Prayer
Prayer is how Christians turn towards God in trust, speaking and listening within the relationship Jesus has opened through forgiveness and grace.
Christians pray to the one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They often describe prayer as coming to the Father through the Son, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer begins with grace
Christians do not pray in order to earn God’s attention or prove themselves worthy. They believe Jesus has dealt with the sin that separated people from God and has opened the way for them to come to him.
Prayer is therefore a response to grace. A person may approach God honestly because forgiveness depends on Jesus, not on perfect words, strong feelings or a flawless life.
Prayer and the Trinity
Christians worship one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many prayers are addressed to the Father, through Jesus the Son, in the help and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Christians also pray directly to Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. These are not prayers to three separate gods, but prayer to the one Triune God.
A relationship, not a performance
Prayer may include praise, thanks, requests, confession, grief, questions, silence and prayer for other people.
Jesus warned against praying merely to appear religious. Christians believe honesty matters more than eloquence. A few sincere words can be a real prayer.
Confession and forgiveness
Christians confess sin by naming it honestly before God and turning away from it. Confession does not inform God of something he did not know, and it does not earn forgiveness through shame or self-punishment.
Christians ask for forgiveness because Jesus bore their sin on the cross. They trust God to forgive and restore them by grace, while also seeking to apologise and repair harm where possible.
Does prayer change things?
Christians believe God hears prayer and can act in response. They also recognise that prayers are not always answered in the way requested or within the hoped-for time.
Prayer is not a technique for controlling God. Christians continue to pray because they trust his wisdom and goodness, even when an answer is delayed, different or unclear.
Listening with care
Prayer also involves listening. This does not necessarily mean hearing an audible voice. Christians may become aware of conviction, encouragement or direction while praying, reading the Bible or remaining silent.
Such impressions should be tested against the character and teaching of Jesus, the Bible, wisdom and the counsel of trustworthy people. A claimed message from God should never be used to excuse harm, control or dishonesty.
How to begin
You may speak aloud or pray silently. You may sit, stand, kneel or walk. You can use prepared words or your own.
A beginning prayer might be:
“God, I am not sure what I believe, but I am willing to know you. Please help me understand Jesus, show me what is true and guide my next step.”
Someone ready to respond more directly might ask God for forgiveness, thank Jesus for the cross and resurrection, and ask the Holy Spirit to help them begin a new life.
When prayer feels difficult
Attention may wander, words may feel inadequate and God may seem absent. Christians do not usually regard this as failure. Prayer can be returned to gently and honestly.
A short regular prayer may be more helpful than waiting for a dramatic spiritual experience. The value of prayer rests in God’s faithfulness, not in the intensity of the person praying.
Next: Church, Baptism and Communion
Reconciled relationship with God also brings people into a community. The next part explains why Christians gather and how baptism and Communion express the message of grace.