THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

I.

Objectives:
1.
To realize the relationship of prayer and faith;
2.
To provide the appropriate notion of prayer and its varied
forms;
3. To appreciate the beauty of prayer, and see the different
opportunities available in life for a deepened prayer and
spiritual life through the example and teaching of Jesus
Christ;
4.
To acquire the ability to formulate the prayer of their own.

II.

Content:
A.

Three Possibilities of any Relationship.

It has been learned the valuable role being played by faith

in any relationships. It enables us to realize that indeed it is
impossible to build up relationship if one or both of the parties
are afraid or unwilling to share him/herself with the other.
Relationship requires love, and love requires reaching out or
making the initiative. Faith makes us love, which builds the
relationship.
Another dimension of relationship is that it is basically a
two way process. It involves both reaching out (invitation) and
response. Unless the two parties involved prove themselves
worthy, even given all the essential factors, love relationships
are not to be realized.
Whatever is true in human relationships is the same in
God-man relation. Faith is foremost the prerequisite in loving
God. It clearly implies the courage and confidence to openness
and to take chances. After all, God has assured us believe and
He will show us.
Granted that relationships have already been built. What
are the possibilities that may happen in such relationship? There
are three possibilities that can be gleaned: 1.) Growth, 2.)
Maintenance of a distant but superficial relationship, and 3.)
Decay or end of the relationship.
B.

Religious Experience

The common inclination any person would want the

relationship to go through is naturally growth and maturity.
Christian Prayer

Apparently it is achieved by means of a constant communication

or expression of love to the other. The love is alive, ever burning
and consuming. If this is what it takes for the relationship to
mature, the encounter of persons, though may not be physical at
times but the mere presence, is necessary. The relationship with
parents, for instance, may grow without physical attachment.
Ordinary daily activities could be a special occasion of an
encounter by transforming them as an offering for the parents.
Another is the simple token of their presence like pictures,
sentimental gifts, the use of communications technology that
makes their presence readily available and accessible. Thus, the
experience of persons or presence nowadays can take place in
varied ways. The so-called special moments may be actual or
physical or maybe in thoughts. Each moment then becomes an
opportunity to express ones love; each moment a chance to
enhance the relationship. In the same manner the relationship
with God grows in the constant experience of Gods presence in
the personal life. It is a kind of an interaction known as religious
experience where faith thrives and deepens.
C.

Prayer: A moment of Dialogue with God

If there is communication or dialogue, the relationship with

God likewise undergoes growth and maturity. This process of
dialogue is PRAYER. Literally, it is a moment of speaking with
God. It is in prayer where divine presence is experienced.
Before God, what can each one of us communicates or
speak about? What are the different reasons or purpose to enter
into prayer? Apparently, there are a lot of varied things to talk
about.
It may be the recognition and acknowledgement of Gods
goodness and love, the offering of worship and respect to His
almighty power and greatness for ADORATION.
It may be about the joys and contentment, success and
any wonderful blessings and events that transpired in our life for
THANKSGIVING.
It may be about the humble realization and acceptance of
us as sinners, thus an act of ATONEMENT or CONTRITION, asking
for pardon and mercy for all shortcomings.

Christian Prayer

Finally, It may be about the problems, any difficulties and

urgent needs, any pains and sufferings for PETITION, which
simply means asking for something.
Before one, however, can run towards God to share the
whole gamut of experiences s/he needs to have a constant
encounter of God to establish closeness and openness. Inasmuch
as we cannot approach our parents or anybody else unless we
have proven their trustworthiness and sincerity, so too we cannot
approach God unless we are first close to Him and have known
Him better if not fully.
People who seldom pray generate a superficial brand of
relationship with God. They tend to have the false notion that
God is only God, no more no less, the Supreme Being far above
the heaven. Such a faulty notion leads to a wide distant gap as to
approach God only for worship or adoration. Or worst, the notion
of God who is no more than a servant or s sort of a super waiter
whose presence is sought only when necessary such as for
petition.
Actually, there is nothing wrong with the prayers of
adoration and petition. It is an uncontestable fact that God is the
highest being, so powerful to provide whatever needs. However,
God can likewise be a parent, a special friend, a brother, and a
special someone all rolled into one. Hence we must pray
constantly to establish a much deeper relationship with God.
D.

Kinds of Prayer
1.

Individual/Private: the approach to God through His

grace by an individual out of his own private fervor or
initiative.
Example: A visit to the Blessed Sacrament, prayer
before and after going to bed, etc.
1.1

Christian Prayer

Vocal Prayer: expressing ones prayer in words

or occasionally in gestures.
a)
Formulated: Fixed formula; follow a
certain pattern as in Our Father, Hail
Mary, etc
b)
Spontaneous: a personal spontaneous
cry that springs from the heart of person
in joy or in danger or because of a
situation in which one finds oneself.

