Prayer is strength for the weak and opens our hearts to Christ. Make 2024 the year you #GivePrayerAGo
Prayer is our way of welcoming Christ into our hearts. It will never make anything worse and can only make things better.
But too often, we can all find it difficult to pray. We put up barriers between ourselves and Christ.
How often have you said or thought: I’m too busy to pray or even you that don’t know how or where to start?
The biggest challenge is often just beginning.
So together, let’s Give Prayer A Go. Turn to Christ with your worries, hopes and thanks in prayer and watch how it transforms you.
Prayer is strength for the weak. Prayer builds peace. Prayer is a gift from God. We just need to reach out and grab it!
As Archbishop John Wilson said:
“If we ask, we will be heard. If we seek, we will be found. If we knock, the Lord Jesus will open the door. Prayer builds peace.”
Go on, #GivePrayerAGo.
Campaign explained
To mark the New Year and the Year of Prayer, as designated by the Holy Father, the Archdiocese of Southwark will be encouraging people to #GivePrayerAGo through an online campaign.
The activities will be varied and will include:
- sharing testimonies of prayer, from how prayer has helped people overcome difficult situations to how prayer has enriched their lives.
- helping people overcome perceived barriers to prayer, by showing the various ways you can welcome Christ into your hearts.
- giving people ideas, resources and tips to pray. From quotes from Saints to simple steps to follow to turn your mind to the Lord Jesus.
- advertising prayer events across the Archdiocese, highlighting prayer groups, adoration and the rosary. As well as explaining what it all means!
Prayer makes you powerful, it is strength for the weak. That is why the illustrations of the campaign show enlarged hands. By opening our hearts to the Lord Jesus, we become strong.
Ways to get involved
The best way to get involved is to simply #GivePrayerAGo. Pray as much as you can, let Christ into your hearts and rejoice in His mercy.
If you don’t know where to start, why not follow the advice of Archbishop John and begin by saying the Our Father – the prayer the Lord Jesus taught us – when you wake up and before you go to sleep.
Share what prayer means to you
We would love to hear your own personal stories of prayer. Let us know what prayer means to you, the difference it has made to your life and how you let Christ into your heart. You can also share videos or stories on social media using the hashtag #GivePrayerAGo.
Write your own prayers
Write your own prayers and share them with us! This is a wonderful way to deepen your prayer life. Giving you the chance to pray to the Lord Jesus, but also helping others too. You can write a prayer on anything – from being anxious at work, or worried about exams to praying for a family member to get better.
Tips for writing prayers
Prayer is your way of speaking to Christ. So write what comes to your heart and share! If you’re looking for inspiration on what to write, you could:
- give thanks to Christ for someone you love or something you are grateful for.
- praise the Lord Jesus for all He has done for you and others – lets adore and glorify Him together!
- share the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus, asking Him to continue to help you and others in their lives.
- ask the Lord Jesus for support or help, put your worries and hopes on Him.
- seek forgiveness and ask for His mercy.
Praying together is a brilliant way to get involved.
For example, after dinner or before bed, why not pray as a family? Open all your hearts to Christ and let Him in. Or ask a friend to join you in prayer.
Let us know how you’re praying! It will help encourage others to follow in your steps too.
Please keep checking back for more resources and ways to get involved.
But most of all – keep Giving Prayer a Go!