by Peter Lloyd

Prayer is best seen as a relationship. So, I was much helped by my spiritual Director when she asked me how I carry on my normal conversations with people. I discovered that most of the time I am task focused. I have something to do or something to say and once the task is settled or I have conveyed the information I wanted to share then I stop. Yet when it is with those most close to me, I can talk with them easily and for a long time.
This gave me the clue as to what is happening when I pray. If I have a request, I give it and that’s it. But when I want to share something, I simply talk with the Lord the way I would with Lorraine or our children.  That means that I find myself praying short “arrow” prayers or having a conversation prayer throughout the day.
When it comes to set times of prayer, I find that I have used several resources over the years. One example is our Anglican Prayer book especially the short Daily Devotions on pages 104 to 137. There is a short morning and evening devotion for each day of the week.
What is missing from this is LISTENING to God. Yet I am constantly surprised that I do hear Him and don’t always recognize that what seems like just a good idea turns out to be the Lord graciously sharing with me within my limitations.

by Gill Cranch

"Things that sustain my faith" that’s got me thinking!
For me, a broad answer is "relationships"
Relationship with God and relationships with people.
To sustain my faith, I recognise I need to spend time getting to close to God-it might be talking to Him out loud about stuff that's on my mind, or in the quiet of a room - in the car by myself or the shower or a walk-anywhere!
I find thanking God for as many things as I can think of and praising Him for His character eg creator, loving, forgiving, and being interested in little old me! This seems to put me into a place of spiritual closeness to God and sustains my faith.
Regular daily reading from the Bible is good and I find "Word for Today " booklets are helpful because they have a few sentences of scripture and then an explanation/application to daily living.  (There are usually spare ones on a book table in the church foyer)
I think, just as we each have varied interests and strengths, there are many ways in which we can draw closer to God.  So, mine is particularly via people and music, whereas others may be art, contemplation, in depth books and studies, photography. I find the words and music of the Messiah amazing. My mother had an experience of God telling her something through a dream about cabbages! (she loved gardening).  I, too have had what I firmly believe was from God, significant dreams that gave me such hope and encouragement in hard times - ask me about those dreams if you want!
I personally need people who are like minded in faith matters to encourage me. My "home group " helps with this – a pretty laid back affair - meet weekly for a cuppa, a catch up and then pray for those in need and a study or video for discussion. It’s amazing how a small group comes up with different angles on a subject.
Similarly, church is where I get "fed" spiritually but also spend time with others and their journeys in life.
All human relationships are very fallible but as a Christian once said "we are one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread"!

by Lorraine Lloyd

​I first made a deep discovery of prayer when the younger of my two children was just a 10-month-old.
 
As a busy young family with many demands on our time, Peter and I chose to put into our diary a time for a ‘date night’ (unusual in those days).  The purpose of this date night was to aim at giving quality time to our relationship, not just quick catchup chats, but a time to really listen to one another.  Time to listen to one another’s thoughts, feelings, ideas, challenges, hopes, dreams, concerns without being interrupted every five minutes by some other demands.  What we were looking for was quality time for our relationship so we could deepen, strengthen, and develop our friendship.
 
However, it was quality time with God, the Holy Trinity, that I was also seeking at that time, and to be honest that I sensed God was drawing me into as well.  A quality time of listening and sharing, of conversation and communion.
 
Around that time, I was reading through the gospel of Luke and I was impacted by the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42).  Do you remember the story?  Martha was complaining to Jesus that she was doing all the work while Mary ‘was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to him!  I must confess I felt a bit sorry for Martha because at that time I was terribly busy trying to impress my young husband with all the things I was doing in the house and garden.  He did not appear to be giving me the kind of appreciation that I was hoping for.  When I challenged him about it, he replied quite simply.  “I am aware of those things and am truly grateful, but really what I need from you more than anything is not to be busy doing things for me, but to listen to my day. Listen to the challenges I have faced.” (at that time, we were working with a youth ministry in Christchurch with kids off the streets; an incredibly challenging and often emotionally draining task).  What impacted me from the Martha and Mary story was highlighted in the words of Jesus to Martha “Martha, Martha you are “distracted” by many things.  One thing is needed and it’s this.  Listen to Me.”  What I discovered as I meditated on that passage was that Jesus was aware of his approaching death and he wanted his friends and followers to listen to him.  What was he thinking and feeling about his approaching death?  How important was it for him to communicate all that was about to happen and to make sure his followers were in tune with him? Mary (unusual for a woman in that time) was doing just that!  She was listening to Jesus.  Martha was not listening; she was distracted with doing many things.  In other words, she was preparing a roast dinner for Jesus and the team when cheese on toast would have been sufficient!!
 
So, an appointment with God each day for ‘conversation’ and ‘communion’ for anything the Lord may wish to share with me has lasted for over 40 years.  My aim is always to listen to God both from the head and from the heart, and to share with God my head and heart as well.  I never come with a ‘shopping list’ of requests. My prayers for others, study of the Scriptures, tasks etc evolve out of that time of communion. In good times and bad I have kept that appointment.  Not always easy but I have been the richer.  Does that mean that I do not pray throughout the day?  No, not at all.  Quick arrow prayers are going up all the time. But this time is set aside for a quality time of communication.
 
 
 
How do I begin?

1. I take an exercise book (which I use as a journal- lots of them now!!) pen and bible and sit in a quiet place.  It is usually the same place every day.  I am an early riser and the rest of my family were late sleepers, so that always made it easier for me.  I have to say when I first began it was hard.  Especially if I had been up during the night with one of the children.  I often used to sleep through my early appointment! However, over time it became and remains one of the greatest treasures of my day.
2. I begin my time my saying “Good morning Father.  Good morning Lord Jesus.  Good morning Holy Spirit” and I wait and listen for a response.  Sometimes, there is an immediate response, at other times not.  Sometimes I will follow on with praying through a psalm such as Psalm 100:4 or Psalm 150.  I might use a worship CD or reflect on the words in a hymn book.  I sometimes pray an ancient prayer “Jesus, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner. (repeated three times) as a means of entering God’s presence.  Other times I will use the gift of the Holy Spirit, that of speaking in tongues, as is reflected in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14.  All of these steps are ‘tools” if you like to assist me to become aware of the ‘Others’ presence and to engage in conversation and communion with Him.

 
If anyone would like to discuss with me anything that I have shared in this, please don’t hesitate to ask.
 
Lorraine Lloyd (021 482030)

by Gill Henderson

We need each other to sustain our faith. As an example, at one stage I worked for 13 years in a Catholic school where there were half a dozen Sisters on the staff. I wasn't particularly conscious of their influence on me, but noticed that my faith flagged a bit during the long holiday. Worshipping together every week helps us.
 
Praying and reading the Bible daily are very important. For the past 10 years or so Jon and I have had our prayer and meditation time together. That would have been very hard to organise when we were younger. However, praying out loud together has helped us a lot in understanding each other, and God.
 
Books have always helped me. When I was working, time was at a premium, so reading didn't happen so often, but if I had a burning issue I'd find the time.