You don't always have the strength and ability to stand. The work involves hard physical labor, and by the evening a person is so tired that his legs ache. Due to advancing years, age-related diseases appear. A pregnant woman who has lower back pain and swollen legs. There are many reasons, but a person feels the need for prayer.
What now, not to pray at all? Of course not. Be sure to pray while sitting. And this can be done, despite the indignation of the grandmothers from the church.
What is prayer?
This is direct communication with God. Conversation with Him. This is a conversation between a child and his Father. But we won’t explain ourselves in lofty words, but will talk about it more simply.
When we pray, we meet God. We meet the Mother of God and the saints, to whom we fall in prayer. We ask them for something, and after some time we realize that our request has been fulfilled. And thanks to this, comes the awareness of the participation of saints in our lives, as well as the participation of God. He is always there, always ready to help and patiently waiting for us to turn to him.
There is another type of prayer. This prayer is a dialogue. When a person is having a conversation, it is important for him not only to speak out, but also to hear the opinion of the interlocutor. The moment we offer prayers to God, we need to be prepared for Him to reveal Himself to us. Sometimes not the way we imagine Him. Therefore, you cannot invent an image of God for yourself, or somehow imagine him. We see God in icons, we see the Mother of God, saints. It's enough.
Is it possible to read prayers while sitting? Imagine that a man came to his father. I came after work, I really want to talk to him, but my legs hurt and I’m so tired that I just don’t have the strength to stand. Will the father, seeing this, not talk to his child? Or will he make him stand as a sign of respect for his parent? Of course not. Quite the contrary: seeing how tired the son is, he will suggest that he sit down, drink a cup of tea and talk.
So, will God, seeing a person’s zeal, not accept sincere prayer just because the person praying is sitting?
What akathist to read for children
For the children and for themselves they sing an akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos and the Sweetest Jesus.
The Blessed Virgin always helps children and protects them. You can turn to the Kazan Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This miraculous icon has been saving people for centuries. The akathist is pronounced in front of the icon of the Mother of God, while the gaze must be turned to the image. The akathist is pronounced standing.
The akathist before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, “Increasing the Mind,” is read by parents who want to live and raise their children according to the will of God, but do not know how to do it. The Mother of God hears the prayers of mothers and fathers, directs them to the right path in life, and gives help and wisdom.
Reading the akathist before the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Education,” parents ask the Mother of God to take their children under her protection and patronage, to help raise their children as good Christians, to fill their hearts with wisdom and give them a clear mind as they walk the path of life.
When do we pray?
Most often, when something happens in life and help is urgently needed. Then the person begins to pray and ask God for this help. He simply has no other hope. Help comes, the satisfied person rejoices, forgets to thank him and moves away from God until the next emergency situation. Is it correct? Hardly.
Ideally, we should live our lives prayerfully. Live with it the same way we live with air. People do not forget to breathe, because without oxygen we will simply die in a few minutes. Without prayer, the soul dies; this is its “oxygen”.
Given our busy schedule and living conditions, it is extremely difficult to constantly be in prayer. The hustle and bustle at work, the hustle and bustle in everyday life, the people around you – it’s all too much. And it's too noisy around us. However, we wake up in the morning. And what do we think about first? About what you have to do today. We get up, wash, get dressed, have breakfast and off we go – towards the new bustle. But you need to adjust your morning a little. Get up and thank God for another day given to you. Ask for His intercession during the day. Of course, the best option is to read morning prayers. But no one has yet canceled gratitude from the heart.
How to pray correctly at home, what prayers God hears
In moments of despair and everyday adversity, a person remembers God. Many people believed in the help of Jesus when they prayed in need. But does the Lord always listen to us? My grandmother taught me how to pray correctly. He explained why not all prayers reach heaven and why many remain unanswered. I will share with you this knowledge, which will be invaluable in any situation.
The Importance of Prayer
None of us are immune from storms and daily adversities, diseases and natural disasters. My grandmother always told me that we walk under God. Many people do not understand this and spend their lives in complete carelessness, not keeping God's commandments. But then problems come, and the person does not know where to wait for help. And help is always nearby, because Jesus Christ is the savior of everyone who believes in him.
