EASY STEPS to PRAYER – HOW DO I START

Prayer Exercise #1

Some of the easiest and shortest prayers are known as arrow prayers. These are often single or two word prayers such as help, run, now, hold me, move and no.

“Once I was driving on the interstate exiting on a straight ramp. I was under a spell known as road hypnosis. Thinking I was pressing the brake, it took a moment to realize that the car was not slowing down. Pressing the brake harder, I shouted STOP and a second later shouted GOD. The next several seconds were surreal as I went across four lanes of on-coming traffic, spun-out, and stopped backwards on the gravel shoulder looking down a 200 foot drop to the rocks below. God saved me in two simple words; He intervened and then stopped the car.

There are many experiences like this and millions of small daily happenings where we invoke a prayer to God by expressing a word or two. Words do not need to be long winded and full of puffery to be effective. God knows the desire of your heart if you are trying. He can also tell the difference between trying and lazy. One thing you may want to ask for is discernment regarding the difference. Can you think of a time when you have invoked an arrow prayer? Think of a time when you used words such as: help me, heal me, believe me, help now, see me, hold it, yes, or not now.

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Prayer Exercise #2

Prayer is a personal conversation with God. Start with A.C.T.S. and see how you do. Remember A.C.T.S. stands for adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.

It could sound something like this.

Abba, my heavenly father, I know I am weak, but I am thankful that you love me in spite of myself. Please help me to serve you in your kingdom so that it may be on earth as it is in heaven. Watch over my family while we sleep tonight and restore our souls to reflect your Light. I ask this in the name of your son Jesus Christ, A-men.

Try your own: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Prayer Exercise #3

Prayer does not always have to be a verbal expression. Some people find more joy in the aspects of observation or seeking God’s presence in creation. Going fishing is often a spiritual experience, taking walks in the park, watching birds through the window while having morning coffee are all aspects of seeking God in your daily life. Take a few minutes and quiet yourself and see if you can turn off the busy world for a few moments and see more of God’s creation in his world.

PRACTICE EXERCISE

1. Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted for five to ten minutes.

2. Take a deep breath and relax.

3. Let your eyes fall onto an object in the house or outside.

4. Be still and look at what attracted your attention.

5. Notice what you notice – for five minutes, being still and in silence.

6. Write your observations, feelings, inspirations, and experiences from observing the picture or scene. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Share your observations with your Spiritual Partner. A partner could be a friend, a family member, or someone with whom you feel a spiritual closeness.

8. Ask your partner to share his/her observations with you about his/her selection.

9. Then take an extra moment and observe your Spiritual Partners’ selection if different from your own.

10. And again share additional observations and thoughts.

11. NOTE: There is no right or wrong. This is an artistic interpretation and expression. Some people will see more, others will see less. And two people observing the same thing could see totally opposite meanings. Every person sees’ what they see from a different perspective and everyone has a different relationship with God. Celebrate this journey and difference together.

12. If you wish try and write or say a prayer out loud that expresses what you have seen. This is not necessary in this type of prayer. It is more important that you do the visual exercise. St. Francis of Assisi, thrived on this type of prayer.

Prayer Exercise #4

Sometimes we can pray right from the bible. As you have seen in the section entitled “Prayers from the Bible” there are numerous prayers and thoughts about prayer in the scriptures. You can take any portion of a bible verse that might be ringing true to you and personalize it as your own prayer. Read Luke 6:28-31 (below) and see how the words could be changed to first person in the form of a prayer in the example. When you re-write into first person, you want to think like you are talking to God as if He were standing directly in front of you.

28 Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do for others as you would like them to do for you. 32 “Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return. 35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Example, it could go something like this:

My Father, hollowed is your name, I pray for the happiness of those who curse me. I pray to forgive those who hurt me and that you will help ease their pain. I ask that you would place in me a giving and forgiving heart so that I may share what I have with all those who are in need. Even if they take from me forcefully, let me give more willingly. Let everything I give be passed on with love and charity with no expectation of reward or return. Please Heavenly Father let me know the charity in your heart so that I may do likewise unto others. A-men

How would you write your prayer?

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Prayer Exercise #5 — Philippians 1:3-11 NLT

This is a discussion from Paul, he declares that he prays often to God for the people, he shows his appreciation for them, he recognizes how God is doing a mighty work inside them. Paul ends by blessing them with the words in verse 11, “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – those things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

Read the entire selection below and see how it makes you feel as a follower of Jesus Christ. Imagine if you were offering these thoughts to people at your church or children in your family. As you read notice what you notice and take a few notes.

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy 5 because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

7 It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

INSTRUCTION: Try making a prayer out of this excerpt from Philippians. Show appreciation where appropriate and ask for guidance and strength. How would you pray for others in the same situation? Remember praying for others’ is known as intercessory prayer.

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PRAYER EXERCISE #6 — Colossians 4:2-6 NLT

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Don’t forget to pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to preach about his secret plan — that Christ is also for you Gentiles. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. 5 Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.

PERSONAL GROWTH EXERCISE:

How do you fair when you think about your mind and heart when it concerns prayer? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you pray for others? ____________________________________________________________________________ Are you living wisely? ______________________________________________________________________________ Do you make the most out of every opportunity? ________________________________________________ Are your conversations gracious and effective? __________________________________________________

Additional Assignment – rewrite versus two through six to fulfill your hearts’ desire to have a personal conversion experience, desiring increased strength, removing inadequacies and increase support and direction from God. Remember to thank Him for who you are and ask for forgiveness for any transgressions.

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