24-7 prayer PRAYER, MISSION AND JUSTICE We have prepared this course to help you to lead prisoners in the development of a prayer life; we have tested and trialled it in other prisons (with input & suggestions from Chaplains, volunteers and prisoners) and think it will be a really helpful tool for you to use. If somehow this course facilitates prisoners in a deeper connection with God and the development of an ongoing, regular prayer life, we will be very happy! We feel this course works well on the back of an Alpha course, but it can also stand alone. There are 6 sessions that could be run in six weeks or less if you wish to. This course works for prisoners of faith and with those of no faith. Introduction
Transcript
24-7 prayerPRAYER, MISSION AND JUSTICE
We have prepared this course to help you to lead prisoners in the development of a prayer life; we have tested
and trialled it in other prisons (with input & suggestions from Chaplains, volunteers and prisoners) and think it will
be a really helpful tool for you to use. If somehow this course facilitates prisoners in a deeper connection with God
and the development of an ongoing, regular prayer life, we will be very happy!
We feel this course works well on the back of an Alpha course, but it can also stand alone.
There are 6 sessions that could be run in six weeks or less if you wish to.
This course works for prisoners of faith and with those of no faith.
Introduction
LEADER NOTES
How to use this course
Participants notes
At the back of your leaders notes we have provided you with participants notes. These are easily photocopied and a great record for course members to take away with them at the end of each session.
If you have access to a computer you can also get printer friendly versions of the participants notes from www.24-7prayer.com/prisoncourse
Group work sessions
Each session works well with 12 prisoners and 3 helpers, breaking into 3 groups of 4 for the group work at the end. But you can of course run sessions for more or less than this number of participants or team. We have given some really simple action points, creative ideas and questions to initialise conversation and get the group work sessions going; you may also have your own.
Further help
If you would like any further information or guidance about this prayer course, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us or the team at the William Wilberforce Trust: Alpha for Prisons / Caring for Ex-Offenders on 0207 052 0332
Primarily you just follow the notes and use the exercises - it’s a tool that we wanted to be easy to use and save you some time! We really want this to serve you and you know your situation better than most, so please feel free to adapt it accordingly. You could do 2 sessions in an afternoon or you may just want to do one at a time, it’s entirely up to you.
Feel free to add your own stories, different bible verses, and personal insights to enhance this course.
In fact if you do come up with any thing that works particularly well, we would love to hear from you - drop us a line on [email protected]
)F�YOU�STRUGGLE�FOR�STORIES��WE�SUGGEST�USING�THE�!LPHA�GUIDE�OR�VARIOUS�PRISON�TESTIMONY�BOOKS�TO�lND�INTERESTING�anecdotes that make an impact.
24-7 prayerPRAYER, MISSION AND JUSTICE
Session 1
1. Why pray?
SESSION 1 OVERVIEW:The idea of this session is to get people to understand that they can talk to God and that it is a simple process.
SESSION 1 OBJECTIVE:A good outcome would be that people leave this session knowing that: Prayer is a conversation between man and God that everybody can enter into.
2. What is prayer?
I don’t know what you think of when you hear the word ‘prayer’? Whether it’s something you do, or don’t do, whether you’ve tried it or not, or whether you think it works? All around the world people pray, people from many different cultures and backgrounds use prayer as a means of connecting with God. We want this course to help you understand why we as Christians believe in prayer. Our desire is that you will not only understand why people pray but will also be encouraged and equipped to develop your prayer life and a lifelong connection with God.
Potential discussion around experiences of prayer:A helpful story of prayer from the group leader is good here: ‘Here’s an experience I had with prayer’
Prayer is a direct line to God. Prayer is a communication process that allows us to have a two-way conversation with God! He wants us to communicate with Him, like a person-to-person phone call.
LEADER NOTES
We know what it’s like not to be heard, or to be misunderstood! More than many we understand the importance of good communication.
Prayer is how we have good communication with God.
Too many people, prayer seems complicated, but it is simply talking to God. Praying is like talking to a good friend, having a conversation with someone who really gets you!
As we have been learning in Alpha about God’s love, it’s much easier to talk to someone when you know they love you unconditionally! So when we pray we start a conversation with a God in heaven
who is not judging us but just excited to hear from us.
3. How should I speak to God
Jesus said this: Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”
Language is important; we use it all the time. Whatever your language is you can use it to talk to God. God is not an Englishman! He hears and understands you whatever language you speak.
You don’t need to kneel; you don’t need to close your eyes; you don’t even need to pray out loud.
Some people do these things to help them to focus, or stop their minds from wandering. But most people pray in a whole variety of different ways. Out loud or in your head, either way God is listening.
Sure, if it helps, you’re comfortable and you have the space, try kneeling, try speaking out loud, but remember if you don’t do these things God still hears you.
He hears your simple words, all of them.
The best place to start with prayer is on your own.
Just like Jesus did - Matthew 14:23 “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.”
And He encouraged us to do the same
Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Keep it real.
Just you and God.
)�GUESS�IN�OUR�SITUATION�HERE�IN�PRISON�WE�ALL�KNOW�HOW�DIFlCULT�IT�CAN�BE�AT�TIMES�TO�COMMUNICATE��TO�make a call or write a letter isn’t always easy. Also when we don’t hear from people out and about,
WE�STRUGGLE��WE�lND�IT�CHALLENGING��
LEADER NOTES
It’s says this about God and you in Psalm 139:15-16“You know me inside and out, You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.”
Hopefully this won’t freak you out or make you think that God is some form of divine stalker! But if you decide to pray, it helps to realise that:
This means He’ll get your language, He’ll know what you mean even if you think you’re not describing it well; He knows you. It’s so much easier to have a conversation with someone who already knows you.
4. It helps to realise that God already knows you and He knows your story.
He knows you.
5. Am I good enough?
One of our biggest challenges is we may think we are not good enough or religious enough to talk to God. You may think that only a priest or a chaplain has a right to pray for you. But that’s not true, in many ways none of us are good enough to speak to God, not even priests and chaplains. But God is full of love, He is not distant from us and the reality is we can all pray.
Hebrews 4:14 -16r8LIVIJSVI��WMRGI�[I�LEZI�E�KVIEX�LMKL�TVMIWX�[LS�LEW�EWGIRHIH�MRXS�LIEZIR��.IWYW�XLI�7SR�SJ�+SH��PIX�YW�LSPH�ĹVQP]�to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne SJ�KVEGI�[MXL�GSRĹHIRGI��WS�XLEX�[I�QE]�VIGIMZI�QIVG]�ERH�ĹRH�KVEGI�XS�LIPT�YW�MR�SYV�XMQI�SJ�RIIH�s
God wants to have a conversation with us all, not just when we are in trouble or through a priest or chaplain, He wants us to speak personally to Him at all times. He knows what we are going through and we can approach Him LQ�SUD\HU�ZLWK�FRQŰGHQFH�
Richard Foster (Christian writer) says, “We will never have pure enough motives, or be good enough, or know enough in order to pray rightly. We simply must set all these things aside and begin praying. In fact, it is in the very act of prayer itself – the intimate, on-going interaction with God – that these matters are cared for in due time.”
God will never get tired of having a conversation with you; He never gets tired of hearing your voice. Just start Talking!
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 “If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their
He will hear from heaven.
LEADER NOTES
6. Regular contact
We all know what it is like to only see people from time to time, to get the occasional visit or the occasional letter. ,WŐV�FKDOOHQJLQJ��GLIŰFXOW�DQG�FDQ�EH�KDUG�WR�IHHO�QDWXUDO�DW�ŰUVW�
Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Often means he regularly set times aside to pray.
A regular visit to a time of prayer helps build a strong relationship with God.
Remember it’s an ongoing conversation, not a one-off chat. Try and do it regularly.
