Prayer: It's just a conversation

So, by now, you've probably read Chansin Bird's article "Prayer Exposé" on page 26 of the May issue of ec. Maybe that article left you wanting to go deeper in your prayer life but you just don't know how to get started. Well, here are a few ideas a good friend of ec, Pam Gibbs, shared with us awhile back.

Drawing God and Me
Before you accuse us of treating you like children, try this idea. You might be surprised! Grab some paper and colored pencils, markers, or crayons. Then find a quiet place to sit. First, spend a few moments in quiet. Take a few deep breaths. Then, pick up a pencil and write at the top of the page, God and me. Remaining quiet and relaxed, draw a picture of the two of you. Choose images, people, animals or objects to represent God and you. You can use any sizes, shapes, or colors you want. Do not stop to think about how you should portray God or how you want to appear. Don’t worry about being a Picasso. Just draw.
After a few minutes, talk to God about what you’ve drawn. Why did you choose that particular color for God? For example, you might have chosen red because you thought He was angry or blue because He felt as far away as the sky. What image did you choose for God and why? Where are you in the picture in relation to God? Close or far away? Picture yourself like a small child who is describing a picture to her parent. After describing it to God, sit and be quiet in the stillness. After a few minutes of quiet, ask yourself: How would God draw me and Him together?

Journaling with a Twist
You might already use a journal to write out your prayers. Even if you do, keep reading for a twist at the end! In connecting with God through journaling, you write out a conversation with God. To begin, write “Dear God,” or another favorite term you’ve adopted for God (Abba, Lord, Father). Then, write down what you are feeling in your heart or what’s on your mind. You can write about the ordinary things of your day. God loves to hear about those things. Maybe you need to write about something that’s troubling you; God wants to hear about those things, too. If you’re just in the mood to write, pick a topic: your deepest desire; your greatest fear; the you that nobody knows about; your big-gest confusion. Don’t censor or edit anything you write. Just let the words flow.

Once you’ve written down everything on your mind and heart, go to the next page in your jour-nal. At the top of the page, write “Dear (Your Name).” Then, write a reply as if God were writing to you about what you’ve written to Him. Again, don’t censor yourself or edit what you’re writing. Al-low God to speak. You’ll be amazed at what happens!

Breath Prayer
Ever feel overwhelmed? Ever feel too stressed to stop and pray for a long time? Ever crave a really simple prayer that expresses what you’re feeling? Then try this activity.

First, find a place to be quiet and alone for a few -minutes. Picture Jesus standing before you, asking what you want Him to do for you. Maybe He’s simply asking, what is the cry of your heart? Wait and listen. The cry of your heart will emerge. In all probability, though, you will hear a lot of noise in your head, and it will be difficult to listen to your heart. If more than one thing surfaces, look for the root problem. For example, if you want to get along with your friends and your family better, your deeper need is love for others. Finding the cry of your heart is a lot like finding that special spot on your back that itches and needs to be scratched. You can scratch around it and close to it, but you know immediately when you’ve hit the spot!

Once you’ve found that heart cry, identify how you -address God in your prayer, such as Abba, Father, or God. Or identify a name of God that coincides with the need of your heart. Some common breath prayers are:
• Give me strength, O Christ (for when you’re tired)
• Father, show me your love (for when you feel unappreciated)
• Gentle Shepherd, carry me (for when you feel overwhelmed)

Take some time to sit quietly and repeat the phrase gently in your mind. As you inhale, voice the name of God (O Christ). As you exhale, voice the prayer (Give me strength). You can use breath prayer in lots of places, such as when you’re walking to your next class, driving in the car, or taking a shower. This prayer is helpful when your emotions are so stirred that you don’t know what or how to pray. Over time, the repetition of this prayer -creates a time and space in which you become more aware of God, who hears your cry.

What it means to you:
The point of all this is simple: God wants to spend time with you.

He wants to know about the things that worry you and hear about the things that frighten you. God wants to know you and spend time with you, and one of the ways He’s made that kind of relationship possible is through prayer. So don’t just recite the same tired prayer you’ve been praying day after day, year after year. Get to know God, be honest with Him, and live in daily relationship with Him. You won’t be sorry!