We had a rich discussion about Prayer. We began with a simple question: What is prayer?
--Saying something to God
--A conversation with God about our day
--Saying we are sorry to God for something we did
--Thanking God for a good day
--"Bargaining with God" (we talked about some real-life examples)
--Talking to God as if God is a friend
--Keeping God up to date on what's going on
--Asking God to be involved in our relationships
--Questioning God (Why did something bad happen?)
--Yelling at God
--Saying grace before eating, which is a way of paying attention to blessings in our lives and acknowledging God as the source
--Asking God for help
When do we pray?
--Before bed
--When we are troubled
--When a friend is going through something
--In a specific setting, either a good time or a bad time
--Praying for our favorite sports teams to win
--Praying before a sports event that you are participating in, hoping you'll do your best
--Daily
--At dinner
--Silent Prayer
--"Hundred- Step Prayer" while walking focusing on people
We noted that each week in class we engaged at least two different ways of praying: (1) a prayer that is read at the beginning as we light the candle, and (2) our "circle prayer" at the end where we all join hands, and each of us takes time to speak to God.
We took time to consider several forms of prayer:
Intercession is when we pray for other people and for the world
Petition is when we pray for ourselves and ask for God's help.
Confession is when we talk to God about our mistakes, the things we have done wrong, and our deep need for God's presence and help in our lives.
Thanksgiving is when we express gratitude to God and pay attention to the many blessings in ech day.
Listening is preparing to receive, to meditate on what Jesus has taught us and how it applies to our lives, to be sensitive to the Spirit's movement.
We realized that we had discussed each of these while making our lists! Prayer is deeply relational. I am interesting in us considering the last of these more carefully. How do you take time to listen in your prayers? What do you receive?
Together we read a story in Mark 1:29-39 that might spur our reflections, about Jesus in prayer. It was very early in his ministry and Jesus is healing many people in Capernaum. He heals not only their illnesses but lifts great burdens the people have been carrying (including crushing expectations), removes labels that others have had placed on them, tends to the hurts and wounds of their spirits. It seems that everyone needs healing in one way or another. Jesus continues to receive people late into the night.
Early in the morning, while it is still dark, he goes to a deserted place to pray to God without distraction. He may pray some of the same kinds of prayers we have discussed. It is clear that he does one more thing: He centers himself in God's will. He takes the time to open himself anew so that the Spirit, can guide him. His life will not just be defined by all the activities and demands on him! So when the disciples come to him complaining, "Everybody is looking for you!," Jesus is able to be crystal clear with them: He and the disciples will not be returning to Capernaum until they visit other towns as well. Because Jesus' God-given mission is to proclaim the good news of God's love for everyone, not just to one town or congregation (much as he loves them, too!)
Prayer helps Jesus to be focused and for his spirit to be rested.
There was also a powerful reflection from our class: Perhaps, while he was praying, Jesus himself was able to hear the prayers of people from the other towns! Awesome.
This week while we were learning about prayer and while I was reading what you have wrote I asked myself the questions we talked about and went into deep thought about if my answers changed if I thought about them more and more. Also when I heard other peoples answers. Some of my answers changed alot the more I thought for example, "What is prayer?" I said it's like a conversation but I liked the example "bargaining with god." Josephine
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