Uncertainty about the future depresses the human heart. What if I lose my job, what if some bad luck happens to me - these thoughts can just make you fall into endless depression. But there is a way out, and God himself gives it to us: sincere prayer with faith in the heart. Jesus will always listen, never judge, and support you in difficult times.
Many people have gained confidence in life through faith and prayer.
My grandmother told me since childhood that prayer is not a collection of incomprehensible words in the ancient Russian language, but a conversation with God. It is not necessary to read ancient prayers if the heart asks for communication with the creator. God understands all our words, sees our hearts and hears our thoughts. Sincerity and truth are the keys to success in every prayer. Even if you are reading a difficult passage from a prayer book, faith and love for God should still be present in your heart.
There are people who seek greed in prayers. They think like this: I will read my prayers, and You (God) will help me with this. They think that earthly blessings will befall them just because they deign to take the Prayer Book into their hands. But God does not need favors and will not reward for selfish reasons. You must be honest and sincere, do not try to deceive the creator of life. You cannot ask God for honor, wealth and glory.
It is also impossible to please God by visiting holy places or temples popular among believers. Without faith in the heart, visiting shrines will yield nothing. A sincere believer, even one who does not have holy places, will be heard by God.
Prayer book
How to pray correctly at home? To do this, you need to buy a prayer book from the church store. It should become a reference book for a believer who wants to find God's help and grace. When a person lights a candle in front of the images and burns incense, he should be imbued with reverence for God. When opening your prayer book, you need to: free yourself from empty thoughts and direct all your attention to God. Through the word of prayer you come into contact with him, you start a conversation.
What prayers are in the prayer book? The book contains prayers covering a wide range of areas of life:
- assistance against warring parties;
- protect from dangers and problems;
- treat and protect against diseases;
- protect from the evil one and from evil spirits.
With the help of a prayer book, a person will be completely protected from the vicissitudes of fate, protected from the machinations of the evil one and attacking enemies.
Is it possible to pray in your own words and how to pray at home without a prayer book? If you don't have a prayer book, you can memorize Our Father and read it in prayer. You can activate a recording of a prayer where it is said by a priest 40 times in a row. But the best prayer is the prayer of the heart. It is she who the Lord listens to.
Faith and prayer open the heavens. Faith without prayer is useless, just like prayer without faith.
It is important to understand that the prayer book is not a collection of magical spells for all occasions. Holding a Prayer Book in your hands does not mean you will receive answers to all your requests. In the church they do not practice magic, but cleanse the soul of dirt. Many diseases arise from unrepentant sins and unworthy behavior. Therefore, when you pick up a holy book, remember your sinful nature and do not demand obedience from God for you.
Time for Prayer
How to correctly read prayer at home, at what time? Previously, our ancestors began every morning with prayer, asking for God's blessing for the coming day. Nowadays, people do not even think about the approaching images and only briefly ask God for blessings. They are always in a hurry and late, and in the morning they want to sit longer in bed. But if you want to protect yourself from troubles throughout the day, take a few minutes to pray.
How to start morning prayer? First of all, you need to cross yourself and say: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” The obligatory prayers follow:
Should you read the entire series of morning prayers from a prayer book? The Church Fathers teach that it is best to carefully read the two prayers of the entire crypt without due respect. There is no need to recite sacred texts quickly, it is a waste of time.
Before and after prayer, you need to make the sign of the cross and bow with your belt.
It is also necessary to pray for future sleep, as it protects us from the temptations of the evil one. In a dream, a person is completely helpless and cannot control his thoughts. The enemy of humanity takes advantage of this and sends obscene dreams or nightmares. A protective prayer before going to bed will protect you from the attack of the evil one. However, before night prayer, you should analyze the past day:
- find sins and repent before God;
- notice whether there were thoughts about spiritual things during the day;
- forgive the wicked with all your heart;
- thank God for the day.
