No matter what religion you follow, partaking in prayer is a fundamental part of the religious experience. It’s widely recognized as a positive practice, and studies have even shown the power of prayer as an alternative medicine that can lower blood pressure and stave off illness. Given the vast number of people that do it, it’s evident that there is something special about prayer.
But what is it that makes prayer so extraordinary? And why is it important to pray? In this article, we’re going to be taking an in-depth look at these questions. We’ll talk about reasons to pray, praying for beginners, how to potentiate your prayers and more. Without any further ado, let’s jump right in to discussing this most basic and widespread spiritual practice.
What is Prayer?
Prayer is the human way of communicating with God. It’s a method of opening a direct line to Him, a spiritual communication process that allows believers to have conversations with God in which we express our thoughts, desires, and fears.
Prayer is more than merely talking at God; this communication is a two-way street. It allows us to receive messages from Him, much the way a child receives loving comfort from a parent. Prayer helps us form a bilateral relationship with God that is not meant to be complicated or stressful.
The Nature of Prayer
Prayer is found in all religions, and this fact has been true throughout history. There is written evidence of prayer as early as five thousand years ago when primitive groups used it, and it has continued into modern times.
Prayer can be a personal act, where we pray by ourselves, or a group activity that takes place at a church or a temple. Some forms are ritualized, with strict restrictions placed on who can pray or how to pray, and others allow for spontaneous prayer at any time. There are various forms and techniques involved in worship, a few of which we’ll discuss in the next section.
At its core, prayer is an expression of our desire to experience and come into contact with the divine, with higher spirits. We must recognize the fact that prayer occupies a principal role in religion. Prayer is to religion what rational thought is to philosophy. As William James said, “Without prayer, there can be no question of religion.”
Types of Prayer
Several common types of prayer inform our conversations with God. If you pray, you probably use all of these types without much conscious thought. You’ll likely find yourself identifying with all of them.
Petition
Petition is, without a doubt, the most common kind of prayer, which is when we request or ask something of God. Many people turn to prayer in times of need, and they petition God for any number of things. Some typical examples include:
- Healing the ill
- Long life
- Prosperity
- Granting us access to material objects
- Preservation of health
- Success in an endeavor
We also make spiritual requests when we pray. “Lord, give me the strength I need to face this challenge,” or “Lord, grant me patience to deal with …”
Adoration
This type of prayer involves prostrating ourselves before God. It may be more physical than the other kinds we’ve mentioned, as it often means moving our body. Adoration can include lifting our arms, bowing, touching a sacred object, or placing our forehead on the ground. It also often involves emotional cries of joy, excitement, and fear.
Confession
Prayer is an excellent way to confess our wrongdoings. This type is when we place ourselves directly before God and recognize our sins in front of Him. God is the only person who can grant us salvation and pardon us, and this kind of prayer is the first step towards salvation for Christians and Jews.
Praise and Thanks
Another common type of prayer is those of praise and thanksgiving, where we celebrate the greatness of God and thank him for his good works. In doing so, we recognize that he does so much for us and is so kind.
While many people choose to praise and thank God when they pray by themselves, we often hear this type of prayer at mealtimes. Offering up a prayer before beginning a meal is a way to thank God for the food he’s graced us with.
Intercession
Finally, intercession is when we pray to God that he intercede on behalf of others—or simply put when we pray for someone. We ask that God grant that person health, healing, wisdom, or any other number of things. Intercession is a way to express our solidarity through prayer with those closest to us or those we feel need help.
Why Should We Pray?
You might wonder what exactly is important about praying to God. Why should we pray? What does it accomplish? Prayer is a highly powerful practice, and there are many reasons to speak with God. We might even say that there are an infinite number of reasons to pray.
Prayer is How We Communicate with God
Without prayer, communicating with God would be impossible. Prayer allows us to make requests to God. It’s also a way for us to confess our sins, show gratitude, or make petitions on behalf of others. And perhaps most importantly, prayer allows us to perform a daily act of worship to the Lord.
Prayer is Always Accessible
We should pray because nothing is required for us to do it. Prayer is always accessible to us, which means that no one can stop us from reaching out to God except for ourselves.
Prayer Strengthens the Link Between Believers
Prayer is a way to strengthen our bond with God, but it’s also a fantastic way to improve our relationship with other people who believe in Him. Prayer is a vehicle that allows us to grow closer to our community.
Prayer Maintains Humility Before God
God wants us to be humble, and prayer is a way to be reminded of who is in control—God. When we pray, we realize that we are not one hundred percent in control, and being reminded of this frequently is one way we remain humble before God.
Why is Prayer Important?
Just like there are many reasons why we should pray, there are many reasons why prayer is important.
Prayer Has Health Benefits
Some benefits of prayer can be challenging to quantify, but studies show that this act may have critical health benefits. For example, people who pray regularly…
- Are less likely to become ill
- Experience lower rates of depression and suicide
- May have lower blood pressure
Those who pray may experience physiological effects because the practice helps alleviate stress levels. Stress can suppress your immune system and cause you to get sick, as well as increase your likelihood of suffering from diseases like heart disease and cancer. Decreasing stress levels through prayer seems to be able to help us reduce our risk factors for disease.
