"Teach Us To Pray" - By Bishop Richard

Jen Manning is our Missioner for Formation on the diocesan staff. She primarily supports children, youth, and young adult ministries in our parishes and at Camp McDowell. Recently, I heard Jen speak about a session she led with youth on the subject of prayer. She shared that there was great interest in talking about how to pray. Specifically, the young people wanted to know everything from blessings over food that could be memorized from The Book of Common Prayer to how to pray extemporaneously.

There is a short story about prayer in Luke’s Gospel that I find both interesting and inspiring: “Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.'” (Luke 11:1). Prayer was at the heart of our Lord’s own life, and he faithfully taught his followers how to pray.

A spiritual director once said, “Pray as you can, not as you can’t.” Those words have stayed with me because there is no single right way to pray. Sometimes The Book of Common Prayer gives us exactly the words we need. Its prayers can express what is on our hearts and free us from the pressure of finding just the right words ourselves. The Prayer Book is filled with wonderful prayers for personal devotion, especially the “Prayers and Thanksgivings” beginning on page 814.

At other times, though, we need to speak to God in our own words, even if they are neither poetic nor polished. An extemporaneous prayer can be as simple as saying, “Thank you.” Or it may be longer and more meandering, like talking with a trusted friend. God is, of course, far more than a friend, but imagining a conversation with a trusted friend often helps me pray more honestly and openly.

However you pray, may what you say—and what you hear—draw you ever closer to God, our Maker and Redeemer.

—Richard