How to spend a few minutes in prayer
We aim to give you a few thoughts and ideas on how to spend a few minutes in prayer. There are some suggestions for what to say to help you get started but really it’s best to use your own words: God knows you and loves you, so prayer is a conversation with someone who is close to you. This means you don’t need to use religious-sounding words, just talk naturally.
Connecting
It’s good to start by focussing on God. Reflect for a few moments on each of these thoughts: God is
The all-powerful creator, who made the universe; all good things; and you
The Good Shepherd, who longs to guide and protect us.
Our heavenly Father who loves us perfectly even loves us enough to challenge us and discipline us
Jesus Christ, who was willing to come and live as a human, to suffer and die, who rose from the dead so that we can have eternal life
Our friend, who hears all our prayers no matter how inadequate we feel
The coming King, who will return to destroy death and put an end to all suffering, pain and injustice
While you’re coming into God’s presence, you may find that your mind keeps wandering. Don’t worry, this is very common. It takes practice not to be distracted by all the things going on in our lives. When it happens, just refocus on God and carry on.
You could end this section of prayer by saying something like:
“Lord, please help me to pray; help me to look at you instead of myself; help me to listen to you as well as speak. Thank you that no one is like you in love, power, and holiness. Thank you for listening.”
Thanksgiving
It’s all too easy to focus on all our problems and forget the good things in our lives. Good things are from God. It’s often helpful to spend a while thinking about the good things in your life. You could pray something like:
“Lord, thank you for all the practical things you have provided... (e.g.,food, clothes, somewhere to sleep, health, friends, money)... and especially for these other things that come to mind....”
Our needs
Perhaps you are aware of needs that you have or problems that you face. You could pray something like:
“Lord, please help me with... provide me with... change this situation...”
In times of trouble or worry
You could say something along these lines:
“Lord, I’m really troubled because... I’m very worried about...please help me to cope with what’s happening. Please fill me with your peace, your wisdom, your love and strength.”
A Spiritual cleanup
All of us do things that are offensive to a perfect God, and perhaps hurtful to others and ourselves. Often our lives are selfish and self-centred. Perhaps you have things on your conscience, a sense of guilt. Asking God’s forgiveness is a way of getting spiritually clean and making a fresh start.
You could pray along these lines:
“Lord, please forgive me for the bad things I’ve said, especially... please forgive me for all my bad thoughts, in particular... please forgive me for the bad things I’ve done, especially... please forgive me for al the times I’ve had an opportunity to do something good but didn’t do so. Please lead me away from selfishness and help me to live more like Jesus did.”
Praying for others
You may want to pray for other people you know, or for things happening around the world that concern you. You could say something like:
“Lord, please help... please heal... please do something about... please bring your comfort, peace, strength, and help them to know you are with them.”
Final thoughts
God always hears our prayers. He always answers too but sometimes we don’t hear the answer and sometimes the answer isn’t quite what we wanted: God isn’t a slot machine giving us everything we want on our terms, He’s a loving Father who sees far more than we ever could, and always does what is loving, good and right.
You could say something like:
“Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayers. Please help me to trust you in the way that you answer them. Help me to get to know you more. Amen”
Has God spoken to you while you were praying?
This usually takes the form of ideas forming in your mind rather than an audible voice. Perhaps God is encouraging you, or calling you to make some changes in your life, or inviting you to help someone. Sometimes God wants us to work together with Him to see prayers answered. Prayer is very much part of our everyday lives.
Perhaps you’re not sure if you are a Christian; or you’d like to become one; maybe you used to be but have drifted away, or perhaps you’d simply like to find out more. If any of these apply to you, please speak to one of the members of the church who will be glad to help you on your spiritual journey.
The church is open for prayer from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, and our Sunday meeting is at 10:30am and finishes around 12:15pm. Everyone’s welcome.
“May the Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace”
