Prayer & Devotion

Set prayers — psalms, scripture readings, and prayers — said at fixed times through the day, in a pattern the church has kept for over 1,500 years.

Going without food — or something else — for a set time as a spiritual practice, usually paired with prayer, to focus on God and express dependence on Him.

The ways Christians address God in prayer. "Father" is Jesus' own word; "Lord" is the most common; "Abba" is the Aramaic Jesus used, close to "Dad."

A prayer asking God to keep someone safe from harm, pictured as an invisible barrier around them.

The traditional closing of a Christian prayer — praying on Jesus' authority and in line with His will, based on His promise to answer prayers made in His name.

Praying on behalf of someone else — asking God for another person's needs, rather than your own.

A short prayer — "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner" — repeated slowly and continually, central to Orthodox spirituality.

A filler word that Christians use constantly in spontaneous, out-loud prayer — "Lord, we just ask that you'd just be with us."

Placing a hand on someone's shoulder, head, or back while praying for them — for healing, blessing, commissioning, or ordination.

The roughly forty days before Easter, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, kept as a season of repentance, fasting, and preparation — often by giving something up.

Praying for someone — bringing their name and need before God. Nobody is physically lifted.

A church's system for spreading an urgent prayer request quickly — once a telephone tree, now usually a group text or email — so that many people are praying within the hour.

Asking other people to pray for something specific in your life — a health scare, a job interview, a struggling family member.

Someone known for praying often, seriously, and persistently on behalf of others — the person you call when you need prayer that means business.

Continuing to pray about something persistently — over days, weeks, or years — until it resolves or until you find peace about it.

A personal, daily time set aside for reading the Bible and praying — usually in the morning, usually alone.

Two Catholic structured prayers. The Rosary is a set of prayers counted on beads while meditating on events in Jesus' life; a novena is a prayer repeated for nine days for a particular intention.

A prayer for a safe journey — asking God to protect someone while they travel.

A request for prayer about something the person doesn't want to describe — "please pray, but I'm not going to say what for."