Spiritual Practice: Praying together
Overview
In chapter 5 James talks about the power of prayer. He talks about praying if you are sick, suffering, or needing to repent, and he says that the prayer of a person who is right with God has great power. What we sometimes miss is the emphasis that is placed on praying together. Twice in this passage he refers to people praying together in groups (verses14 and 16). We are sometimes afraid to pray in front of other people but we really don't need to be. We don't have to be eloquent, just sincere and authentic. This week, let's practice praying together.
Practice
Connect with someone this week, either over the phone, in person, or over text, and ask how you can pray for them. Offer a brief prayer while you are talking to them, then ask them to pray for you. When we pray together, we are encouraged, our faith is strengthened, and we grow closer together and to God.
Overview
In chapter 5 James talks about the power of prayer. He talks about praying if you are sick, suffering, or needing to repent, and he says that the prayer of a person who is right with God has great power. What we sometimes miss is the emphasis that is placed on praying together. Twice in this passage he refers to people praying together in groups (verses14 and 16). We are sometimes afraid to pray in front of other people but we really don't need to be. We don't have to be eloquent, just sincere and authentic. This week, let's practice praying together.
Practice
Connect with someone this week, either over the phone, in person, or over text, and ask how you can pray for them. Offer a brief prayer while you are talking to them, then ask them to pray for you. When we pray together, we are encouraged, our faith is strengthened, and we grow closer together and to God.
Spiritual Practices: Breath Prayer
Overview
In this passage, James talks about the centrality and effectiveness of prayer, but we don't often avail ourselves of it enough. We wonder why we don't feel closer to God or see God move more in our lives. Sometimes it may be because we don't connect with God in prayer more than we do. This doesn't mean that we need to devote hours everyday to prayer. Instead it means we become people of instinctive prayer. This means that our first response when we encounter something is to take it to God in prayer, either request, praise, or thanksgiving. When we connect with God in instinctive prayer throughout our day, we become more connected to God and we will see him move more in our lives. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Abba Father, make me a person of instinctive prayer
Overview
In this passage, James talks about the centrality and effectiveness of prayer, but we don't often avail ourselves of it enough. We wonder why we don't feel closer to God or see God move more in our lives. Sometimes it may be because we don't connect with God in prayer more than we do. This doesn't mean that we need to devote hours everyday to prayer. Instead it means we become people of instinctive prayer. This means that our first response when we encounter something is to take it to God in prayer, either request, praise, or thanksgiving. When we connect with God in instinctive prayer throughout our day, we become more connected to God and we will see him move more in our lives. That is what this breath prayer is about.
Prayer
Abba Father, make me a person of instinctive prayer