As I write this, we have just had an Advent Prayer Day for the churches in the Northern Mission Area of the Ipswich Circuit. There were some beautifully thought through and obviously helpful prayer stations devised and set up by various friends. The atmosphere was special and spiritual.
I have just searched the internet for images of ‘prayer aids;’ the search returned dozens and dozens of different approaches. It is wonderful that there is a rich mine of resources to be investigated by anyone looking for help. Many are careful, sensitive and full of meaning.
But it is time to come clean. All my life I have been unmoved by such things – just as I struggle with prayer meetings where people feel the need to talk all the time. Increasingly I wonder if I am so unusual that I wonder if I have something wrong with me that I cannot cope with what I see as distractions.
I felt I should write this now in case I am not alone and out there someone else is puzzling over whether it is somehow strange just to want to be quiet, in a conversation with God without stones, candles, pictures, and everything else that comprises our accumulated liturgical debris.
The answer, I am sure, as in all these things, is that wea re all different. No right and wrong ways, especially of coming to God in prayer, but as many different ways as there are different people.
A prayer
Lord Jesus, you went alone to pray when you were pressured. We have rituals based on ancient biblical pretexts. We have symbols rooted in your word pictures. For them all, accept our praise and thanksgiving. Help each of us, individually to discern how best we pray and what draws us to your side.
Help those who find it hard to pray at all to find their way.
Master, speak! thy servant heareth,
waiting for thy gracious word,
longing for thy voice that cheereth,
Master, let it now be heard.
I am list’ning, Lord, for thee;
what hast thou to say to me?
Amen.
Frances Ridley Havergal