Introduction to Prayer

Prayer is talking to God.  When the disciples asked Jesus How to Pray, He responded with the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Prayer can be simple. One pattern to follow it:

ACTS-

Adore God,
Confess our sins, 
Thankfulness to God, 
Supplication for our needs.

Then pray for others, including your nation and the nations of the world.  (link to prayer resource: Effective Prayer / Prayer for Nations)

Prayer is daily. Here is a way to integrate daily prayer - Every morning, Ted Beckett, Gateway Prayer Garden Founder, would pray 1 John 1:9 in the shower:  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “Then, he said, “when I step out of the shower, I’m clean on the outside and clean on the inside and ready to hear from the Lord what assignments are needed today.”

Prayer can be active. Many people enjoy walking and praying, so the Garden has Prayer Trails (add in link to prayer trails)  along Fountain Creek where you can walk and pray, with benches to rest.  

Prayer can be focused. The Garden has key areas to take time for focused prayer, including:

  • Seven Mountains of Society: (insert link to seven mountains pages), One section of the Prayer Trails has areas to stop and pray for seven key areas, or mountains, of our society.  
  • Military: (Insert link to Military Circle Garden feature page) The Colorado Springs area has 5 Military bases, so we have an area that invites you to pray for the Military.  
  • Native Americans: The Native Americans originally occupied this land, so we have an area that recognizes their contribution to this land and a place to pray for them.

Pray God’s Word. The Walkable Cross at the Garden is another area that invites Prayer with 90 Scriptures engraved on stone tablets.