Prayer and Prayer Beads: Meditation Tool

Spirituality on a String

Prayer is a universal occurrence. It is not exclusively Christian although in no other religion is prayer used to show God's relationship with man. Prayer is found in all cultures but it is the Judeo-Christian tradition that God desires to have a personal relationship with humans. It is God's concern and love that showed itself with the sending of Jesus Christ to atone for man's sins.

Prayer is a communion with God; a fellowship with God. Prayer is a process by which man addresses a supernatural being-a higher power - for purposes of praise, adoration, thanksgiving, petition, and penance. Payer many be private or communal such as public worship services. Prayer may be said aloud in groups or by individuals or may be silent such as in meditation and contemplation.

Many formats exist for prayer. For example, Jesus taught his followers the Lord's Prayer. Prayer may also be spontaneous reflecting the thoughts and desires of the one who is praying. Prayer is a communion with God and is central to a religion as it is a natural result of belief in God.

Most religions have neither set format for prayer nor any set manner for prayer. People may pray on their knees, prostrate, or sitting. Prayer may be made up by the individual or follow a specific format. Christian prayer may follow a pattern as expressed in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6;9-13; Luke 11:2-4): invocation, praise, thanksgiving, petition for oneself and others, confession, and appeal for forgiveness. Corporate worship based on Roman Catholic liturgy or the Anglican Book of Common Prayer constitutes formalized prayer of worship. Ceremonial dances by Native Americans and the Buddhist seeking perfection are also forms of prayer designed to bring man closer to God.

Theology, the study of God, is inseparable from prayer. It is through prayer that we make contact with God and He speaks with us. John Calvin referred to prayer as "the soul of faith" and without prayer there is no faith.

History of Prayer Beads