Tag: Practice

Practice Good Friday

 
For many years now it’s been my practice and privilege to lead the Good Friday service in our church in Rotterdam. The theme this year is Cross talk.

We will end the service as usual with a Tenebrae liturgy, recalling the 7 ‘words’ of Jesus from the cross. I’ve written a refrain to sing after each ‘word’, as a candle is snuffed out:

This is God’s Son, the chosen one
Listen to him, listen
He has the words of eternal life
Listen to him

A prayer

Oh God, we thank you for the gift of years; for the opportunity to see the pattern of our lives and to have experienced the deaths from which we have risen over and over again. As we continue our journey, give us lightness of step and lightness of heart that we may grace our world with a spirit of joy and gratitude. We ask this in the name of Jesus who has gone before and continues to walk the way with us.

The woman’s prayer companion, from The Book of a Thousand Prayers by Angela Ashwin, #984

From the blog
In the school of prayer with Terry Hinks
Asking and answers
Thank you. For life
 

Prayer as a practice


 

It will pass

from Prayer: Forty days of practice by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson
 

The young woman sat in a wooden chair across from her mentor and grieved, “I am so easily distracted. My mind buzzes with noise and I cannot pray. Please help me.”

Her mentor nodded slowly and smiled, saying, “It will pass. Keep practicing.”

One week later the young woman sat across from her mentor again. This time, sliding slightly lower into the chair, she stared at the empty table. “Nothing works. I sit in silence. I journal. I read the Scriptures. Still, my mind is too noisy. I cannot pray. Please help me.”

Her mentor nodded slowly and smiled, saying, “It will pass. Keep practicing.”

Many weeks went by, during which the young woman did not visit her mentor – until one day, she bounded into the room and stood at the table, beaming. “You were right! I kept practicing. I sat in silence. I journaled. I read the Scriptures. And eventually the busyness of my mind settled like dust and I could pray! I can pray!”

Her mentor rose from the table, set her hand on the young woman’s shoulder, and smiled. “It will pass,” she said. “Keep practicing.”

 

A poem

Let Your God Love You

Be silent.
Be still.
Alone.
Empty
Before your God.
Say nothing.
Ask nothing.
Be silent.
Be still.
Let your God look upon you.
That is all.
God knows.
God understands.
God loves you
With an enormous love,
And only wants
To look upon you
With that love.
Quiet.
Still.
Be.

Let your God —
Love you.

 
~ written by Edwina Gateley, posted on www.journeywithjesus.net

From the blog
In the quiet of God’s smile
3 Prayers while waiting
Thank you. For making me
 

Daily practice

 
In the book, Basic Christian: The Inside Story of John Stott, Anglican cleric John Stott shared this prayer. It was his practice to pray it every morning.

 
Good morning heavenly Father,
good morning Lord Jesus,
good morning Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, I worship you as the creator and sustainer of the universe.
Lord Jesus, I worship you, Saviour and Lord of the world.
Holy Spirit, I worship you, sanctifier of the people of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father,
I pray that I may live this day in your presence
and please you more and more.

Lord Jesus,
I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

Holy Spirit,
I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself
and cause your fruit to ripen in my life:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,
three persons in one God,
have mercy upon me.
Amen.
 

~ posted on re:Worship

From the blog
Walking the labyrinth
The empty cup
In the school of prayer with Brother Lawrence