It helps to build a routine (like praying in the morning and evening) but if you miss a slot it is also helpful to remember *RG�ZRQŐW�SXQLVK�\RX��'RQŐW�EHDW�\RXUVHOI�XS�MXVW�NHHS�WU\LQJ�DQG�\RX�ZLOO�VRRQ�ŰQG�WKDW�LW�EHFRPHV�D�KDELW�
So here are the basics:
SESSION 1: GROUP SESSION - QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITY
The idea of this session is to get people to understand that they can talk to God and that it is a simple process. No one should be asked to pray out loud at this point.
QUESTIONS TO PROMPT DISCUSSION:
��� +RZ�GR�\RX�ŰQG�WKH�LGHD�RI�\RX�KDYLQJ�D�SULYDWH�FRQYHUVDWLRQ�ZLWK�*RG"2. How do you feel about the reality that God knows you?3. How easy would it be for you to create space for a regular conversation with God?4. If you pray on your own, how do you stop yourself from being distracted?
Prayer is a conversation between man and Godthat everybody can enter into.
1. Remember anyone can pray.2. Start on your own.3. Use your own language.4. Try and do it regularly.
24-7 prayerPRAYER, MISSION AND JUSTICE
Session 2
1. Praying with others
SESSION 2 OVERVIEW:The idea of this session is to lead people to a realisation that they can pray with others, use creativity in prayer DQG�HDVLO\�ŰQG�WKHPHV�IRU�SUD\HU� SESSION 2 OBJECTIVE:A good outcome would be that people leave this session knowing that: There are different ways to pray and many things to pray about.
Praying on our own is very important but it is also good to pray with others.
Obviously this can be a little more stressful, as other people hear how we speak to God! Some of us don’t like saying much publicly and others can sometimes be guilty of saying too much!
A good story of embarrassing yourself in prayer/ or struggling to pray out loud would help here.
For many praying out loud with others can be a really big challenge, but we believe it is really important.
Throughout the bible there are lots of instances of people praying together. Christians have met regularly to pray together for over 2000 years.
At the beginning of the early church after Jesus had ascended into heaven/ left earth, we read this:Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
After some hard times Peter and John go back to the church and this happens:Acts 4:23-24 “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.”
LEADER NOTES
People need to hear you so that they can agree with you. It’s really hard to agree with someone if you can’t hear them and don’t know what they have said! It’s also a biblical promise and God keeps His promises.
Why do people say “Amen” at the end of the prayer? Well it means “Let it be so” or “I agree”. In everyday conversation you sometimes hear people say “Amen to that!” in a positive way.
When we say amen to our own prayers or the prayers of others we are basically saying “Let it be so” or “I agree with what has been said, make it happen God”.
2. Praying out loud
When Peter was helped miraculously out of prison by an angel he found the church doing this:Acts 12:12 “When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”
So we see people gathering together and raising their voices in prayer! It’s good to get with others and pray out loud; in fact it’s biblical.
Jesus also said in Matthew 18:19 -20 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
God responds when two or three people pray together; it is a very powerful thing to pray in agreement
with someone else.
When others pray out loud we can encourage them with an “Amen”.
It may actually be helpful to write a prayer, if you can, and read it out loud, or even read out a prayer written by others. This a great way to begin praying out loud.
Here’s a prayer written for someone to read out loud, would anyone be up for reading it aloud now?
When they have finished all I ask is that we all say “Amen.”
An appropriate prayer that’s been printed out should be given to someone who can read at this point. If no one volunteers you should get another team member to read it out.
• Pray by writing your prayer down – as a note, poem, song or just a straight up letter!• Pray by reading a well-known prayer or psalm out loud- you could then personalise it.• Pray by painting or drawing your prayer• Pray by using beads, string or anything else tactile that helps you to focus on God
We can pray for people. All people.
Every day we encounter people and situations that affect us, whether here in prison, back at home or maybe even the latest news story. There is always something we can pray for. (It would be a good idea to bring a newspaper with you to this session you could then highlight a number of different things that need prayer.)
PRAYING FOR PEOPLE1 Timothy 2:1 says: r-�YVKI��XLIR��ĹVWX�SJ�EPP��XLEX�TIXMXMSRW��TVE]IVW��MRXIVGIWWMSR�ERH�XLEROWKMZMRK�FI�QEHI�JSV�EPP�people.”
Be as creative as you want within the environment you find yourself in.
4. What can we pray about?
We have family, we have friends, and there are people we read about or see on the news. It’s really good to pray for people and their situations.
7KHUH�LV�D�EOHVVLQJ�WKDW�LV�IRXQG�LQ�WKH�ERRN�RI�1XPEHUV�LQ�WKH�ELEOH��WKDW�\RX�PD\�ŰQG�KHOSIXO�WR�SUD\�RYHU�SHRSOH�Family, friends, people we read about or see in the news, those we see every day. Here’s how:
It says in Numbers 6:24-26 ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace.’
Let’s make this about a person:
Lord bless ______ and keep him/her safe, secure and well, Lord please smile on ______ be good to him/her, turn Your face towards him/her and be kind to him/her, Lord give ______ peace.
It’s that simple but basically when praying for others we want good things to happen to them.
LEADER NOTES
It is good to pray for yourself. God wants to hear all that you are going through.
PRAYING FOR SITUATIONSThere are situations that occur globally and nationally that affect more than just one individual. When we see tragedy and strife and feel helpless, one of the most amazing things we can do is pray.
We can pray for the people affected, for those in power and for those who are helping.
There are many more situations we can pray for:
• Praying for nations and towns.• Praying for institutions• Praying for the suffering church
PRAYING FOR OURSELVES6RPHWLPHV�SHRSOH�GRQŐW�OLNH�WR�GR�WKLV��WKH\�IHHO�LWŐV�RND\�WR�SUD\�IRU�RWKHUV�EXW�D�OLWWOH�VHOŰVK�WR�SUD\�IRU�themselves.
It’s helpful to remember that Jesus prayed for Himself!
John 17:1 “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify You.”
Matthew 26:39 “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.””
SESSION 2: GROUP SESSION - QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITY
The idea of this session is to lead people into a realisation that they can pray with others, use creativity in SUD\HU�DQG�HDVLO\�ŰQG�WKHPHV�IRU�SUD\HU���
QUESTIONS TO PROMPT DISCUSSION:
1. What do you think stops us from praying out loud with others?2. Is there anything we could all pray for out loud now?3. What new, creative ways to pray could you try as you talk to God this week? [Encourage everyone to
come up with at least one new way to pray that’s tailored to them as an individual.]4. Is there an area that you wouldn’t have considered praying about previously? [Encourage everyone to
choose one topic to pray about this week, e.g. others, themselves, nations, the church.]5. Use a newspaper to discuss how to pray for various situations.6. 7DNH�WKLV�SLHFH�RI�VWULQJ�DZD\�ZLWK�\RX��WLH�D�NQRW�LQ�LW�DQG�XVH�LW�DV�D�UHPLQGHU�WR�SUD\�IRU�D�VSHFLŰF�
thing this week.
24-7 prayerPRAYER, MISSION AND JUSTICE
Session 3
1. Who do we pray to?
God is both like us and unlike us.
Genesis 1:27 says this: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
And in Job 37:5 we learn that: “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.”
This can mess with your head a bit, but God is at the same time both like us and completely unlike us. But this should help us when we want to have a conversation with God.
THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING PHRASES USED TO DESCRIBE GOD.For instance there is an old hymn that says “A mighty fortress is our God”. We know that God is not a building but he is like a building in that he promises to protect us.
Psalm 46:1 tells us: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
So what are some descriptions of God in the bible?
SESSION 3 OVERVIEW:The idea of this session is to help people understand who they are praying to.
SESSION 3 OBJECTIVE:The intended outcome of this session is: People get to know more about the God they are praying to.
LEADER NOTES
2. A bible helps prayer
Shepherd - Ezekiel 34:11-12 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look EJXIV�XLIQ��%W�E�WLITLIVH�PSSOW�EJXIV�LMW�WGEXXIVIH�ĺSGO�[LIR�LI�MW�[MXL�XLIQ��WS�[MPP�-�PSSO�EJXIV�Q]�WLIIT��-�[MPP�rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” King - Psalm 95:3 “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.”
