Pathways Press.com

 MEDITATION:

Written by Pete Greig,  a contemporary English pastor, author, and founder of the global 24-7 Prayer movement.  This is an excerpt from his book “How to Pray.”

To start we must stop. To move forward, we must pause. This is the first step in a deeper prayer life: Put down your wish list and wait. Sit quietly. “Be still and know that I am God.” Become fully present in place and time so that your scattered senses can recenter themselves on God’s eternal presence. Stillness and silence prepare your mind and prime your heart to pray from a place of greater peace, faith, and adoration. In fact, these are themselves important forms of prayer.

No one stares up at the Northern Lights thinking, “Wow, I’m incredible!” We are hardwired to wonder and therefore to worship. The Lord’s Prayer begins with an invitation to adoration: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your Name.” Having paused to be still at the start of a prayer time, the most natural and appropriate response to God’s presence is reverence. Try not to skip this bit. Hallowing the Father’s name is the most important and enjoyable dimension of prayer. Linger here, rejoicing in God’s blessings before asking for any more. Like an eagle soaring, a horse galloping, or a salmon leaping, worship is the thing God designed you to do.

PRAYER:

Written by William Bright (1824-1901), an English ecclesiastical historian and Anglican priest.

O almighty God,

every good prayer comes from you,

and you pour out the Spirit of grace and prayer

on all who desire it.

Deliver us from coldness of heart

and wanderings of mind

when we draw near you,

that with steadfast thoughts

and warmed affections

we may worship you in spirit and in truth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.