Gratitude to God for everything is an important prayer rule. We live and breathe because of the creator of life. How many people in this world are destitute or crippled, so expressing gratitude for your well-being is an indispensable condition in the rule of prayer. However, thank God, we must not forget his commandment to love our neighbor. If deep down we are hostile to someone, God simply will not listen to us.
Enmity between people leaves prayer unanswered.
Jesus taught that you should begin to pray after you have forgiven your neighbors for their sins against you. Just as you forgive others for their sins, you too will be forgiven. But if in your heart you are hostile to your neighbor and are indignant, then God will not listen to you and your prayer calls.
What can you ask for in prayer?
Jesus Christ told us to seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness. If we think about the earth, we move away from the spiritual. Vain requests for insignificant earthly benefits are not considered. But if a person strives for the spiritual and seeks spiritual grace, then God will satisfy all his earthly needs.
Often people do not know how to pray so that God will hear and help. They seek earthly blessings, but do not think about heavenly ones. People can ask for a car, luck in the lottery, or love from a person. But God does not listen to such requests. In the same way, God does not listen to sinners who have never confessed. If a person has nothing to confess, it means he is an inveterate sinner.
After confession, you can fulfill your most cherished desires.
Also, you cannot ask God for something that will cause pain and misfortune to other people. God will never answer such calls because He does not break His laws. But we have only one law: to love each other.
What icons should you pray to at home? An Orthodox believer should have a home iconostasis, but not everyone has one. Therefore, for home prayer in the temple you can buy icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. This will be enough to get you started. If you have a patron saint, you should also purchase his icon. Icons should be located in a clean and bright place in the room.
Prayer by agreement
What kind of prayer is this and why is it needed? Is this prayer in church? Reciting prayers by agreement involves several people agreeing to recite certain prayers at certain times. For example, believers agree to pray for someone's healing or for business success. They don't have to meet in the same room, and they can even live in different cities, it doesn't matter. It is important to determine the purpose of the prayer and say it at the same time.
Here is the text of John's prayer of the Kronstadt Treaty:
According to his testimony, this prayer worked miracles. People received healing from illnesses, strengthened their spirit in difficult conditions and regained their lost faith.
How many times a day should you read a common prayer? John of Kronstadt and other prayer books are read 4 times a day until they receive what they asked for.
Remember that prayer is not a ritual act, and do not expect immediate fulfillment of what you desire.
However, to perform a prayer by mutual consent, it is necessary to obtain the blessing of a priest. Don't forget this rule.
Adviсe
So, when you begin to pray, it is important to remember the following:
- wearing a cross and headscarf (for women);
- before you begin to pray, you must forgive all the sins of your neighbors against you;
- you need to start reading the prayer in a calm state of mind, without problems and in a hurry;
- one must firmly believe that God hears the prayer of the believer;
- before reading the prayer, you must make the sign of the cross three times and bow at the waist;
- the prayer must be said in front of the images;
- do not ask for fame and wealth, God will not listen to it;
- after reading the prayers, you need to thank and glorify God and be baptized.
If you have holy water, you need to take a few sips to sanctify your insides as well.
How many times do you need to say a prayer request to get an answer? Sometimes it takes a long time, sometimes the answer comes instantly. Everything depends on the will of God and your efforts.
If your prayer calls go unanswered, you are asking for something that is harmful to you. Always trust the Lord because He knows best, ?
Prayer throughout the day
Is this possible given our workload? Why not, everything is possible. Is it possible to pray while sitting, for example, in a car? Certainly. You can go to work and mentally pray to God.
A man sat down to eat - before the meal he needed to pray mentally, read the “Our Father.” No one will hear this, but what is the benefit for the one praying! He ate, thanked the Lord for the meal, and went back to work.
Prayer in the temple
Is it possible for an Orthodox person to pray while sitting? Especially in the temple, where everyone is standing? Due to weakness - it is possible. There is such a wonderful phrase from Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow: “It is better to think about God while sitting than to think about your feet while standing.”
