'Lord, teach us to pray'
That request was put to Jesus by his own disciples - which should encourage us if we feel we don't know how to pray. They needed help, and so do we, especially at troubled times such as these.
But there isn't just one right way to pray - what works well for one person may not for another. The following thoughts are offered just as guidelines which may be useful:
- When we pray we come before God with the world on our hearts. We are also offering ourselves to be in some small way channels of love and peace in God's world.
- God already knows what is in our hearts and minds. We can be honest with God, and say exactly how we feel, or even just sit in silence.
- It might help to find a quiet space. You may want to be on your own, but you may also find that it helps to join other people, who may be gathering to pray not only in church, but also in schools, workplaces and elsewhere.