Posted by: sweetsoup | January 21, 2008

Sometimes God says, “HELLO…are you paying attention?!?!”

Prayer

I have a personal rule that says, “when I hear about something three different times from three different sources, it’s time to pay attention.” Happened this weekend:

  • On Friday, got an email from someone who is in a Holy Grounds group who said she was having a great experience exploring the Bible with the group but “they’ve got me saying the prayer on Sunday and I’ve been freaking out all week.”
  • On Saturday, had a wonderful conversation with one of my Haiti prayer partners who had a fantastic experience praying for me (pretty humbling), had never done anything like that before, and helped her kids do it, too, but then had to pray out loud. “That’s really hard for me,” she said.
  • On Sunday when I stopped in to visit the Holy Grounds groups meeting at Panera, one group said, “Sue, we’ve been talking about how hard it is for us to pray out loud. It would be great to have a workshop or seminar on that.”

Sometimes God says, “HELLO, Sue…are you paying attention?!?!”

So, I’m watching for a good way, a good setting to help people with this. Any ideas?

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Responses

I try to pray out loud all of the time, it helps me to think about what I am saying. But! my eyes are closed so it’s just me and the Lord. I have learned to stop and wait for guidance .. little voices that are much more thoughtful than I am. When ever our life group pray’s , I pray long with the person.. talking to the Lord in agreement and concern. I am surprised often times with what I say, It’s not about being good or bad just real. My prayer list is about 40 folks now, An old preacher friend of mine prayed for every person in the church by name every week I talk to the Lord as I would the talk the best father in the world, how can I say something wrong that he would not understand?

By: Bruce Stone on January 21, 2008
at 3:23 pm

Hi Sue — I like Bruce’s response but I’d have to say that I was in the same boat as the others a while back, and just like many other things, I got “better” with practice. I hope that we don’t need a whole class to teach people how to pray! Gee - Is it a Lutheran thing? ;-)

I think a simple sheet like the ones they use for the corporate prayer could help. The biggest issue with many people is that they have stage fright - they can’t speak in front of people. Give them a sheet with a first line each for praise, thanksgiving, requests for healing, (I can’t remember the other) and space to write down their own prayers, and give them a structured time (maybe 5 minutes) at the beginning or end of class to write a couple thoughts down.

Then encourage them to try it with just a few items. “Lord I thank you so much for ….” And “Lord I pray for healing for…”, etc. Go through their lists that way. I guarantee that after doing this for 5 or 10 times most people will not need their sheets.

So - training wheels before the 2 wheeler!

Joe Z.

By: Joe Z on January 21, 2008
at 4:58 pm

Thanks, Bruce and Joe–would love to hear from others…what you think might be helpful for you, especially. I actually think tools like you suggest would be great, Joe. I also think people might need the help that a class would give them. For some, praying is not something they’ve done much of. I like classes on prayer, as well, because even though I’ve been praying a while now, I can always grow in that discipline. I was thinking, too, that for Holy Grounds, it might have been a good idea for me to give written prayers that can be used until people are comfortable with giving the “freestyle” praying a try.

By: sweetsoup on January 21, 2008
at 5:14 pm

Sue-
I feel a lot of people have trouble praying aloud because of self-consciousness. Self-consciousness means I feel everything is revolving around me. Whenever we are concentrating on ourselves we can’t be truly open to God. I have found that I need to focus on God and use HIS strength to pray.
When I stop thinking of how I sound, or what words to use, and just concentrate on the goodness of God, the Holy Spirit will provide the words and even bring prayer concerns to my mind that I hadn’t planned on including.
PRACTICE is just as important in prayer as it is in everything else. If you plan a class on this topic I would recommend that 80% of the class time be actually praying- alone, in pairs, in small groups and in large groups. There is just no way to feel more comfortable praying aloud than to actually pray aloud in a totally accepting, loving environment of other believers. Karen

By: Karen Cassidy on January 21, 2008
at 7:47 pm

I’ve had many people tell me in my career that I’m a great “pray-er”…and my response is usually “You need to get out more often!” I’ve heard so many people pray in public who blow me away. But does that make their prayers more effective than mine?

