Sweet Hour of Prayer

I grew up singing “Sweet Hour of Prayer” with my mother in the car.  Sometimes prayers are short and too the point, but sometimes they turn into long conversations with God, or topics “to be continued.”  Prayers can be as short as one word, or like St. Augustin’s mother they can take a life-time.  We will be pondering prayer Sunday morning, October 19.  However, that is only the beginning of what can be a wonderful journey.  Read this blog further for questions and suggestions that may enrich you journey in prayer.

1.     Ask someone how they learned to pray, and share your story too.

2.     How has your understanding and experience of prayer changed over the years?

3.     What makes you smile when you pray?  What brings tears to your eyes?

4.     Songs are written both about God and as prayers to God.  Take a favorite song “about” God, like “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” and change the words to be a prayer to God…”What a friend we have in you, Lord.”

5.     Ask someone, “What has God been doing in your life lately?  What are you praying about so I can better pray for you?”

6.     Express a prayer in something other than words—like a picture, a dance, a motion, a tune.

7.     Try being totally quite for 60 seconds or more as you pray, and just listen.

8.     Hold an object like a cross or a cup of coffee as you talk with God.

9.     Tell God 25 thank you’s to begin and end each day for a week.

10.  Simply look around you and pray for the people you see.

You can do these practices on your own.  You might recruit a friend to join you on the journey.  Or share the list with your family and together (this includes children) select one idea to try.

Enjoy the conversation.  God has already spoken inviting you into the conversation.

                                                                                                            Diane Wheatley