Some illnesses make it difficult for a person to stand. And with other weaknesses it is not always easy. Therefore, you should not be embarrassed by sitting on a bench in a temple. There are certain places in the service where you must stand when proclaiming them. This is the Cherubic Hymn, the reading of the Gospel, the prayers “I Believe” and “Our Father”, the removal of the Chalice. In other cases, if you feel that you cannot stand the service, sit down.
How to read an akathist at home
Akathists are read while standing, turning their face to the icon of the Saint to whom the song of praise is offered. In this way, you can chant the saints at home in front of the icon, and if there is no icon, come to the temple.
As a last resort, if there is no icon and it is not possible to come to the temple, the akathist can be sung, facing the east.
Before singing the akathist, you should read the initial prayers, this could be “Our Father.” In any prayer book, which can be easily bought in a church store, there are such prayers - before the start of any task and at the end of it.
We ask the Lord for help to start a good deed, to bless us for the feat, to be our guide, and after completion, we thank the Lord for His help.
The akathist ends with a prayer dedicated to the Saint to whom the akathist was pronounced. As a rule, the texts of hymns of praise exist in Church Slavonic. It happens that comments are given in Russian for each of the songs.
What should sick people do?
What if a person is so sick that he cannot get up on his own? Or bedridden? Or is it due to very old age? He can’t even pick up a prayer book. How then to pray? And in general, is it possible to pray lying down or sitting?
In this case, you can ask one of the household members to submit a prayer book. Keep it close to the bed so that the patient can reach it independently. More precisely, reach out and take it. As for reading the Gospel, family members may well take a couple of minutes and read an excerpt from it at the request of the patient.
In addition, a bedridden person is able to pray mentally. There is nothing reprehensible about turning to God in your own words. In a prayer that comes from the depths of the heart, from the whole soul, how can there be anything offensive to God? Even if it is read in an “unidentified” position. The Lord sees the heart of the one who prays and knows his thoughts. And accepts the prayer of the sick or infirm.
Is it possible to pray at home, sitting or lying down? Yes. And it’s not just possible, but necessary. “Those who are healthy don’t call for a doctor, but those who are sick really need a doctor.” And not only in the literal sense of these words.
Charter for reading the akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Nicholas the Wonderworker is one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox world. The akathist to the saint was written after his death. The text of the akathist consists of biographies of the Wonderworker.
The Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker is read for 40 days, in this case you need to take a blessing from the priest. Why 40 days? When asking for help from the Saints, we ourselves must make a spiritual feat, show our zeal and show firmness in faith.
Can prayer be objectionable?
Complex issue. She may not be heard, rather. Why? Everything depends on the quality of prayer. If a person routinely read the prayer rule in 15 minutes, without thinking about the words and their meaning, closed the prayer book - and that’s it, what kind of prayer is this? It is not clear to a person what and why he read. But God doesn’t need a template, He needs sincerity.
Who can you pray to while sitting at home? And to God, and the Mother of God, and the saints. Let the prayer be performed in a sitting position, but from the heart. This is better than standing in front of the icons and simply reading the rule without understanding anything in it and without trying to do it.
Children's prayer
Is it possible for a child to pray while sitting? Children's prayer is considered the most sincere. Because children are innocent, naive and trust God. It’s not for nothing that the Lord himself said: be like children.
There are concessions for children. Including in the prayer rule. The most important thing is not to force the child to read long and incomprehensible prayers. Let the baby read, for example, “Our Father” before going to bed and talk to God in his own words. This is much more useful than reading out the rules with a cold heart, because mom said so, that is, according to the principle “adults need to do it.” And it’s not for adults, it’s for the child himself.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
We often ask without thanking. The latter must not be forgotten. It would be unpleasant for us to fulfill someone's request and not hear thank you in return. Why should God give us something, knowing our ingratitude?
Is it possible to pray while sitting, read a thanksgiving akathist, or offer prayers of thanks? Are you tired? You feel sick? Sore feet? Then sit and don't worry about it. Sit down, take an akathist or prayer book in your hands, and read calmly, slowly, thoughtfully. Great benefit for the person praying. And God is glad to see such sincere gratitude.
