PRAYER
Every religion has it's believe and something or someone ie a deity that they put their hope and trust in.
For the purpose of this writing, I'll dwell on the Christian faith.
Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered around the personage of Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus Christ. Christianity arose in the 30sβ50s CE as a religious offshoot of Judaism based on the teachings of Jesus, who was himself Jewish. Early Christianity rejected many of the social, cultural, and religious institutions of Judaism and pursued radically different strains of spiritual thought. Within a century a recognizable Church was founded. The texts of the faith and its most important creeds were codified in the 300s CE. Despite persecution, Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire and all of its inheritors, and in the time since the different Christian denominations have collectively become the largest faith in the world by a wide margin.
Prayer is how Christians communicate with God. Many Christians believe that it is through prayer that God's grace and guidance are given. Christians think of prayer as two-way communication that gives comfort, as God is listening and may send messages back.
What is Prayer: Prayer means talking to God. To pray means to communicate with God.
Christians believe that God created everyone to be in relationship with him, and that he loves to hear from each one of us as often as possible. Just like you might talk to a close family member, so we have the privilege of talking to God. You donβt even need to be a Christian. God has made himself known to many who have reached out to him with an open heart.
In some Christian traditions, such as Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity, prayers can be addressed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, or to saints who have died. There is some dispute as to whether such prayers are praying to them or simply asking them to pray on our behalf to God. Some find such prayers helpful, but others point to the fact that Jesusβ death on the cross meant that the way became open once again for humanity to speak directly to God.
Why do Christians pray:
--Understanding the purpose of prayer gives Christians the desire and enthusiasm to pray. Understanding the power of prayer gives Christians the confidence and authority to pray in faith and expectation. Not having the enthusiasm to pray or the confidence in prayers will result in not finding the time to pray.
--Praying with confidence is believing and having faith that God has the power, authority, and ability to answer prayer.
--Prayer is to be connected and in communion with God with the purpose of being one withGod, in love and purpose, adoration and praise, rest, reflection, and discernment.
What Happens when Christians pray:
--In the Bible, God commands people, multiple times, to pray. Just like parents here on earth, the Heavenly Father wants to hear from you and talk to you. When you pray, He listens. Then He answers your prayers in the form of thoughts, spiritual feelings, scripture, or even the actions of other people.
--Prayer is an important way to experience God as the religious believer can communicate with Him. By bringing their problems to God, or asking for forgiveness and help, they come closer to Him. Christians believe they can speak with God in prayer and were taught to pray by Jesus himself.
--Praying and listening to the answers God gives you can help you better understand your purpose in life. God will help you understand why you are here and what you can do to return to live with Him after this life.
Finally, All religions of the world have one thing in common: they all willingly and enthusiastically engage and promote the ritual and practice of prayer. While prayer is common, it is also seemingly elusive and mysterious to many in the Christian faith.
