What Is Prayer?
Prayer is listening to and talking with God. It is about an ever deepening relationship with God.
Why do we pray?
God has taught us to pray in the Bible. Prayer is an important part of a Christian's life enabling us to get closer to God, and to find a greater sense of God's purposes for our lives. Many exciting things have happened in churches and communities when prayer has been central.
How do we pray?
As a child you may have been taught to close your eyes and put your hands together but these are not essential. The beauty of prayer is that you can do it any place at any time.
Prayers can have many aspects but these are the most common:
Adoration. Praising God for who he is.
Confession. Asking forgiveness for the wrong things we have done and the right things we have failed to do, and recognising the collective failures present in our world.
Thanksgiving. Expressing gratitude for the many good gifts that we receive each day that enrich our lives.
Supplication. Praying for others, for our nation, for other countries and for ourselves that God may guide and lead.
Prayer can take place privately or with family and friends. Some people find it helpful to meet regularly with two other people in a prayer triplet.
At Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC) we not only pray in services but in the small groups, church meetings and on other occasions.
We also pray when the England football team has a penalty shoot out against the German team!
Written prayers can be used but prayer in Baptist churches is often spontaneous and not scripted. Prayers can be said out loud or silently.
Opportunities for prayer at LRBC
After every Sunday service at LRBC, there are always members of the prayer team who are willing to chat and pray through issues raised through the service or indeed anything you have on your mind. Simply make your way at the end of the service to the prayer area (a circle of chairs) to the right of the stage. This offer is normally highlighted by those leading at the end of the service
We also set aside time for prayer together:
We meet every week on Wednesday evenings (unless we notify people otherwise)
from 8-9 pm in The Sanctuary, during term times.
Every weekday morning
there is a time for prayer in our Prayer Room found in the Welcome area on Marguerite Drive from 8.30am
The Prayer Room is open Monday to Friday
during office hours (9.30am-4pm or 9.30am-12pm during school holidays) for personal prayer.
If you would like us to pray for you, a family member, friend or a situation you are involved with please either write to us via the church office or email prayer@lrbc.org.uk or call in to our Welcome Area between 8 and 9pm on Wednesday evenings during term time when members of our LRBC Prayer Team will be on hand to pray with you.
Want to pray online and explore what prayer is further? We highly recommend http://www.rejesus.co.uk/spirituality
