Prayer

Prayer

Every human being was created in order to have a relationship with God. People of all faiths seek this relationship. In prayer, we can:


  • open our hearts and lives to God;
  • thank God for the blessings we receive each day, including the relationship God gives us with himself;
  • confess the wrong things we have done and, knowing God’s forgiveness, reject evil and turn back to him;
  • wait upon God, seeking to know and do his will;
  • share our worries, hopes and fears with God, asking him to help us.

How do we pray?

There is no exam to pass in order to be able to pray – anyone can do it. It’s important to remember, though, that different individuals pray in different ways, and that any one person is likely to pray in different ways in varying circumstances and at different stages of life. For Christians, the one acid test of prayer is that it should affect for good the sort of people we are and the sort of things we do and say.


Christians believe that God never leaves us or ignores us. We can therefore pray in the confidence that God really does want us to be in a conscious relationship with him.

Want to start praying?

There are many ways to pray, and no one way is correct for all. The two golden rules are:


  • to pray as you can and not as you can’t, and
  • to pray every day


When praying about life’s problems and challenges, some people will simply say what is on their mind (God’s love is so great that our angers and fears can be heard as well as our praise, thanks and requests) and ask for God’s presence and guidance. Others prefer to use prayers that have been written by others and used by the Church through the ages. Yet others find themselves drawn to more meditative or contemplative ways of prayer.


In the Gospels, Jesus’ followers ask him to teach them how to pray. In reply, he gives them the prayer we now know as the Lord’s Prayer.


Can we pray for you?

Prayer requests are sent to Fr Dominic, who will pray for you each day for a week. They  will only be shared  with others with your consent. 

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