Potter - Jeremiah 18:6 “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.”
Bread - John 6:35 “I am the bread of life.”
Having these and other pictures of God in our minds when we come to pray is incredibly helpful because we start to understand who we are praying to. For instance a king is powerful, a shepherd is kind and guides, a potter forms and creates and bread feeds and nourishes.
As well as this descriptive language that’s used to describe God in the bible, God also has attributes!
An attribute is something that we know is true about Him. We talk all the time about the attributes of people around us. We might say “My friend is really kind”. We are saying that kindness is an attribute of our friend. However, a friend may not always be kind, they may have a mean streak sometimes.
Because God is perfect, He will always demonstrate these attributes perfectly. For instance, as God is faithful and is always the perfect model of faithfulness, He will never be unfaithful.
You may want to add more attributes yourself.
Or it may be helpful if you wrote these names and attributes out on a large sheet of paper.
There are so many names for God and He has so many wonderful attributes that if we know them it helps build up our faith when we are praying.
Having a bible will help you understand God, as it tells us who God is and describes his name and attributes.
Does everyone have a bible? If not, can we get you one? This will help your prayer life.
LEADER NOTES
3. Faith
Faith is built as we learn more about God and grow our relationship with him.
We need faith to pray. Faith is believing that God is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do.
Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.”
Jesus, himself, makes the connection between faith and prayer:
Matthew 21:21-22 . . . And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not doubt, ]SY�WLEPP�RSX�SRP]�HS�[LEX�[EW�HSRI�XS�XLI�ĹK�XVII��FYX�IZIR�MJ�]SY�WE]�XS�XLMW�QSYRXEMR��p&I�XEOIR�YT�ERH�GEWX�MRXS�the sea,’ it shall happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Mark 11:20-25 . . . And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”
We need faith when we pray. When we understand who we are talking to during prayer it should build our faith. .QRZLQJ�DERXW�*RG�DQG�EHOLHYLQJ�LW�WR�EH�WUXH�VKRXOG�JLYH�XV�FRQŰGHQFH�WKDW�ZKHQ�ZH�WDON�WR�*RG��+H�KHDUV�XV��7KLV�is always a growing understanding of who he is - we never fully get God! But we need to begin to believe He can and will answer us when we pray.
EL, ELOAH: God “mighty, strong, prominent” // Genesis 7:1; Isaiah 9:6 ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” // Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33 EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” // Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2 YAHWEH-JIREH: “The Lord Will Provide” // Genesis 22:14 YAHWEH-RAPHA: “The Lord Who Heals” // Exodus 15:26YAHWEH-SHALOM: “The Lord Our Peace” // Judges 6:24 YAHWEH-ROHI: “The Lord Our Shepherd” // Psalm 23:1YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: “The Lord Is There” // Ezekiel 48:35 EL ROI: “God of Seeing” // Genesis 16:13EL-OLAM: “Everlasting God” // Psalm 90:1-3
When we pray this is the God We talk to. Amazing!
LEADER NOTES
SESSION 3: GROUP SESSION - QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITY
If we could pull this off it would be good, you’ll need to do a bit of preparation, either print cards off or just write the names for God on pieces of A4 paper. Make sure there are enough for everyone.
6SUHDG�WKH�FDUGV�DURXQG�WKH�űRRU
1. Give each person time to walk around and read them. 2. Re-emphasise how these names help us understand who we pray to. 3. Encourage them to take one or two depending on the size of the group. 4. Encourage them to think about how this describes God and how this will affect their prayers. 5. As a group, come up with some prayers that might go with each name. 6. Encourage them to pray these prayers.
24-7 prayerPRAYER, MISSION AND JUSTICE
Session 4
The Lord’s Prayer
Can anyone remember the Lord’s Prayer? Some of us will have had to say it in school or at other times.
Did you know that an estimated 2 billion people pray or sing the Lord’s Prayer on Easter Sunday ever year? That’s almost a third of the world’s population!
Teach us how to pray?
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him, ‘Teach us how to pray’, the Lord’s Prayer was His simple yet profound response.
Here we are on a prayer course so it would be good for us to learn from the Lord’s Prayer.
We have discovered how we can speak to God, the many different ways we can pray and about who we are praying to. This session will hopefully take us a little deeper into what actually happens when we pray.
Mathew 6:9-13‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
The beginning is challenging
SESSION 4 OVERVIEW:The idea of this session is to get people to understand the Lord’s Prayer.
SESSION 4 OBJECTIVE:The intended outcome is that people leave this session knowing: The Lord’s Prayer can be used as a template for our prayer lives!
LEADER NOTES
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name...
Think of all the different names and attributes we learnt about God in the previous session. We didn’t touch on the name ‘Father’.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer
We can sometimes struggle with the use of the word ’Father’ because we may not have known our own fathers or they may not have been great role models for us. They might have been absent, abusive or even dangerous which in turn does not help us when it comes to using the word ‘Father’ to refer to God.
But it says this in Romans 8:14-15 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ ”
• God is our biological father (Genesis 1) – He created us, fashioned us, made us everything that we are, breathed life into us.
• God is our adopted father – we were claimed by sin and darkness but God chooses us as His own and adopts us as His sons and daughters.
• There is so much joy in that chosen-ness. A settling of our hearts in the knowledge that we are chosen as His own.
• An adoptive parent makes a choice – that’s God’s heart for us in adoption. It’s very expensive for Him to purchase us but He chooses to.
Someone who is chosen by God is the object of choice or divine favour. Selected or marked for favour or special privileges.
Despite what may have been good and what may have been bad in our earthly fathers, God is a perfect father.
He is consistent, good and kind to us His children.
Matthew 7:9-11 r;LMGL�SJ�]SY��MJ�]SYV�WSR�EWOW�JSV�FVIEH��[MPP�KMZI�LMQ�E�WXSRI#�3V�MJ�LI�EWOW�JSV�E�ĹWL��[MPP�KMZI�him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
That’s why it is so important at the beginning of any prayer, to remember we are coming to a loving perfect Father, who wants good things for us.
Just like it says in James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
How you think of God will affect how you approach Him; it’s good to get a good understanding of Him as the perfect father.
LEADER NOTES
‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’
God’s kingdom on earth means His rule, His way. Now remembering that God’s ways are perfect, we pray His kingdom to come in a whole host of situations.
We pray that God that would bring His kingdom to people, places and situations.
When you look at this line in the Greek in which it was written it can be translated like this “Come, Kingdom of God! Be done, will of God!”
It’s a strong statement, it’s not “come if you fancy it God”, it’s a real put your foot down moment! Not asking like a spoilt child but by someone who knows that unless God shows up, stuff won’t get better!
What is God’s will? God’s will is what God wants for us.
Jesus Prayed: Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
It’s always helpful to pray that God’s will would be done in your own life, in your family, amongst your friends and in your nation.
We all have needs. They are not always physical. We have daily needs. What do you really need? Is it peace; is it comfort; is it provision? God actually wants to hear about your needs.
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Please share your needs with Him.
‘Give us today our daily bread.’
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’
“Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the price of energy and the waste of headspace.”Nicky Gumbel (Vicar HTB)
$V�D�&KULVWLDQ��IRUJLYHQHVV�LV�RQH�RI�WKH�PRVW�VLJQLŰFDQW�ZRUGV�LQ�P\�OLIH���$V�D�PDWWHU�RI�IDFW��WKH�UHDVRQ�,�DP�D�Christian is because I am forgiven.
Forgiveness is not something that happens once; it is an attitude of mind that we must live in daily.
When it comes to prayer, we do need to ask ourselves: Is there anyone I have hurt that I need to ask forgiveness from? Is there anyone who has hurt me that I need to forgive?
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
LEADER NOTES
A healthy prayer life will have a daily reflection on sin and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is about letting go! Forgiveness can be about praying God’s blessing over those that have hurt us!
Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
We all get tempted; some of us are in here because of temptation!
