North Central Prayer Resources
Compiled by Supt. Mark Adams
Prayer 101
Objective:Deepen your prayer life.
First. What is prayer? Practice in forming prayer.
Second.Practicing the language of prayer.
Third.Listening more attentively.
Fourth.Praying continually.
1 Thes.5.17Prayer continually.
Luke 18:1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Luke 21:36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.
Rom 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and selfcontrolled so that you can pray.
Isaiah 56:7My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
Zech.12.10I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.
Matthew 6:5-15
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ` For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.@
Prayer is . . .
Communication & Communion
Communication involves listening and speaking
Communion involves being and living with
Which of these quotes seem to best summarize prayer for you? Circle Two.
By our petitions, reasoning, arguing, we are changing God=s attitude and intended action in the world. Gen.18.22-26; Exod.32:1-14
By engaging in the struggle of prayer, we find ourselves changed, marked by our encounter with the living God. Gen.32.24-30
In prayer we voice our desires, hopes, needs and frustrations, but cannot assume that these influence God. We are completely dependent on God=s sovereign will and action in response. Job.7.11-20 (and the whole text)
In prayer we share positive life-energies with another person through the mystical connection between us and every living thing. (No verses, but common view)
In prayer we join our hearts in love with the love of Christ, the great intercessor, through the unity of the Spirit and through sacraments, we give our will over to the will of Christ and leave the results to him. Jn.15.1-11; Heb.4.14-16
In prayer we become aware of God=s presence with us and of the Holy Spirit already praying in us, so we do not bring specific prayers, but try to attune and entrust ourselves to that presence of God through inward prayer. Math.7.9-11
When we pray, we are cooperating with God in willing life and goodness for others, yet remain vulnerable with God to the limits imposed by evil, a necessary bye-product of the freedom love creates. Mark.14.32-36
Prayer as Listening
God speaks through . . .So we can listen for God by . . .
Spirit
Scripture
Nature
Each other
Circumstances
Dreams
Journaling
Awareness (aha!)
AStop in the mind@
Speaking to God . . .
Must be honest and from the heart. Can=t hide anything from God.
Can be verbal.Can be written.
Can be non-verbal.Can be prayer language.
Can be song.Can be action.
Practicing Prayer with a Pencil
How to talk with God
Try writing elements of prayer.
Address.Our heavenly father,
What are your favorite ways to address God?
Praise and AdorationHoly is your name.
Write a sentence of praise (noting God=s acts)
Write a sentence of adoration (noting Gods= attributes)
IntercessionYour Kingdom Come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayer for Kingdom priorities. Write several sentences in which you long for God=s kingdom to break forth upon a situation, family, individuals, nations, places.
Prayer for material needsAnd give us today our daily bread.
What do you need? Write it out.
Prayer for relational needsForgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Where is there hardness of heart in your life, or in the lives of others? Write it out.
Prayers for spiritual needs.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Where is there a sin that has you in its grip? Write it out.
The best teacher for prayer is the Word of God.
Solomon=s Prayer for Wisdom (1Kings 3:4-15)
Hannah=s Prayer for a Child (1Samuel 1:1-20)
Moses Prayer after Rebellion (Numbers 14:10-20)
Joshua=s Prayer in Defeat (Joshua 7:2-15)
A Prayer of Praise by David (Psalm 8)
Honest Prayer of Sorrow (Psalm 88)
Jonah=s Prayer from the Depths (Jonah 2:2-7)
Daniel=s Prayer of Confession (9:4-19)
Jesus Prayer Taught to Disciples (Matthew 6:9-15)
Jesus Prays for His Disciples (John 17)
Disciple=s Prayer for Boldness (Acts 4:23-31)
Paul=s Prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:15-23 & 3:14-21)
Prayer of Praise by Saints in Heaven (Revelation 15:1-4)
Free Methodist Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men, we confess that we have sinned, and we are deeply grieved as we remember the wickedness of our past lives. We have sinned against You, your holiness, and your love. We deserve only your indignation and anger. We sincerely repent, and we are genuinely sorry for all wrongdoing and every failure to do the things we should. Our hearts are grieved, and we acknowledge that we are hopeless without your grace. Have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, who died for us. Forgive us. Cleanse us. Give us strength to serve and please you in newness of life and to honor and praise your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Children by Saint Nicholas:
God, our Father, we pray that you will protect our children.
Keep them safe from harm and help them to grow healthy in mind and body.
Give them enough strength to keep their faith in you.
Eusebius of Ceasaria (300AD)
May I be an enemy to no one and the friend of what abides eternally. May I never quarrel with those nearest me, and be reconciled quickly if I should. May I never plot evil against others, and if anyone plot evil against me, may I escape unharmed and without the need to hurt anyone else. May I love, seek and attain only what is good. May I desire happiness for all and harbor envy for none. May I never find joy in the misfortune of one who has wronged me. May I never wait for the rebuke of others, but always rebuke myself until I make reparation. May I gain no victory that harms me or my opponent. May I reconcile friends who are mad at each other. May I, insofar as I can, give all necessary help to my friends and to all who are in need. May I never fail a friend in trouble. May I be able to soften the pain of the grief stricken and give them comforting words. May I respect myself. May I always maintain control of my emotions. May I habituate myself to be gentle, and never angry with others because of circumstances.
