HOW WE PRAY
How we pray is highly personal and varies from person to person.  Whatever the method, the essence of prayer is to focus on God with a pure and repentant heart.   It is to touch the heart of God by becoming so absorbed in prayer that nothing else matters.

Prayer is communication between man and God. The following methods are meant as guides to enrich your prayer life. While some may be obvious to longtime believers, we recognize every method offers an exciting new dimension to those new to the Christian faith.  

LISTENING PRAYER
We are starting with listening as many believers spend their prayer time asking God to answer specific prayers, but do not schedule silent time when God can speak into their hearts. Many North Americans are not comfortable with periods of silence.

Practice
Be intentional about listening. Whatever your favorite method of prayer, find ways to allow God to speak to you.  God will choose His time, place, and method for answering your prayer. 

VOCAL PRAYER
Vocal prayer is spoken prayer.  Prayers spoken in church or at a Bible Study are obvious applications. Prayers can be spoken in large or small groups, but may also in seclusion. Some find it easier to focus by praying out loud even when praying alone.

Practice
The next time you are with a believer in a public place discussing a need, pray about the issue while looking directly in each others eyes. You may be surprised at how meaningful and intimate the prayer experience may be despite being in a crowd. 

GROUP PRAYER
Group prayer involves two or more who pray together.  One usually leads the others who agree in faith with the prayer being offered.  Each may take a turn or lead as God inspires them. 

Practice
Use a prayer guide to lead the group through focused prayer for specific needs.  For example, the leader may guide the group through prayer for the nation, then the state or province, the city, the community, the church, the family, and then individual needs.  Time each segment and alert the group when 1 minute is left.

SENTENCE PRAYER
In a sentence prayer, believers pray one sentence or a phrase at a time.  Each person in the group contributes until the leader senses it is time to close the prayer by saying amen.

Practice
Ask the group to be intentional about leaving a silent time between each sentence offering. 

SILENT PRAYER
Thought Prayers are silent conversations with the Lord. It may be helpful to visualize God or Jesus as you communicate. The prayer may include reading a passage of scripture, meditating on it, and then imagining the scene with you in it.  

Practice
The next time you are in a restaurant, coffee shop, or busy street, pray for each person in your vicinity even though they may be strangers. Ask God to meet their individual needs and to bless them.  

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
Contemplative prayer is 'being lost' in the beauty and wonder of God and His creation.  Being spiritually absorbed in mountain grandeur, waves crashing on the shore, golden grain waving in prairie breezes, or the stunning architecture of a magnificent building can be a highly intense and regenerating experience.

Practice
Find a place of great beauty. Clear your mind by focusing on each aspect of the scene. Praise God for each part of what you see. Thank Him for His ability to inspire and create great things. 

READING PRAYER
Some believers feel reading a prayer is impersonal. However reading scripture prayers or those written by great Christian writers can bring variety and different perspectives to our prayer lives.

Practice
Write a prayer of your own. As the practice of prayer involves discipline, you may find a written guide will help you talk to God on days when you are busy, do not feel well, or lack focus.

E-PRAYERS
Technology allows us to interact by praying through emails, blogging, text messaging, and using voice mail.

Practice
Call a friend you have been thinking about.  Leave a voice mail prayer of blessing or petition God on their behalf. This can be particularly encouraging if they are going through a difficult time.  

SINGING PRAYER
Music communicates in unique and intimate ways. Gospel songs and hymns can express our prayer in collective or individual circumstances.

Practice
Analyze the lyrics of some of your favorite songs and discover which ones are really prayers.  Play a song and let it guide you in prayer.  In public, sing, whistle, or hum the song when you need to pray about an issue that the song addresses. 

VERNACULAR PRAYER
Many believers bring God's name into their everyday language by finding natural and appropriate ways to acknowledge God for His place in their lives. 

Practice
Find appropriate and relevant ways to say “I thank God” or “I praise God” for occurrences in work or family life. You will offer a mini prayer to God and witness at the same time.

CREATION PRAYER
Many who write songs, poems or stories; paint pictures, dance, or participate in other creative expressions have experienced a deep spiritual commune with God through their art.

Practice
Take a piece of blank paper and a pen. Focus on thing of great beauty. Allow God to guide your pen as you put your thoughts on paper.

Or, clear a space on the floor. Roll your body into a ball. Play beautiful classical or praise music. Allow it to move your body, beginning with fingers, toes, arms, and then legs, in to a physical expression of praise and worship.