Ways to Pray

Prayer is a focusing of your spirituality and faith into a form of action and well wishes. There are various ways to pray, which can be used for different situations. Discovering how to pray and the ways there are to pray may enlighten the process for you in your spiritual walk or study.

Instructions

1. Reflect through contemplative prayer. This is a silent prayer through which you concentrate on the presence of the creator and meditate on this for a while.

2. Express yourself through prayer. Prayer does not have to kept to the conventional form of being on your knees with your hands clasped together. Although classical forms of prayer are respected and reverenced, expressive prayer can address more creative venues. Just about any artistic deed done in spiritually good taste can be offered as a form of a prayer. So whether it is through a painting, writing or dance, there are lots of forums for expressive prayer.

3. Pray as a group. Recited prayers that are known by an entire gathering of people often invoke a sense of empowerment when performed together. Prayers spoken in unison or as benediction, such as The Lord's Prayer are commonplace in Christian societies. Scripture from the Bible also states that these prayers spoken together in a group can work to be more powerful.

4. Find a comfortable prayer position. Prayer can be performed walking around or in a static position. Different positions have different applied meanings. Open hands are a sign of submission, while lying on the ground face down reflects shame and the request for forgiveness. Either way, a prayer can be done in a position that is comfortable for you.

5. Go to a place where you can concentrate on praying. Finding a spot that is quiet will allow you to meditate during prayer. You may even choose to play music softly. Natural scenes are also a good way to be somewhere that is open and may not allow you be disturbed by unnatural background noise.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your spiritual leader or pastor about the forms of prayer and different ways to go about praying for specific things.

• Avoid praying with bad intentions, as this may send the wrong impression and set off a negative chain reaction.

Resources

• Prayer ideas and guidance
• More types of prayer