It also has mental health benefits. Many individuals who are facing a major illness choose to pray, and that is because there seems to be some evidence that it works. Prayer helps us maintain a positive outlook in the face of adversity, and gives us an outlet to deal with the obstacles in front of us.
Prayer Strengthens Our Connection to God
Prayer is the act of deepening our bond with God. We have a need to connect with Him because He created us that way, and we can do that through prayer. Prayer is like two friends sharing with one another, becoming closer by divulging the details of their lives. The same is true of prayer.
And just like friends can’t get to know one another if they don’t spend time together, if we don’t spend time with God, we won’t get to know Him. Prayer is an opportunity to spend time with Him and share our true self with Him, which helps bring us even closer to God. It also reinforces our need for God.
Prayer Changes Us
Have you ever felt helpless before God, like He’s not listening to you or not answering your prayers? When we feel this way, it’s vital to remember that the purpose of prayer is not to change or convince God; it’s about changing ourselves.
We become more like God the more time we spend with Him. Through spending time with us, He helps us to change our hearts and make it more like His. Becoming more like God makes it easier to be less self-centered and instead focus on the needs of others. So remember: prayer is about changing ourselves, not God.
Prayer Causes Innovation
Though we should always strive to pray, both in good times and bad, it’s no wonder that people turn to prayer especially in times of hardship. When you feel desperate, hopeless, or all alone with no one to turn to, is when prayer becomes even more critical.
Challenging situations are when you most need to hear God’s word, and prayer is the way to receive those messages. But sometimes our pain can make hearing His word more difficult, so it’s essential to be focused entirely on Him and any messages He might be sending you.
Being open and focused is the best way to receive answers that can lead to breakthroughs, which is another one of the reasons prayer is important. It can lead to innovation and discoveries in our life.
Prayer Decreases Selfishness
Life is busy, and it’s all too easy with everything that we have going on to forget about praying and get wrapped up in ourselves. But if we make an effort to pray regularly, we remind ourselves that life isn’t just about us—it’s about all of humanity. This reminder helps decrease selfishness, which is another reason why prayer is so important.
Prayer Expands Our Spiritual Strength
Think of prayer as sustenance for the spiritual soul, much the same way food is sustenance for our physical bodies. Prayer nourishes our faith, making it stronger as you speak with God and helping those you pray for in becoming stronger, too.
Prayer is Time Well Spent
There are a lot of useless, unproductive activities we spend too much time doing, like worrying or complaining. When we pray, we must focus on the act of prayer, so there is no room in our brains or hearts for thoughts or tasks that are negative. Prayer takes us away from destructive behavior and is time well spent.
Praying to God for Beginners
If you’re new to praying, you may be searching for some guidance about how to start. Know that there is no right or wrong way to pray; what matters is that you do pray.
We’re going to outline some basics you need to know to get your conversations with God off to a fantastic start, no matter what religion you follow. For more detailed information about what your particular religion considers best practices for praying, consult with guides or leaders in your community. But for now, here’s some basic info about how to pray.
Before You Pray
While nothing is stopping you from offering a prayer to God whenever you want, it’s helpful to make sure you’re prepared before you start. Here are some things to consider before you pray.
- Think about what you want to pray about. Is something in particular troubling you? What questions do you need to have answered? What do you hope to get from your prayers? It’s not necessary to have a script or anything concrete written out, but having something in mind when you go to pray will guide your prayers and make you feel more comfortable.
- Consult a religious mentor or someone you trust. Once you have an idea about what you’d like to speak to God about, you may want to talk to a religious leader you feel comfortable talking to. Ask for their advice about how to get started in prayer, and ask them how they feel God might be able to help you. You may gain valuable insight into what to ask God for in your prayers.
- Find a place to pray and gather any materials you need. Though your physical location doesn’t matter to God, finding the right place to pray can help make the experience fulfilling. Try to find somewhere that’s peaceful, and that allows you to concentrate. Make sure you have any items you might need on hand, such as a rosary, Bible, or a candle.
- Decide whether to pray on your own or in a group. Different religions feel differently about whether to pray by yourself or in a group, but choose the method that works for you. If your conversations with God are better by yourself, pray alone. But if you prefer to pray with many others at church, that’s fine, too.
Making a Basic Prayer
How you pray depends on the religion you follow, and it looks quite different for Jews, Muslims, and Christians.
Christians generally pray on their knees by humbly bowing their head, and often begin by reading from the Bible. You can then thank God for the blessings He has given, ask Him for guidance, or ask for forgiveness for any mistakes you’ve made. You can also lift a prayer for others you feel need them. Christians often close their prayers with a simple “Amen.”
Jews tend to pray in groups more than Christians do. They often make their prayers to God in Hebrew, though if you want to pray in another language, that’s fine too. Jewish prayers focus on blessings for various events, times of day, and times of the year. It’s important to learn when each of the different prayers should be used.
Muslims must pay close attention to praying at the right time of day, as there are specific times to do so. You must be facing Mecca when you pray, which is another critical part of Islamic prayer. Next, you have to learn the correct motions and body positions, the right way to open your prayer, the appropriate Surahs and rakats for the time of day, and how to close the prayer.
