Do you find it hard to pray? Do you know how to pray? This booklet will help you

Do you find it hard to pray? Do you know how to pray? This booklet will help you. 12 Introduction    When we have news to share with friends we ha...
Author: Mariah Marshall
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Do you find it hard to pray? Do you know how to pray? This booklet will help you.

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Introduction   

When we have news to share with friends we have no hesitation in telling  them what we’ve been up to or what has happened to us.  We share good  things  and  bad;  we  tell  them  if  we’ve  had  some  good  news  or  done  something exciting and we tell them if we’ve been unwell or if something or  someone has hurt or offended us.    Praying is very similar to that.  Jesus is our friend and he wants us to share  what’s been happening in our lives with him.  Just like you tell your closest  friends about how you feel, you can talk to JESUS, knowing that he will listen  because he CARES about YOU and is interested in what you get up to.    If you find talking to God difficult then you are not alone as we all struggle at  times ‐ What do I say?  How do I pray?  When I pray I feel like my prayers  aren’t  getting  through.....    If  that’s  how  you  feel  then  perhaps  the  simple  prayers in this booklet will help you to talk to Jesus.      We  don’t  have  to  use  big  words  or  pray  lengthy  prayers  –  Jesus  is  there  waiting  and  listening  for  us  to  get  in  touch  with  him.    He  really  is  ALWAYS  AVAILABLE and that’s not all, we read in Romans Chapter 8 Verse 26: ‐ In the  same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are.  For we do not  know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us and in  groans that words cannot express.   

Structure  Some of the prayers in this booklet are based on scripture, some on hymns  and some on worship songs.  

I pray Lord for victims of war and famine; for refugees and those who have lost everything due to floods or some other disaster.

Lord, I pray for the unloved and the unwanted and for those who have nothing. Help me, Lord, to have a heart for the unlovely and help me to make a difference in any way I can.

Lord, I pray for those who have been tortured for their faith in You. I pray for those who attempt to reach remote parts of the world with Bibles as they share Your love with the people of tribes and nations that otherwise would not hear about You. Lord, I pray for missionaries who have uprooted from home to serve you and ask that you will continue to bless them in their work for you.

 

 It’s  sometimes  useful  to  have  a  structure  or  a  guide  to  prayer  and  the  following is quite useful:  

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Adoration – Praising God for who he is and what he does 



Confession – Saying sorry for the wrong things that we do  



Thanksgiving – Thanking God for all the blessings of life 



Supplication – Asking God, through Jesus and by the power  of the Holy Spirit to help us 

Lord God, I pray for the band of people who faithfully serve you with their talents and gifts of music; for those who sing and those who play instruments to enhance worship.

I pray Lord for my church and all who walk through the doors each week. May all encounter the living Jesus and may He become a reality in their lives . 11

supplication

When the disciples asked Jesus how they should pray this was his response  which can be found in Matthew  6:6‐13 which is usually translated and used  in churches as this which is taken from older bible translations.  The new  American translation of the  bible known as  

The Lord’s Prayer

I pray Lord for the local schools; for teachers, teaching assistants and admin staff as they seek to provide a safe and friendly environment for our children day by day

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Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil For Thine is the Kingdom And the power and the glory For ever and ever. Amen

Lord, I pray for those people  who are lonely; those who have  been bereaved and those who  have no family to care for  them.  I pray for the elderly,  and for those whose lifestyle is  now limited due to disability.

Lor who d God, nei live I pray to k ghbour in m for th me now p hood. y str e peop fait opport eople b Help m eet a le h w uni ett e t nd ith t ties er a o ge hem to nd g t . shar ive em y

I pray Lord for those I meet at the bus stop on my way to work each day or the taxi driver I share a conversation with as he/she transports me to my destination. Help me to seize every opportunity to share with them about You.

I pray Lord for my local community. For those who work in the emergency services, health services and social services. I pray too for those who work in the local shops, banks and offices. I pray Lord for local councillors and those who work in local government; may they use financial resources with wisdom and prudence to maintain our locality in good order.

 

The Message   

  You could try to use the same pattern as  these from Matthew  but use your own  words…. 

writes the same words  differently 

Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.

 

—-ooo000ooo— 

I ask you Lord to help me be the person You would have me be.  Give me  wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.  Help me to be a  good “listener” who people can turn to in times of need or distress.  May  people have confidence that they can share things with me that I won’t  repeat or gossip about to others.   

—‐ooo000ooo—‐  3

Adoration

Springtime   

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly host Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. ( known as the doxology) 

Psalm 96:1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Let all the world in every corner sing: “My God and King!” The heavens are not too high; His praise may thither fly: The earth is not too low; His praises there may grow. Let all the world in every corner sing: “My God and King!”

Fill thou my life, O  Lord my God, in every  part with praise, that  my whole being may  proclaim thy being  and thy ways. 

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How great are God’s riches!    How deep are his wisdom and knowledge!    Who can explain his decisions?   Who can understand his ways?    For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. The Lord is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The Lord protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid. O come let us adore him, For He alone is worthy, We’ll give Him all the glory Christ the Lord.

