Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Prayer resources

Prayer is an essential part of a Christian's life. Prayers involves talking to and listening to God.

We pray as individuals, alone or part of a group, and we pray together as a group such as in worship.

Prayer can take many forms. Some times we use formulas, other times it is off the cuff, sometimes it is responsive, other times it someone prayers on our behalf (the Holy Spirit even prays for us when we don't have the words to pray.

Below are a range of prayer resources that help you in your journey in prayer....


What Jesus says
As you read the following two texts ask yourself what does Jesus' teaching on prayer say to us about God, us, how we are to pray and the things we are to pray for?

From Luke 11
11:1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 11:2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, may your name be honored;
may your kingdom come.
11:3 Give us each day our daily bread,
11:4 and forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”



and From Matthew 6
6:5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 6:7 When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 6:9 So pray this way:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored,
6:10 may your kingdom come,
may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
6:11 Give us today our daily bread,
6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
6:14 “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.


More of what Jesus says
Who to pray for:
Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew 19:13
Luke 6:27-28

What to pray for:
Matthew 9:35-10:1
Matthew 18:15-20
Matthew 24:20
Matthew 26:39-44
Mark 11:24-25
Mark 13;14-23
Mark 14:32-41
Luke 10:2-3
Luke 22:39-46
John 17

How to pray
Luke 18:1-8
Luke 18:9-14
Luke 21:34-36


Luther's biblical study of the Lord's Prayer which form part of a Lutheran understanding to prayer.
There are two places to find this....
One is in the Small Catechism (this link includes Bible references)
and the other in the Large Catechism

What does Luther's biblical study on prayer say about God, you, others, praying, what to pray and how to pray?

Luther's approach to prayer.
Many people have benefited from following an approach to praying as suggested by Martin Luther. Think of prayer as having four strands
After reading a passage of scripture, ask the following:
  1. What is the Holy Spirit teaching me as a result of reading this passage?
  2. What prayer of thanksgiving does this passage prompt?
  3. What do I need to ask forgiveness for or lament as a result of what God says in this passage?
  4. What am i being prompted to do that I will need the Holy Spirit's help with?

Then pray the above to God.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Prayer of the church: Statement from the Lutheran Church of Australia

  • Scriptural foundation for the prayer of the church
  • Nature and purpose of the prayer of the church
  • Contents of the prayer of the church
  • Forms of the prayer of the church
  • Leadership of the prayer of the church

Prayer of the Church article by Larry W Myers

Let us pray: Prayers of the Church written for each week in the lectionary. Read a review on the Let us pray resource.

Faith Practices article: Prayer from the Lutheran (Australian) Magazine

Other resources from

Lutheran Church of Australia prayer resources including

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod including

Ablaze prayer resources including Prayer topics and Prayer Vigil kit

Prayer Topics including

  • Praying with Others
  • Prayer of Jabez
  • Prayers for the Dead Common
  • Table Prayer
  • Prayer Changing God`s Mind
  • God Sends Punishment
  • Praying with Mormons
  • Praying Out Loud
  • To Whom Should We Pray
  • ''Centering Prayer''
  • Contemplative Prayer

ELCA prayer resources including:

Digging deeper in prayer
Prayer: 101
Prayer: Centering
Prayer: Councils and Committees 2006, 2005, 2004
Prayer: Fasting
Prayer: Luther's Way of Praying
Prayer: Jumpstart your Prayer Life
Prayer: Simple Ways to Pray
Prayer: Spiritual Direction
Introducing Prayer Ministry
Advancing Prayer Ministry
Transforming Congregational Life Through Prayer Ministry
Assessing Your Prayer Ministry
A Congregation’s Call to Prayer
Rally Day
Making a Prayer Banner
Lord's Prayer Series
Grounded in Prayer Series
A Month of Prayer Series
Bible Study on Prayer
Creating Congregational Prayer Networks
Intercessory Prayer Team Guide
Organizing a Prayer Chain
Igniter Ideas to Stimulate Prayer
Create a Prayer Stool
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Let Us Pray monthly column featured on the Lutheran Woman Today Web page
Links to Prayer Articles
Augsburg Fortress Resources
Classic Prayers
Prayers for Witnessing
Prayers in a Time of War
Prayers for Peacemaking
Prayers for Peace from Different Religious Traditions
Prayers, Poems and Quotes
Evangelism Strategy: Call the Church to Prayer
Synodical Bishop's Call to Prayer


