Preparation for Prayer

1. Prepare

• How do I feel now?

• What grace do I want to ask God for: peace, generosity, an open heart, forgiveness…?

• What is the scripture passage will I use? Read carefully a few times.

2. Begin

• Find a suitable place where you are uninhibited; relax, some people find it helpful to have the feet grounded and the spine straight

• Focus your attention with the help of some awareness exercises ( you can us any form of breathing exercise or the video in the google site on centering prayer)

• Focus the sign of the cross slowly

• Ask God for the grace you desire

• Allow the scripture passage or reflections for the day speak to you…

3. End

• Have a dialogue with God: express yourself freely to God and listen to God, as friend to friend

• End with “Our Father”

4. Review of Prayer (you might want to have a journal to write your thoughts)

• What happened inside me?

• How did I feel?

• What was my mood…, change of mood…, what feelings flowed through me?

• What thoughts came in and out…, where was I drawn to dwell?

• How were God and I present or absent to each other?

• Is there some point I should return to in my next prayer period?

• How did I begin? How did I end?