Prayer and Others
What did you underline most? What touched you most deeply? Puzzled you? Angered you?
Is prayer a pyramid scheme? How does another benefit from my prayer? Do people on a church prayer list, or on dozens of prayer lists have a better chance of being cured than someone on no prayer list? Are some prayer lists more effective than others?
“Now I see intercession as an increase in my awareness. When I pray for another person, I am praying for God to open my eyes so that I can see that person as God does, and then enter into the stream of love that God already directs to that person. “ What does he me by the stream of love?
Prayer allows me to see others as God see them…..and uniquely flawed and uniquely gifted…how are we all uniquely flawed and gifted?
Praying for enemies is an opportunity for self reflection. Why do our enemies hate us?
Do you pray for your enemies?
Through prayer, we stand beside our enemies and plead to God on their behalf.
God loves his enemies, that is the glory of his love. (Bonhoeffer)
Prayer and God
What did you underline most? What touched you most deeply? Puzzled you? Angered you?
If someone asks me for help in prayer, I tell them to find what they most enjoy and do that, only do it for the glory of God.
Without ceasing? How? Can it become part of your breath? Are you aware of your breathing in and out, yet you do…can prayer be this simple?
Are there inappropriate prayers?
When are you moved to offer prayers of praise?
The story of Helmut Thielicke---how did it move you?
I pray in order to put myself in the stream of God’s healing work on earth. I pray as I breathe--because I can’t help it.
What did you learn about prayer from the book?
Has your attitude toward prayer changed?
What questions do you have remaining about prayer?
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1 comment:
I pray because I yearn for the compassionate face of Jesus. I pray because Jesus came when I didn't know how to pray and asked me a question.
I pray because Jesus asked me as he asked Peter on the shore,"Do you love me?" (Even though your expectations are shattered and you aren't nearly as strong or as good or as powerful as you thought you were? Even though you are ashamed and frightened?)
Then feed my sheep (pay it forward).
But know that you get to do it at your most powerless, with your hands bound, being taken where you don't want to go.
Helmut Thielicke's beautiful words about Jesus seeking the father in the midst of everything show the example of how Jesus loved.
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