A peaceful reading of this page.
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"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret."
Matthew 6:6 · King James Bible
What prayer is
Prayer is talking to God. It is not a magic formula. It is not a performance. It is a child speaking to a Father. "Our Father which art in heaven" — that is how Jesus taught us to begin.How to start
You do not need a special posture, a special time, or a special place. You need only a heart and a Father who hears. Begin with one sentence: "God, thank you for this day." Or, "God, I need your help." Or simply, "God, I want to know you." That is prayer.The pattern Jesus gave — the Lord's Prayer
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9–13.) Every Christian household should say this together. It is the model of every prayer.A simple five-part shape
You can pray in any order, but this shape covers everything:1. Praise. Tell God who he is.
2. Thanks. Thank him for what he has given.
3. Confession. Tell him what you have done wrong. Ask for forgiveness.
4. Request. Ask him for what you need and for the needs of others.
5. Listen. Sit quietly. Let him speak through Scripture, through peace, through a nudge to obey.