The prayers of the saints…

By Paul

19 Apr 2007

peace.jpgI am writing a reflection about commitment for church this Sunday and rather than just reading out Romans 12:1-2 in the Message I have turned it into this prayer:

Father, please help us to take our everyday, ordinary life—our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before you as an offering.

Jesus, please help us to remember that embracing what you are doing for us is the best thing we can do for you.

Holy Spirit, please don’t let us become so well-adjusted to our culture that we fit into it without even thinking. Instead, help us fix our attention on you so that you change us from the inside out.

Amen.

Apart from the Lord’s prayers and a few blessings/doxologies praying part of the bible is not something that I do very often. So this has got me wondering about what you do:
• What parts of the bible, if any, do you pray?
• What are the prayers written/spoken by anyone across history that inspire/help you?
• What are you praying about/for at the moment?

If you are interested I have included the rest of the reflection here

Paul Mayers

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  1. Comment by Helen

    9.31 pm on 19 Apr 2007

    I don’t pray – on the other hand I do hope, dream, wish, wonder…and if God is there and wants to listen in/participate in that process that’s fine with me.

    (I need to leave it that open or I would go crazy wondering who said what in my head)

    For people who pray and want to be what the Bible says, then it makes sense to turn what it says into prayers.

    I like the Adrian Plass poem :) (I really like his writings)

    1. Comment by Paul

      4.21 pm on 20 Apr 2007

      thanks helen, so what are you hoping/dreaming/wishing/wondering about at the mo?

      1. Comment by Helen

        3.17 am on 23 Apr 2007

        Oh, lots of things… ;-)

        How did your reflection go today?

        1. Comment by Paul

          10.35 pm on 23 Apr 2007

          it went very well – well i think so, lol :)

  2. Comment by dan brown

    5.08 am on 20 Apr 2007

    I have been involved with a group of eight men this year to challenge one another to journal on a regular bases with the expectation of having a more intimate relationship with the Lord. For the last month my journaling has been focused on the book of James. I used to get bogged down on dealing with faith and works. This time the writer has challenged me to come before the Lord often. There are five things that have showed up predominately in my writings. One, the need for help and to concretely acknowledge needs to God and others. Two, share my weaknesses. Three, pray humbly with no spiritual pride. Four, pray with conviction and fervor. Five, pray with my wife and children, this has showed me that relationships are built on prayer. I have come to see that healthy relationships come from the Lord. I believe there are many components to more effective prayer life. Scripture is a major component of prayer, it is like trying to build a roaring fire at a camp site. By throwing a fresh log on the fire the camp site stays warm and the illumination to all around is improved by the brighter fire. The logs are scripture and they keep the fire hot and bright. Besides scripture you also asked about biographies or the lifes’ of other saints. Over the years I have read many Christian biographies and have found them useful in working on personal character virtues.

    1. Comment by Paul

      4.22 pm on 20 Apr 2007

      Thanks Dan, like the firewood analogy – so any big bits of biblical lumber that really get you burning hot?

      1. Comment by dan brown

        11.18 pm on 20 Apr 2007

        I like Jacob’s wrestling with God which is a form of prayer. It always helps me to keep up my courage warts and all. It also helps to remind me that God will work with me and speak to me in a non pious state. There are really quite a few other passages but that’s a start. I also get very fired up mediating on scripture while doing a really hard yoga class.

        1. Comment by Paul

          10.36 pm on 23 Apr 2007

          thanks Dan, wrestling is a great metaphor for prayer. How about yoga?

  3. Comment by marc

    9.44 am on 20 Apr 2007

    Ah There are some fantastic prayers I use…

    Prayer of St Patrick

    Prayer of St Francis

    Any of David Adam book give you a vast array of wonderful

    and of course there are little prayers like this one

    A Trinity Prayer

    Love of Jesus Fill us.
    Holy Spirit Guide us.
    Will of the Father be done.

    1. Comment by Paul

      4.24 pm on 20 Apr 2007

      Thanks Marc – how often do you use these prayers? Do you set them in any sort of structure/pattern?

  4. Comment by marc

    9.46 am on 20 Apr 2007

    Ah There are some fantastic prayers I use, there are many classics though..

    Prayer of St Patrick

    Prayer of St Francis

    Any of David Adam book give you a vast array of wonderful

    and of course there are little prayers like this one

    A Trinity Prayer

    Love of Jesus Fill us.
    Holy Spirit Guide us.
    Will of the Father be done.

    1. Comment by Paul

      4.25 pm on 20 Apr 2007

      so good worth saying twice :)

  5. Comment by Bryan Riley

    4.53 pm on 21 Apr 2007

    I often pray scripture, but no particular passage. I have found that God often leads me to scripture in my prayers, both alone and in small groups. And it isn’t just psalms; in fact, there are some wonderful passages to pray in the NT, just as you have done with Romans 12.

    1. Comment by Paul

      10.37 pm on 23 Apr 2007

      Thanks Bryan, what does that leading look/feel like for you?

  6. Comment by Bryan Riley

    9.23 pm on 25 Apr 2007

    It typically simply is a scripture that God brings to my heart during prayer. I think that is just one of many ways God speaks to His children today.

  7. Comment by Becky Collins

    9.10 pm on 7 May 2007

    I chose this passage to be read at my wedding – Jonny and I were looking through The Message, and I was explaining the roles of all the different books of the Bible, and he got really into Proverbs because of all the good advice. I wanted something that would connect to Christians and non-Christians alike, and my dad loves Romans, so I started there and found Romans 12! It reminded me (and this is not meant at all disrespectfully!) of that song that ends “remember to wear sunscreen” (a really popular track a few years ago that was basically some really cheesy elevator/supermarket music, with this guy in a really earnest voice reading out a list of advice), and it really caught people’s imagination… we had loads of comments from people at the wedding that couldn’t believe that it was from the Bible (!) and a couple of my relatives have asked my parents to buy them a copy of the Message!

    Ever since my younger sister read this so beautifully at my wedding, people have kept talking about it, and it has kept popping up everywhere so I’m going to print and put it on my fridge!

    1. Comment by Becky Collins

      9.11 pm on 7 May 2007

      I mean the reflection, thank you Paul!

      1. Comment by Paul

        12.28 pm on 8 May 2007

        Thank you Becky, I’m honoured :)

    2. Comment by Paul

      12.27 pm on 8 May 2007

      Thanks Becky, yes it is a beautiful inspiring passage, one of Eugene Peterson’s most poetic and prophetic interpretations! I was originally just going to read the passage but then I thought as it was a communal reflection it might make a deeper connection to pray it on our behalf.

      I love what you said about your sister reading it outloud at your wedding and the impact that it had – there is something very wonderful and powerful in listening to scripture being read – even more so i find when it is in not in a version that i am so over familiar with that the words just sweep by.

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