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Praying with Live Simply

Praying with Creation

Praying with a Flower:

One of the beautiful things about nature is that it is beauty is all around us there is evidence of new life, God’s creation at work. For your prayer exercise this week we are going to pray with a flower.

Take a flower in your hand.

Just sit with it for a few minutes and become aware that it is a part of God’s creation. As you do this be aware that God is present with you, holding you in His hand as you are holding
the flower.

Be aware of the firmness of the stem holding the flower upright.Strong, supportive.

The gentle but strong petals protecting the stamens from harm.
Ask God to present with you in prayer.

Now look:
At the stem, what colour is it? Does it have small branches coming off it or leaves?
At the petals, are the same colour? Look closely are there different shades within the petal making the image of one colour?
Inside the flower, what do you see? The intricate detail of creation allowing the flower to recreate itself.

Reflect on how the flower can’t do this alone, it needs bees, wasps and insects to help in this recreation. It is dependent on others to help. The wonder of God’s creation working
together to make the world continually beautiful.

Touch

The stem, feel the firmness, the strength. Is it hard or soft?

The petal is it hard or soft. Gently rub your fingers over it. Feel the wonder of God’s creation.
Move it gently, feel how it moves imagine it blowing in a gentle breeze

Smell.

Now smell the flower, the perfume of creation.

Is it a pleasant smell?

Does it invoke any memories or thoughts for you?

Imagine what this flower is saying to you, what do you want to say to it?

Sit in God’s presence, be still and listen to what God is saying to you.

After your time of prayer reflect on your prayer, maybe over a cup of tea, using the questions below if they are helpful:
• What is staying with me as I reflect on my prayer?
• What do I want to give thanks for?
• How am I drawn to respond to God?
• Might I write, draw or make something?

Prayer Walk

For your prayer exercise over the next few weeks try and take a walk and appreciate God’s beautiful creation and pray with that experience. Below are a few tips to help you make the most of your prayer time.

Prayer Guide:

Take a slow walk outside alone or with someone else. If you have company, choose not to talk to each other for a while so that you can be more aware of everything else around you.  You can take a walk in your home garden, own neighbourhood or out in the mountains, seaside, or riverfront.

Begin by standing upright and balanced. Pull your shoulders back and relax. Notice your body and its subtle movements, possible tensions and aches.
Become aware of Jesus being with you. Can you imagine what he looks like? What is he wearing?

He invited you to go for this walk with you. He is eager to show things to you and be with you. You can talk to him quietly in your heart and listen to him as you walk, or just be quiet together.

Start taking in your surroundings, the smells, sights, temperature and sounds. Do not rush. You might see something that you want to touch. Go ahead and touch it (if it’s allowed and safe, of course!).

After a while, notice if there is something in particular that catches your attention. Pause and get closer to it. Hold your gaze on the object or creature for some moments. It can be a stick on the ground, a tree, a stone, a building, an insect, or even a person. If you can, hold it
in your hand. Take time to study the details of it (texture, weight, smell, etc.). You might even ask yourself what it would feel like to be that object.

Peacefully, keep your eyes on this one thing or person. Remind yourself that Jesus is with you and is watching closely the same thing that you are. Hold this gaze with Jesus. Imagine what he sees. What do you see? Is there something that Jesus wants to tell you through what you are looking at? Don’t analyse or try to explain anything. Simply look.

Notice:

What was it like to go for a walk with Jesus?
How was it different from any other walk, even though Jesus is always with you?
What made this time different?
What did you notice about your surroundings?
What did you spend time looking at?
How was it for you to pay such a close attention for a long time to one thing?

Reflection:

Do you have a fixed “sit spot”, a sacred place out in the nature where you can go, rest, and observe the world around and within you?
What is your earliest memory of you enjoying the nature? Where were you?
What did you do?
How does weather and your physical environment affect your life with God?
What hinders you from spending time outside?
When you return home record your thoughts and feelings in a prayer journal.

Taken from: /www.kutsucompanions.com

Praying for the Poor

The following websites have various prayer we can say to pray for the poor.  Just choose one or two prayers a day and add them to your daily prayer routine.

Thursday Blessings
https://thursdayblessings.co.uk/prayers-for-the-poor-people/

Christians Against Poverty

https://capuk.org/news-and-blog/5-ways-to-pray-for-uk-poverty

Pray Today

https://www.praytoday.uk/more-prayers/prayers-for-the-poor

Social Justice Resource Centre


https://socialjusticeresourcecenter.org/prayers/poverty/

​Lectio Devina

– Use the following passages, click on the link to be taken to the relevant Bible passages. Spend time reading them, what word or phrase stands out to you? How is it making you feel? What is God saying to you?

Luke 14: 12 – 14 https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/luke/14.html

Mark 10: 17-21 https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/mark/10.html

Matthew 5:2 -12 https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/matthew/5.html

Matthew 25:31-46 https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/matthew/25.html

Luke 6:20-26 https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/luke/6.html

Matthew 6:3-4 https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/matthew/6.html

All pictures courtesy of Wix
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