Pray

Pray

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FAITH PRACTICE - PRAY 

Prayer is the way a disciple enjoys an intimate relationship with God.  Prayer can be private or public, ritualized or conversational, silent or out loud, spoken or sung, words or action, simple or profound.  Through prayer God's will is discerned and greater clarity is gained for our journey.  Prayer is powerful.  Indeed, God's creative, redeeming and healing power is often directed through prayer.  Jesus modeled the power and importance of prayer and provides our inspiration to embrace a prayerful stance toward all moments of life.  

One of the key ways Jesus showed his love for his Father was by regularly engaging in prayer.  Throughout the Gospels we read how Jesus "went up to a mountain to pray" or "knelt down and prayed" or "continued all night in prayer."  As Jesus prayed, he gained a clearer sense of who he was (his identity) and what he was to do (his mission).   Before he taught or healed, before choosing the Twelve or submitting his will to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed.  Whatever the opportunity or challenge, Jesus turned to his Father first and sought the guidance of God.  Prayer is:

Adoration (praise, honoring God)
Confession (saying "I'm sorry," acknowledging sin, that "I can't do it on my own")
Thanksgiving (saying thanks, counting blessings, allowing God's perspective to shape life) 
Supplication (asking for, praying for others, petitionary in character) - ACTS

The Lord's Prayer and Luther's interpretation in the Small Catechism provide amble instruction for the content and elements of prayer and a prayerful life.  Part of a disciple's job description is to pray frequently.