How to Pray

Extemporaneous Prayer vs. Written Prayer

Is one better than the other?

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Like many conservative evangelical Christians

I grew up in in a church that strongly encouraged extemporaneous prayer but seemed suspicious of written prayers – or at least, that was my impression.  We never used them in public worship services and I certainly don’t recall any encouragement to use written prayers in private.  It was as if extemporaneous praying was sincere and devout while written prayers were somehow cold and dead. 

​But is this true?

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 Today there remains two distinct camps on this matter.  Those only in favor of extemporaneous prayer point to the Sermon on the Mount where the Lord Jesus warned:
 
            "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases…"  
(Matthew 6:7, ESV)
 
The implication being that all written prayers, regularly recited amount to little more than “empty phrases” (ESV) or as the KJV more forcefully puts it, “vain repetitions.”  And there certainly is danger here, isn’t there?  In Greek the phrase in Matthew 6:7 describes prayers that are “tediously stammered.”  But when Jesus warned against prayers tediously stammered was He really referring to written prayers?  That is to say, when He spoke the words of Matthew 6:7 was He turning aside from the main thrust of His Sermon on the Mount to offer a few pointers about the merits of extemporaneous prayer over against written prayers?  It hardly seems likely considering in the very next breath He gave us the most oft recited “written” prayer of all time:
 
            "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. "  
(Matthew 6:9-13, KJV)
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To my mind this at least suggests that both written and extemporaneous prayers are useful for us.  Therefore, in recent years I have made personal use of both particularly in my morning devotions.  I would encourage you to do the same.
 
The question arises:                
​                                           Where can I find some written prayers to pray?

Some written prayers can be found in the Bible (eg. Exodus 33:13, Psalm 51:1-8, Jonah 2:2-9, & Philippians 1:9-11) while other non-inspired prayers are recorded for us in very helpful prayer books like The Valley of Vision (purchase a copy if you don’t already have one).  Though these prayers are “written” they need not be seen only as “tedious stammering,”  in fact, you are feel free to add extemporaneous elements to them.  You can make these prayers your own and rework them to suit your current situation.  If you are like me and are keenly aware that you often do not know how to pray as you ought (Romans 8:26) these written prayers can act as very helpful guides.  In using them you will not only deepen your understanding of the how-to’s of prayer but you will also add direction and intentionality to your conversations with God.

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Over the past several month I have been using a modified version of “The Litany” from the Book of Common Prayer.  I have recorded it below and would encourage you to use it if it would be helpful to you.

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“The Litany”
or General Supplication.
Adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer

O GOD the Father, Creator of heaven and earth - Have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world - Have mercy upon us.
O God the Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the faithful - Have mercy upon us.
O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God - Have mercy upon us.
 
REMEMBER not, Lord, our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers, nor the sins of our youth; neither take thou vengeance of our sins: Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever – Spare us, good Lord.
 
From all evil and mischief; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation – Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness – Good Lord, deliver us.
From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil – Good Lord, deliver us.
From lightning and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death – Good Lord, deliver us.
From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and Commandment – Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity and Circumcision; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation – Good Lord, deliver us.
 
By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost – Good Lord, deliver us.
 
In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment – Good Lord, deliver us.
 
WE sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way – We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee so to rule the heart of thy servant, The President of the United States, that he may above all things seek thy honour and glory – We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bless and preserve all Christian Rulers and Magistrates, giving them grace to execute justice, and to maintain truth –  We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
 
That it may please thee to illuminate all ministers, of the Church, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth, and show it accordingly – We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
 
That it may please thee to send forth labourers into thy harvest – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us an heart to love and fear thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and are deceived – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; and to comfort and help the weak-hearted; and to raise up those who fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to uphold, help, and comfort, all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
 
That it may please thee to preserve all who travel by land, by water, or by air, all women in child-birth, all sick persons, and young children; and to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to defend, and provide for, the fatherless children, and widows, and all who are desolate and oppressed – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in due time we may enjoy them – we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word – w e beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
 
Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.  O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world; Grant us thy peace.  O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world; Have mercy upon us. O Christ, hear us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
 
OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.