Prayer is our personal response to God’s presence.  We approach Him reverently with a listening heart.  He speaks first.  In prayer, we acknowledge His presence and in gratitude respond to Him in love.  The focus is always on God and what He does.

The following suggestions are offered as ways of supporting and enabling attentiveness to God’s word and our unique response:

A. Daily Pattern of Prayer

For each period of prayer, use the following pattern.

1. PREPARATION
Preparing yourself for the prayer period.

2. STRUCTURE OF THE PRAYER PERIOD
A good outline for your actual prayer time.

3. REVIEW OF PRAYER
The reflection at the end of your prayer period.
 

B. Various Forms of Solitary Prayer

There are various forms of scriptural prayer. Different forms appeal to different people.  Eventually, by trying various methods, we become adept at using approaches that are appropriate to particular passages and are in harmony with our personality and needs.

This guide will make use of the following forms:

1. MEDITATION 
In meditation one approaches the scripture passage like a love letter; this approach is especially helpful in praying poetic passages.

2. CONTEMPLATION
In contemplation, we enter in to a life, event or story passage of scripture.  We enter into the passage by way of imagination, making use of all our senses.  Theologians tells us that through contemplation we are able to “recall and be present at the mysteries of Christ.”

3. CENTERING PRAYER
In centering prayer we go beyond thought and image, beyond the senses and the rational mind to that center of our being where God is working a wonderful work.

Centering prayer is a very simple, pure form of prayer, frequently without words; it is an opening of our hearts, to the Spirit dwelling within us.

4. MANTRA
One means of centering prayer is the use of the “mantra” or “prayer word.”  The mantra can be a single word or phrase.

5. MEDITATIVE READING
One of the approaches to prayer is reflective reading of scripture or other spiritual readings.

6. JOURNALING
Journaling is meditative writing.  When we place pen on paper, spirit and body cooperate to release our true selves.

7. REPETITION
Repetition is the return to a previous period of prayer for the purpose of allowing the movements of God to deepen within one’s heart.

8. BODY PRAYER