How to Pray

Prayer is more
Than an order of words, the conscious occupation
of the praying mind, or the sound of the voice praying.

T S Eliot, Four Quartets

For many Prayer is a daily, moment by moment, experience of talking to, listening to, and being with God. Talking to God, because our natural impulse is to share, to express the joys and sorrows we all know; listening, by opening our hearts to God’s voice and guidance in scripture, silence and through other people.

Simply being with God, in a relationship where words aren’t always needed and sitting in God’s presence is enough.

This experience of God in prayer not only renews our lives and the life of the Church. It also makes us fellow travellers with people of faith of many different traditions and gives us a language of spirituality we can share when “faith” can so often seem to divide.

In our Christian tradition there are many pathways into living with God through the Spirit of Jesus who lives and prays in us and for us. When prayer can seem difficult or boring or God can seem silent, there are ways to help us listen afresh and encounter God in new ways.