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Praying over the day gone by
An approach lending itself to use by individuals or small groups.

Prayer of awareness

  • This is essentially a prayer of ‘looking back’, endeavouring to see where God has been, and with the help of God, how God is moving in our lives. It is most effective when practised on a regular basis and takes 10-15 minutes. Many people use it at the end of the day.
  • Begin by doing whatever helps you experience inner stillness and consciously put yourself in the presence of God who has created all things.
  • Pray to bring to mind how God has moved in your life throughout the day.
  • Look slowly through the day, from the time you woke up, picturing people, places, your actions, thoughts etc – just note what happened, how you felt, remember God can work through your deepest feelings.
  • Ask God to bring to your heart the moment today for which you are most grateful. "If you could relive one moment, which one could it be?" "When were you most able to give and receive love today?" Ask yourself: "What was said and done in the moment that made it so special?" Breathe in the gratitude you felt and receive life again from that moment. Thank God.
  • Ask God to bring to your heart the moment today for which you are least grateful. "When were you least able to give and receive love?" Ask yourself what was said and done in that moment that made it so difficult. Be with whatever you feel without trying to change or fix it in any way. You may wish to take deep breaths and let God’s love fill you just as you are. Thank God.
  • End your prayer slowly, perhaps with a couple of sentences summing up what you feel has gone on during this time of ‘looking back’.
  • Be grateful to God for the gift of life.
  • In hope, look forward to tomorrow, conscious that God will be with you.

This is an exercise that can be engaged in with a small group, perhaps a cell group, or house group that have been together for some time and who want to look back, over weeks, or months, to review and reflect, and perhaps ask: "Out of all our moments together, what is the one for which I am most/least grateful for?" Each member taking a turn to listen, and to be listened to. It throws up some surprises and confirms our God as a God of surprises!

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