After You Pray
Perhaps just as critical is the prayer itself is what you do afterward. Here are some things that you should once you’ve finished praying.
- Listen for God’s answers. We’ve mentioned this already, but prayer is a two-way street. Open your heart and expect to hear responses from God. Be aware of any messages He might be trying to send you as you continue your day.
- Make good on your promises. Anything you promised you would do, such as changing a habit or working more dutifully, try your hardest to keep that promise.
- Keep praying. Pray as much as you can, not just when you are facing a challenge or times are god. Come to God even in good times, which shows Him respect. Regular prayer also helps you become better at it over time, as well as strengthens your relationship with God.
- Help others with prayer. As you get better at praying, you’ll likely want to help others do so, so that they too can reap the benefits. Help these people with their prayers earnestly and humbly, and maybe they will be able to become close with God as you have.
How to Make Your Prayers to God More Powerful
Have you been praying for a long time and are now looking for a way to make your prayers to God feel more powerful? There are plenty of reasons that individuals with lots of experience in worship might like to potentiate their prayers.
Maybe when you sit down to pray, you find that your mind wanders and you have difficulty focusing. Or if you pray at night, you might find that this activity makes you fall asleep. Perhaps you overthink everything, and the experience feels trite.
Whatever issues might be plaguing your conversations with God, here are some practical ideas to help you pray better. You can incorporate some, or all of these ideas, just as long as it feels right to do so.
Keep it Simple
There’s no reason why prayer has to be overly complicated. Many of us might feel that in order to pray to God, we need to narrate long monologues. This idea is not accurate, nor is the belief that prayers must be overly passionate or use complicated language that feels foreign to us.
If you find yourself getting caught in this trap, try keeping your prayers simple. Use simple language; the words you use in your everyday life are just fine. So, too, are short sentences that reflect the way you would talk to your friends and family.
Short sentences like “Lord, grant me strength,” or “Lord, I love you” can be quite impactful as you’re praying. Try them out and see how they feel.
Pray Throughout Your Day
Sometimes we place too much importance on our prayers when we pray less frequently. We want to make the most of this limited time, so we overthink our words, and the experience feels less authentic.
To overcome this mental roadblock, it’s helpful to lift up a prayer as often as we can throughout our day. You can pray anywhere and in any circumstance, so take advantage of that. Look for moments to incorporate prayer in your day, and you’ll see that there are many.
Starting and ending your day in prayer is an excellent place to start. Or you might choose to say a prayer over the person you’re talking to. Ask God for help with routine tasks, or offer up a prayer while you’re waiting for your car to warm up.
The idea is to find moments throughout our day where praying works for us. You may find that there are many more than you thought, which will breathe new life into your communication with the Lord. Plus, by praying as much as we can throughout the day, we open ourselves up to more opportunities not only to speak with God but also to hear what he has to say to us.
Pray Hopefully
Hearing what God has to say to us brings us to our next point: prayer is about more than merely talking at God. We look to Him for guidance when we are seeking answers, which means we must not only listen we He responds—we must expect Him to respond.
If during our prayers, we are not waiting to hear something in return, prayer loses its meaning. Pray hopefully and expectantly; open your heart and your ears to God’s answers. Expect that He will respond; otherwise, we may miss crucial communication.
Pray with Your Senses
Though prayer is commonly thought of as a mental practice, it needn’t be all in your head. Use your senses to bring creativity to your devotions, which can help make prayer a more sensory experience.
For example, if you like to write, offer up a prayer while you are jotting down your thoughts. Likewise, you can keep a prayer journal. Write short requests to God, or jot down longer prayers that are like letters. Then later, you can go back and have a record of your communication and perhaps spot patterns or make discoveries.
If writing is not your medium, try praying while doing things like listening to music, drawing pictures, or doing some kind of movement (like yoga) with your body. Say your prayers out loud, as well. These are all ways we use our senses to focus on our deep connection to God.
Pray with a Friend
Maybe you’ve always considered prayer a solo activity, but there’s great power in praying in numbers. Try praying with a friend, especially if you feel the need to pray about something urgent or difficult happening in your life. If you don’t have a prayer partner, reach out to members of your congregation to see if anyone might be interested.
Thank God
Feeling a bit short on inspiration for your prayers? Not sure what to say to God? This lack of motivation is the perfect moment to start your prayer with a sincere thank you. God loves grateful hearts, so never shy away from the opportunity to demonstrate your gratitude.
Thank Him for all he’s done for you. Thank him for all the times he’s answered your prayers, thank him for all the healing he’s offered, and thank him for the many breakthroughs he’s helped you achieve.
Not only does God love to hear our gratitude, but being grateful to Him also strengthens our belief in His abilities to answer our prayers.
Conclusion
It’s clear to see that there is truly something special about praying. Its significance is evidenced by the fact that it’s a fundamental part of all religions, and it’s unlikely that prayer—our line of communication to God—will ever go away. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, we hope you’ve found this article about prayer enlightening and helpful.