Prayer in Christianity facts for kids
Prayer is a special way Christians talk to God. It's like having a conversation with a very important friend. Many Christians believe that praying helps them feel closer to God and can bring them comfort and peace. It can also help them feel better when they are sad or worried.
The Lord's Prayer, which Jesus taught his disciples, is a very important example of prayer for Christians. Prayers found in the Old Testament and New Testament parts of the Bible have also greatly influenced how Christians think about and practice prayer today.
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What is Christian Prayer?
Christian prayer is usually seen as a way for people to communicate directly with God. This communication can happen in many different ways. It might be speaking out loud, thinking quietly, or even singing. Christians believe that God hears their prayers, no matter how they are offered.
Why Do Christians Pray?
Christians pray for many reasons. They might pray to thank God for good things in their lives. They also pray to ask for help, guidance, or forgiveness. Sometimes, people pray just to spend time with God and feel his presence. Prayer can help Christians feel stronger in their faith and more connected to their community.
Types of Prayer
There are different types of prayer that Christians use:
- Adoration: This is when Christians praise God for who he is and how wonderful he is.
- Confession: This is when people tell God they are sorry for things they have done wrong.
- Thanksgiving: This is when Christians thank God for all the good things he has given them.
- Supplication: This is when people ask God for things they need, either for themselves or for others. This is also called intercession when praying for others.
How Christians Pray
Christians pray in many different ways and in many different places.
- Private Prayer: Many Christians pray alone, often at home. They might kneel, sit, or stand. Some use special items like a prie-dieu (a kneeling bench) or prayer beads.
- Group Prayer: Christians often pray together in churches, at home, or in small groups. This can involve everyone saying a prayer together, or one person leading the prayer while others listen.
- Singing Prayers: Many hymns and worship songs are actually prayers set to music. Singing together is a common way for Christians to pray in church services.
Important Prayers and Traditions
The Lord's Prayer is a central prayer for almost all Christians. It teaches believers how to pray and what to focus on. Besides the Lord's Prayer, many Christian traditions have their own special prayers or ways of praying. For example, some Christians make the sign of the cross as part of their prayers. Others might use a rosary or a Wreath of Christ to help them focus during prayer.
Images for kids
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A prie-dieu, which is used for private Christian prayer, situated in the room of a historic house.
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Many devout Christians have a home altar at which they (and their family members) pray and read Christian devotional literature, sometimes while kneeling at a prie-dieu.
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The Missal, by John William Waterhouse (1902), depicts a woman kneeling at a prie-dieu to pray.
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Ukrainian worshippers make the sign of the cross during a Christmas service; in this tradition, as with many others, it is customary for women to wear a Christian headcovering while offering prayers to God.
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An American family is seen bowing their heads for prayer before consuming a meal
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Blessed Virgin Mary with the Rosary
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The Wreath of Christ, a set of prayer beads used by Lutheran Christians.
