's shortcomings (such as asking for help to pass an exam because you've failed to study diligently!). The difficulty can be in determining what the answer is. It may be 'Yes' in some form, or 'No', or 'Not yet'. For instance, God may answer one's prayer for assistance, but in a different way from that requested - in a way God has deemed better suited to the requester's need. Or it may be that, being able to see the 'bigger picture', God deems it better that the answer is 'No', or 'No for the time being' (ie: not yet). (Return to top) |
focus their prayer into set times or places, whilst others prefer to use set words or styles, and yet others don't allow set words at all but prefer prayer always to be offered 'from the heart' - that is freely without preparation or set format.