Ways to Pray:
1. Talk to God as you would an intimately close friend.
2. Give thanks for things in your life and in the world that are going well..
3. Ask for God's involvement in the lives of
other people who need God's healing touch.
4. Ask God how you might be able to make a difference; i.e. to let God work through you.
5. Boldly ask for forgiveness for doing what you shouldn't do & for failing to do what you should. Accept God's assurance of pardon and ask God to help you repent and reorient your mindset and your life toward healthier ways of living.
6. Ask for God's assistance in your own life and circumstances.
7. Thank God for spending this time with you.
Say Amen! (meaning "may it be so!")
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Centering Prayer:
* Set aside 25-45 minutes in a quite place. Sit comfortably and maybe light a candle
* Sit still and just BE with God.
* Don't think of things to say or ask, just sit in God's presence and enjoy each other's company.
* If your mind starts to wander or become distracted, acknowledge the distraction, then say a "prayer word" in your mind until it passes and you come back to center (e.g. "Jesus", "Peace", "Grace", "God," etc.).
* Just - "be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
(learn more at www.centeringprayer.com)
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This prayer has many of the Biblical truths of what it means to be a Christian.
Pointers for Prayer : Sometimes Christians are called to turn the world upside down. To bring the exact opposite of what we find in our world - especially in situations of violence and injustice. The prayer attributed to St. Francis is a bold one, asking for strength to give of ourselves to meet the needs of others. It recognizes that it "is in giving that we receive", that as we give of ourselves, we receive the peace and blessing of our risen Lord Jesus. We cannot earn eternal life, but we are pardoned from the sins that block our claim on it. Think about the situations that you are involved in that require peace, consolation, transformation, hope, light and joy. Then, if you're bold enough, pray the prayer!________________________________________
The Serenity Prayer
GOD, grant me the serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change,
courage to change the
things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference.
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The Lord's Prayer
(a prayer Jesus taught His disciples - many Christians learn this one by heart)
Our Father (God), Who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our treaspasses (debts/sins)
as we forgive those who treaspass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil;
for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power,
and the Glory Forever! Amen!