Praying is something we all do. Prayer is simply how we communicate with God – it might be through groaning and sighing or through our crying out or simple talking to God in our own words or we might use set words that others have found helpful over the years.

Here are some prayers that you might like to use yourself.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer shows us what prayer is all about, it sums up faith, it gives us a definition for prayer which is about a relationship with God and gives us a pattern for our praying.

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.

Our Father… we come into a relationship with God, we need God.

Hallowed be your name…  we give God our thanks and praise

Your kingdom come, your will be done…  we seek God’s will

Give us today our daily bread…  we ask for all that we need

Forgive us our sins…  we ask to be forgiven and be forgiving

Lead us not into temptation…  we ask for strength to resist

Amen…  so be it

God be in my head

This famous prayer is from the Sarum Primer written in the 15th century!

God be in my head
and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes
and in my looking;
God be in my mouth
and in my speaking;
God be in my heart
and in my thinking;
God be at my end
and in my departing

Amen

A prayer when someone has died

God of love,
Surround all those I love, especially xx
who I can no longer see.
Be light in my darkness,
be hope in my fear,
be love in every moment,
and give me grace to face each day ahead. Amen

Loving God,
the shadow of death has fallen over me
because someone I love has died.
Be with me through this time,
comfort me with your presence,
and let me see the light of hope,
for you promise eternal life
through Jesus Christ your son,
who died and rose again. Amen.

Light a virtual candle on this website here, or light a candle at home and pray the prayer in this picture above.

A simple way to pray

This technique is very simple and works very well at bedtime with children as well as for adults.

How to start?

Use your hand.
Your fingers can be used to bring to mind different things to pray for.

thumb
this is the strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for all the strong things in your life, like home and family, relationships that support and sustain you.

index finger
this is the pointing finger. Pray for all those people and things in your life who guide and help you. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on.

middle finger
this is the tallest finger. Pray for all the important people who have power in the world, like world leaders and their governments, members of parliament and local councillors, the Royal Family, other world leaders and their governments.

ring finger
this is the weakest finger on your hand. It can not do much by itself. Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the sick, the ill and the bereaved.

little finger
this is the smallest and the last finger on your hand. Pray for yourself.

Here are some useful websites for guidance on prayer:

http://www.justpray.uk/ – website connected to the Lord’s Prayer advert from the Church of England

http://prayersonthemove.com/ – includes a free app with a daily prayer to read ‘on the move’

http://thykingdom.co.uk/ – the Archbishops’ page for praying for the church

http://sacredspace.ie/ – an online daily guided prayer time in different languages