Learning How to Pray

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Many of us memorized prayers as children to recite at bedtime, or we learned The Lord’s Prayer to say in Sunday worship. We may have had no instruction since then about how to pray. Prayer is powerful. It can lower our blood pressure, help us learn to forgive, provide intimacy with God, and soften our hearts toward our enemies. Prayer is an important tool as we apprentice ourselves to Jesus. Following are some ways to help us learn to expand our repertoire of prayer abilities.

Praying Scripture (lectio divina)

"Praying the scriptures" dates from the Middle Ages, and is useful to any Christian. This practice involves reading, reflecting, praying, and resting. When we meditate on God's Word for a few minutes a day, we will gradually be changed; our hearts and lives will begin to reflect the heart and life of Christ.

1. Reading (lectio) Take a deep breath. Invite the Spirit to open your heart. Read through a (short) scripture passage once, then again more slowly. Reading aloud a few times can help.

2. Reflecting (meditation ) Read the text until you come to a word, a phrase or a sentence that touches your heart. Stop and re-read the phrase, and savor it. Whisper it. Say it aloud.

Jot it down. You may notice the verbs or images in the passage instead of a word or phrase. That’s ok. Let your imagination play with the phrase or verbs or images for a minute or more. Reflect.

3. Praying: (oratio) Respond to God by praying aloud, or silently, or by writing. Maybe you will give thanks, or confess, or wonder aloud. Others may come to mind who need God’s help. Name them. Simply express to God what is in your heart. You may only have one or two sentences or phrases to say, or much more. That’s ok.

4. Resting (contemplation ) Rest in God's presence. Enjoy the silence. Thank God for being with you and loving you.

Centering Prayer

Psalm 46 reminds us, "Be still and know that I am God" ( Ps. 46:10 ). Centering prayer is a simple, wordless way of praying. We make a space for being with Christ, and becoming aware of his presence. Talk can sometimes get in the way of relationship. Merely being with Jesus can change us, shape us. Enjoying the peace of Christ’s presence can reduce our tendency to anger, violence, and aggression in the world. Instead, like Moses coming down from the mountain top, we radiate God's love and peace.

1. Find a quiet spot where you are not likely to be interrupted. Take a deep breath, and consciously relax your body, starting with your toes, and working up.

2. Focus your attention on God. Let God be present to you. It might help to imagine a blue sky, or a calm sea, or endless fields of wildflowers. To help you focus, choose a one-syllable word such as love, joy, peace, friend, light. Slowly, in silence, say the word or imagine the word, and see it coming from the center of your being.

3. Rest in God's presence. If your thoughts stray, silently return to your chosen word. The Holy Spirit will draw you into joyful, quiet communion with God in Christ.

4. When your prayer feels complete, slowly leave the silence at the center and return to words – conclude with saying a familiar phrase aloud, such as “the Lord is my Shepherd,” or “God is my strong salvation,” or another favorite phrase from scripture, savoring the words and meaning.

Be patient with yourself. We live in a noisy world, and we have noisy minds. Start with only two minutes a day of centering prayer. Gradually, increase your time to 20 minutes. Practiced regularly, centering prayer becomes a place of integration and peace.

Praying at Evening (consciousness examen)

This practice helps us discover how God has been present to us throughout the day, and to examine how we responded. If we do this regularly, the examen brings greater awareness of God, and healing and integration.

1. Centering - Ask the Spirit of Christ to be light to you. Ask for wisdom to discern God's voice and guidance in your life. Lighting a candle might help you focus on the Light of Christ. Focus on the light in silence for a few moments.

2. Thanking - Think back over your day, and notice the good. What nourished you today? Be willing to be surprised. Let the people and events of the day roll before you and give thanks for each of the moments of opportunity, learning, and grace.

3. “’Fessing up to messing up” - Review your day again. This time notice the times you messed up. Let the Holy Spirit reveal what needs attention. What pulled you away from God, from others, from yourself? When did you willfully ignore God's love? How did you hurt or hinder your relationships with others? Now pray for forgiveness. God's Spirit will cleanse you and set you free from your mistakes. Take a cleansing breath and remember that God loves you, no matter what!

4. Inviting Guidance - Look ahead to tomorrow. Name your challenges and hopes to God, and ask the Spirit to supply your needs. Give the night and the coming day into God's care, and sleep in the peace that comes from Christ.