Prayer is a significant practice in Christianity, and there are several forms of prayer.
Christian prayers can be wholly spontaneous or read entirely from a text, depending on the occasion, the denomination, or regional or cultural practices. Depending upon some of the same circumstances, various gestures may be used during prayer, such as folding the hands, bowing the head, kneeling, or prostration.
The best-known prayer in Christianity is the Lord's Prayer. Recounted in Matthew 6:9-13, the Lord's Prayer is how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. The 2nd century Didache obliged Christians to pray three times a day, influenced by the Jewish practice of doing so, as recorded in Psalm 55:17 and Daniel 6:10. Thus, the early Christians recited the Lord's Prayer at 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm.
In homage to this practice, some Lutheran and Anglican churches ring their church bells three times a day.
In Apostolic Tradition, Hippolytus instructed Christians to pray seven times a day during the house associated with the Passion of Christ. Oriental Orthodox Christians used the Agpeya and Shehimo to pray the canonical hours seven times a day while facing east, a practice that had its roots in Psalm 119:164, in which David prays to God seven times a day.
In some Christian traditions, Christians wash their hands and face before prayer, remove their shoes, and it is sometimes customary for women to wear a head covering while praying. This was more common in the past than today, but the custom still exists in various denominations and traditions.
Basic settings for Christian prayer are corporate and private.
Corporate prayer is that which is shared within the worship setting or other public places. Such prayers may be formal prayers, such as the liturgies published in the Lutheran Service Book, the Book of Common Prayer, or other denominational publications. However, corporate prayers may also be less formal, such as those offered in Methodist or Baptist congregations.
Private prayer involves individuals praying either silently or aloud, at home or in informal settings. In Eastern Christianity, Christians often maintain icon corners in their homes, at which they pray. Spontaneous prayer follows the form of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication.
Several New Testament passages, such as Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, and 1 Corinthians 7:5, speak of the importance of prayer. In the Book of Acts (3:1), prayer is seen at the first moments of the Church.
Prayer and Scripture reading were important elements of early Christianity, and early Christian liturgies emphasize the importance of prayer. The Lord's Prayer was a constant in early Christian meetings. Over time, Christian literature came to include a variety of other written prayers, as well.
Early methods of Christian monastic life began in the 4th century, as the Desert Fathers began seeking God in the deserts, giving rise to a tradition of a Christian life of constant prayer in a monastic setting, which gave rise to meditative practices in the Eastern Church during the Byzantine period.
Silent prayer and Christian meditation found their way into monastic traditions of both Western and Eastern Christianity during the Middle Ages.
In the Western Church, Louis Barbo, wrote a treatise in which he described three types of prayer: vocal prayer, best suited for beginners; meditation, for those who are more advanced; and contemplation as the highest form of prayer, only attainable after the meditation stage.
Christian prayer can be sorted into different categories, varying by denomination and tradition.
Prayer books and other tools, such as prayer beads and chaplets, are used by Christians, and images and various icons are associated with prayers in some denominations. Although there is no one prayerbook containing a set liturgy to be used by all Christians, many denominations have their own local prayerbooks, such as the Agpeya used by Coptic Orthodox Christians of Egypt, the Agenda used in the Lutheran Church, the Book of Common Prayer used by Anglicans, the Services of Daily Prayer used by the Church of England, the Shehimo of the Indian Orthodoxy, the Raccolta and the Breviary used by Catholics. The Book of Psalms contains several prayers.
Topics and online resources highlighting Christian prayer are the focus of this portion of our web guide.
Categories
Catholic PrayerPentecostal Prayer |
Recommended Resources
The Agpeya is primarily used by the Coptic Orthodox Church. It contains prayers for seven different hours, to be said throughout the day. The hours are chronologically laid out, each containing a theme corresponding to events in Jesus Christ's life. Each hour is composed of an introduction that includes the Lord's Prayer, the Prayer of Thanksgiving, and Psalm 50. It is followed by various Psalms, an excerpt from the Bible, and Litanies. Lord Have Mercy is then chanted 41 times.
http://www.agpeya.org/
The (Online) Book of Common Prayer provides the text of the liturgical book used by the Episcopal Church, which includes the Book of Common Prayer, the Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites, and Ceremonies of the Church, together with The Psalter or Psalms of David. The text is presented in chapter sections, although it is also searchable by keyword. Links to various translations of the Bible, the Revised Common Lectionary, and the Lectionary Page are included.
https://bcponline.org/
Community of Christ: Prayer for Peace
The Daily Prayer for Peace is a spiritual discipline of the Community of Christ practiced at the Independence Temple, the church's headquarters in Independence, Missouri. The supplication is held each day of the year at 1 p.m. as part of a brief worship service for that purpose held in the sanctuary, which is open to the public. Its form is a publicly spoken prayer, usually composed by one of the members from somewhere in the world and read aloud by that member or another person.
https://cofchrist.org/prayer-for-peace/
The website's maintainers create effective prayers and other faith-inspired content designed to help Christians in their walk with God. The ministry was founded on YouTube, and many of its resources are links to podcasts on that platform. Other resources include Bible verses, devotionals, and subscription prayers. An email and an online contact form can be used for inquiries, further information, or prayer requests, and its mission and purpose are featured.
https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/
Faithprayers National Prayer Line
A grassroots prayer ministry with a mission to provide a toll-free phone line where anyone can call for prayer, day or night. The not-for-profit organization oversees a board of directors made up of officers from diverse church affiliations. A toll-free prayer telephone number is provided, and prayer requests may also be made through an online web form. Volunteer opportunities are available, and a free e-book can be downloaded by providing an email address.
https://faithprayers.org/
Prayer Bible is not a new version of the Bible but a collection of tools and materials designed to enrich prayer lives, from specialized products to inspiring and uplifting content, such as Bible verses about the power of prayer or prayers for specific situations and needs. Its products include prayer printables, visual guides to mark specific passages in the Bible, a collection of prayer Bible kits, and a biblical guide to prayer, which can be downloaded from the site.
https://prayerbible.org/
Created by 2407 Prayer, an international, interdenominational movement to revive the church and rewire the culture through nonstop night and day prayer, the Prayer Course is an eight-week course that can help individuals or groups grow and deepen their prayer lives. The eight sessions are: why pray, adoration, petition, intercession, unanswered prayer, contemplation, listening, and spiritual warfare. Videos are available for each session, and there is also a leader's video.
https://prayercourse.org/
The Prayer Relay Movement, reaching a thousand people a day, is an initiative to encourage believers to engage in prayer collectively. The website defines prayer, offers Biblical perspectives on prayer, and uses informational text and videos to describe several types and forms of prayer. Prayer requests may be submitted, and if desired, one of the program's prayer warriors will call and pray with you over the phone. A book entitled "100 Daily Declarations" is reviewed and may be purchased.
https://www.prayerrelay.com/
Germaine Copeland, the author of several books about prayer, founded the website to coordinate a global intercessory prayer network that covers every nation, tribe, people, and language. The website sets forth Christian teachings about prayer and presents several situational prayers. Prayer requests may be submitted via a web form, and testimonials are posted. The organization is looking for volunteer intercessors who are willing to pray regularly for others.
https://prayers.org/
The non-denominational School of Prayer provides training in the art of intercessory prayer. Partnering with strong regional churches that seek to equip believers in the discipline of prayer, the program provides biblical instruction in the art of prayer to remove common hindrances to the practice of prayer and to infuse Christians with a passion for daily communion with God. On-site courses are held in various places around the United States, and online courses are also available.
https://schoolofprayerusa.org/
