Practising Prayer

Prayer is a “practice” – something we do within a tradition and shaped by the learning and reflections of those who have prayed before us.
And it is also something we learn, and need “practice” in. Praying does not come naturally to most of us, and we are all beginners, strugglers and novices. On this page, we explore some ideas and insights available in the Christian tradition.

As we live and pray our way through the weeks following Pentecost, we are going to let our praying be shaped by Paul's listing of the gifts of the Spirit; Gal 5;22-23. In this discovery of the Spirit's activity in our individual and communal lives, we are led further into the mystery of God's transforming activity, which is the heart of all prayer. Fruit is that which grows when a plant is in the right soil, given the right nutrients and water, and allowed to flourish. In such conditions, God's life in us is fruitful. The growth of fruit is not a matter of resolution, but of trust - of letting the Spirit work in our lives.

The fruit of the Spirit is self-control.
Self-control is the capacity not to be swayed by the powers and dominations around us and within us, to live and act out of our deepest values, rather than the assumptions and presuppositions of others.

This week, make time to be intentional about your presence with God for 20 minutes. Invite the Spirit to bring forth fruit in you.
Look back over the last 24 hours, without a sense of judgement. Let it unroll like a video.
Where have you acted in accord with your deepest values, most truly been the person you want, before God, to be. Give thanks for those moments or hours.
Where have you acted in line with others expectations or choices in ways that have not been true to who God is calling you to be? Reflect, without judging, on why that has happened. Reflect on what impact these moments have had on you.
If it is appropriate, ask God's forgiveness for what has happened.
Look ahead to events you know are coming up in the next 24 hours - or decisions you must take, or choices that will face you. Invite the Spirit to bring the fruit of self-control to growth in you in these moments, and entrust them now to God. Don't try to plan too far ahead. Look instead with trust for what God will do in and through you as you live the life that God is making in you and give thanks for it.

Comments welcomed

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