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.
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.