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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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