Learning to Pray
It was great to connect with so many in the prayer room last week, and then at the Central Gathering on Sunday as we talked about living spectacularly ordinary lives for God: wherever we are and whatever we do.
One thing that those who took part in the prayer room kept saying is that they felt God’s presence in a new or deeper way as they prayed. If prayer has a goal, I think it’s that – to find a deeper and more continuous connection with God. Now that’s a big goal, and points to our eternal future: people and God together forever. But we can take lots of small steps that help develop that connection. I’ve found two things have helped me: learning to pray on my own, and learning to pray with others.
Learning to pray on my own.
Show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Song of Songs 2: 14.
Learning that God is interested in me, God wants to be a part of my life and spend time with me has massively helped me want to develop time with God. My goal is to find as close-to-unbroken connection and conversation as I can. Sometimes that feels a long way off. But periods of silence, breathing prayer (slowly repeating a prayer or scripture with my breathing), written prayers, listening to music or getting out in nature all help.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16.
Learning that God not only listens but answers has helped too. Writing down the requests I make of God, noticing his answers, giving thanks for them. Learning to pray for healing for people, or for provision for people and acknowledging when God works. All this had grows my confidence to pray more boldly!
My current pattern is to find 3 moments of prayer in my day – morning, midday and evening. In the morning I get a bit of time to sit with God, read a part of the bible, maybe write down some thoughts or a prayer of my own. At midday I pause for a few moments, say the Lord’s prayer and let one phrase draw me to deeper prayer. At night I simply try to remember the things from the day that I’m thankful for and the things that have caused hurt, worry or fear. Then offer all to God as I go to sleep. These don’t have to be long – when I was a teacher or training I used to used my commute to pray. Sometimes my midday pause is a snatched moment in the car, or on the move.
Like lots of you I often use the Lectio 365 App to focus my prayers, which have reflections for morning, midday and evening. It’s a great place to start if you want to try a daily prayer rhythm. My advice would be don’t start with all three – pick one that most often works and then build from there.
Learning to pray with others.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
There is something special that happens when we get together with others and worship or pray. Making some time to pray with others either with the bible, or a particular focus is a massive boost to mission.
There are lots of regular times Kairos people gather to pray. Your Kairos community might already have its own rhythm.
You are welcome to join at any of the following.
Expresso Prayers, 8am, hosted by Kindle – 10 minutes prayer on zoom, Monday to Friday.
9:30am Prayer – Half an hour every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in the Kairos room.
Netmakers Prayer – Prayer for the town with people from lots of different churches.
Tuesdays at 9:30am in the Kairos Room.
Prayer for young people and youth work across the town with the Netmakers team.
Second Sundays, 6pm at St Andrew’s Starbeck.
Worship and Prayer night – 6:30-8pm, 4th Sundays.
A longer bit of time to linger in God’s presence, listen to His word and pray together.
Happening next – Sunday 24th September.
Starting Soon –
Prayer for Knaresborough. Weds 24th Sept, 7-8:30 and thereafter fortnightly. Venue TBC.
Prayer for Children and Families. Sunday 28th September, 11am in the Kairos Room.
If you or your community want to learn more about praying you could try –
How to Pray, by Pete Greig. There is also a great version for younger explorers.
Beholding, by Strahan Colemen – Helen and I loved this!
What’s helped you pray? How is God taking helping you increase you connection with him?