Unfortunately there are no "proven" formulas for prayer, nor is there a standard way in which to pray. Prayer is a journey; a conversation; a time of reflection; a time of insight; a time of supplication and so on. At the heart of prayer is the DISCIPLINE to spend dedicated time with God each day. The effectivness of prayer is not so much in what we do, but what the Spirit of God does IN us when we take the time to approach God.
Having said that, many of us lack the discipline of prayer because we simply DO NOT know what to do at prayer time. Again, there is no patent answer. If our prayer life is lacking, it is likely because we haven't invested the time. Prayer grows over time - it begins with a formula that helps us to get accustomed to prayer and then it eventually, through the discipline of time and committment, grows into a kind of contemplation or communing with the Divine.
While prayer cannot be nailed down to a specific formula, here is a helpful way to start praying and feel somewhat fulfilled when taking the first steps of spending time with God. Hopefuly over time your prayerlife will become Spirit filled and take on a characteristic of its own, but in the mean time, this little method might be helpful.
Always begin with the reading of a Psalm. The Psalms are a "cry from the heart" and communicate to us the feelings and struggles of our ancestors in faith as they tried to understand God and the world around them. Always begin your prayer with the simple reading of any Psalm. Read it quietly to yourself - or aloud if necessary. Pause when certain words or images catch you and just sit with them. When this time seems to come to a natural end, then enter into a method of prayer called ACTS (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication).
A - Adoration: This time consists of praising God. Sing a hymn of praise that you like or follow a simple verbal prayer such as this: Gracious God, thank you for life and the goodness of creation. You are God, above all and beyond all, yet you have chosen to be concerned with your creation. What praise can be extended to you in this loving act? I recognize you in the signs of life around me; the beauty of creation; the intimacy of family and friends. Be with me each day that I might come to know your presence more deeply.
C - Contrition: This time consists of acknowledging our sinfulness. Take time in quiet silence to consider your actions and words of the past day. In what have I failed to live up to God's expectations? In what ways have I been hypocritical, quick to anger, negligent or unkind? How have I treated others and what has taken priority in my day? Ask God for forgiveness and KNOW that this forgiveness is extended.
T - Thanksgiving: This time consists of lifting up our gratitude to God - a time of giving thanks. Consider what is GOOD in your life. Consider what is good in your Church; your community; your workplace. Know that everything comes from God and everything is destined to go back to God. Be thankful for the opportunities of living that you are privleged to have.
S - Supplication: This is a time of request - not personal requests like: "Lord make me rich" or "God, spare me from the consequences of my actions". Rather, this is a time to pray for others - to ask God to be with people we know are suffering, mourning, struggling. This is a time to pray that others might know the peace of Christ. This is also a time of personal request with respect to asking God to help us be comfortable with our own sufferings, that we might understand the divine will in our struggles.
Finish all this off with an Our Father or similar prayer that you know. Sometimes the "New Creed" is a good way to finish our prayer time as it reminds us that God is with us and we are not alone.
Again....there is no FORMULA for prayer - but formulas are helpful in getting us started. Most important - is that we PRAY- that we take the time to give dedicated quiet time to God each day. You will find, that in time, your prayer life will grow and become more meaningful.
No comments:
Post a Comment