Christian Prayer
Aim: To know what prayer is and to understand why it is important
for Christians
What is Prayer?
Prayer is communication with God.
Christians can pray anywhere at anytime. It can be asking God for something, thanking God or just asking Him a
question. Prayer does not need to be formal it can be like chatting to a friend.
Personal Prayer
Personal Prayer is when Christians pray on their own. God will
hear them and answer them when
they pray in this way. Christians may pray aloud or they may
pray silently.
Public Prayer
Christians will often come together to pray.
They will normally meet at their local church but it could
take place anywhere. Jesus said that when Christians agree to pray together about
something, God hears and answers.
Meditative Prayer
During meditative prayer Christians
will sit quietly, normally alone, and focus on God. Some
Christians will use words of the Bible to
help them concentrate their
mind on God.
Vigils
Vigils are night prayers. Jesus would often pray at night.
Christians like to pray at night because it is quiet and
peaceful. Churches may organise a vigil if it is a
special time in the Church year or if they are praying for
something very important. Often if someone is harmed
in their community there may be a vigil.
Task
Christians believe that prayer is important. Write a letter to Alan the Alien explaining what prayer is and different ways in
which Christians can pray. Alan really
needs to know why Christians pray too!