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Prayer is a way out of temptation; we need to be aware that around us there will always be temptation and evil. Coming to God in prayer heightens our awareness of these problems.
A daily prayer life that asks for God’s assistance with temptation and His help with evil, should be a comfort and strength to us.
‘For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever.’
It’s always good to finish by remembering God is in charge!
SESSION 4: GROUP DISCUSSION
• Which name do you mostly use when speaking to God?• How does your identity as God’s child affect the way you approach Him now? • 'R�\RX�ŰQG�LW�HDV\�WR�LPDJLQH�WKDW�\RX�DUH�VLWWLQJ�ZLWK�*RG�\RXU�)DWKHU"�
Forgiveness and temptation are big issues here. It would be good to explore these issues a little further in the group if you feel it is appropriate.
QUESTIONS LIKE:
• How do you feel about forgiveness?• Is there anyone you can’t forgive?• Do you resist temptation?
This could all get very heavy, so it’s only worth exploring if you can follow it up!
24-7 prayerPRAYER, MISSION AND JUSTICE
Session 5
Leader experience: Have you ever given up? Do you have a story of when you tried something but, after a while, you gave up?
You may have noticed that our prayers are not always answered straight away. One of the keys to a good prayer life is perseverance. By persevering we mean not giving up.
We all know what it’s like to spend a long time doing something; some of us have long prison sentences, some of us can see the end in sight and for others our time is just beginning. Now prayer isn’t like a prison sentence, but there is a sense that sometimes we just have to get our heads down and get on with it!
There is a great story in the bible about a man called Jacob wrestling with God; it gives us a great picture of prayer and for persevering.
Genesis 32:24-29“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.”
The key here is that Jacob said: “I will not let you go until you bless me!” Persisting and persevering in prayer is about not letting go.
We live in a world where we get things really quickly, and where we let go of things really quickly.
SESSION 5 OVERVIEW:The idea of this session is to get people to understand perseverance in prayer.
SESSION 5 OBJECTIVE:The intended outcome is that people leave this session knowing that: People who pray effectively persevere and don’t give up!
1. Persevering
LEADER NOTES
WE LIVE IN AN INSTANT WORLD. ,�ZDQW�WR�FKDQJH�WKH�FKDQQHO�RQ�P\�79��,�KLW�WKH�EXWWRQ�LW�KDSSHQV��,�ZDQW�WR�ERRN�D�űLJKW��,�GR�LW��,�ZDQW�WR�EX\�D�ERRN��,�FDQ�ŰQG�LW�LQ�VHFRQGV��,�ZDLW�IRU�PRUH�WKDQ���PLQXWHV�IRU�P\�FRIIHH�DW�6WDUEXFNV�DQG�,�DP�VWUHVVLQJ��,I�D�ZHESDJH�WDNHV�PRUH�WKDQ���PLQXWH�WR�ORDG��,�DP�WDSSLQJ�P\�ŰQJHUV�DQG�WKLQNLQJ�DERXW�JRLQJ�HOVHZKHUH��,�can take a photo and everyone can see it in minutes. We receive live news updates and events streaming from anywhere in the world almost as instantly as stuff happens.
WE LIVE IN A CULTURE OF IMMEDIACY. Freddy Mercury once sang “I want it all, I want it all and I want it now”.
The persevering, persistent prayer is one of the hardest prayers to keep going, because we don’t always get the answer now. There will be times where you will feel like, “I don’t know what to pray anymore”, but we believe there is power in repetition.
Asking for the same thing time and time again; not letting go!
Jesus said this: Matthew 7:7–8 r%WO�ERH�MX�[MPP�FI�KMZIR�XS�]SY��WIIO�ERH�]SY�[MPP�ĹRH��ORSGO�ERH�XLI�HSSV�[MPP�FI�STIRIH�XS�]SY��*SV�IZIV]SRI�[LS�EWOW�VIGIMZIW��XLI�SRI�[LS�WIIOW�ĹRHW��ERH�XS�XLI�SRI�[LS�ORSGOW��XLI�HSSV�will be opened.”
Sometimes we have to wait; sometimes we don’t get what we want straight away.
Another way of putting this and probably a more correct tense would be this: “Ask and keep on asking, knock and keep on knocking, seek and keep on seeking.”
Jesus also told the story of the persistent widow: Luke 18:1-8 “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For WSQI�XMQI�LI�VIJYWIH��&YX�ĹREPP]�LI�WEMH�XS�LMQWIPJ��p)ZIR�XLSYKL�-�HSRqX�JIEV�+SH�SV�GEVI�[LEX�TISTPI�XLMRO��]IX�because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they KIX�NYWXMGI��ERH�UYMGOP]��,S[IZIV��[LIR�XLI�7SR�SJ�1ER�GSQIW��[MPP�,I�ĹRH�JEMXL�SR�XLI�IEVXL#s�r
Grow in persistent and persevering prayer. Keep bothering God.
Hebrews 12:1 r%RH�PIX�YW�VYR�[MXL�TIVWIZIVERGI�XLI�VEGI�QEVOIH�SYX�JSV�YW��Ĺ\MRK�SYV�I]IW�SR�.IWYW��XLI�TMSRIIV�and perfecter of faith.”
There is a race marked out for you and you need to run it with perseverance.
In your prayer life sometimes that race will be a sprint, but often it will be a marathon. We need to persevere in prayer, not giving up; we need to keep knocking, to keep bothering God.
We believe that praying with others is one of the greatest ways to maintain persevering, persistent prayer. We need people to stand with us and encourage us not to give up, to keep running, to keep knocking.
When we get together we need to ask each other how it’s going? We need to pray with each other and try to remember what others are praying about.
Encouragement is a key factor in perseverance.
'LIŰFXOW�GD\V�ZLOO�FRPH�
As the writer, speaker and holocaust survivor, the late Corrie Ten Boom puts it: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”
We need to keep praying and we need to keep trusting.
As we persevere, as we don’t give up, there still might be a reason why our prayers are not answered. We have covered these in the Alpha course but it’s good to go over them again.
7KH�ŰUVW�UHDVRQ�LV�WKDW�VRPHWLPHV�DUH�SUD\HUV�DUH�QRW�VHULRXV��,I�ZH�JHW�D�SDUNLQJ�WLFNHW��*RG�LVQŐW�JRLQJ�WR�FKDQJH�it into a £50 note! How many people do you think pray to win the lottery every week?
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER IN 3 WAYS: YES, NO OR WAIT.
Sometimes sin gets in the way of our prayer life.
Psalm 66:18 “If I cherished sin in my heart, the LORD would not have heard me.”
We of course have a God who is the friend of sinners, but sometimes our sin can get in the way of our prayer lives. We just need to say sorry.
Also wrong motives can affect our prayer lives:
James 4:2-3 “You don’t have, because you don’t ask God. And when you ask you don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives - that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
Wrongs motives - we maybe want to punish someone, or win/gain something! We need to examine ourselves. If our motives are good, there is no sin blocking the way and the prayer is serious, then we need to persevere.
3. Reasons why my prayers may not be answered!
LEADER NOTES
Sometimes we won’t understand why God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we would want. But with some things we’re never going to know in this life why He didn’t answer the prayer in the way that we’d hoped, and that’s where trust kicks in; trust that Almighty God, our Father in heaven, knows best and that He is good.
Although it is challenging, knowing that God has it all under control should give us strength to persevere.Praying and persevering in prayer is a good thing.
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
SESSION 5: GROUP SESSION - QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITY
For discussion:
1. Have you ever given up?2. Is there something you need to keep persevering for?3. How do we help each other persevere?
The participants could spend some time in small groups encouraging one another in their faith and prayer OLYHV��DQG�SUD\LQJ�IRU�RQH�DQRWKHU�LI�SRVVLEOH�DQG�DSSURSULDWH��HVSHFLDOO\�LI�WKHUH�DUH�VXIŰFLHQW�FRXUVH�OHDGHUV�available to have one per group).
