How Should I Pray?

To be a Christian is to be a person who prays. Prayer is not a matter simply of asking God for things, but is the development of a constant relationship with him, in the name of Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. The relationship of prayer leads us to worship God, to have our own spiritual state in mind at all times, and to have the needs and burdens of others.

Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us how to pray, and the prayer which we know as the Lord's Prayer is always the place to begin our prayers. Orthodox Christians will use this prayer to express their own thoughts, hopes and aspirations many times each day. It can be recommended to anyone who wishes to learn to pray.

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

Orthodox Christians also use collections of prayers to help them develop their spiritual lives. These collections contain prayers which have been used since the beginning of the Church, and in their present form are well over a thousand years old. Generations of Christians have used them and as they become a positive daily habit the words become our own. We do not simply read other people's words, but these words become our prayers. If you would like to begin praying with us then these introductory prayers and psalms begin our prayers several times a day.

INTRODUCTION

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.

Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Make us worthy to pray thankfully:

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, in Christ Jesus our Lord. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Let us give thanks to the beneficent and merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for He has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us unto Him, spared us, supported us, and brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him, the Lord our God, the Almighty, to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life.

O Master, Lord, God the Almighty, the Father of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, we thank You for every condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition, for You have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us unto You, spared us, supported us, and brought us to this hour.

Therefore, we ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of mankind, to grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life, in all peace with Your fear. All envy, all temptation, all the work of Satan, the counsel of wicked men, and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them away from us, and from all Your people, and from this holy place that is Yours.

But those things which are good and profitable do provide for us; for it is You Who have given us the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, by the grace, compassion and love of mankind, of Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ, through Whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto You, with Him, and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, Who is of one essence with You, now and at all times, and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

PSALM 50

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions blot out my iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my iniquity; and my sin is at all times before me.

Against You only I have sinned, and done evil before You: that You might be just in Your sayings, and might overcome when You are judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins my mother conceived me.

For, behold, You have loved the truth: You have manifested to me the hidden and unrevealed things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with Your hyssop, and I shall be purified: You shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. You shall make me to hear gladness and joy: the humbled bones shall rejoice.

Turn away Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Do not cast me away from Your face; and do not remove Your Holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of Your salvation: and uphold me with a directing spirit. Then I shall teach the transgressors Your ways; and the ungodly men shall turn to You.

Deliver me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips; and my mouth shall declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would have given it: You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God shall not despise.

Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then You shall be pleased with sacrifices of righteousness, offering, and burnt sacrifices: then they shall offer calves upon Your altar. ALLELUIA.

Another means by which we turn to God constantly in prayer is the use of the short prayer known as the Jesus Prayer. The words are,

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

We repeat these words slowly and with attention. They are not a mantra, they are a simple prayer from our heart, addressed to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We love him, and we worship him, and we ask him to forgive us and strengthen us. The use of this prayer can be recommended. Pray it as you walk the street, as you are doing chores around the house, as you are quiet for a moment. In time these words come to be a part of our life, and they rise up almost unnoticed when we are still.

Finally, there is always a place for personal, spontaneous prayer. We should have the needs of the people around us in our hearts and minds. We should bring the burdens of our families and friends, and the cares which we become aware of to God. There is no need for complicated words. We should not be afraid to express our own feelings to God, but we must not forget to use the prayers described above so that we increasingly learn the language of prayer.

God is not far from any of us. He delights to have us turn to him as a father. If you would like more information about the practice of prayer, or even a copy of our small book of prayers, then do contact us.

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