An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

Question 245: What is personal prayer?

Question 245: What is personal prayer?

Personal prayer is private, heartfelt communication with God in which you adore Him, confess your sins, give thanks, and offer your needs and the needs of others. It flows from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and may be expressed in silence or speech, with or without words. (Psalm 62:8, Matthew 6:6, Romans 8:26, Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Full Scripture References​

“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.” – Psalm 62:8 (BSB)

“But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:6 (BSB)

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.” – Romans 8:26 (BSB)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6 (BSB)

“Pray without ceasing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

Personal prayer is the intimate conversation between the soul and God. It is not confined to set liturgies, but arises from the believer’s heart in adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Bishop John Yates III (ACNA, Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic) writes, “Personal prayer is where we wrestle honestly with God, and where we learn to listen. Without this inner life of prayer, all outward forms become empty.” (Sermon on Prayer, 2022)

Though the Daily Office structures communal devotion, personal prayer nourishes spontaneous communion with the Father. Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA, Diocese of the South) has emphasized, “Prayer is not just saying words; it is engaging the living God who loves you. Personal prayer is where your friendship with Christ deepens.” (Teaching at Provincial Assembly, 2019)

Gerald Bray (Anglican theologian, ACNA-affiliated, Beeson Divinity School) notes, “The Holy Spirit leads us in personal prayer, often beyond what we could articulate. He brings Scripture to our memory, convicts us, comforts us, and intercedes when our words fail.” (God Is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology, 2012)

Archbishop Ben Kwashi (GAFCON, Jos Province of Nigeria) explains, “Personal prayer is how we walk with God through suffering and joy. When no one else sees, the Lord sees. It is in the closet of prayer that the saints of Africa have found their strength.” (GAFCON Devotional, 2020)

Stephen Andrews (Principal, Wycliffe College, Toronto) reminds us that “personal prayer, though private, is never solitary. We pray as members of Christ’s Body, united by the Spirit. Even in silence, we are never alone.” (Interview with The Living Church, 2021)

Early Church Fathers On Catechism Question

“Prayer is the conversation of the soul with God. It ascends from the heart more than from the lips.” – Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, c. 195 AD

“He who is devoted to prayer is always speaking with God, whether he is silent or speaking, sleeping or waking. For the Spirit of God is in him.” – Origen, On Prayer, c. 230 AD

“Let your prayer be frequent, but short if it must be. Let your heart be always turned toward God, for He is near to those who call upon Him in truth.” – Cyprian of Carthage, On the Lord’s Prayer, c. 250 AD

“We must pray not only with our lips, but with our minds and hearts. God listens not to the voice, but to the heart that prays.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on Matthew, c. 390 AD

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

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