Explore Ways of Praying

Introduction & Welcome (1 min.)

I. Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Grace: To become more aware of other ways of praying and how God communicates to us.

Use the grace or the suggested scripture above to create your own prayer, use CLC Opening Prayer.

NOTE: Place the pictures everyone took of places they have prayed or experienced God in the center as a focal point.

II. Check-In (5 min.)

• What were some of your high and low points of the week?

III. Focus Exercise (40 min.)

Materials Needed: Bible, pens, pencils, markers, paper, prayer cards, handouts in CLC journal booklet: 7 ways of praying & Some common questions regarding prayer

Introduction

Connect with last week’s meeting. Last week, we talked about our ways of praying. Tonight, we are going to explore different ways of praying and discuss some of the common questions about prayer.

Exercise: 7 Ways of Praying

There is no “right” way of praying. We just need to pay attention to which way of praying has been helpful and has worked for you. Keep in mind: the following are merely the means or tools to pray, not the end, which is to grow in our relationship with God. Use them if helpful and ignore them if not. (Note: Try to connect members’ answers earlier with the following thoughts). Go over and discuss “Three Secret Steps to Prayer.”

THREE SECRET STEPS TO PRAYER: Before, During, and After prayer

Step 1: Before Prayer

Keep in mind the following…

• Purpose: The purpose of prayer is to grow in our relationship with God by spending time with God. As in human relationships, we can’t grow and love someone without spending time to know and grow in relationship with the person. As in human relationships, we spend time with the person in different ways: sometimes alone and sometimes with others; sometimes just hanging out and other times doing activities; sometimes formally and others informally.
• Location: Wherever you pray better. In general, it’s better to have a quiet place.
• Time: Whenever you pray better. In general, it’s better to have a fixed schedule or “appointment.” Besides the fixed time, we should pray throughout the day. As in human relationships, when we desire to know someone, we often think about the person throughout the day.
• Body posture: However you pray best: sitting, kneeling, standing, walking slowly.
• What to talk about? Whatever is going on in your life. Don’t forget to surprise God by asking and caring for God, “How are you? What is going on?”
• Which method? Whatever helps you. See “7 ways of praying” in your journal booklet.
• Distraction during prayer: See “Some common questions regarding prayer” in your booklet.

Step 2: During Prayer Period

It can be divided into three movements: beginning, middle, and ending.

1. Beginning
   • Place ourselves in God’s presence
   • Center/Quiet ourselves: breathing, candle, music might help
   • Ask for the grace desired
2. Middle
   • Pray. Use one of the methods from 7 ways of praying if it’s helpful for you.
3. Ending
   • Close the prayer with a time of conversation with God, the Father, Jesus, and/or the Holy Spirit. As in human relationships, ask ourselves, “How do we conclude the conversation?” Be creative.

Step 3: After Prayer

Review it. Have you ever looked back on a positive, deep-felt, or even difficult experience with a good friend and drawn valuable insight from it? You reviewed what your friend said, how you felt, how you responded. As a result of the reflection, you cherish, savor, and learn more from the time spent with her or him.

The review after a prayer experience is similar. It allows us to examine what happened in our prayer and notice our interior experiences. It enables us to reflect, notice, and interpret how God is present and communicates with us at this time. Ignatius recommends us to keep a journal: to record and keep track of how God works during our prayers and to better prepare for the next time we pray. In time, this discipline will cultivate within us a more discerning heart.

Listening Deeper

• What has struck you as you have been listening to others share? Do you notice any patterns or commonalities?
• How have you been feeling throughout the meeting? Comfortable? Anxious? Curious?
• Is there anything you would like to share after listening to another person share?

IV. Moving Forward (5 min.)

• Wrap-Up: Thank members for their openness and participation.
• Action:
  • Pray with Awareness Examen and keep journal.
  • Talk with prayer partner about the meeting tonight.
• Announcements: Topic for next meeting and upcoming CLC events.

V. Closing Prayer (5 min.)

Invite members to pray for one another... End with the prayer that Jesus taught us to call God “Abba.”

Our Father,

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 trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.