24-7 prayerPRAYER, MISSION AND JUSTICE
Session 6
There is a king in the bible named David. He experienced lots of pressures and stressful situations, so he wrote prayers as songs. We call these Psalms.
Read Psalm 61:3-5 “You’ve always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all,a lifetime pass to your safe-house, an open invitation as your guest. You’ve always taken me seriously God, made me welcome among those who know and love you.”
David is saying that speaking to God is where he gets his room to breathe and get away from it all.
This was something that Jesus also used to do: Matthew 14:23 “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.”
One of the greatest things about prayer is learning not only to speak to God, but also to listen to God.
James 1:19 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.”
SESSION 6 OVERVIEW:The idea of this session is to get people to understand the importance of listening during prayer.
SESSION 6 OBJECTIVE:The intended outcome is: That people learn how to hear God and realize that this relationship of communication will go beyond prison and become part of their lives.
Listening
Did you ever notice that God gave us two ears but only one mouth?
LEADER NOTES
Sometimes we forget this when we go to pray, and we spend the whole time talking to God.
Listening is a particularly simple way to pray, but it can be challenging if you’re not used to it. So how can we listen more during prayer?
Listening takes time and it helps if you start by removing distractions. Choose a place and time that helps you IRFXV�RQ�*RG��:H�NQRZ�WKLV�FDQ�EH�GLIŰFXOW��ŰQGLQJ�VRPH�VSDFH�RQ�\RXU�RZQ��EXW�LW�FRXOG�MXVW�EH�RQ�\RXU�EXQN�ODWH�at night.
If you can, get your breathing right, get your posture right. Sitting in an upright position concentrating on slow steady breathing helps us relax.
God can speak to us in many ways. He can use our thoughts, feelings, experiences and our surroundings to FDSWXUH�RXU�DWWHQWLRQ��,I�\RX�ŰQG�\RXU�PLQG�ŰOOLQJ�ZLWK�SLFWXUHV�RU�WKRXJKWV�WKDW�VHHP�D�ELW�VWUDQJH�RU�UDQGRP��SD\�attention to them and test whether you think they’re God’s voice. He will not contradict what He’s said in the bible and the Holy Spirit can help you with discernment – the ability to distinguish God’s voice from others’ or our own inner voice. If you think any of the thoughts are a bit strange, talk to the chaplain about them. The most important thing for recognising God’s voice is having a bible with you; read short bits, especially the Psalms. A particular verse may all of a sudden jump out at you and become alive to you; this can be God speaking.
One helpful exercise would be to take a story from the bible or a short piece of writing and read it 5 or 6 times, asking God to speak to you. Allow the bible to speak to you; it is after all God’s word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
1. Make space
2. Clear your head
0DQ\�SHRSOH�ŰQG�LW�GLIŰFXOW�WR�VWLOO�WKHLU�PLQGV�ZKHQ�WKH\�VLW�LQ�VLOHQFH��,I�\RX�ŰQG�\RXŐUH�WKLQNLQJ�RI�WKLQJV�\RX�need to do, make a list for later then put it to one side.
'RQŐW�ZRUU\�LI�WKH�WKRXJKWV�ŰOOLQJ�\RXU�PLQG�DUH�DERXW�VLWXDWLRQV�RU�ZRUULHV�\RX�ZDQW�WR�SUD\�DERXW��GRQŐW�WU\�WR�push them down. Give them to God one at a time and then let go of them. Don’t let anxiety absorb your energy. A good physical way to release your anxiety is to grip your palm shut as each worry or anxiety comes into your mind and then release your grip imagining you’re dropping the anxiety.
3. Learn to recognise His voice
LEADER NOTES
It’s also helpful to picture yourself in a story from the bible. Let’s read: Matthew 8:23-27 “Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!””
What would it feel like to be in the boat with Jesus? What would you have felt as the waves swept over the boat? How would you react to Jesus sleeping? How would you have felt when He calmed the storm?
:KDWHYHU�IRUP�LW�KDV�WDNHQ��DV�\RX�ŰQLVK�\RXU�WLPH�RI�OLVWHQLQJ�EH�VXUH�WR�ZULWH�HYHU\WKLQJ�GRZQ��HYHQ�WKH�WKLQJV�that seem strange or unrelated to anything. If God is speaking He will continue the conversation, or you can ask Him WR�FRQŰUP�ZKDW�+HŐV�VDLG�LQ�RWKHU�ZD\V�DV�\RX�JR�RQ�ZLWK�\RXU�GD\�RU�ZHHN��,I�WKH\�DUH�MXVW�UDQGRP�WKRXJKWV��WKDWŐV�okay; it’s all part of the process of learning.
In the Psalms there is often a word used between verses it is “Selah” which means dwell on this, pause, dwell on what you are reading, God will speak.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”
Too many people aren’t still and they try to be God.
4. Be still and know that I am God
Some more scriptures to highlight the art of stillness:1 Chronicles 17:16 “David went in and sat before the Lord.”Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.”Ecclesiastes 3:7 “A time to be silent and a time to speak.”
Practice stillness, practice silence it will help you.
SHORT EXERCISE:
Get the group to sit quietly, ask them to breath in slowly through their noses and then out through their mouths. As they breathe in slowly, ask them to repeat the name Jesus in their minds on the ‘in’ breath, then as they breathe out get them to release anything that’s on their mind that may be stressing them RXW��&RQWLQXH�WKLV�IRU�D�IHZ�PLQXWHV�WKHQ�UHDG�D�3VDOP�WR�ŰQLVK��3VDOP����LV�RIWHQ�D�JRRG�ZD\�WR�HQG�WKLV�exercise.
Ask them what they felt; ask them if they heard God. You can also highlight that the exercise only took a few minutes.
LEADER NOTES
SESSION 6: GROUP DISCUSSION
1. How has this course helped you?2. What will be the greatest challenge for you as you try to build a regular time of prayer into your life?3. What can we pray about together right now?4. Shall we all share one prayer request and then go around the group? It would be great if the person on
the right prays out loud for the person on the left’s request.
5. You are not alone
We can often struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness. By spending time in prayer, listening and talking with God, you will discover that you are not alone, that you have a Father in heaven who is always with you, always listening to you. Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hopefully you will do what it says in the bible:1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
We hope that as you go through your time here and in other establishments, you won’t just set aside time to pray on your own or in chapel, but you will see that you can pray and listen to God all the time. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, God is with you and He is always available. You don’t need to have a visitor’s order or a special time, He is available to you 24-7 and wants to enter into an ongoing conversation with you, that will not only help you through your time in prison but throughout the rest of your life.
$V�ZH�ŰQLVK�WKLV�FRXUVH�LW�ZDV�VDLG�RI�0RVHV�WKDW�KH�ZDV�D�IULHQG�RI�*RG��Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
Romans 5:6 -11 “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
Friends talk and friends Listen.
That’s what prayer should do, it should help us maintain a lifelong friendship with God; a friendship that He wants to have with you, an ongoing conversation, face-to-face in prayer.
We want this course to help you understand why we as Christians believe in prayer. Our desire is that you will not only understand why people pray but will also be encouraged and given the tools to develop your own life of prayer and a lifelong connection with God.
Prayer is a conversation between man and God that everybody can enter into.
Prayer is a direct line to God. God wants us to communicate with Him, using prayer, to have a two-way conversation with Him, like a person-to-person phone call.
We know what it’s like not to be heard or to be misunderstood! More than most we understand the importance of good communication.
Prayer is how we have good communication with God.
To many people, prayer seems complicated, but it is simply talking to God. Praying is like talking to a good friend, having a conversation with someone who really gets you!
Jesus said this: Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”
Keep it simple.
Language is important; we use it all the time. Whatever your language is you can use it to talk to God. God is not an Englishman! He hears and understands you whatever language you speak.
Some people kneel or close their eyes to help them to focus, or stop their minds from wandering. But most people pray in a whole load of different ways. Out loud or in your head, either way God is listening.
Sure, if it helps, you’re comfortable and you have the space, try kneeling, try speaking out loud, but remember if you don’t do these things God still hears you. He hears your simple words, all of them.
The best place to start with prayer is on your own.
Just like Jesus did - Matthew 14:23 “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.”
And He encouraged us to do the same
Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Just you and God.
3. How should I speak to God?
2. What is prayer?
1. Why pray?
Session 1
It’s says this about God and you in Psalm 139:15-16 “You know me inside and out, You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.”
He knows you.
This means He’ll get your language, He’ll know what you mean even if you think you’re not describing it well; He knows you. It’s so much easier to have a conversation with someone who already knows you.
We may think we are not good enough or religious enough to talk to God. You may think that only a priest or a chaplain has a right to pray for you. But that’s not true, in many ways none of us are good enough to speak to God, not even priests and chaplains. But God is full of love, He is not distant from us and the reality is we can all pray.
Hebrews 4:14 -16“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold ĹVQP]�XS�XLI�JEMXL�[I�TVSJIWW��*SV�[I�HS�RSX�LEZI�E�LMKL�TVMIWX�[LS�MW�YREFPI�XS�JIIP�W]QTEXL]�JSV�SYV�[IEORIWWIW��but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. Let us then approach +SHqW�XLVSRI�SJ�KVEGI�[MXL�GSRĹHIRGI��WS�XLEX�[I�QE]�VIGIMZI�QIVG]�ERH�ĹRH�KVEGI�XS�LIPT�YW�MR�SYV�XMQI�SJ�need.”
God wants to have a conversation with us all, not just when we are in trouble or through a priest or chaplain, He wants us to speak personally to Him at all times. He knows what we are going through and we can approach Him LQ�SUD\HU�ZLWK�FRQŰGHQFH�
Richard Foster (Christian writer) says, “We will never have pure enough motives, or be good enough, or know enough in order to pray rightly. We simply must set all these things aside and begin praying. In fact, it is in the very act of prayer itself – the intimate, on-going interaction with God – that these matters are cared for in due time.”
God will never get tired of having a conversation with you; He never gets tired of hearing your voice.
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 “If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
He will hear from heaven.
A regular visit to a time of prayer helps build a strong relationship with God. Remember it’s an ongoing conversation, not a one-off chat. Try and do it regularly. Luke 5: 16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
It helps to build a routine (like praying in the morning and evening) but if you miss a slot it is also helpful to UHPHPEHU�*RG�ZRQŐW�SXQLVK�\RX��'RQŐW�EHDW�\RXUVHOI�XS�MXVW�NHHS�WU\LQJ�DQG�\RX�ZLOO�VRRQ�ŰQG�WKDW�LW�EHFRPHV�D�habit.
1. Remember anyone can pray.2. Start on your own.3. Use your own language.4. Try and do it regularly.
5. Am I good enough?
6. Regular contact
4. It helps to realise that God already knows you and He knows your story.
Praying on our own is very important but it is also good to pray with others.
Throughout the bible there are lots of instances of people praying together. The early church met regularly to pray together.
At the beginning of the early church after Jesus had ascended into heaven/ left earth, we read this:Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
After some hard times Peter and John go back to the church and this happens:Acts 4: 23-24 “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.”
When Peter was helped miraculously out of prison by an angel he found the church doing this:Acts 12:12 “When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”
Jesus also said in Matthew 18:19-20 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
There are different ways to pray and many things to pray about.
God responds when two or three people pray together; it is a very powerful thing to pray in agreement
with someone else.
People need to hear you so that they can agree with you. It’s really hard to agree with someone if you can’t hear them and don’t know what they have said! It’s also a biblical promise and God keeps His promises.
When we say amen to our own prayers or the prayers of others we are basically saying “Let it be so” or “I agree with what has been said, make it happen God”.
When others pray out loud we can encourage them with an “Amen”.
It may actually be helpful to write a prayer, if you can, and read it out loud, or even read out a prayer written by others. This a great way to begin praying out loud.
It is good to pray for yourself. God wants to hear all that you are going through.
• Pray by writing your prayer down – as a note, poem, song or just a straight up letter!• Pray by reading a well-known prayer or psalm out loud• Pray by painting or drawing your prayer• Pray by using beads, string or anything else tactile that helps you to focus on God
Be as creative as you want within the environment you find yourself in.
Every day we encounter people and situations that affect us, whether here in prison, back at home or maybe even the latest news story. There is always something we can pray for.
Praying for people1 Timothy 2:1 says: r-�YVKI��XLIR��ĹVWX�SJ�EPP��XLEX�TIXMXMSRW��TVE]IVW��MRXIVGIWWMSR�ERH�XLEROWKMZMRK�FI�QEHI�JSV�EPP�people.”
We can pray for people. All people.
We have family, we have friends, there are people we read about or see on the news. It’s really good to pray for people and their situations.
7KHUH�LV�D�EOHVVLQJ�WKDW�LV�IRXQG�LQ�WKH�ERRN�RI�1XPEHUV�LQ�WKH�ELEOH��WKDW�\RX�PD\�ŰQG�KHOSIXO�WR�SUD\�RYHU�SHRSOH�Family, friends, people we read about or see in the news, those we see every day.’ . Here’s how:
It says in Numbers 6:24-26 ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face towards you and give you peace.’
Let’s make this about a person:
Lord bless ______ and keep him/her safe, secure and well, Lord please smile on ______ be good to him/her, turn Your face towards him/her and be kind to him/her, Lord give ______ peace.
It’s that simple but basically when praying for others we want good things to happen to them.
Praying for situationsThere are situations that occur globally and nationally that affect more than just one individual. When we see tragedy and strife and feel helpless, one of the most amazing things we can do is pray. We can pray for the people affected, for those in power and for those who are helping.
There are many more situations we can pray for:• Praying for nations and towns.• Praying for institutions• Praying for the suffering church
Praying for ourselves6RPHWLPHV�SHRSOH�GRQŐW�OLNH�WR�GR�WKLV��WKH\�IHHO�LWŐV�RND\�WR�SUD\�IRU�RWKHUV�EXW�D�OLWWOH�VHOŰVK�WR�SUD\�IRU�themselves.It’s helpful to remember that Jesus prayed for Himself!
Matthew 26:39 “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.””
John 17:1 “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify You.”
3. Other Ways to Pray
4. What can we pray about?
God is both like us and unlike us.
Genesis 1:27 says this: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
And in Job 37:5 we learn that: “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.”
There are some interesting phrases used to describe God.
For instance there is an old hymn that says “A mighty fortress is our God”. We know that God is not a building but he is like a building in that he promises to protect us.
Psalm 46:1 tells us: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
So what are some descriptions of God in the bible?
Shepherd - Ezekiel 34:11-12 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look EJXIV�XLIQ��%W�E�WLITLIVH�PSSOW�EJXIV�LMW�WGEXXIVIH�ĺSGO�[LIR�LI�MW�[MXL�XLIQ��WS�[MPP�-�PSSO�EJXIV�Q]�WLIIT��-�[MPP�rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” King - Psalm 95:3 “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.”
Potter - Jeremiah 18:6 “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.”
Bread - John 6:35 “I am the bread of life.”
Having these and other pictures of God in our minds when we come to pray is incredibly helpful because we start to understand who we are praying to. For instance a king is powerful, a shepherd is kind and guides, a potter forms and creates and bread feeds and nourishes.
As well as this descriptive language that’s used to describe God in the bible, God also has attributes!
An attribute is something that we know is true about Him. We talk all the time about the attributes of people around us. We might say “My friend is really kind”. We are saying that kindness is an attribute of our friend. However, a friend may not always be kind, they may have a mean streak sometimes. This is not how it is with God. He never changes.
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
He is always the perfect form of an attribute. So what are some of God’s attributes?
Wise - Jeremiah 10:7 “Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.”
Good - Psalm 73:1 “Surely God is good to Israel,to those who are pure in heart.”
We need to get to know more about the God we are praying to.
