How to Pray. How to Grow Spirituality II.

Spiritual growth is tricky, difficult to make long-lasting, and full of pitfalls. It is the dynamic and challenging process of growing and maturing in our knowledge and relationship with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. It should be reflected through our actions as we are living more for God and for others, and less for ourselves.

It can be achieved by imitating the life or conduct of one or more spiritual and godly people; praying, meditating, and studying the word of the living God;fasting; attending religious services, interfaith services, and other church-related activities; developing a sense of empathy, compassion, tolerance, respect, and sympathy; practicing gratitude to God for the many blessings He is and has given to us and to those who help us; donating, volunteering, and sharing your talents for the good of others; simplifying your life, living a more minimalistic lifestyle, and focusing on what really matters, what helps you to live a more meaningful life.

Prayer isthe experience of the living God. It is being in His presence. It is our way of communicating our thoughts, needs, and desires to Him. However, it is not just talking to God, but rather listening to Him through His Word.  

How to Pray

• Get cozy in a safe, quiet place. Sit upright comfortably or lie down on the floor. Maybe, you will want to kneel, stand, or walk around when you pray.
• Go to a quiet place. Use earplugs and noise-canceling headphones, and/or listen to classical, instrumental, background music or white noise, anything else with lyrics is likely to be a distraction.
• What do I say to God when praying?

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him, Matthew 6, 7-8.

The Lord’s prayer has five main parts namely:

1. We open the prayer by addressing God the Father, the Creator, whom Jesus revealed as a Father (“Abba”) rich in love and mercy, because he is the one we are praying to.  

2. Praise the Lord and his holy and righteous name, Hallowed be your name, because God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good.

   Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever, Psalm 118:1.

   For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, John 3:16.

   Adoration is the act of worshipping, praising, and honoring God.

3. Repent. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. It is the time to honestly and humbly re-evaluate our lives, repent for our sins, and draw closer to Him.

   From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” Matt. 4:17.

4. Ask Him for help. Give us today our daily bread; keep us from evil. We are encouraged to ask Him for our needs, desires, and the needs of others.

   Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened, Matt. 7:7-8.

   If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:13

    

5. Yield to the will of God. Your kingdom come, your will be done. It is the time to surrender to God. To pray is to let go of all the hurt, pain, sorrow, anger, bitterness, disappointments, and anything that burdens your soul, trust in the Lord, and let God take over and renew your life.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, James 4:7.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths, Proverbs 3:5-6.

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!, Psalm 46:10.

• Where and When Should I Pray?

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, 1 Thess. 5:16-17.

God hears your prayers no matter when or where you’re praying. Set aside a special time for prayer and reflection each day, a time to be solely focused on knowing God intimately and dwell on your relationship with Our Creator and Lord. Ideally, prayer should be a private time between God and the worshipper, for example in your bedroom.

• Why do we need to pray? We need to pray because we need God and depend on God (“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain,” Psalm 127, 1). We need it to resist temptation (“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” Matthew 26:41). It’s absolutely essential because we need to be in God’s presence. That is where the peace, power, strength, and healing come from. Christian life is a tough journey full of obstacles, disappointments, and often breaks you down from within, we need God’s strength and guidance along the way.
• You can pray using some websites or prayer apps: Pray As You Go is a daily prayer session, designed to go with you wherever you go, to help you pray whenever you find time, but particularly whilst travelling to and from work, study, etc. (Catholic). Our Daily Bread is a daily encouragement and inspiration to draw closer to God each day. The mission of evangeli.net is to send the Gospel by internet to all parts of the world. Glorify and Hallow are subscription-based apps that offer audio-guided meditation sessions.
• The Psalms are the Prayer book of the bible. They teaches us how to pray and how to talk to God in a manner that pleases our Creator. Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the Church. It is an ancient, structured way of praying throughout the day, focusing especially on the Psalms. You can use iBreviary and Divine Office to pray with the full texts of the Liturgy of the Hours.
• He who sings prays twice. Sing a hymn or an inspired song as you pray. Hillsong, Bethel, Kirk Franklin, Casting Crowns, Top Christian Music, Elevation Worship, and Jesus Culture.
• Transcendental Meditation is an easy type of prayer or meditation during which a person repeats a verse or prayer in their mind, such as be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10), the LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1), and He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust (Psalms 91:2).

It removes unwanted and repetitive thoughts and helps you to stop worrying, clears your mind, and releases stress. It is one way to find inner peace and tranquility, and get closer to God.

• Silence is essential for prayer.

No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison, James 3:8.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken, Psalm 62:1-3.

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise, Proverbs 10:19.

Begin your time of prayer with a few minutes of silence to quiet your heart and mind. Seek God’s presence that you may receive His message of life, wisdom, and truth. Sit still and breathe slowly and naturally. Be aware of God’s presence. Be quick to listen, slow to speak.

• Read Scripture. Sit still, be silence and quiet your heart and mind. Remind yourself that this is your opportunity to hear from God, learn from Him about who He is, what He’s done, and how to live for him, and let His words of living water wash over you. As you read the words slowly, let those words sink down into your heart and the Holy Spirit speak to you. Finally, try to apply the Word to your life.

  Make sure you understand the text in its original meaning and translation, and throughout the faith and tradition of the church. Do not take it out of its context in interpreting it.