Skip to main content

Prayer Column - May 2020

Image
By

Prayer Walking

I’ve been writing a prayer walk this last few days. Let me explain. Mostly we pray with our eyes shut, using our imagination to bring people or problems to God. But imagination is helped by information: our vision is sharpened, requests focused and prayers enriched. That's where prayer walking can help. You can pray as you walk, looking at people and places – houses, shops, offices, mills, schools, gardens, parks, open country, or whatever, and also encounter people and get talking to them on the way. All this can prompt prayer.

Near where I live we’ve got prayer walk leaflets for short routes round all the local churches, and a couple for more general use. But of course you can follow any route you like. What’s more, you can physically walk the route you choose, for instance for your daily exercise, or you can imagine your way round while you sit at home, with the aid of a street map if you want to pray for areas you don’t know well. Either way, you can walk alone or with others, though always in the company of Jesus, ministered to us by the Holy Spirit, who is sent to be with us (and within us) – always, from the moment we first believe in Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.

Do leaflets help? Well, they can suggest things to pray for we might not have thought of for ourselves: asking God for blessings on people and places, but also they can remind us to thank God for his goodness to us, and praise him for all that he is and all he promises. Besides, we can be reminded of some of the challenges which come with following Jesus as our Lord through every day of our own lives. You might not think you need reminding, but we all do, over and over again!
See: https://baildonmethodists.org/prayer-walks-2/ for examples.

Roy LS

A prayer for each week

All-knowing Lord, please tell me the places and people you want me to pray for today, whether in my daily exercise or imagination, and bless them. Amen.

All-seeing Lord, please show me what in particular I should be praying for today: what people, in what places, with what problems – and bless them richly. Amen.

Ever-present Lord, within me wherever you lead me and yet at the same before and beyond, please bless all those whom I lift to you on a stretcher of prayer. Amen.

Companion Lord, perceiving all from on high, and yet also with us on the way, please guide all our steps: so we find what’s right, and avoid what’s wrong. Amen.

Mighty Lord, with whom no appeal is ever lodged in vain, please hear our prayer and keep us alert for your answers, however and whenever they come. Amen.

Your own prayers
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank

By
An article in the March Link stated that, after April, the foodbank operated by the Light Church will limit its service to postcodes which extend into the centre of Bradford.  However, there is a food bank which provides food bags for the whole of the Bradford district and surrounding areas. The following is an account of this bank; I am indebted to Keith Thomson, a member of the committee, for this information. Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank is the original food bank in Bradford. It opened in 2004, as an extension of the Curry Project for rough sleepers, started by Lashman Singh. It provides food bags for the whole of the Bradford district and collects food from the same area. It is non-sectarian, supporting people of all faiths and none, and the volunteers are from all sections of the diverse Bradford community. The main committee, the original seven and up to fifty volunteers are just that. We are all volunteers and no-one is paid. We never see the people and families that...
Post a Comment
Read more

Virtual Worship - 6 June 2021

By
Parables for Bradford - Week 1 Service Sheet (pdf) Opening Prayers: O God of all, lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth. Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe. Amen . Peace to the nations, to east and to west. Peace to our neighbours, to rich and to poor. Peace to all races, all women, all men. The peace of Christ above all peace. The peace of the Prince of peace, to you and to me. Amen. Song STF 262 All glory, laud, and honour. Address: Mark 4. 34 tells us that Jesus did not speak to the crowds unless he used parables. Matthew 7:28  tells us “ Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching. ” In the gospels, there are at least 9 verses like this, where we hear that the Crowds were astounded at Jesus’s teaching. Much of his teaching was in Parables. In the next few weeks, we will be looking at some of his Parables, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Soupermums! Wilsden Trinity Church

By
Do you have a young baby? Looking for something to do? If the answer is yes then Soupermums is for you. We're here from 11 until 1 every Monday, Mums (and dads) have a rest and the babies can play. Have a lovely sit down whilst you sip on a brew. Enjoy having someone else make lunch for you! Come along to Wilsden Church, meet the rest of the group. Lovely ladies cuddle the babies, whilst you eat your soup. Chat with the mums, new friends you will make. Swap tips and advice over a slice or two of cake. So what are you waiting for? come on along, For homemade treats, good company and if you're lucky a song. We're looking forward to meeting you, please come take a peek, 11-1 at Wilsden Trinity, we're here every week! Celine V  (a Soupermum!) Where can new mums go, to have lunch where it’s warm and safe and you get to eat fresh soup and homemade cakes, while someone holds your baby? Too big an ask? Not at Wilsden Trinity! Every Mond...
Post a Comment
Read more