Is there a right or wrong way to pray?

The Rev. Lynn Sullivan , Garden City Community Church
I asked my Tuesday Morning Prayer Group that question and was told this story: A man heard a young boy reciting the alphabet aloud and asked the boy what he was doing. “I am praying to God”, replied the young boy. “It sounded like you were saying the alphabet”, said the man. “God knows my heart and puts the letters into the proper words.” Prayer is considered in my faith to be the ultimate and intimate communication with God. It is opening up from within and reaching out. There are many types of prayers said in our worship service, ranging from praise, petition, confession and intercession. Christians use “The Lord’s Prayer,” taught to us by Jesus as part of the Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 6:9-13), as the best example of prayer. Following that example as outlined by Jesus, one should begin prayers with an adoration of praise to the Lord. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…” Therefore, I conclude that there is no wrong way to pray to God. I believe if a prayer is genuine, pure and from the heart, God hears and accepts that prayer unconditionally.

Excerpt from Newsday FAITH section ‘Asking The Clergy’
January 31, 2009