In depth | Evangelicals Now

What counts as prayer?

Michael Williams

Like me, you may be more intimidated than inspired by stories of figures like Martin Luther rising before dawn to get in three hours of prayer before the day began. These examples seem utterly unattainable for the ‘normal’ believer. Yet even Luther’s early morning vigil falls a long way short of the call to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5v17). If we can’t even manage three hours a day, what hope do we have for prayer that never ends?

This is not a new question for believers. Roughly 1,600 years ago the North African pastor, Augustine, was wrestling with just that. His reflections, especially on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, give us cause to rethink what ‘counts’ as prayer.

Sculpture will ‘shout to future generations’ about prayer

Emily Pollok

A massive new Christian monument under construction near Birmingham is a living declaration that Jesus is alive today, the man behind it says.

After reaching its initial £40 million fundraising target, the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer broke ground on its Coleshill site in November, kicking off a multi-year process which should see the structure completed in 2028.

Are we praying with eternity in mind?

Andrew Drury

There is a familiar theme in many prayers written by saints who have gone before us. It is noticeable in the prayer by the Polish-born reformer Zacharias Ursinus (1534–1583).

His prayer commences conventionally, with the acknowledgement to God the Father that we are weak - for we are being attacked by the Devil, the world and our own flesh unceasingly. The prayer includes the plea that the power of the Holy Spirit would keep and strengthen us, so that we would not be defeated.

'Health+Care Sunday': Will you join us in prayer?

Lucy Honeysett

I wonder if you feel discouraged and anxious as we look at our struggling health and social care system and the potential changes to law around the corner.

I won’t list the worries and problems that might cause us sleepless nights. So instead, let’s turn to prayer. We want to see our churches pray for our health and social care services in the UK, and the Christians who work tirelessly to support and care for those in need.

Rediscovering the 'lost' art of kneeling in prayer

Roger Carswell

A visitor to the Continental Congress in America was eager to see George Washington. He asked a steward: “Which one of those men is George Washington?”

The reply came: “When the Congress goes to prayer, the one who kneels is General George Washington.”

Called to pray: In Parliament, in prison and in war

David Burrowes

Have you been praying for the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently?

Actually maybe you have, given the Trump self-declared “12 day” war between Israel and Iran. I pray that by the time this article reaches you the conflict in the Middle East will have not escalated into a full-blown global war.

disability & accessibility

Not all prayer looks the same - and that's okay

Kay Morgan-Gurr

We’ve all been told stories of the great saints of prayer. You know, those worthy people who got up early in the morning and prayed for hours, without a cup of coffee and before breakfast.

We’ve all, at some point, probably felt guilty that we can’t pray that way. But dig a little deeper into those stories and we will also find lives just like ours - fragile and flawed.

Now This

Perverted prayer?

Bill James

Raised in non-conformity, I have never been comfortable with liturgical prayers.

While no one would deny the beauty and the elegance of the Book of Common Prayer, it seems too stilted and too formal to address the Lord with words written hundreds of years ago.

How do Ukrainian Christians now want us to pray?

Ryan Burton King

“How can we pray for Ukraine?” is a question I am often asked, as someone with extensive personal and ministry connections there.

There are numerous suggestions I have made by way of an answer, some more specific to areas of personal involvement, broader ministry interests, or recent events, while other answers may be more general. Recent Russian attacks on civilians in Kryvyi Rih and Sumy, as well as much talk about ceasefires, truces, and peace without any real changes, have perhaps reminded people that their prayers are still very much needed.

Now This

Praying in the New Year

Bill James

The New Year is a wonderful opportunity to reflect with thanksgiving on the year that is past, and to pray in faith for the year that lies ahead. What are your prayers for the New Year?

The news this year has been dominated by stories of elections and new governments. There have been grim reports of wars and conflicts in Ukraine/Russia, and Israel with its neighbours. We might add that there are numerous other conflicts around the world which don’t appear in our national media, including Sudan and Burma/Myanmar. Our prayers might well include petitions for peace, and for just and righteous laws in our country and around the world. We are commanded to pray for rulers and authorities. Jesus teaches us to pray ‘Your will be done’ which includes a desire for God’s will and creation purposes to be reflected in a sinful world.

The power of calling God 'our Father'

Michael Reeves

In Matthew 6:9, Jesus says: 'Pray … like this, "Our Father in heaven."' These words open the floodgates of prayer — and heavenly blessing.

We live in a world where people believe they are self-sufficient. They don’t need to cry out for help. And Christians are swept along: we are becoming like busy Martha, doing our many tasks but failing to sit with Mary at Jesus’ feet. But without prayer, Christians are hollow. For prayer is the mark of Christian integrity.

Celebrating 25 years of prayer

Luke Randall

24-7 Prayer celebrated 25 years of existence at The Gathering in Rotterdam, which celebrated 25 years of prayer by reflecting on their journey so far and looking ahead to the future.

The interdenominational organisation, which exists to ‘revive the church and rewire the culture through non-stop night and day prayer,’ started with a student-led prayer vigil. Fast forward 25 years and now 78 nations pray as part of the movement, amounting to over 25,000 prayer rooms (virtual and in-person) and over 500,000 prayers, according to their website.

