Prayer Forms
few prayer forms that have been especially deepening or instructive for me are these I describe below. I am just introducing them so if you are interested in learning more or understanding their origins just google any of them.
Lectio Divina: Essentially this is a prayer form, introduced by the Benedictines, that uses just a small segment of scripture, a Psalm or a poem to concentrate our deepening conversation with God. We read it over once just to familiarize ourselves with the words, then read it again to see which words, phrases, or images bubble up to the surface for us. Then we ask God to show us where these words or phrases connect with our present day lives. If we do this by reading a few more times, asking God to take us deeper, we usually find our connection. Then God shows us what this intimate kind of prayer can do to change, deepen, enlarge, challenge or heal us.
Try doing Lectio with part of Psalm 21, translated by Nan Merrill in Psalms for Praying
Forever will I put my trust in You; and as I abandon myself to You in love, I am assured of peace.
You root out my fears; standing firm beside me as I face the shadows within.
Like a blazing sun your light shines. My fears flee from your sight; your fire consumes them.
Walking the labyrinth: The labyrinth is an ancient form of walking prayer. It has a predetermined design, either out-of-doors or indoors, that invites us to take a slow step-by-step journey towards God who is at the center. But along the way there are twists and turns, ins an outs. Asking a question for yourself and God as you enter is one way of getting a more personal experience. But God invites the journey and it becomes whatever God has in mind. There are also hand or finger labyrinths that can work well for morning or evening prayer. For a beautiful dancing woman finger labyrinth contact Lisa Moriarty, www.pathsofpeace.com
Centering Prayer: Centering prayer is a form of meditation in which you slow everything down, especially your mind, and listen for God. It is based on being aware of your breath and the way in which your mind moves when you slow down. The common practice is to use a sacred word that can help you focus. So when your mind inevitably wanders, it is just another opportunity to come back to God by using your prayer word. There is no way to fail at centering prayer. I have found personally, that as I slow down and calm my mind, God enters my being in new and intimate ways.
Here are a few suggestions to use for your sacred word. Sometimes it helps to have it be two syllables so you can breathe in with one half of the word and breathe out with the other.
Jesus, open, Abba (means father), Amma (means mother), savior, shalom (means peace).
Prayer Beads: Using beads is another creative way to pray, whether it is with the traditional rosary or with any one of a variety of new bead forms. Using beads helps you to focus on a repeated rhythm, whether it is using words for God, repeating a word or phrase, or just letting God's love flow through each bead as you touch it. It is like a silent chant, a way for your hands to actually feel the bead and be part of the prayer. Many people make their own prayer bead bracelets and thus have a more personal contact with their prayer.
Here are a few words for God to use with your prayer beads: rock, eagle, shepherd, ocean, lover of my soul, father, friend, caretaker of birds and flowers, mother, calm presence within.
Ignatian Prayer: In the 1500s St. Ignatian developed a set of exercises to help people come closer to God, to learn the life of Jesus in more personal ways and then to make changes in their lives. One of the forms he introduced is a way of entering scripture stories. He suggests that we become one of the characters in a story, or be present in the story as an observer. We notice what attracts us and what bothers us or what questions emerge. Then we reflect on our experience and see what wisdom it has for our present life?
Here's a story to use with this Ignatian form of prayer: And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him. "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Try any of these (or other) prayer forms and ask God to help you learn more about how your present life connects with God's deepest desires for you. Be careful what you pray for. You might get it:-)
Lectio Divina: Essentially this is a prayer form, introduced by the Benedictines, that uses just a small segment of scripture, a Psalm or a poem to concentrate our deepening conversation with God. We read it over once just to familiarize ourselves with the words, then read it again to see which words, phrases, or images bubble up to the surface for us. Then we ask God to show us where these words or phrases connect with our present day lives. If we do this by reading a few more times, asking God to take us deeper, we usually find our connection. Then God shows us what this intimate kind of prayer can do to change, deepen, enlarge, challenge or heal us.
Try doing Lectio with part of Psalm 21, translated by Nan Merrill in Psalms for Praying
Forever will I put my trust in You; and as I abandon myself to You in love, I am assured of peace.
You root out my fears; standing firm beside me as I face the shadows within.
Like a blazing sun your light shines. My fears flee from your sight; your fire consumes them.
Walking the labyrinth: The labyrinth is an ancient form of walking prayer. It has a predetermined design, either out-of-doors or indoors, that invites us to take a slow step-by-step journey towards God who is at the center. But along the way there are twists and turns, ins an outs. Asking a question for yourself and God as you enter is one way of getting a more personal experience. But God invites the journey and it becomes whatever God has in mind. There are also hand or finger labyrinths that can work well for morning or evening prayer. For a beautiful dancing woman finger labyrinth contact Lisa Moriarty, www.pathsofpeace.com
Centering Prayer: Centering prayer is a form of meditation in which you slow everything down, especially your mind, and listen for God. It is based on being aware of your breath and the way in which your mind moves when you slow down. The common practice is to use a sacred word that can help you focus. So when your mind inevitably wanders, it is just another opportunity to come back to God by using your prayer word. There is no way to fail at centering prayer. I have found personally, that as I slow down and calm my mind, God enters my being in new and intimate ways.
Here are a few suggestions to use for your sacred word. Sometimes it helps to have it be two syllables so you can breathe in with one half of the word and breathe out with the other.
Jesus, open, Abba (means father), Amma (means mother), savior, shalom (means peace).
Prayer Beads: Using beads is another creative way to pray, whether it is with the traditional rosary or with any one of a variety of new bead forms. Using beads helps you to focus on a repeated rhythm, whether it is using words for God, repeating a word or phrase, or just letting God's love flow through each bead as you touch it. It is like a silent chant, a way for your hands to actually feel the bead and be part of the prayer. Many people make their own prayer bead bracelets and thus have a more personal contact with their prayer.
Here are a few words for God to use with your prayer beads: rock, eagle, shepherd, ocean, lover of my soul, father, friend, caretaker of birds and flowers, mother, calm presence within.
Ignatian Prayer: In the 1500s St. Ignatian developed a set of exercises to help people come closer to God, to learn the life of Jesus in more personal ways and then to make changes in their lives. One of the forms he introduced is a way of entering scripture stories. He suggests that we become one of the characters in a story, or be present in the story as an observer. We notice what attracts us and what bothers us or what questions emerge. Then we reflect on our experience and see what wisdom it has for our present life?
Here's a story to use with this Ignatian form of prayer: And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him. "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Try any of these (or other) prayer forms and ask God to help you learn more about how your present life connects with God's deepest desires for you. Be careful what you pray for. You might get it:-)