Prayer
Prayer: much more than keeping God sweet.
A simple little word which covers everything from presenting God with a wish-list to being caught up in the mystery of God. Full of words, or hovering in silence. Poured out in ecstasy, or torn from our souls in the depths of distress.
The Christian tradition of prayer, with its foundations deep in our Jewish parentage, makes use of all our human emotions, experiences and longings - including ones usually seen as negative, like anger or grief - better to know and be known by God, and to become better agents of the divine love within a wounded world.
We have a wealth of resources gifted to us by our ancestors in the faith: the Scriptures, the writings of the mystics like Julian of Norwich and John of the Cross, the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, the hymns of writers like Charles Wesley. None of us need start from scratch, and we are not alone on our journey - many others have trodden the way before us, and with us.
Resources for prayer - some links
Daily Prayer
Prayer at the beginning and the end of the day has its roots in our Jewish parentage, and continues to be a mainstay of cathedrals, churches and religious communities.
The Church of England has a useful page (with links) about getting started in prayer:
'Every Day is Holy'
Most Christian traditions have readings and prayers set for every day of the year, including days when we remember with thanksgiving those who witnessed to the faith in years gone by. Some of them contain a wealth of information and resources for helping us pray.
You can access one such daily resource via this button, and even integrate it into your phone's calendar app.
Sharing in Prayer
Prayer can feel un-focused and isolated sometimes. The Diocese of Lincoln produces a set of prayers day-by-day through the month for people and places across Greater Lincolnshire. It also invites people with an urgent need for prayer, for themselves or for another person, to ask for prayer to be offered on their behalf.
'The World is their Cloister'
Many Christians find support in their spiritual journey by linking themselves with a larger community, ones like the Franciscan or Benedictine orders within the Church of England and beyond.
As an example and illustration, those who feel drawn to the Benedictine tradition read a portion of St Benedict's Rule each day; here is a link to the daily reading of the Rule, with commentary by a Benedictine Sister.