1. Who do we pray to?
Session 3
When we pray this is the God We talk to. Amazing!
Faithful - Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
Merciful - Deuteronomy 4:31 “For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or JSVKIX�XLI�GSZIRERX�[MXL�]SYV�ERGIWXSVW��[LMGL�,I�GSRĹVQIH�XS�XLIQ�F]�SEXL�s
Loving - 1 John 4:38 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Be as creative as you want within the environment you find yourself in.
There are so many names for God and He has so many wonderful attributes that if we know them it helps build up our faith when we are praying.
Having a bible will help you understand God, as it tells us who God is and describes His name and attributes.
We need faith to pray. Faith is believing that God is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do. .QRZLQJ�WKDW�*RG�KDV�PDQ\�DWWULEXWHV�DQG�QDPHV�LV�RQH�WKLQJ��EHOLHYLQJ�WKDW�WKH\�DUH�WUXH�LV�DQRWKHU�
Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.”
Jesus, himself, makes the connection between faith and prayer:
Matthew 21:21-22 . . . And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not HSYFX��]SY�WLEPP�RSX�SRP]�HS�[LEX�[EW�HSRI�XS�XLI�ĹK�XVII��FYX�IZIR�MJ�]SY�WE]�XS�XLMW�QSYRXEMR��p&I�XEOIR�YT�ERH�cast into the sea,’ it shall happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Mark 11:20-25 . . . And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”
We need faith when we pray. When we understand who we are talking to during prayer it should build our faith. .QRZLQJ�DERXW�*RG�DQG�EHOLHYLQJ�LW�WR�EH�WUXH�VKRXOG�JLYH�XV�FRQŰGHQFH�WKDW�ZKHQ�ZH�WDON�WR�*RG��+H�KHDUV�XV��This is always a growing understanding of who he is - we never fully get God! But we need to begin to believe He can and will answer us when we pray.
EL, ELOAH: God “mighty, strong, prominent” // Genesis 7:1; Isaiah 9:6 ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” // Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33 EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” // Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2 YAHWEH-JIREH: “The Lord Will Provide” // Genesis 22:14 YAHWEH-RAPHA: “The Lord Who Heals” // Exodus 15:26YAHWEH-SHALOM: “The Lord Our Peace” // Judges 6:24 YAHWEH-ROHI: “The Lord Our Shepherd” // Psalm 23:1YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: “The Lord Is There” // Ezekiel 48:35 EL ROI: “God of Seeing”// Genesis 16:13EL-OLAM: “Everlasting God” // Psalm 90:1-3
2. A bible helps prayer
3. Faith
An estimated 2 billion people pray the Lord’s Prayer on Easter Sunday ever year. That’s almost a third of the world’s population!
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him, ‘Teach us how to pray’, the Lord’s Prayer was His simple yet profound response.
Mathew 6:9-13‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
The beginning is challenging
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”A.W. Tozer
We can sometimes struggle with the use of the word ’Father’ because we may not have known our own fathers or they may not have been great role models for us. They might have been absent, abusive or even dangerous which in turn does not help us when it comes to using the word ‘Father’ to refer to God.
But it says this in Romans 8:14-15 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ ”
• God is our biological father (Genesis 1) – He created us, fashioned us, made us everything that we are, breathed life into us.
• God is our adopted father – we were claimed by sin and darkness but God chooses us as His own and adopts us as His sons and daughters.
• There is so much joy in that chosen-ness. A settling of our hearts in the knowledge that we are chosen as His own.
• An adoptive parent makes a choice – that’s God’s heart for us in adoption. It’s very expensive for Him to purchase us but He chooses to.
Someone who is chosen by God is the object of choice or divine favour. Selected or marked for favour or special privileges.
Matthew 7:9-11 r;LMGL�SJ�]SY��MJ�]SYV�WSR�EWOW�JSV�FVIEH��[MPP�KMZI�LMQ�E�WXSRI#�3V�MJ�LI�EWOW�JSV�E�ĹWL��[MPP�KMZI�him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
That’s why it is so important at the beginning of any prayer, to remember we are coming to a loving perfect Father, who wants good things for us.
Just like it says in James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
The Lord’s Prayer
Despite what may have been good and what may have been bad in our earthly fathers, God is a perfect father. He is consistent, good and
kind to us His children.
Session 4
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name...
It’s always good to finish by remembering God is in charge!
How you think of God will affect how you approach Him; it’s good to get a good understanding of Him as the perfect father. who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
God’s kingdom on earth means His rule, His way. Now remembering that God’s ways are perfect, we pray His kingdom to come in a whole host of situations. We pray that God that would bring His kingdom to people, places and situations.
:KHQ�\RX�ORRN�DW�WKLV�OLQH�LQ�WKH�*UHHN�LQ�ZKLFK�LW�ZDV�ZULWWHQ�LW�FDQ�EH�WUDQVODWHG�OLNH�WKLV�Œ&RPH��.LQJGRP�RI�God! Be done, will of God!”
What is God’s will? God’s will is what God wants for us.
Jesus Prayed: Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
It’s always helpful to pray that God’s will would be done in your own life, in your family, amongst your friends and in your nation.
We all have needs. They are not always physical. We have daily needs. What do you really need? Is it peace; is it comfort; is it provision? God actually wants to hear about your needs.
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
God’s ear is attentive and he will listen to you anytime and by asking him for your own needs you are not being VHOŰVK�MXVW�FRQIHVVLQJ�\RXU�GHSHQGHQFH�RQ�+LP�
“Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the price of energy and the waste of headspace.” Nicky Gumbel (Vicar HTB)
When it comes to prayer, we do need to ask ourselves: Is there anyone I have hurt that I need to ask forgiveness from? Is there anyone who has hurt me that I need to forgive?
Matthew 6: 14-15 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
A healthy prayer life will have a daily reflection on sin and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is about letting go! Forgiveness can be about praying God’s blessing over those that have hurt us!
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Prayer is a way out of temptation; we need to be aware that around us there will always be temptation and evil. Coming to God in prayer heightens our awareness of these problems.
A daily prayer life that asks for God’s assistance with temptation and His help with evil, should be a comfort and strength to us.
‘For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever.’
‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’
‘Give us today our daily bread.’
‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’
You may have noticed that our prayers are not always answered straight away.
One of the keys to a good prayer life is perseverance. By persevering we mean not giving up.
There is a great story in the bible about a man called Jacob wrestling with God; it gives us a great picture of prayer and for persevering.
Genesis 32:24-29“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.”
The key here is that Jacob said: “I will not let you go until you bless me!” Persisting and persevering in prayer is about not letting go.
We live in a world where we get things really quickly, and where we let go of things really quickly.
WE LIVE IN AN INSTANT WORLD. I want to change the channel on my TV; I hit the button it happens. So many things happen instantly ,we receive live news updates and events streaming from anywhere in the world almost as instantly as stuff happens.
WE LIVE IN A CULTURE OF IMMEDIACY. Freddy Mercury once sang “I want it all, I want it all and I want it now”.
The persevering, persistent prayer is one of the hardest prayers to keep going, because we don’t always get the answer now. There will be times where you will feel like, “I don’t know what to pray anymore”, but we believe there is power in repetition.
Asking for the same thing time and time again; not letting go!
Sometimes we have to wait, sometimes we don’t get what we want straight away.
Jesus said this: Matthew 7:7–8 r%WO�ERH�MX�[MPP�FI�KMZIR�XS�]SY��WIIO�ERH�]SY�[MPP�ĹRH��ORSGO�ERH�XLI�HSSV�[MPP�FI�STIRIH�XS�]SY��*SV�IZIV]SRI�[LS�EWOW�VIGIMZIW��XLI�SRI�[LS�WIIOW�ĹRHW��ERH�XS�XLI�SRI�[LS�ORSGOW��XLI�HSSV�[MPP�be opened.”
Another way of putting this and probably a more correct tense would be this: “Ask and keep on asking, knock and keep on knocking, seek and keep on seeking.”
