Personal Devotion (HSC SSCE Studies of Religion): Revision Notes
Personal Devotion
What is prayer?
Personal devotion for Christians centres primarily on prayer. Prayer is a multifaceted spiritual practice that serves as the foundation of a Christian's relationship with God. At its core, prayer is communication with God, but it takes many forms and serves various purposes in the life of a believer.
A prayer can function as a request for help, an offering of praise and worship, or an attempt to communicate with divine entities beyond the physical world. In Christian theology, this communication extends not only to God the Father but also to Jesus Christ, Mary (the mother of Jesus), the saints, and angels. This understanding reflects the Christian belief in the communion of saints and the intercession of holy figures.
The Bible strongly encourages prayer and contains numerous examples of people communicating with God. Christians view prayer as a natural human response in times of need, crisis, or thanksgiving. What matters most in prayer is not the specific form or formula used, but rather the attitude of heart and mind that the person brings to the experience.
This emphasis on sincerity over formality means that prayer can be deeply personal and authentic.
Prayer as relationship and transformation
Prayer serves as the primary way Christians develop and maintain their relationship with God. Just as human relationships require communication to grow and deepen, the Christian-God relationship is nurtured through regular prayer. This communication is not one-sided; many Christians believe that through prayer, God speaks to them, often through Scripture, circumstances, or an inner sense of guidance.
Prayer's Transformative Power
Prayer has transformative power on multiple levels:
- Individual level: It brings change within the person, shaping character, providing comfort, and offering clarity
- Community level: It impacts the Christian community by uniting believers in common purpose and mutual support
- Global level: Christians believe prayer can bring about change in the world, whether through divine intervention or by motivating believers to action
Jesus' example and teaching on prayer
Jesus provides the primary model for Christian prayer. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is portrayed as a person of prayer who maintained constant communion with God the Father. He prayed at significant moments in his life, including his baptism (when the Holy Spirit descended), during his temptation in the wilderness (when he faced spiritual testing), in times of distress (particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane), and during his trial and crucifixion (when he prayed for forgiveness for his executioners).
Jesus made prayer a daily discipline, regularly setting aside time to pray, often withdrawing to solitary places. He instructed his disciples to pray both individually in quietness and together in community, promising that where two or three gathered in his name, he would be present. Several of Jesus' parables specifically addressed the topic of prayer, emphasising persistence, humility, and faith.
The apostle Paul, in his letters to early Christian communities, frequently mentioned that he was praying for them. He also provided what some consider the ideal approach to prayer: "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This doesn't mean Christians should do nothing but pray, but rather that they should maintain a constant attitude of prayerfulness and communion with God throughout all daily activities.
The Lord's Prayer
Jesus taught what has become the most significant prayer in Christianity: the Lord's Prayer. Also known by its Latin name, Pater Noster ("Our Father"), this prayer is found in Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus spoke Aramaic, which was likely the original language of this prayer. Early Christians translated it into Greek, the common language of the eastern Mediterranean, and then into Latin for use in the Western Church.
For nearly 2,000 years, the Lord's Prayer was recited in Latin in churches throughout Western Europe, even though most churchgoers couldn't understand the language. This changed following the Protestant Reformation and later the Second Vatican Council, when churches began using the prayer in local languages, making it accessible to all believers.
The Structure of the Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer follows a clear structure that many Christians use as a model for their own prayers:
- It begins with praise and acknowledgment of God's holiness ("Hallowed be thy Name")
- It asks for God's kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth
- It continues with petitions for daily needs ("our daily bread")
- It includes requests for forgiveness of sins
- It ends with a plea for protection from temptation and evil
The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen
Some churches add the doxology: "For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever," which appears in early editions of the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer.
Forms and styles of prayer
Prayer is remarkably flexible in Christian practice, with numerous valid expressions. The two main categories are written prayers and extemporary prayers. Written prayers are those that have been composed and recorded, such as the Lord's Prayer or prayers found in a Prayer Book. These prayers connect Christians across time and space, as believers recite the same words used by countless others before them.
Extemporary prayers, by contrast, are spontaneous prayers spoken "off the cuff" without being written down or memorised beforehand. These are sometimes called "prayers from the heart" because they express the immediate thoughts, feelings, and needs of the person praying. Many Protestant traditions, particularly Pentecostal and evangelical churches, emphasise this form of prayer as it allows for personal, authentic expression.
Prayer Aids Across Traditions
Prayer can be accompanied by various aids depending on the tradition:
- Protestant churches: Prayer is usually combined with Bible reading, with believers asking God to speak to them through Scripture
- Catholic and Orthodox traditions: Physical aids like rosary beads or icons are commonly used
- The rosary involves a set pattern of prayers said while moving through a string of beads, helping believers to meditate on key events in the life of Jesus and Mary
- Icons—religious images of Christ, Mary, and the saints—serve as windows to the divine, helping believers focus their prayers
The Jesus Prayer
One particularly significant prayer used for meditation, especially in the Orthodox tradition, is the Jesus Prayer. This simple prayer probably dates from the fifth century CE and consists of a brief, repeated phrase that creates a state of constant prayerfulness.
