In the broadest sense of the term, to pray is to make a request with a humble attitude. Currently the term "pray" is often used with reference to religious prayers, in order to communicate spiritually with the spirit or with the divinity that is believed. Although the rituals and prayer conventions can vary greatly, the intention is the same: to renew one's spiritual connection with an energy outside of oneself.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: When, Where & Why
Step 1. Make time to pray
It is not important how or who you pray, but during busy times it can be difficult to find time to devote to prayer. One way to overcome this problem is to make prayer a part of your daily life, for example by praying in the morning as soon as you wake up, right before bedtime or before meals. There are no bad times to pray.
- Many people pray in moments of emotional intensity, that is, when they feel sad, scared or happy. You can pray at any time of the day, as little or as much as you think is sufficient for your spiritual life. Some have the goal of maintaining a constant state of prayer while remaining aware of their spiritual connection throughout the day.
- Observant Jews pray three times a day (Shacharit, Mincha and Arvit) and Muslims five. Still others pray completely spontaneously, depending on their mood or on certain occasions (for their parents, before a meal, etc.). In short, do what you think is compelling.
Step 2. Find a good place to pray
You will find that you can pray at any time, anywhere and in any situation. It can help to be in a place focused on spirituality (a church or a temple, for example) or where the environment brings you back to your spiritual connection, such as a natural setting or a place with a wide panorama. You can pray in the presence of others or in complete solitude.
For some religions such as Buddhism, meditation is a common way of praying or, sometimes, vice versa, it is prayer that is a habitual way to meditate. Likewise, it is a respectable way of prayer to find a place where you can be silent and feel connected to your spirituality. Find that "place of worship" of yours that can stimulate your "Zen" side: whether it is an open field or an obsequious congregation does not matter
Step 3. Be aware of your goal
Prayer often accompanies a ritual which, in turn, gives meaning to prayer. It can be a long fire ceremony offering sacrifices to ensure the good wishes of the season to come, or it can be a simple but thoughtful word of thanks for a meal. There is no need to ask, beg, ask or thank - all you have to do is appreciate.
- Prayer can be a conversation, but not necessarily. Some religions relish prayer as an opportunity for intellectual contemplation. And then prayer doesn't have to have anything to do with you. The Roman Catholic tradition includes specific devotional prayers such as "acts of reparation" to amend the sins of others.
- Once you know the reason why you pray, is there anyone in particular you are thinking about and would like to talk to? If you are looking to have a dialogue, who should your interlocutor be?
Step 4. Understand that prayer does not have to include a constructed silence of reflection
It can include virtually anything. Song and dance have always been part of the prayer repertoires of many religions. Even some Christians and Muslims pray with yoga!
Anything that comes close to your spirituality, to your god, can be a prayer activity. If you get there thanks to the typical euphoria of the runner, it's fantastic. If, on the other hand, the trick is to curl up in the sheets, that's great anyway. You can scream at the top of your lungs and launch yourself into the hills if it makes you enthusiastic, full of wonder, or grateful
Method 2 of 2: The Act of Prayer
Step 1. Put yourself in the position you have chosen for prayer
It depends on your religious belief, if you have one. Sometimes physically expressing your thoughts can make your experience more complete. People differ in the way they position themselves during prayer: sitting, kneeling, lying on the floor, hands clasped, clenched or raised high, holding hands with other people, heads down, dancing, prostrating, whirling, swaying and so on.
Every religious person follows the faith that he perceives as right for himself. Which do you think is suitable for you? In addition to reflecting on your body position, consider your body position in space. Some religions believe it is essential to move towards a certain position during the act of prayer (towards Mecca, for example). If there is a spiritual place in your life, evaluate where it is positioned with respect to you
Step 2. Prepare to Pray
Depending on your belief, you may have a ritual to prepare for prayer. You may find that it brings you to the right mindset. Prepare in whatever way you feel comfortable or appropriate.
- All over the world there are people who are washing or anointing themselves with oil, who are ringing bells, who are burning incense or paper, people who are lighting candles, who are positioning themselves in specific directions, who are doing the sign of the cross or that he is fasting. Sometimes the preparation is led by someone else: a spiritual friend, the leader of a prayer group, or a teacher of your creed. It can be a few minutes before (washing or the sign of the cross, for example) or it can be days or even weeks, as in the case of fasting.
- Many religions take your appearance into consideration. Certain clothes are considered appropriate or inappropriate for prayer meetings. If for some reason you find your current outfit distracting, opt for a presentation that more reflects you and your spirituality.
Step 3. Prayer begins
You can pray by saying aloud, thinking, singing, and so on. Some prayers are recited from memory or read from a book, while other prayers are more like conversations. Your eyes can be open or closed. You can open the prayer by appealing to God, the gods or divinities you are praying to, and then ask for help or ask that whatever your intention is fulfilled.
There is no wrong way to proceed. If a memorized prayer or song already touches the core of the intended message, there is no need to search for further words. But if you have a specific thought, question or concern in mind, any informal dialogue is just as good
Step 4. Make the request, ask the question, or just make your voice heard
You can ask for answers, seek strength, send greetings to others or give thanks. Perhaps the most basic forms of prayer are requests for help in becoming a good or better person, as well as asking that divinity, in its singularity or plurality, direct our prayer.
- There is no predefined length of time for a prayer. Above all, the Big Boy (feminine, masculine, singular or plural if you prefer) who is up in the sky would certainly appreciate a "Hey, thank you!"
- Emptying your mind and becoming silent can be a helpful factor in prayer. Don't feel the need to constantly think, talk, or listen to messages - you can always find a freer mind that gets the answers in contemplative silence.
Step 5. Finish the prayer
Some people end or close the prayer with a special word, phrase or gesture or simply by standing or sitting in silence for a minute or two, or by saying "Amen".
When your prayer is complete, you will realize it. Move yourself, still reflective, from your position or the place where you are and start your day, a little more spiritual than before
Advice
- Some begin or end the prayer with a word like "Amen" or "Du'a" and some may include the name of an "authority". For example, many Christians say, "… in the name of Jesus, Amen."
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For Christians, pray in agreement and with faith. For example, if you want relief for something, thank God, who has already provided and granted you the miracle: “Lord, thank you for healing my mind (or soul, leg, heartache or whatever).
And try to be blessed by doing your part, also by helping others with righteous attitudes and remembering the beatitudes, so as not to bring negative consequences on yourself and others
- Have you heard that "one should always pray" or "pray incessantly?" One way to do this is to glorify your (or your) divinity with your work, your existence and your life, always assuming a attitude of thanks and being a blessing to others.
- The key to prayer is to believe that a higher power created and oversees the universe - it is often called Faith.
- Always be grateful for the outcome of your prayer. After all, prayer is based on the faith you have tried, so give adequate thanks to those who give it to you.
Warnings
- If you suffer from nightmares, try praying with graces and blessings especially for others to find peace.
- There is no right way to pray, and you should never feel pressured to pray in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.
- Don't be blasphemous. It means that it is not necessary to pray and then do something inconsistent with your spirituality, expecting that prayer will serve as compensation: prayer is not a punishment nor is it simply to compensate for deficiencies.
- Prayer is not a guaranteed quick fix. Sometimes people get results through prayer, but many times the results of prayer are subtle, practically invisible to our eyes.