How to properly prepare and read prayers at home
Why you should pray
The Classic Prayer Book is the primary source of complete prayers used by generations of believers. The fees vary in scope and scope:
- for priests;
- for ordinary believers;
- on the sick;
- by religion;
- for mothers with prayers for children;
- in the world;
- about the fight against passions;
- in Russian and Church Slavonic languages.
The prayer book contains very strong prayers to the Savior, the Mother of God, and patron saints. All words have been handed down for centuries and therefore have a powerful effect. Many prayers are conveyed in Old Church Slavonic and are underlined for correct pronunciation.
Mandatory holy addresses that should be in the prayer book include:
- Morning and evening. They are read after waking up and during sleep.
- Day. Pronounced before and after meals, before work and training.
- Fees for all days of the week and holidays.
- “The Canon of Repentance to Our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Akatists. They include a huge list, but the most important ones are for the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, St. Nicholas of Pleasure and the protector saints you want to pray to.
- “Followed to Holy Communion.”
Often we speak to God with the words of sacred texts, but we can also speak in our own words, especially if we need to ask for something. They can be read at home with family members or alone. Before turning to the Savior, they read the Lord's Prayer and then speak in their own words. Be sure to cross yourself.
You cannot ask for punishment, or wish harm or harm on another person.
- "Our Father";
- laudatory for the glorification of God;
- thank you for your help, patronage and intercession;
- before starting activities;
- requests for healing, protection, help;
- repentance, in which they repent of their sins, words and deeds;
- before meals.
Time and place for prayers
The best place for prayer at home is a prayer corner. It is located in a quiet and secluded location. The special atmosphere that the charity space breathes evokes amazement and encourages prayer.
Morning and evening are the best times to talk with the Savior. It is better to get up in the morning and not run anywhere, spending time with God. Before going to bed, it is also important to pray and calmly go to rest. They pray on weekdays and holidays, memorable and solemn dates. They pray if their heart tells them, with concern for their loved ones.
Sequence of Spiritual Worship
Before the prayer begins, they leave and light the lamp. Stand in front of the sacred image. It is advisable to remember the main texts. The main five are listed below:
- "Our Father";
- "Heavenly King";
- “Mother of God, virgin, rejoice”;
- “He is worthy to eat”;
- "Symbol of faith".
They make prostrations and bows at the waist, and are eclipsed by the signs of the cross. Don't be afraid if prayer becomes harsh, this is often proof of true effectiveness.
Preparation rules
You should prepare for prayer, for which there are several rules:
- People come to God washed, combed, and dressed in clean clothes.
- Women should wear a scarf and a long skirt.
- They approach the sacred image with reverence.
- If there is no icon, it can be placed near the windows on the east side.
- Light a lamp or candle.
- The kneeling or standing position should be natural.
- During prayer, they try to focus on talking to God or a saint.
Reading Features
The main thing is faith, on its basis any prayer is possible. Repentance for sins from the heart is one of the components. It is important to ask your neighbors for forgiveness, forgive yourself and let go of grievances. In this case, there is a high probability of being heard by God.
The words of the prayer are said slowly, preferably out loud or in a whisper. Focus on the spoken words and speak with a sincere heart. If necessary, repent of your sins. Every line was to their liking, they understand what was said. Before starting to pronounce words, make 3 bows to the ground and 3 signs of the cross.
You can start with the Lord's Prayer and then read the Prayer Book or speak in your own words.
How to end prayers
Ultimately, praise and gratitude are offered to God. Make sure you cross the sign of the cross three times. After prayer, you can study, go to work and do household chores. It is better not to quarrel with anyone and not to offend others.
What to do when scattered
Often, when reading sacred texts, all sorts of thoughts and ideas arise in my head. One of the reasons is fatigue. You need to try to tune in to prayer and not be distracted.