National week of prayer comes to an end

en staff

en Board member Carl Knightly, Director of Networks at London City Mission was among those at Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, as part of the ‘National Week of Prayer’.

Writing on X, he said: ‘Many people came together to pray for the UK, and this was one of numerous events occurring across the nation, and indeed nations… It was a blessed and profound time of prayer and worship, as we came before God to lift up the UK to Him. I was privileged to facilitate some of that prayer time, and join with fellow believers in this special afternoon.’

politics & policy

Do you pray for our Parliament? Now is the time.

David Burrowes

St Paul wrote about its primacy, Christian political greats like William Wilberforce banged on about it and Parliament can’t begin without it. What am I talking about? Prayer of course!

We look on politics and our leaders with a variety of feelings: ranging from a healthy Romans 13 respect to a cynical ‘Have I Got News’ sigh. But do we really pray for them?

sport watch

Praying in the face of failure

Jonny Reid

How should sportspeople pray? Can they pray to win?

A wealthy widow called Proba asked a similar question to one of the greatest theologians of the first millennium, Augustine. Augustine majored on one main theme in his advice around prayer:

We need divine help more than ever, Ukraine pastors say

Iain Taylor

Only divine intervention can bring about a lasting peace in Ukraine, church leaders there say.

That’s the message from a mission organisation working in the heart of the ongoing and bloody conflict caused by Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion.

How five coins and prayer changed millions

Emily Andrews

The National Probation Service for England and Wales is one of the least known and understood wheels of the criminal justice system, sadly only making it into the news when mistakes are made.

Even less is known of the wonderful origins of this core organisation. In order to learn more about the history, we have to travel back in time to 1878 and Victorian England. This was a time of great poverty, especially for those in some of the most deprived London districts.

Year-long prayer-walk ends

Nick Mudge

After exactly a year, a prayer-walking initiative encompassing every street in the whole Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbation has been completed.

The elders at Gateway Church, Poole, launched the walk in February last year. It covered a population of just over 400,000 people, more than 3,800 roads (see map below) and 900 miles of walking.

Prayer and mindfulness

Date posted: 1 Mar 2024

Dear Editor,

Thank you so much for publishing Kirsten Birkett’s article ‘On prayer, mindfulness and contemplation’ in your January edition. Surely if Christians are about anything it is prayer, for without our Almighty Father we are hopeless and helpless. May we indeed ‘yearn’ for His Holy Spirit to be at work in all our being, ideas, plans, activities. It’s incumbent upon us ordinary Christians in the pew to demand that prayer is at the core of all our purpose and priorities, living everyday and work in church and community. But do I ever ‘yearn’? May we all dare to learn to do so.

‘Orwellian’ prayer ban worries

Nicola Laver

Moves to ban Islamic prayers in a school have potential ‘Orwellian consequences’, a representative of Christian teachers says.

Lizzie Harewood, executive officer at the Association of Christian Teachers (ACT), was expressing her thoughts after Katharine Birbalsingh, high-profile head of Michaela Community School in Brent and self-styled ‘Britain’s strictest headmistress’, introduced a ban on Muslim prayers during lunchbreaks.

pastoral care

Intimate prayer in a pandemic

Steve Midgley

Restriction is a key part of our new vocabulary. We are restricted in our activities, in our social gatherings, restricted in our travel, and even restricted in church.

There is so much that we cannot do, and the experience is tiring, irritating and not a little disorientating. We know there is ministry to be done, but we just can’t get to do it. We know there are friends to encourage, but we have such limited access to them. We know there is a Lord to be worshipped, but we can’t even sing His praises. It is all so frustrating. When good things are out of reach, frustration is appropriate.

Prayer app sees record growth in Covid

Prayermate.net

The PrayerMate app has seen growth during 2020 with record numbers of users in March and April.

Reaching a total of 444,000 downloads, there were 42,000 active users at the height of the UK lockdown. The PrayerMate community prayed for over 19 million prayer items in 2020 which is over 1.6 million items per month.

What are you like at wrestling in prayer?

Sarah Allen

Wrestling is a strange image of prayer. If you read some of the pieces written about prayer today, it seems even more strange.

They tell us (rightly) that prayer is about intimacy and relationship, about knowing God. The Bible’s image of wrestling suggests instead conflict and hard work. It may be an intimate way to fight, but it isn’t sweet. This kind of fighting is sweaty, painful – and all about endurance.

Spend a day in prayer!

John Benton

Things are not going to be better by Christmas. The pandemic continues.

The country is in trouble. The churches are under strain. We need help and encouragement. This ought to be one of those occasions when Christians give themselves to prayer in a concentrated form – perhaps for a day or half a day. But how do you do that – especially if you are not used to such things?

‘The church is less honest than the Bible about unanswered prayer’

As a new edition of God on Mute is published, en speaks to its author, Pete Greig

Pete Greig arrives a few minutes late online for our interview, having grappled – as we all do – with some issues relating to Zoom.

In Depth: prayer