The Jesus Prayer
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
The brevity and repetition of this prayer make it ideal for contemplative practice, where it may be repeated many times, sometimes coordinated with breathing. This form of prayer aims to create a state of constant prayerfulness and awareness of God's presence.
Physical expressions of prayer
The physical posture adopted during prayer can vary widely among Christians, and all forms are considered valid expressions of devotion. These different physical expressions reflect the involvement of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—in the act of prayer.
Common postures include:
- Hands folded together: A traditional posture symbolising unity of purpose and reverence
- Heads bowed: Demonstrating humility before God
- Kneeling: A posture of submission and reverence, common in Catholic and Anglican traditions
- Sitting: Often used during longer prayer times or meditation
- Standing: Common in many worship services, expressing readiness to serve
- Hands raised: Particularly common in Pentecostal and charismatic churches, expressing praise and openness to God
- Lying prostrate: Lying face-down, the ultimate posture of submission and humility, used in some monastic traditions and special occasions
Types and purposes of prayer
Christian prayer encompasses several distinct types, each serving a specific purpose:
Adoration and praise: These prayers express love, devotion, and worship to God, acknowledging his character and attributes without asking for anything in return.
Thanksgiving: Prayers of gratitude for God's care, provision, and blessings. Christians are encouraged to maintain an attitude of thankfulness in all circumstances.
Confession: Admitting sins and seeking forgiveness is a common and important feature of Christian prayer. This type of prayer recognises human fallibility and God's mercy.
Petition: These are requests for specific answers to prayer, whether for personal needs, healing, guidance, or material provision.
Intercession: This is prayer on behalf of others. Intercession makes up a significant part of formal liturgical worship in many Christian churches.
Common Subjects for Intercessory Prayer
Christians are called to pray for:
- Leaders of nations and the world
- The church itself, including other Christians and church leaders
- The local community in which they live
- Those who are sick or in need
- Those who have died
Categories of prayer: radiating outward
Prayer can be understood as radiating outward from the individual in expanding circles of concern. At the innermost level, Christians pray for themselves—for personal health, safety, guidance, and spiritual growth. When facing something new, such as starting a journey, beginning a task, or eating a meal, Christians often say a prayer. These prayers signal transition and help the person accommodate change.
From this personal focus, prayer expands to encompass family members, then the broader community, and ultimately the world. Through prayer, Christians express hopes for improvement and betterment at each level. Prayers for world peace, for example, are commonly said in Christian gatherings. This outward movement from self-concern to global concern reflects the Christian command to love one's neighbour and care for all of humanity.
Prayer as ritual and psychological support
Prayer serves an important psychological function as a personal ritual. When facing challenges, uncertainties, or significant life changes, the familiar practice of prayer can provide comfort, structure, and a sense of control. This doesn't diminish the spiritual significance of prayer but rather acknowledges that God works through natural psychological processes as well as supernatural intervention.
Prayer can also be part of formal liturgy—the structured pattern of worship used in church services. Many churches follow a Prayer Book that provides set prayers for different occasions and seasons of the church year. This liturgical prayer connects individuals to the broader Christian community and to centuries of tradition.
Prayer and the sacraments
For many Christians, particularly in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions, prayer finds visible expression in the sacraments. Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, and they are always accompanied by prayer.
The two most universally recognised sacraments are:
Baptism: The sacrament of initiation into the Christian faith, accompanied by prayers for the person being baptised and for God's blessing and protection.
Holy Communion (Eucharist): The central act of Christian worship, where believers remember Jesus' death and resurrection by sharing bread and wine. This sacrament is surrounded by prayers of thanksgiving, consecration, and intercession.
These sacramental acts make prayer tangible and communal, not just a private, internal experience.
Prayer in Christian worship
Prayer is integral to Christian worship services, whether formal or informal. Churches that follow more structured liturgies include specific times for different types of prayer: prayers of adoration, confession, intercession, and thanksgiving. Less formal worship services may include extended times of spontaneous prayer, where members of the congregation pray aloud as they feel led.
Intercessory Prayer in Worship
Many worship services feature a time specifically dedicated to intercession, where the congregation prays for:
- World leaders and situations of conflict or injustice
- The needs of the church, both locally and globally
- The local community and its concerns
- Individuals who are sick, grieving, or facing difficulties
- Those who have died
This communal aspect of prayer reinforces the Christian belief that believers are part of one body and should bear one another's burdens.
Key Points to Remember:
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Prayer is communication with God: It is the foundation of Christian personal devotion and the primary way Christians develop their relationship with God.
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Multiple valid forms exist: Prayer can be written or extemporary, spoken or silent, accompanied by Bible reading or prayer aids like rosary beads, and expressed through various physical postures.
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The Lord's Prayer is the model: Taught by Jesus, it structures prayer around praise, petition for God's will and daily needs, confession, and protection from evil.
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Prayer has different types and purposes: These include adoration, thanksgiving, confession, petition (for oneself), and intercession (for others).
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Prayer radiates outward: It begins with personal concerns but expands to encompass family, community, and ultimately the entire world, reflecting the Christian call to love and care for others.