Praying It

Date: 23 January 2011 17:22:28

Ok, so I don't have the references again...not got my diary with me. But today we've been trawling through Gen still, and Joseph and the brothers had a happy ending. In Matt Jesus was still pissing of the religious elite and the disciples were still veering between being dense and sort of getting it. In Psalms it was more fluffy stuff for us ordinary folk.

But enough of that today. I'm on my way to Methsoc to do a bit of a session on prayer and thought I'd share the handout with you. It's similar to something I did a while ago but it's been amended a bit. Hope you find it useful.

Prayer Ideas

Warning:

Sometimes it is good to turn things off............silence can be helpful.

You can mix and match or ignore these approaches as it seems right for the time. What is right for one season may not be for another.

Grab a cup of coffee or tea

Activity 1: Putting a personal “worship playlist” together: This can be used to lead you into a time of personal prayer and reflection or used as a background sound throughout a period of chilling out with God. Also if you are busy but having to walk to a lecture or whatever it can be a good way to reflect on God and be aware of him if you have a “worship playlist” on your

i-pod.

With this think about songs whose lyrics may not be intended to be “religious” but may be helpful as well as Christian songs and hymns.

List 3 songs you would include on your playlist:

Activity 2: Adoration – sometimes used as a part of journaling.

This can be used as the focus for a whole period of prayer or within a wider time which includes more thanksgiving and intercession.

You mind map and brainstorm the different names or attributes of God. I find one of those pens with 4 different colours or a cheap pack of felt tips useful for this. - When using a prayer journal I have put the date on the top, then noted briefly my mood before noting down some words of adoration, and then thanksgivings and challenges before moving on to confessions and intercessions.

During this evening we will spend a short time praying a prayer of adoration in this way. Use the space below for your mind map of the names or attributes of God you can think of

GOD

Activity 3: Prayer Wall

This is where I use the concept of collage to put together some prayer resources for when I don’t have it in me to have a deep and meaningful with God. Also sometimes it is useful if I need to come to God being totally honest about where I am. This can be particularly useful for personal prayers of confession and reconciliation. You can add / change to it as you wish and also use it for intercessions for certain groups. Flyers for charities work well for this as do bits of liturgy cut out from service sheets and postcards which help you focus.

Are there any themes or prayer focuses you would personally find it useful to include if you were to build a prayer wall? Note them down and then spend a few moments bringing them before God

Activity 4: “Facebook Friends”

Pray for through your friends lists or for groups or causes within your intercessory prayers.

If a friend appears to be having a tough time you can pray for them and message them separately or wall post them, (as appropriate) to let them know you’re praying for them.

This can also work with texts. If you know somebody has something important happening you can text them to let them know you’re thinking of them / praying for them.

If you have FB on your phone you might wish to log on and spend a couple of minutes praying for your friends.

Activity 5: BBC News or similar website

This is a great resource for intercessory prayer. You can pray generally, or for specific regions in the world, or for specific topic areas in a quick and focused way. Have the story on the website in front of you as you pray.

Activity 6: BBC News 24

The headlines go on the bottom of the screen. You can put the tv on mute and pray for specific stories and the people involved whilst lighting candles for them, but also seeing the eyes of the people.

Activity 7: “You Tube” songs/ hymns on particular themes or clips produced by charities and organisations. They sometimes have excellent visuals with them which can aid your personal reflections or can act as something for you to focus on whilst engaging in intercessory prayer.

Here are a few I recommend:

Let Us Build A Church http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMBywWSpUeU

And Can it Be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMCOyY0Rlus

I Will Sing the Wondrous Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8mkP24wDkU

Amnesty International - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inM_aiHDGm0

Aquila Way - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cDu5iG77kw

Activity 8: Resourcing Yourself

There are a range of sites with material to help you pray. They give various reflections, podcasts and liturgy.

Some Examples:

Sacred Space http://sacredspace.ie/#chooseday (note you originally have to scroll down)

Methodist Church has various useful stuff in their prayer and worship section http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=1357

Asbo Jesus http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/ - satirical cartoons but thought / prayer provoking

Church of England also has a useful prayer and worship section http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship.aspx

Franciscan Prayers http://www.shrinesf.org/prayers.htm

Activity 9: Set your screensaver/ wallpaper to an image which makes you thank God for a good memory or for his creation. Also if it’s a place you might be able to get a mouse mat which also helps you focus. Occasionally pause before the image and give God thanks.

What picture would you find useful for this?

Spend a few moments thanking God for the people / place in that picture.

Activity 10: Have an image or prayer card above your computer to focus on whilst your computer is waking up and loading.

Activity 11: Signing up for prayer/ update e-mails / texts and updates from organisations can also be a useful resource. Pray through as you read the text or e-mail.

Which charities or organisations do you support or are in contact with that you can pray for regularly?

Thinking through, which – if any – of these activities do you think might work for you?

If you already use any of these, which have you found most useful and how has it benefitted your spiritual life?

Are there any other ideas you use which you’d like to share with the group?

I take no credit for these having these ideas originally; I have just picked them up from various places and adapted them for my own prayer life. I have no idea what I picked up where.

If you need to learn how to turn everything off and engage with silence I suggest you watch this BBC series of programmes on The Big Silence which go through how to engage in silence….reality TV style. Worth Abbey have put it on You Tube, in 12 parts, http://www.worthabbey.net/bbc/links-youtubeBS.htm . They’ve also put some useful resources on their sidebar including 5 tips for meditation http://www.worthabbey.net/bbc/meditateBS.htm