05.06.08
Community Prayer
Today I found a creative approach towards prayer for those who would like the support and the cooperation of others in faith. The blogger details how to build a prayer covenant. You could find participants through your network of contacts or through people in your church or parish. In Ms. Harcombe’s example, she demonstrates a large prayer covenant group (forty of them!) who were organized online.
To begin a prayer covenant create a list of all the members and appoint a day dedicated to each person or family. The idea would be that everyone on the list would pray for the person nominated for that day. Each participant is asked to give three brief points, the first a point of praise and the other two requests. Intentions and prayers can be changed at any time as they are answered or substituted as needs changed.
Visit the following link for some useful guidelines in organizing an effective prayer covenant. Remember, in your efforts, no group is too small to make a difference. You could start with your family members (both distant and local) or perhaps a circle of contacts with whom you communicate with regularly by email or phone. In the blogger’s example, she didn’t even know some of the members personally, but as the circle progressed in their prayers, they grew from the sharing experience.
If you want to build group support for your efforts at prayer, perhaps this idea will help you get started! God Bless!
05.05.08
More on Prayer and Meditation
Searching for the keyword “meditation”, I found a relatively new blogger on the block, “Aurora Astra” who also focuses on meditation, the spirit and God. For those of you interested in exploring further the benefits of meditation and want to know how to connect with your inner spirit, the blogger shares a personal way of starting meditation using prayer. In the article: “Prayer as Preparation“, there is a step-by-step description using The Lord’s Prayer to build focus and calmness in one’s mind.
As the writer states, there is no right or wrong way to pray… just your own way. I really liked the article’s focus on the physical state of being (breathing, thinking and awareness) towards the preparation provided through prayer. It certainly can be used at any time: as a morning wake-up, to take a break in a busy, hectic day or as a wrap-up in the evening. I can’t wait to give it a try myself. Thanks “Aurora Astra” for sharing your technique!
Finding Time: Early Mornings
Woke up early again this morning. This time it was way before my alarm clock. Something inside of me was driven to sit down and write… anything… to express myself and the thoughts bouncing in my mind. Many of you, as you settle down into the 10 minute challenge, will start thinking about exactly when you’ll find the time to spend to fulfill your commitment.
By making yourself mindful of a commitment, you’ll start discovering pockets of time you never knew existed. It might be a spare moment while waiting in line at a grocery store, a quiet lull during a mid-morning coffee break or maybe a silent pause between putting the kids to bed and settling down for the evening. Prepare yourself for these moments so that you’re poised and ready for success in achieving your 10 minute goal.
If journalling is your objective, carry a blank journal book or notebook (and a pen!) wherever you go. Spend a part of your evening searching, collecting and printing out inspirational passages or scripture to carry with you the following day. Many people have a commute on mass-transit (train, subway, bus or carpool); bring with you a non-fiction, self-help book or book-on-CD on a topic that nurtures your spiritual growth.
The goal isn’t necessarily completing what you’ve brought along - it’s in tapping into that hidden or often ignored desire to invite God into your spiritual life. Before long, you’ll find yourself looking for those pauses in daily life that allow you to pursue God in a meaningful way. I like to call these daily breaks “coming up to the surface for air”…
