(Artwork: Elizabeth Greets Mary by Jason Sierra)

Prayer 

At its core, prayer is listening to and talking to God.

Prayer, whether is is personal or corporate, takes on more forms than one could count including spoken words, written words, silent reflection, song, dance, or art.

While many people have opinions on the ‘right’ way to pray, it is often more helpful to think in terms of what practices help you listen to and talk to God.

If you have a practice that works for you, fantastic. If you are looking for a starting place or would like to expand you practice, take a look at the examples below  to see few examples or models of prayer.

Possibilities for Prayer

ACTS: The ACTS model provides a pattern for reflection. As you pray, work through each of the four categories as you listen to and talk to God.

  • Adoration – Give praise to God for all God has done and is doing.
  • Confession – List up those places where you are struggling or falling short in your life.
  • Thanksgiving – Give thanks for the blessings you experience.
  • Supplication – Invite God’s support for situations of need.

Daily Prayer – The practice of creating intentional time each day to listen to and talk to God

  1. Pick your best time. Everyone has a different ‘best’ time, so find yours.
  2. Expect God to show up.
  3. Give thanks for the blessings in your life.
  4. Talk about your mistakes or shortcomings and thank God for grace and forgiveness.
  5. Share those things that are most important to you.
  6. Prayer for others by name.
  7. Sit in silence and listen for God

Continuous Prayer – praying your way through the day

  1. Take time at the beginning of the day to give the day and all of its activities in advance to God
  2. During the day, remind yourself that you have asked Jesus to walk with you through the day.  Visual cues like a dot on your watch can be helpful reminders.
  3. Whenever appropriate, take a moment to begin or continue your conversation with the Savior over what is happening or what has happened.

Lord’s Prayer – using the Lord’s prayer as a prayer and as a model

  • Pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly.
  • Pray the Lord’s Prayer again stopping after each petition to focus on the words of this familiar prayer.
  • Try weaving your personal hopes and needs into each phrase.

Questions for Reflection:

  1. Share a moment when prayer impacted you.
  2. How might you use one of the models above to strengthen your prayer life?