THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be they 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,
forever. Amen.
How to Pray
Generally, to pray is to attempt to commune with
a spirit or deity. It's something that hunter-gatherers,
ancient Egyptians and Greeks, and followers of
today's major religions share in common. While
the rituals and conventions of prayer may vary
widely, the intention is the same--to renew one's
spiritual connection with a power outside of oneself.
Take the time to pray. No matter how or to whom
you pray, it can be difficult to find time for
prayer during busy times. One way to deal with
this is to make prayer part of your daily routine,
such as praying as soon as you wake up in the
morning, right before you go to sleep, or before
every meal. Many people also pray during emotional
times, like when they feel sad, scared, or happy.
You can pray at any time of day, and as much or
as little as you feel is sufficient for your spiritual
life. Some people make it their goal to maintain
a state of prayer all the time by remaining conscious
of their spiritual connection throughout the day.
No matter what, if prayer is an important part
of your life, you need to put first things first
and make time to pray on a regular basis.
Find a good location to pray. Look for a quiet
place if you have a hard time concentrating when
your surroundings are noisy and bustling. Or,
you might turn to prayer during times of chaos
to find peace. As you become more comfortable
with praying, you may find that you can pray anytime,
anywhere. It may help to be in a place where the
focus is on spirituality (such as a church or
temple) or where the environment reminds you of
your spiritual bond (like a natural setting, or
a spot with a big view). You can choose to pray
in the presence of others, or you can pray privately.
Get into your prayer position. This depends on
which custom you're following, if any. Sometimes
expressing your thoughts physically can make the
experience more complete. As with any form of
expression, people vary widely in how they position
themselves during prayer: sitting, kneeling, lying
face down on the floor, hands folded, clasped,
or raised high, holding hands with other people,
head bowed, dancing, whirling, swaying, and so
on.
Prepare for praying. This also depends on custom.
Some activities help to get people in the mindset
of prayer. Prepare in whichever way you feel is
comfortable or appropriate. People do this in
a variety of ways around the world, including
washing, anointing with oil, ringing a bell, burning
incense or paper, lighting a candle, facing a
specific direction, making the sign of the cross,
or fasting. Sometimes the preparation is directed
by someone else, such as a spiritual mentor or
formal teachings of your religious tradition.
Begin the prayer. You can pray by speaking out
loud, chanting, singing, whispering, or thinking.
Some prayers are recited from memory or read in
a book, while other prayers are more like conversations.
Your eyes can be opened or closed. You can ask
questions, seek strength, send good wishes to
others, or give thanks. How you pray depends on
how you see whoever you're praying to, and what
you think will enhance your connection or bond.
Are you worshiping a powerful deity, worthy of
utmost awe and respect? Are you talking to your
best friend? Or is it a little bit of both? Every
relationship is different, even if the relationship
is with an entity you can't see or touch. The
important thing is that you find a way to feel
closer.
End the prayer. Some people end or close the prayer
with a special word (like "Amen") or
phrase (like "May God receive our prayers")
or a gesture (like bowing or making the sign of
the cross), or simply by standing or sitting in
silence for a minute or two.
Do find the time and do pray.
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