1.2

2.

3.

Mental Prayer: a prayer characterized by the

absence of words or gestures.
a)
Formal: denotes a definite period of
time.
b)
Informal: praying while doing something
else.

Shared: a private local prayer addressed to God but

voice aloud acquired together with others.
Example: Prayer before and after the class, rosary,
novena, etc.
Liturgical/Public: the prayer of the whole church, of
the family of God united together in Christ. In this
type of prayer the individual approach God as a
member of the Church and the prayer is subject to
regulation.
Example: Mass and the other sacraments.

With the informal type of prayer, no one can excuse

oneself from praying despite the hectic schedule at work. The
entire life can be transform into a prayer in itself if every
moment is an experience of Gods presence. Just as every
moment in our life is an opportunity to express the love for loved
ones, so is every moment in life is a chance to enter into a
prayer.
E.

Proper Attitude towards Prayer.

Prayer is an art. It must be borne in mind that prayer is a

dialogue or a communication between God and wo/man. Such
definition entails the presence of a speaker and listener. Prayer is
a two-sided affair. The tendency or inclination for wo/man to
monopolize the dialogue must be avoided. God likewise has a lot
of stories to tell us. He too has a lot of things to share.
God speaks to us through the daily ordinary occurrences in
life; through the people around us, and through nature. Above
all, He can speak to us through our minds, our hearts, our
feelings and emotions. He can speak to us through the silent
moment in our lives.
Indeed, prayer means wo/man talking and listening to God
and vice-versa. Clearly, it is an activity involving a total sharing
or encounter of persons. Such is the beauty of prayer.
F.
Christian Prayer

Qualities Essential in Prayer.

A true Christian whenever in prayer must have attention,

devotion, confidence and perseverance.
By attention means praying with an absolute inner
sincerity. At prayer moment we give the complete self, body and
soul to experience Gods reality and presence. Attention requires
more than just the hypocritical externalism of the Pharisees in
the gospel. We must give our whole being to the reality of God
and His presence before us. Because of human weakness,
involuntary distractions may come and go. But these do not
destroy the value of prayer.
Devotion on the other hand requires a genuine
genuflection of the will of God. It means approaching God in the
spirit of total dedication to Gods will and purposes. It enables us
to approach God with the spirit of total submission to his will.
Not my will, but your will be done.
Christian prayer also demands that we approach God with
unshakable trust born of faith. This is the element of confidence.
It enables us to believe that what was ask for will be given if it is
for the greater glory of God and our salvation.
Finally, Christ wants us to pray with perseverance and
courage. God never abandons his people. He answers prayers,
but in the appropriate time. Thus, Christians should never be
discouraged in prayer, should never give up, and never lose
heart.
G.

Effects of Prayer.
1.
It merits graces from God.
2.
It obtains other benefits from God.
3.
It spiritual refreshes of the mind.

H.

Necessity of Prayer for Christian Life.

1.
Christ Himself lived always in a prayerful spirit that
blossomed easily into explicit prayer.
2.
Prayer can be an acknowledgement of ones
weakness and dependence on God.
3.
Man cannot reach salvation without graces from God
and some grace according to Gods plan are granted
only in answer to ones prayer.
4.
Prayer is presented as an identifying mark of the
Church and of the genuine Christian.

Christian Prayer

III.

H.

Result from living a life of Prayer.

1.
The peace of Christ.
2.
Harmonious order and
balance with oneself.
3.
A view of this world
from the perspective of God of eternity.
4.
A strength to hold
oneself together despite change about and within.
5.
A growing closeness to
God through focus in Christ.
6.
Happiness and peace
of mind.

I.

What are the things that we should ask for in a prayer of

petition?
1. We should ask for Gods glory.
2.
The
coming of His Kingdom.
3.
The
fulfillment of His will.
4.
The
graces necessary and useful for salvation.

J.

Famous quotations about prayer.

1.
A man without a prayer is like a tree without
its roots. (St. Augustine of Hippo)
2.
Faith without works is dead (St. Paul)
3.
More things are wrought by prayers, than this
world dreams of ( A. R. Thompson)

Learning Activities:
1.
Compose a spontaneous prayer for the class containing the
four purposes for prayer. At the conclusion will be two of
any formulated prayers.
2. The seatwork is equivalent to a quiz. Then with personal
spontaneous prayer, each one alphabetically will take turns
to lead the prayer before and after the class. The activity is
considered one oral quiz for the finals for 20 pts.

Christian Prayer

 Self-Expression Page:
MY PERSONAL PRAYER OF
1.

Adoration

2.

Thanksgiving

Christian Prayer

3.

Contrition

4.

Petition

Christian Prayer