During my sermon on Sunday, I invited people to share ways we encounter Jesus through prayer. One person responded to my invitation with this helpful and inspirational response.
My faith journey has taught me there are so many ways to engage with Jesus and I'm thankful for the creativity He brings as He meets us in all areas of our lives.
If I wake up in the middle of the night perseverating on things that feel irrationally huge at 2:00 am, I have written a prayer of the characteristics of God in alphabetical order. I have learned it focuses my mind on Jesus as well as focused on keeping the words in a certain order. I have attached my most recent iteration. I pray it over and over until I fall back to sleep.
Every morning, I listen to the daily "Pray As You Go" app and that has been a blessing to my days. It has been helpful to have guidance through music, scripture and various prompts. Depending on the day, I may also listen to the "Lectio 365" app.
When I want to pray through Scripture, I may listen to a chapter or more via the Streetlights Audio Bible. It brings the words to life in a new way.
I listen to Christian music frequently as well. I have culled my playlist to make sure I agree with the words sung :) and use it as a springboard to talk to Jesus. Kathleen's leadership in worship has introduced me to new songs that I love. I also appreciate it when songs get stuck in my head and I end up praying them throughout the day. I have a specific playlist to listen to when I'm on my way to volunteer with Hospice patients where the songs focus on God's mercy and love and heaven. I sing them in my head as I help the patients eat their breakfast.
I truly feel the presence of the Holy Spirit throughout my day and tend to have conversations with Him a lot, asking Him for strength, focus, kindness - whatever the life situation brings. It is a habit developed through the years of understanding my strength comes from Him.
Thank you for the invitation to think about prayer this week. I look forward to learning more.
A to Z Prayer
Alpha and Omega.
Beginning and End.
Creator and the
Door to
Eternal life and love.
Faithful,
Gracious and Good,
Heavenly Father.
Immanuel: “God with us” who fights for
Justice.
Kind King of Kings
Light of life
Merciful, Most High God who promises to
Never leave nor forsake.
Omnipotent and Omnipresent: all ways knowing and always here.
Persistent Pursuing Pure Provider Prince of Peace.
Qanna wanting all praise and worship for Yourself.
Real Rest,
Safe,
Teacher and friend.
Undomesticated and Understanding
Vine who gives life.
Wisdom full and giving God, who cannot become a
Xoanon (a carved idol of a deity).
Yahweh: my Lord; “I am”; the same yesterday, today, forever.
Zealous and passionate for Your people – all of us.