Jesus also told the story of the persistent widow: Luke 18:1-8 “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For WSQI�XMQI�LI�VIJYWIH��&YX�ĹREPP]�LI�WEMH�XS�LMQWIPJ��p)ZIR�XLSYKL�-�HSRqX�JIEV�+SH�SV�GEVI�[LEX�TISTPI�XLMRO��]IX�because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get NYWXMGI��ERH�UYMGOP]��,S[IZIV��[LIR�XLI�7SR�SJ�1ER�GSQIW��[MPP�,I�ĹRH�JEMXL�SR�XLI�IEVXL#s�r
1. Persevering
Session 5
Hebrews 12:1 r%RH�PIX�YW�VYR�[MXL�TIVWIZIVERGI�XLI�VEGI�QEVOIH�SYX�JSV�YW��Ĺ\MRK�SYV�I]IW�SR�.IWYW��XLI�TMSRIIV�and perfecter of faith.”
There is a race marked out for you and you need to run it with perseverance.
In your prayer life sometimes that race will be a sprint, but often it will be a marathon. We need to persevere in prayer, not giving up; we need to keep knocking, to keep bothering God.
We keep praying and we keep trusting.
We believe that praying with others is one of the greatest ways to maintain persevering, persistent prayer. We need people to stand with us and encourage us not to give up, to keep running, to keep knocking.
When we get together we need to ask each other how it’s going. We need to pray with each other and try to remember what others are praying about.
As the writer, speaker and holocaust survivor, the late Corrie Ten Boom puts it: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”
7KH�ŰUVW�UHDVRQ�LV�WKDW�VRPHWLPHV�DUH�SUD\HUV�DUH�QRW�VHULRXV��,I�ZH�JHW�D�SDUNLQJ�WLFNHW��*RG�LVQŐW�JRLQJ�WR�FKDQJH�it into a £50 note! How many people do you think pray to win the lottery every week?
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER IN 3 WAYS: YES, NO OR WAIT.
Sometimes sin gets in the way of our prayer life.
Psalm 66:18 “If I cherished sin in my heart, the LORD would not have heard me.”
We of course have a God who is the friend of sinners, but sometimes our sin can get in the way of our prayer lives. We just need to say sorry.
Also wrong motives can affect our prayer lives:
James 4:2-3 “You don’t have, because you don’t ask God. And when you ask you don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives - that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
Wrong motives - we maybe want to punish someone, or win/gain something! We need to examine ourselves. If our motives are good, there is no sin blocking the way and the prayer is serious, then we need to persevere.
Sometimes we won’t understand why God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we would want. But with some things we’re never going to know in this life why He didn’t answer the prayer in the way that we’d hoped, and that’s where trust kicks in; trust that Almighty God, our Father in heaven, knows best and that He is good.
Although it is challenging, knowing that God has it all under control should give us strength.Praying and persevering in prayer is a good thing.
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
2. Pray with others
3. Reasons why my prayers may not be answered!
Grow in persistent and persevering prayer. Keep asking God.
Read Psalm 61:3-5: “You’ve always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all, a lifetime pass to your safe-house, an open invitation as your guest. You’ve always taken me seriously God, made me welcome among those who know and love you.”
David is saying that speaking to God is where he gets his room to breathe and get away from it all.
This was something that Jesus also used to do: Matthew 14:23 “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.”
One of the greatest things about prayer is learning not only to speak to God, but also to listen to God. James 1:19 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.”
Did you ever notice that God gave us two ears but only one mouth?
Sometimes we forget this when we go to pray, and we spend the whole time talking to God. Listening is a particularly simple way to pray, but it can be challenging if you’re not used to it. So how can we listen more during prayer?
Listening takes time and it helps if you start by removing distractions. Choose a place and time that helps you IRFXV�RQ�*RG��:H�NQRZ�WKLV�FDQ�EH�GLIŰFXOW��ŰQGLQJ�VRPH�VSDFH�RQ�\RXU�RZQ��EXW�LW�FRXOG�MXVW�EH�RQ�\RXU�EXQN�ODWH�at night.
If you can, get your breathing right, get your posture right. Sitting in an upright position concentrating on slow steady breathing helps us relax.
0DQ\�SHRSOH�ŰQG�LW�GLIŰFXOW�WR�VWLOO�WKHLU�PLQGV�ZKHQ�WKH\�VLW�LQ�VLOHQFH��,I�\RX�ŰQG�\RXŐUH�WKLQNLQJ�RI�WKLQJV�\RX�need to do, make a list for later then put it to one side.
'RQŐW�ZRUU\�LI�WKH�WKRXJKWV�ŰOOLQJ�\RXU�PLQG�DUH�DERXW�VLWXDWLRQV�RU�ZRUULHV�\RX�ZDQW�WR�SUD\�DERXW��GRQŐW�WU\�WR�push them down. Give them to God one at a time and then let go of them. Don’t let anxiety absorb your energy. A good physical way to release your anxiety is to grip your palm shut as each worry or anxiety comes into your mind and then release your grip imagining you’re dropping the anxiety.
God can speak to us in many ways. He can use our thoughts, feelings, experiences and our surroundings to FDSWXUH�RXU�DWWHQWLRQ��,I�\RX�ŰQG�\RXU�PLQG�ŰOOLQJ�ZLWK�SLFWXUHV�RU�WKRXJKWV�WKDW�VHHP�D�ELW�VWUDQJH�RU�UDQGRP��SD\�attention to them and test whether you think they’re God’s voice. If you think any of the thoughts are a bit strange, talk to the chaplain about them. The most important thing for recognising God’s voice is having a bible with you; read short bits, especially the Psalms. A particular verse may all of a sudden jump out at you and become alive to you; this can be God speaking.
1. Make space
2. Clear your head
3. Learn to recognise His voice
Session 6
That’s what prayer should do, it should help us enter into a life long friendship with God; a friendship that He wants
to have with you, an ongoing conversation, face to face in prayer.
One helpful exercise would be to take a story from the bible or a short piece of writing and read it 5 or 6 times, asking God to speak to you. Allow the bible to speak to you; it is after all God’s word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
It’s also helpful to picture yourself in a story from the bible. Let’s read: Matthew 8:23-27 “Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!””
What would it feel like to be in the boat with Jesus? What would you have felt as the waves swept over the boat? How would you react to Jesus sleeping? How would you have felt when He calmed the storm?
:KDWHYHU�IRUP�LW�KDV�WDNHQ��DV�\RX�ŰQLVK�\RXU�WLPH�RI�OLVWHQLQJ�EH�VXUH�WR�ZULWH�HYHU\WKLQJ�GRZQ��,I�*RG�LV�VSHDNLQJ�+H�ZLOO�FRQWLQXH�WKH�FRQYHUVDWLRQ��RU�\RX�FDQ�DVN�+LP�WR�FRQŰUP�ZKDW�+HŐV�VDLG�LQ�RWKHU�ZD\V�DV�\RX�JR�on with your day or week. If they are just random thoughts, that’s okay; it’s all part of the process of learning.
Practice stillness, practice silence it will help you.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” Too many people aren’t still and they try to be God.
1 Chronicles 17:16 “David went in and sat before the Lord.” Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” Ecclesiastes 3:7 “A time to be silent and a time to speak.”
We can often struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness. By spending time in prayer, listening and talking with God, you will discover that you are not alone, that you have a Father in heaven who is always with you, always listening to you. Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hopefully you will do what it says in the bible: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
We hope that as you go through your time here and in other establishments, you won’t just set aside time to pray on your own or in chapel, but you will see that you can pray and listen to God all the time. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, God is with you and He is always available. You don’t need to have a visitor’s order or a special time, He is available to you 24-7 and wants to enter into an ongoing conversation with you, that will not only help you through your time in prison but throughout the rest of your life.
$V�ZH�ŰQLVK�WKLV�FRXUVH�LW�ZDV�VDLG�RI�0RVHV�WKDW�KH�ZDV�D�IULHQG�RI�*RG����Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
Romans 5:6-11 “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
