Let Us Pray…

Prayer is the foundation and lifeblood of our relationship with God. It fuels our faith. While we talk often about prayer and pray in church many people do not enjoy a rich personal prayer life at home, when they’re on their own – and often that’s because we’ve never really been taught how to do it.

These simple PrayerStyles are meant to be tools for you to try out some different prayer formats and hopefully to find a few you like and will use.

These are just starting points – adapt, alter, modify, and rework them until they work for you. We are told to “pray without ceasing” (1Th5:17) – so get praying!

“What is often overlooked is that prayer is not primarily about gaining some insight
from the Word or having an intense emotional experience.
It’s primarily an act of love.
Spending time with God might be dynamic one day, and I might fall asleep the next day.
But showing up is an act of love.”
Brennan Manning

The 5 P’s

A - Adoration - we offer praise for who God is, for what God has done, and for what God has yet to do.
C - Confession - we acknowledge our sin and our need for God's forgiveness.  Our confession must be open, honest and specific.
T - Thanksgiving - we thank God for God's goodness, blessings, and for answers to prayers.
S - Supplication - we lay both the needs of others and our own needs before God.
S - Surrender – we give ourselves over to God - listen for God's voice - simply enjoying being in God's presence.

Meditative Prayers
Purpose is to connect and commune with God – these can be used in combination with any other PrayerStyle

Prayer of Presence - quiet - breathe deeply - relax - breathe in peace, breathe out tension - breathe in peace, breathe out tension - relax your mind - if thoughts come gather them up and give them to God to hold for you until later - turn your attention toward God’s presence - be aware of the mystery of divine love that surrounds you - God is breathing life into you, take in the gift - let God’s presence fill your consciousness, and rest in it - feel the peace - feel the warmth - let yourself be held in God’s tender embrace - rest and soak up the love that holds you - thank God for the gift of presence - know that you can return to this place whenever you wish

Centering Prayer - select a single word (or words) and repeat it rhythmically for several minutes - should be meaningful, deep, concerning the nature/being of God

repeat the phrase gently for several minutes – take the phrase with you throughout your day – pray it during traffic jams, waiting in line, vacuuming, walking, running, etc.

Breath Prayer phrases:
Holy Spirit, fill me / Give me strength, O Christ / Father, show me your love /Teach me patience, Gracious God / My God and my all / Come, Lord Jesus / Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord Almighty / Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, teach me to serve (love/ know) you/ Lord, Jesus, you are my light in my world; enlighten my darkness

Scripture or Hymn lyrics:
Glory to God in the highest / Be still and know that I am God / Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart / Jesus, priceless treasure / Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life

**Prayer Talisman**
A cross, stone, seed, or similar object kept in your pocket as a prayer reminder or held while praying

The Jesus Prayer
One of the simplest and yet most profound prayers of early Christianity.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

Can also be shortened to just “Jesus” after the prayer has become very familiar and personal for you.  *always pray it slowly and thoughtfully with time between repetitions *

The “Jesus Fish”
An acrostic poem prayer based on the Greek word for fish…

Iesous (Jesus) CHristos (Christ) THeou (of God) Uiou (the Son) Soter (Saviour)

High Fives
5 minute prayer breaks during the day - at rising and retiring each day - at coffee break time - right after you finish eating your lunch - as you get into your car at the end of the work day - in the 5 minutes between the end of one TV show and the beginning of another - while commuting (not driving though) - in between tasks in the day

High Fives are not a demanding practice – but they do intentionally bring your heart before God several times during the day. Aim for 3 or 4 High Fives in a day, and preferably more. 

Read
Select a Psalm and read it carefully (out loud is best)
Pause and Reflect on what you’ve read
Re-read the Psalm one verse at a time
Pause and Reflect on each verse
Try a different translation if you can.
(especially if you’re using the KJV or Good News Bible)

Paraphrase and Interpret
Re-write the Psalm in your own words.
Read each verse and comment on what you’ve read - what is the primary teaching or truth of that verse?