Christians believe that God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are one, therefore prayer to one member of the Trinity is prayer to all. Usually prayer is directed to God the Father, as modelled by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13. There are also biblical examples, however, of people praying to Jesus (Acts 7:59, Rev 22:20, 2 Cor 12:8). Perhaps the best way to understand the role of the Trinity in prayer is that we pray to the Father, through (or in the name of) the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. All three are active participants in prayer.

When we experience suffering, it’s natural to search for a reason; a “why” that might somehow alleviate our pain. Faith in Jesus Christ guarantees a perfect eternity after we pass away, however, because we live in an imperfect world we all continue to face the challenges, pain and suffering in this life. Christians believe that this life on earth is only a precursor to an eternal life with God. Christians and churches are compassionate to those experiencing pain and suffering, providing spiritual and practical support wherever possible. A personal and rich relationship with God through Jesus Christ will not keep bad things from happening to us and around us, but it does give us comfort, strength, joy and a community of faith to support and pray for us.

The fear of God is a sense of awe and reverence for God that believers have, honouring Him as the one true God. To fear God is to acknowledge God’s glory, majesty, purity and power. It is not a paralysing fear but rather deep respect for God and His commandments, seeking to obey Him in all your ways.

Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and well-loved scriptures from the Bible. It is a reminder that in every season of life, in times of blessing or lack, in victory or defeat, God is good and worthy of our trust. The psalm uses the metaphor of a shepherd’s care for his sheep to describe the wisdom, strength and kindness of God. Psalm 23 has remained so popular and profound for people around the world because it is applicable to any situation; providing hope for the future. This is a beautiful psalm best read out loud, sung and memorised! Many people find that Psalm 23 returns to them whenever they face difficulties and reciting the words brings comfort and peace.

The church is a group of believers in Jesus Christ with a foundation of the Bible (the Word of God). The church gathers to worship, read the Scriptures, to encourage and to pray. A church displays particular aspects like worship, preaching and teaching from the Word of God and discipleship. The church is tasked with extending thoughtful hospitality, praying for others and reflecting and sharing the love of Jesus. The church expresses compassion and mercy tangibly by helping others, seeking to make a real difference in the world.