For springtime when we  see flowers  beginning  to appear  and new  life  sprouting  on trees,  plants and  bushes.  A  time to remember Holy  Week and all that Jesus  went through to take my  sin upon Himself on the  cross.  A time of great  celebration on Easter Day  when He rose triumphant  from the grave and I can  rejoice because JESUS is  ALIVE. 

Autumn For autumn when the harvest is gathered in. When the leaves begin to change into beautiful colours and begin to fall to the ground and we can walk in the country and walk on them as they crunch under our feet.

Summertime For summertime when the sun shines brightly in the sky; flowers come into full bloom and all around is bright and happy. A time for holidays and a break from the usual routine.

Winter  For  wintertime  when  we  anticipate  Christmas  and  remember  the  birth  of  Jesus  and  all  that  goes  with  that  –  Carols,  school  nativities,  mince  pies,  turkey,  gifts  and  treats.  

Snow  and  snowmen,  children  all  wrapped  up  in  new  scarves  and  hats  sledging  on  the  hillsides.    Cold,  crisp  mornings  when we see beautiful patterns  on  the  windscreen  of  the  car  that  “Jack  Frost”  has  left  behind.  9

   u  nd      o Y   nk  y mi g me u,   e  a o h m Y f  T o r  in nk  for th giv ing o  f a   r h   T od,  fo and .   e   G nd th e to  and erst Word d r d Lo ible a  hav it.    un Your    I   B y m jo edo  en fre d and rea

Thank You, Lord God, for my home and my family and all those who care about me. Thank you for the pleasure of seeing children grow up as they develop their own character. Thank You, Lord God, for my friends and my neighbours, especially those who are special to me.

We all have different talents and so I thank You for the talents you have given me. Thank You for those who work in industry to provide essential services for me like water, electricity and gas that help to make my life comfortable. Thank You for those who work in transport that enables me to travel around the local area and further afield. 8

Thank You, Lord God, for my health and strength that enables me to go about my daily living. Thank You for leisure time and for the activities I enjoy.

Thank You, Lord God, for Jesus who is always by my side in whatever situation I find myself in. Thank You, Jesus, for giving Your life on the cross so that I can be freed from my sin.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord.

Thanksgiving

You have done many things for us, O Lord our God: There is no one like you! You have made many wonderful plans for us. I could never speak of them all – their number is so great! Sing to the Lord, all the world! Worship the Lord with joy; Come before him with happy songs! Acknowledge that the Lord is God, He made us, and we belong to him; We are his people, we are his flock. Enter the temple gates with thanksgiving, go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise him. The Lord is good; his love is eternal and his faithfulness lasts for ever.

Praise God with shouts of joy, all people! Sing to the glory of his name; Offer him glorious praise! Say to God. “How wonderful are the things you do! Your power is so great that your enemies bow down in fear before you, Everyone on earth worships you; They sing praises to you, They sing praises to your name.” 5

Confession Just as I am, without one plea  But that Thy blood was shed for me,  And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,  O Lamb of God, I come. 

sten and I will li k a e t right. sp d o Let G eding to pu e n m I’ s g thin says, eak, there’s ey what He b o l il w Let God sp I d night. eak an our voice to Y Let God sp r a e h to , I want Please God

 

Just as I am, and waiting not  To rid my soul of one dark blot,  To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,  O Lamb of God, I come.  Just as I am though tossed about  With  many  a  conflict,  many  a  doubt,   Fightings and fears within, without,  O Lamb of God, I come.   

Just as I am, though wretched blind;  Sight, riches, healing of the mind,  Yea, all I need in Thee to find,   O Lamb of God, I come.   

Father, forgive me.

 

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,  Wilt  welcome,  pardon,  cleanse,  relieve,  Because Thy promise I believe,   O Lamb of God, I come. 

I confess that I have sinned in thought, word and deed. Jesus, Lamb of God, forgive me.

 

Just as I am, Thy love unknown  Has broken every barrier down;  Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,  O Lamb of God, I come.   

Just as I am, of that free love  The breadth,length,depth and height to prove,  Here for a season, then above  O Lamb of God, I come. 

Lord, so often I say and do  things that are not worthy  of  me  bearing  the  name  “Christian”.    I  am  sorry  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  and  seek  your  forgiveness. 

Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. 6

At the Name of Jesus  Every knee shall bow  Every tongue confess Him  King of glory now;  ‘Tis the Father’s pleasure  We should call Him Lord,  Who from the beginning   Was the mighty Word.  Lord, I come to you, Let my heart be changed, renewed, Flowing from the grace That I found in you. And Lord, I’ve come to know The weaknesses I see in me Will be stripped away By the power of Your love.

Lord Jesus, forgive me when I doubt you, forgive me when I get angry, forgive my pride and forgive me when I put my trust in people instead of you.

Hold me close, Let Your love surround me. Bring me near, draw me to Your side. And as I wait I’ll rise up like the eagle, And I will soar with You, Your Spirit leads me on In the power of Your love.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone (read your name here) who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. 7