Prayer
Prayer is not just for Sunday mornings or mealtime or bedtime.
The Bible instructs believers to pray to God without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) and to give thanks and praise (Daniel 2:23). We are to pray when we are sick, (James 5:14-15), persecuted (Matthew 5:44), tempted (Matthew 26:41), in distress (Psalm 118:5) or in need of mercy (Psalm 143:1) or forgiveness (Matthew 6:12).
Jesus' disciples knew prayer was an important enough topic they asked for directions. His response became known as the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). That prayer serves as an example for us all. Below are some opportunities to share your prayer needs and improve your prayer life and that of your family.
Prayer Requests
"The Lord is at hand: do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:5b-6 (ESV)
Have something to celebrate? How about some health or other concerns? Has a prayer been answered? Our Savior's Prayer Team meets weekly online to pray for you and for our community.
You can submit your prayer requests by clicking the button below.
Prayer Resources
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26 (ESV)
Sometimes we might not know what to pray or feel we don't know how. These resources can help.
- Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families, excerpt from Lutheran Service Book (PDF document download, from CPH)
- Video-based Bible Study on Prayer from Lutheran Hour Ministries (requires free registration to download workbook and related material)
- Theology and Practice of Prayer: A Lutheran View (PDF document downloads from the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations)
- "What About: The Lord's Prayer?" (PDF download, one in a series of "What About?" pamphlets available here)
- Martin Luther's "A Simple Way to Pray" (landing page with Bible Study & more)
- Luther's Small Catechism (online version, part of the Book of Concord)
Books
Concordia Publishing House, the publishing arm of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, has produced many books and Bible studies on prayer. Here is a brief sampling.
- The Lutheran Study Bible
- Lutheran Service Book
- Lutheran Book of Prayer
- A Simple Way to Pray
- Treasury of Daily Prayer
- Lutheran Prayer Companion
- Teens Pray: Conversations with God
- Prayer: Learning How to Talk to God
- Praying Luther's Small Catechism