Prayer Room

ENTER THE PRAYER ROOM 

Several years ago, I found my prayer life was becoming dry. I had a list of requests, but no overall structure in which to present them. At the end of my prayer times, instead of feeling strengthened and nourished, I felt guilty and deflated. I seemed to be saying the same “spontaneous” prayers over and over again, without much meaning to my words.

A good friend gave me The Book of Common Prayer as a help to my prayer life. Written prayers were new to me. But they reinvigorated my prayer life. I approached the written prayers of past saints much as a child trying on the shoes of his dad. Would my feet ever fit into the spiritual shoes of the giants who have gone before me? I decided to pray those prayers, to pray Scripture, to pray the psalms, and to let my prayer life be shaped by the beauty of the written word.

Over the years, I have collected the prayers and Scriptures that have been most meaningful to me. I have put together a booklet that contains these prayers and Scriptures in an orderly fashion. The booklet covers one week – four times a day, with certain emphases for each day. Sunday focuses on the Resurrection; Monday – our earthly labor; Tuesday – God’s Kingdom; Wednesday – the Holy Spirit and the cost of discipleship; Thursday – Jesus’ ministry; Friday – the Cross; and Saturday – the Church and the longing for Christ’s return.

I pray you are encouraged by stopping by this “prayer room” and praying along with me. If a prayer book dries up your communion with God, toss it out. But maybe, just maybe, you will find yourself reinvigorated as well. 

ENTER THE PRAYER ROOM 

Also visit these “prayer book” links:

Scot McKnight’s book Praying with the Church

The Divine Hours

The Book of Common Prayer

The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers

The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer