What is Prayer in Christianity?
'''Prayer in Christianity''' is seen by most [[Christian]]s as a way of communicating with [[God]].<ref name=McMinn68>Mark R. McMinn, ''Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling'' (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2011), p. 68</ref> Prayer is seen as being therapeutic by many Christian leaders.<ref name=McMinn68/> Christians have long used both formal written prayers and have also used extemporaneous prayers, which is simply talking to God, using a person's own words.<ref>https://gracechurchgalveston.org/2018/09/01/what-type-of-prayer/</ref> Charismatic and [[Pentecostal]] Christians also pray in [[Pentecostalism|tongues]]. They believe that the [[Holy Spirit]] is praying through them. The [[Lord's Prayer]], which [[Jesus]] taught his [[disciple]]s, was important as an example in the early churches.<ref>Roy Hammerling, ''The Lord's Prayer in the Early Church: The Pearl of Great Price'' (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010), p. 1</ref> The [[prayer]]s in the [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]] have also influenced [[Christian]] thought.<ref>''Into God's Presence: Prayer in the New Testament'', ed. Richard N. Longenecker (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2002), p. xi</ref> Many of the [[Psalms]] in the Bible are said to God and so are prayers. Many Christians also try to listen to God when praying. They believe that God speaks to them through the Bible, but also directly when they are willing to receive His messages. Many [[hymn]]s are directed to God so are also prayers. The [[Lord's Prayer]] is included toghether with other formal prayers, such as the Gloria Patri and the [[Hail Mary]], in the Holy [[Rosary]] while thinking about important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. The Roman Catholic Church has always recognized the efficacy of the Holy Rosary devotion.<Ref name=JPII>[http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae.html Pope John Paul II, ''Rosarium virginis Mariae'', 16 October 2002, Libreria Edit