Explain two ways that Christians pray.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer. [6 marks]

• One way Christians pray is set prayer, a prayer that has been created by someone else.

• For example, they might use the exact words that Jesus taught his disciples in the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Our Father in heaven | may your name always be kept holy’ (Matthew 5. 9).

• The advantage of this set prayer is that they know it is valid (because Jesus taught it).

• It also connects them with the first Christians (who also used it), and reminds them that all Christians are part of the ‘body of Christ’.

• Another way Christian might pray is informal prayer, which is a prayer they create for themselves.

• Jesus models this for us too, for example, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he asks God, ‘My Father, if it is possible, do not give me this cup of suffering’ (Matthew 26. 39).

• The advantage of informal prayer is that a person can ask for exactly what they need, which might not be in the Lord’s Prayer.

• It also helps them develop a relationship with God, because they can talk to Him in their own words.