WELS resources including
Article: Prayer is personal and powerful

Prayer Topics

Books and other prayer resources for sale

Power Surge Small Group Bible Study covers

  • Week 1 “Pray Daily,” Daily Prayer is both a discipline and a gift
  • Week 2 “Teach us to Pray,” the Lord’s Prayer
  • Week 3 “Search, and Keep on Searching,” Persistent Prayer
  • Week 4 “Pray Without Ceasing,” Habitual Presence of God.

Lutheran Church of Australia's Everyday with Prayer and Season Prayer resources

Lutheran Book of Prayer by CPH contains personal prayers for almost every life circumstance, including:
Prayers for morning and evening
Our life of worship
Throughout the church year
For the church
For the nation and the world
For family and neighbors
For the sick, the convalescing, and the dying
Personal prayers
And more


Prayer by O Hallesby

Is your personal prayer life giving you problems? Read this book. It will clear your mind about your need for prayer and strengthen your will to do it. Beyond all that, it will simply flood your soul with goodness and love of God! Chapters include:

  1. What Prayer Is
  2. Difficulties in Prayer
  3. Prayer As Work
  4. Wrestling in Prayer, I
  5. Wrestling in Prayer, II
  6. The Misuse of Prayer
  7. The Meaning of Prayer
  8. Forms of Prayer
  9. Problems of Prayer
  10. The School of Prayer
  11. The Spirit of Prayer
  12. Study Guide


On Earth as in heaven: praying at the crossroads K Bender Braun
Discernment is decision-making that begins and ends with God, according to Braun, and following God's will is a gift from God worked through the Holy Spirit, as is faith itself. So it makes sense that the Lord's Prayer, introduced at a time of transition in Jesus' life and that of his disciples, provides a means for Christians of every age to faithfully work through challenging and confusing times in their lives.Using the petitions of the Lord's Prayeras her framework and offering insights from her own experience of praying at life' s crossroads and being privy to the prayer lives of others, the author leads readers into deeper awareness of God's will in their lives - a will that propels Christians to service.


Everyday Anytime Prayer by Walt Kallestad

Chapters include:

  1. Prayer expectations
  2. Prayer language
  3. Prayer triggers
  4. Prayer in sighs and screams
  5. Prayer in desperation
  6. Prayer on the edge of death
  7. Prayer and family
  8. Prayer for safety
  9. Prayer for hope
  10. Prayer and my job
  11. Prayer habits
  12. Prayer in the midst of failure
  13. Prayer and sufferings
  14. Prayer when making decisions
  15. Prayer and friends
  16. Prayer and stress

Too busy not to pray by Bill Hybels, Lavonne Neff and Ashley Wiersma

Chapters include:

God calls us into his presence
God's Presence, God's Power
God Is Willing
God Is Able

God invites us to talk with him
Heart-Building Habits
Praying Like Jesus
A Pattern for Prayer
Mountain-Moving Prayer

God breaks down the barriers between us
The Hurt of Unanswered Prayer
Prayer Busters

Cooling Off on Prayer

God speaks to our hearts
Slowing Down to Pray
The Importance of Listening
How to Hear God's Leadings
What to Do with Leadings
Living in God's Presence

Questions for Reflection and Discussion A Guide for Private or Group Prayer

Lutheran Layperson's League tracts relating to prayer for adults and children can be found at this link

if you have a resource relating to prayer and you believe it is worth sharing please let me know.

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