Augustine (430 AD)
Late I have loved you, beauty so ancient and so new. Late I have loved you.
For, you see, you were within and I was outside, and it was there I looked for you.
I rushed, misshapen, into those things of beauty that you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. These things, things which, if they did not exist in you, would not exist at all, these things kept me far from you. You called and you cried out and you broke my deafness; You blazed, you shone and you chased away my blindness; You were fragrant, and I breathed in, and now I gasp after you. I tasted and now I hunger and now I thirst, You touched me, and now I burn for your peace.
also
Let us turn towards the Lord God and Father Almighty, and with a pure heart let us give Him
sincere thanks as well as our littleness will allow: Let us with our whole hearts beseech His
extraordinary clemency, that He may vouchsafe to hear our prayers according to His good
pleasure. May He by His power drive our enemies far from us, lest we fall under the sway of the
evil one in act or thought. May He increase our faith, rule our mind, give us spiritual thoughts,
and at last lead us to His blessedness, through Jesus Christ His Son. Amen.
The Universal Prayer of Clement XI (1720)
Lord, I believe in you increase my faith. I trust in you strengthen my trust. I love you let
me love you more and more. I am sorry for my sins deepen my sorrow. I worship you as my first beginning, I long for you as my last end, I praise you as my constant helper, and call on you as my loving protector.
Guide me by your wisdom, correct me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, protect me
with your power. I offer you, Lord, my thoughts to be fixed on you; my words to have you for their theme; my actions to reflect my love for you; my sufferings to be endured for your greater glory. I want to do what you ask of me in the way you ask, for as long as you ask, because you ask it.
Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will, purify my heart, and make me holy. Help me to repent of my past sins and to resist temptation in the future. Help me rise above my human weaknesses and to grow stronger as a Christian. Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and to love all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under my authority, my friends and my enemies.
Help me to conquer anger with gentleness, greed with generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to
forget myself and reach out to others.
Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks. Make me patient in suffering,
unassuming in prosperity. Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions. Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault, my speech blameless, and my life wellordered. Teach me to realize that this world is passing, that my true future is the happiness of heaven, that life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal. Help me prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment, and a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Saint Patrick (350 AD)
Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, King of my heart.
Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me, never to part.
Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me, shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising, light of my life.
Christ be in all hearts thinking about me; Christ be on all tongues telling of me;
Christ be the vision in eyes that see me; in ears that hear me, Christ ever be.
Serenity Prayer (Reinhold Neibuhr)
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful worldas it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things rightif I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.Amen.
Benedict (670 AD)
O gracious and holy Father, Give us wisdom to perceive you, intelligence to understand you, diligence to seek you, patience to wait for you, eyes to see you, a heart to meditate on you, and a life to proclaim you, through the power of the spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer of Saint Francis(1200)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury,pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console;to be understood as to understand;to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
Contemplative and Meditative Prayer
Cultivating an Attitude of Listening and Obedience
Habakkuk 2:20But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
Zechariah 2:13 Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 23A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Romans 8:26-28In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Lectio Divina
Lectio (reading/listening) Divina (the divine)
Lectio Divina is an ancient Christian practice, and for more than a millennia was the primary means of study of Scripture and Meditative practice for all western Christians.
Listen deeply, hear Awith the ears of the heart@ [St. Benedict], as Elijah heard the still small voice.= In order to hear God speak, we must be quiet, and in a place of quiet. The voice of God is not manufactured by our imagination, but flows from the Holy Scriptures. The Lectio Divina process, is reading the Word with an ear to hear, rather than as merely as a task on our to do list. It is slow, attentive, gentle, careful, listening-reading following this three-fold path:
meditatio (meditation) Boratio (prayer) Bcontemplatio (contemplation)
Meditatio
Select a passage to read, perhaps a paragraph or two, maybe a sentence. Ruminate (Hebrew meditation) upon this word. Follow the example of Mary (Luke 2:19) who Apondered these things in her heart.@ Repeat the Word, gently, mentally rotate it and view it and feel it and let it impact your mind and heart. Memorize it. Interact with it. Through this process, we allow the word of God to become His Word for us, to no longer remain on a page, but to be written on the tablets of our hearts.
Oratio
Pray through your struggles and issues, under the application of this Word from God. Wrestle with it, complain if need be, offer words of thanks if appropriate, honestly lay your soul before the Lord. If the word has touched a nerve, don=t shy away from the pain or discomfort, speak of it to God. If the word brings comfort and healing, let this flow over the wounds, wash away the anxieties, cleanse the guilt, heal the weakness. Consecrate every aspect of your being to God, confess Him as Lord by allowing His word to have reign in your heart, mind and body.
Contemplatio