PRAYING INDIVIDUALLY

Prayer is an expression of our relationship with God. It is your time to spend with God. Spend a few minutes in centering quiet. Allow yourself to settle in and take deep, cleansing breaths. Feel your heart rate slow a bit.


PRAYING WITH OTHERS

For many people, praying aloud with others is a scary proposition; but it doesn’t have to be. When you pray with others, just as when you pray on your own it is important to relax and remember the following:

  • Don’t worry about getting the words just right. Just be yourself.
  • Say what is on your mind or in your heart and take your time. If you stumble over your words or pause in the middle, it’s all okay.
  • God honors our desire and intentions.
  • The more you do it, the easier it gets.

Here are some tips for getting started:

  • Choose someone to start and someone to finish the prayer time—it can be the same person.
  • Open with a simple prayer that acknowledges that God is already present with you. This helps center the group and helps people settle into the prayer time.
  • Allow plenty of space and silence for people to work up courage as necessary or for the Holy Spirit to work in the midst of your prayer.

PRAYER WITHOUT WORDS

Although God wants to hear our thoughts and desires, prayer is also about listening and trust. There are times when words seem to fail us. Prayer without words can be a gift.

  • To pray without words, take a deep breath and let it out. Use your breathing to relax and let go of other preoccupations.
  • If needed, use a word like “peace” or a phrase like “Come, Lord Jesus” to focus your mind when you become distracted.
  • Rest in silence and God’s presence for as long as you like.

PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE

Many people like to pray with scripture. Here are some ideas of how to do it:

  • To pray with scripture, begin by choosing a Bible passage.
  • Offer a brief prayer, asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It could be as simple as “Come Holy Spirit. Open me to your word.”
  • Read through the passage as you normally would. If, as you read, a word or phrase captures your attention or prompts thoughts or prayers, go for it and begin praying.
  • If you need to, read through the passage a second time, but this time more slowly. Let the theme of the whole shape your prayers, or draw on images or phrases within the passage to guide your prayer time.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS

Many thanks to Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley for the resources on this page.