Practicing Prayer 

4 Episodes 

Prayer is the tool we have to communicate with and commune with God. Almost everyone thinks prayer is a good thing to do. So why don’t most people pray like they feel they should? This series can help. Our goal in this series is to help everyone, regardless of their current prayer habits, to gain confidence about
prayer and to take one step in the practice of prayer. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God. This practice will center your heart in God’s presence, align your heart with God’s voice, and align your life with God’s will to partner with him in the world.

Practicing Prayer Resources:

Series Resources:
Every week, your group will go through this guide https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62ffd889db541509cc42d76e/t/6408e6533cb78b4299ee3f31/1678304871957/Prayer-CG-Digital.pdf. Click the link and print it out for easy access.

Or you can buy the book version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSJLLR46?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_3PEK6553BYPEKFVJQ2V6

Messages:

Practicing Prayer Episode 1

Prayer is hard. It can feel boring, scattered, or ineffective. Perhaps this is why the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. In response, Jesus gave them a prayer template that introduced them to the first stage of prayer talking to God. We call it the Lord’s Prayer. In this prayer, we discover a way to begin developing a daily rhythm of prayer. Our goal isn’t to learn about prayer but to be praying.
Message Notes
Audio version

Practicing Prayer Episode 2

Pre-written prayers teach us how to talk to God, but it's important to grow into praying our own words, laying our hearts open before God to increase self-awareness and align with His heart. God invites us to bring all that's in our lives to Him.
Message Notes
Audio version

Practicing Prayer Episode 3

In a growing relationship with God, a person must speak and listen. This is a central theme running all the way through the Bible. If you never hear from God, you could be too distracted to listen. This message will show the ancient way to listen to God’s voice in prayer through Lectio Divina. We will learn to Read, Meditate, and Pray.
Message Notes
Audio version

Practicing Prayer Episode 4

Why do you sometimes struggle to do what you believe is true? Why is there incongruence between your convictions and your consistency in following your convictions? This question matters because you will never experience a sense of peace or wholeness if there is incongruence within yourself. Contemplative prayer and meditation can help. This kind of prayer can help to close the gap between your inner and outer lives. While “mindfulness” and “meditation” are popular ideas right now, Christian meditation offers a deep and rich resource. It offers an experience of the presence of God to ground in
the ultimate reality of his love and purpose for you. It presses the truth of God into your heart and soul.
Message Notes
Audio version

Extra Resources

Are you looking to dive deeper into these conversations? Here are some great books and podcasts for you to dive into.

A great book recommendation: 

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton: addresses common roadblocks to prayer and gives you the confidence to come to God just as you are. Through timely biblical teaching, powerful storytelling, and insights into historic Christian practices, Staton gives you the tools you need to:
  • Express your doubts and disappointments about prayer
  • Discover and practice multiple postures of prayer, including silence, persistence, confession, and more
  • Understand and embrace the wonder and mystery of prayer in everyday life
  • Open or reopen the line of communication with your Creator and experience afresh his divine power on earth

Get your copy here: https://a.co/d/flceSWo.

Bible App 

Are you looking to dive deeper into these conversations? Here are some great books and podcasts for you to dive into. https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/35665-the-lectio-course

Podcasts: 

Rule of Life Podcast Season 2 Episodes on Apple:
Week 1 Talking to God: 
https://byqu.short.gy/hR2pbo

Week 2 Talking with God:
https://byqu.short.gy/qozt4B 

Week 3 Listening to God: 
https://byqu.short.gy/4y1O5R 

Week 4 Being with God:
https://byqu.short.gy/U5Hw6a 
Rule of Life Podcast Season 2 Episodes on Spotify:
Week 1 Talking to God:
https://byqu.short.gy/ztNLVJ 

Week 2 Talking with God:
https://byqu.short.gy/PDxHaj 

Week 3 Listening to God:
https://byqu.short.gy/KOhqNR

Week 4 Being with God:
https://byqu.short.gy/WLMQvR