Prayer is communicating with God. You can pray anywhere and at any time. However, it is good to have a regular time and quiet place for prayer. This will help you become more aware of how God is at work in your life. Here are some short prayers that you might find helpful.

When you prepare to pray, find a comfortable place where you won’t be easily interrupted. You might find it helpful to light a candle or have a picture or object to contemplate. Sit quietly, and take a few deep, slow breaths. It might be helpful to imagine God’s unconditional love surrounding you.

Some suggested ways to pray

AAA - Appreciate, Apologise, Ask

This is a phrase to help you remember a pattern for prayer. Start with Appreciating God, that is, remember God’s goodness to you and focus your attention on God’s love. Next, Apologise – admit where you have made mistakes and hurt others. Know that God forgives you, and will help you in the future. Then, Ask God for anything that you, and those you pray for, need. No need or concern is too big or too small to bring to God.

The Lord’s Prayer

This prayer that Jesus taught his disciples is a wonderful model. It is simple and direct. You can pray it in a moment, or take several minutes and let it become part of you.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

The New Zealand Prayer Book

There are many, many prayers in the Prayer Book. The Daily Devotions on pages 104-137 are a weekly cycle of short prayers, and are an excellent resource for a regular pattern of daily prayer.

The Jesus Prayer

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me."
This is an ancient prayer from the eastern Orthodox tradition. This is a prayer that you can repeat, over and over, aloud or silently in time with your breathing. It’s a good way to turn your thoughts to God when you can’t find any words, or when you are struggling with something. Other phrases may be prayed in the same way:
Jesus have mercy.
God loves me
Come Lord Jesus

Using the Bible in Prayer

Many Christians have used the Bible to help them pray, particularly the Psalms. One way to use the Bible in prayer is called lectio divina (divine reading). Start with a short passage. Choose something familiar to begin with (e.g. Psalm 23, Luke 15). Read it slowly and carefully, and watch for something that jumps out at you. When you discover a special word or phrase, stay with that thought and meditate on it. Repeat it, ponder it, think about it from different angles, let it sink into your heart. Then tell God about your response to it. Finally, rest with what you have discovered, savour the encounter with God. Listen to what God might be saying to you. Ask God to show you how to live this out in your everyday life.

Reflecting on your life

This is a way to develop your understanding of yourself, and to see how God is at work in your life. Find a regular time each day (or each week). Ask God to guide your reflection. Think carefully about the last day (or week). Then, consider two questions. For which moment am I most grateful? Consider what made that moment special. Breathe in your gratitude for that moment. Then ask, for which moment am I least grateful? Consider what made it difficult. Be with what you feel. Let God’s love fill you just as you are. (You can formulate the two questions in different ways – e.g. When did I feel closest to God? When did I feel furthest away? When was I most able to give and receive love? When was I least able to give and receive love?). Give thanks to God. You may wish to share this type of reflection with a close friend or family member.

Service

Christian prayer, regardless of what method is used, moves us towards action. Jesus said, “Love God and love one another”: two sides of the same coin. Prayer transforms us and enables us to work for God’s peace and justice in the world. As we grow in faith we are encouraged to look for new opportunities to turn prayer into action.

When you are struggling

It helps to be ‘real’ when you pray. Be honest with God – if you feel sad or grumpy, tell God about it. You don’t have to pretend to be happy or grateful or free of doubts and troubles when you’re not. God wants to be with you just as you are. Don’t let not feeling ‘good’ enough stop you from praying.

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Short prayers for various situations

General
Holy and eternal God,
in you we live and move and have our being.
In all our cares and occupations,
guide and govern us by your Spirit,
that we may both remember and reveal your presence;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Preserve us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ,
and asleep may rest in your peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled,
as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

O God,
the author of peace and lover of concord;
to know you is eternal life,
to serve you is perfect freedom.
Defend us your servants in every stress and danger,
that we may trust in your defence
and not fear the power of any adversaries;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
Amen.

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be in my end, and at my departing.

In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all.
Amen.

For the ill
Loving God,
keep us aware of your presence,
support us with your power,
comfort us with your protection,
give us strength
and establish us in your peace.
Amen.

For the dying
God our creator and our end,
give us grace to bear bravely
the changes we must undergo,
the pain we may have to face
to come to our home with you.
Give us the courage to welcome
that unimaginable moment awaiting us;
give us trust and confidence;
and at the last give us peace.
Amen.

When someone has died
God of heaven and earth,
help us to entrust our loved ones to your care.
When sorrow darkens our lives, teach us to look to you.
May we on earth always know the comfort of your presence,
and share with them the rest and peace you give,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Loving God,
be with us as we face the mystery of life and death.
Strengthen us as we bear this loss.
Help us to face the future with courage and confidence in your care and love;
through our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

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