No! As you know, God cherishes the prayers of all his children just as we cherish the incomprehensible scribbles that our 3-year olds gives us…to the point of proudly displaying it on our refrigerator and office walls. My ability to pray out loud in front of people has come from years of just doing it (oaky, credit Nike on that one!) It has become natural now, but it wasn’t always that way. I can remember scripting out my prayers so that I would know what to say in the face of all those face staring up at me (even though their eyes were supposed to be closed! :). And no, they weren’t great masterpiece prayers either…more like vocal scribbles that only I (and the Holy Spirit) could really interpret.

I think Karen, Joe, and also Bruce have made great points. If people want to be able to pray out loud, they need practice; there are tools and tips that can help make the experience less stressful and more enjoyable; and there are ways of thinking that allow us to be less mindful of what we are doing, and more mindful of who we are talking to. I’ve seen you teach Sue, and I think you’d do a fantastic job of offering a practical worskshop on public prayer!

My hat’s off to those people you were speaking to who went ahead and prayed despite the fear, trepidation, etc. It IS a scary thing when you are not used to it (and the more public the place (i.e. Paneras) the more scary it can be!) The beauty of God’s grace is that He takes our child-like scribbles and transforms it into something amazing to use for His glory.

By: Eric F on January 21, 2008
at 8:13 pm

Good for you! Three times is a great personal rule to get yourself to listen up! I usually have to get hit over the head several million times before I start to think there might be something that I should pay attention to! LOL!

Praying out loud is definitely out of my comfort zone, too. (Unless it‘s The Lord‘s Prayer - I have that one down pat)! I’d look forward to a class. I know sometimes when we do our prayers during LG, I’m so distracted by ‘crafting’ what I’m going to say. I have to remind myself that I’m not doing to impress anyone sitting there… My conversation is with Him to hear both our praise and cry’s. I try to be confident that my words are perfectly sweet in His ears, no matter what ends up coming out. Yup, my neck gets blotchy and hands are clammy :o)

By: Kim on January 21, 2008
at 10:06 pm

I have a picture outline that we use(d) with the FACES group that could be shared with the kids at FT. The younger we start “practicing” the better! I also have a prayer board game that I made up for families & discussion if anyone would like to borrow it to use with thier families.

Also: re: to Sunday groups that meet elsewhere- what about doing prayer requests that you write down and then use those to help you feel more at ease at first.

By: Sandra on January 22, 2008
at 1:29 pm

I agree with everyone that practice is the key and as Sandra mentioned, the earlier in life, the better. As a child, we only prayed the common table prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, etc., out loud. When I first began praying out loud, I didn’t feel comfortable, but like Bruce, I now pray outloud even when I’m by myself, to help me remain focused , etc.
At our home now, we all pray at mealtimes or whenever using whatever prayer is on our heart. I am blessed by the prayers of my kids who really get that they are talking to God rather than performing a ritual. Could kids in kingdom quest be encouraged and invited to pray for each other out loud each week? (Maybe they already do this?) I know Abbie’s class in school does this and she often incorporates prayer requests from school into her nightly prayers.

I think it’s great to work with adults who want to become more comfortable in this area but I would love to help raise a generation of kids who wouldn’t consider praying out loud as anything unusual =)

By: Pam S on January 22, 2008
at 1:47 pm

So many great ideas and responses!!!! Thanks for sharing everybody–and keep em’ coming!

By: sweetsoup on January 22, 2008
at 3:31 pm

I know for me personally praying out loud is out of my comfort zone, but living with the Mongielo’s has helped tremendously. I didn’t grow up saying prayers with my family but we all take turns here at dinner time and I’ve learned that it’s ok to not “have something planned” to say, just say what’s on your heart.

Like many others I only knew the Lord’s Prayer growing up and like Kim I worry so much about what I’m going to say that I get so worried about “not saying the right things” that I forget why I’m praying in the first place.

I too would look forward to a class on prayer. I think it would be great for many people.

By: cadetkberas on January 22, 2008
at 4:31 pm

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