It is helpful to pray energetically, directing your thoughts in the right direction. Since the brain does not always perceive the power of the word, everything passes through the soul and leaves divine grace in it.
In order not to be distracted during the time of conversion through prayer, it is advisable to move away, otherwise it will be difficult for God or the saints to listen to you. This will help you focus and open up better.
Theophan the Recluse advises, when preparing for prayer, to follow a simple rule: walk and think before turning to the greatness of the one to whom you are going to turn, in order to understand who God is and who you are. Such an inner attitude will help revive awe and reverence in the soul.
The power of prayer is invaluable and can work miracles. By sincerely praying, you can change your destiny, pray for healing and health.
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When you don't have the strength to pray
It happens that you don’t have the strength to pray. No way. Neither standing, nor sitting, nor lying down. Prayer doesn’t work, the person doesn’t want to do it.
What to do then? Force yourself to get up, stand in front of the icons, pick up a prayer book and read at least one prayer. Through force. Because we don’t always want to pray, no matter how surprising it may sound. How can you not want to communicate with God? It’s wild, strange, incomprehensible, but such states do exist. And when they appear, you need to force yourself to pray.
But it probably won’t be from the heart? And here everything depends on the person praying. You can read every word with utmost attention, even if it is just one prayer. Such a prayerful attitude will be much more useful than if you do not pray at all or read the rule with just your lips, when your thoughts are hovering somewhere far, far away.
How long does the morning and evening rule take? 20 minutes, no more. This is because a person quickly reads it, and that’s it. So it’s better to spend these 20 minutes reading two prayers, but with sense and concentration, than to scold them somehow, because that’s how it’s supposed to be.
How to pray at home so that God hears your prayer
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The question of how to pray correctly at home so that God can listen worries many believers. Some Christians simply memorize the texts of prayers and repeat them mechanically, and sometimes do not even fully understand the meaning of the words... This means that these people simply do not know how to communicate with the Lord and do not realize that prayer is, first of all, a conversation with the “Almighty”, and not some kind of - duty, the duty of a believer.
You need to pray at home so that your desire to visit the temple increases. It is important to combine home prayer with church prayer. In prayer books you can find a large number of prayers for various needs:
- by religion;
- on the sick;
- for a wedding;
- about the fight against passions;
- in torments and temptations;
- on memorable days;
- for death and commemoration of the deceased;
- in the world;
- about prayers pleasing to God.
How to pray correctly at home
Here are some tips on how to communicate with God:
- it is very important to be honest, confess, take communion and lead a righteous life.
- You can say the prayer alone or as a family, depending on your circumstances and needs. As a rule, general prayer is required before meals.
- If you still do not know the texts of the prayers by heart, then you are allowed to read from the prayer book, but it is better to pray in your own words. The best option would be if you “apply” the texts from the prayer book, and then again move on to the prayers in your own words.
- Before you start praying, you need to cross yourself, make three large and small bows and say “Our Father” three times.
- It’s better to pray in front of the faces of the saints, on your knees.
- It is important to “transmit” what you say through yourself and pray out loud. And remember, if you find it difficult to pray, this does not mean that you are doing something wrong, but on the contrary, it is a sign of your sincerity.
- After completion, you also need to go through it, thank God for the sacrament and not rush to take on everyday affairs.
The most important thing is, of course, faith. If not, then prayer is impossible. Repentance is also important. God will not listen to us unless we repent, ask for forgiveness from our neighbors and forgive them ourselves. We must leave debts to our neighbors and only then begin to communicate with the Lord.
Another condition of true prayer is humility. A proud person who judges others will not be heard by God.
There is a prayer rule: daily morning and evening prayers. Their texts are in prayer books. The rule can be general or individual, which will help you choose a mentor.
There are 3 most important prayer rules:
- A complete rule of prayer for church ministers.
- A short prayer rule suitable for all Christians.
- Brief prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov.
How to pray at home in the morning
The biggest mistake will be if you are in a hurry. It’s better to get up early, make a schedule for yourself, and then there will be no problems. You must pray first and then proceed with all your other business.
