{"id":48,"date":"2006-12-01T04:16:22","date_gmt":"2006-12-01T10:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newchurchlife.com\/index.php\/resources\/conversational-prayer\/"},"modified":"2015-12-23T21:19:02","modified_gmt":"2015-12-23T10:19:02","slug":"conversational-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newchurchlife.com\/conversational-prayer\/","title":{"rendered":"Conversational Prayer"},"content":{"rendered":"
Conversational prayer is perhaps the best way to teach people to pray – and certainly one of the most enjoyable ways to experience fellowship with God and friends. Christians who are hesitant about praying in a group also find conversational prayer meaningful.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n The five Essentials of Conversational Prayer<\/span><\/strong> <\/span> <\/p>\n Topics for Conversational Prayer<\/span><\/strong> <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. The three most commonly used themes for conversational prayer are –<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Another series of themes could be –<\/span><\/p>\n Enjoy Conversational Prayer<\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n 1. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Singing Songs of Prayer: <\/span>In the midst of the conversation, it is really meaningful to sing a prayer or worship song that expresses the thoughts and emotions of the moment.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n 2. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Praying with Eyes Open: <\/span>Because we say so much with the nod of a head, a frown, a smile, a movement of the eyebrow, etc – some groups find it very meaningful to pray with their eyes open.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n 3. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Praying with Closed Eyes: <\/span>If you pray with your eyes closed it will be important to express yourselves verbally (to take the place of nods, smiles, etc) – so that others can understand your thoughts. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n 4. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Enjoying Silence with God: <\/span>Agree as a group that it is OK just to be with God. It can be very pleasant just sitting with friends, in God’s presence. Be comfortable with silence. Explain this to unchurched <\/span>friends – and they will be comfortable just being with you and God.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n 5. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Relax. You don’t have to speak! <\/span>Even some who enjoy praying may find that they wish to just be with God and friends. It is OK to remain silent and listen to the prayers of others.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Teaching a new Christian Conversational Prayer<\/span><\/strong> <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 1. <\/span>Points to remember –<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n 2. <\/span><\/span><\/span>What could you say when leading a person to prayer for the first time –<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n 3. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Give people time to reflect and pray – <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Conversational Prayer – in the local café! <\/span><\/strong>This is a great way to pray with friends in a café, the forest, on a beach – in fact, wherever you are! If the group is comfortable praying with open eyes you will find that you can pray together anywhere. Unchurched friends will listen, and the time will come when they want to also say something to ‘your God’.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Reading<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span><\/strong> Rosalind Rinker, PRAYER Conversing With God<\/em> (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI. 1972)<\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n If you have further idea – share them with me for wider use and encouragement. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n NewChurchLife – ideas <\/span>Peter Roennfeldt<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Conversational prayer is perhaps the best way to teach people to pray – and certainly one of the most enjoyable ways to experience fellowship with God and friends. Christians who are hesitant about praying in a group also find conversational prayer meaningful. The five Essentials of Conversational Prayer There is no need to take time… Continue reading \n
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