Christian Reflection and Prayer

Whitney Hopler

There are many ways to pray -
many paths of communication that
can lead you closer to God.

Here are some different paths you
can take to prayer:

"Paying attention":  When you meditate
on Bible passages, you can listen to the
themes of your own life as you notice the
connections.  Ask yourself: "How is God's
Word intersecting in my life?", "Am I
meditating on a portion of God's Word that
is actually coming to life right now?", and
"How is Jesus leading me to follow Him
through these circumstances?".  As you
pay closer attention to God's work in your
life, you'll start to notice it at all times and
in all situations.

"Feeling God's heartbeat":  When you're
feeling sad or lonely, imagine yourself hugging
God so closely that you can feel His heartbeat. 
Rest in His presence, enjoying His company
without any agenda to pursue with Him. 
Contemplate the powerful reality that His Spirit
lives in you.  Thank God for His great love for you. 
Set aside time in your busy schedule to spend
with God in silence regularly.  You'll receive more
peace from Him that will carry over into all of
your activities.

"Love":   When you pursue intercessory prayer,
you become immersed in God's ongoing community
of love.  Praying for others and allowing them to pray
for you invites God to pour His love into all of your
lives, drawing you all closer to Him in the process.

(final entry for Paths to Prayer)

Adapted from The Folly of Prayer: Practicing the
Presence and Absence of God, copyright 2009 by
Matt Woodley. Published by IVP Books, a division
of InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill.,
www.ivpress.com.
Matt Woodley is the senior pastor of Three Village
Church, Long Island, New York. He is the coauthor,
with his wife Julie and H. Norman Wright, of Surviving
the Storms of Life and the author of Holy Fools. He
has also written a number of articles published in
Discipleship Journal and Leadership Journal as well
as The Mars Hill Review.

Original publication date: February 3, 2010

(And remember to keep God in your life and talk
to Him often, HE IS THERE FOR YOU)