Helen: "I believe and have found that praying can so often just be by rote.
That's why I think small group prayer meetings are so much more effective than prayer chains. Prayer chains with a long list of needs tend to lead to a laundry list mentality in which the main concern is to routinely cover all the bases.
Helen: "That is why I actually hate prayer meetings. ( wow, did I just say that out loud)"
Yikes! I wonder if you'd hate our weekly Monday prayer group of 5 people! We often experience miraculous answers to prayer.
For example, in the past couple of months, we prayed for the healing of 2 malignant brain tumors. (1) Shane was a troubled agnostic (age 30) with many other problems. After we prayed for his tumor, subsequent tests showed that it had vanished. His healing convinced him that Christ was real and I saw him come forward in church to commit his life to Christ. He posted before and after pictures of his tumor on Facebook. He was recently baptized and shared his testimony in church.
(2) Rhonda was an older woman who served as her husband's care giver. The healing of her brain tumor allowed her to resume that role for her husband.
Our prayer meeting usually lasts from 4 to 6:30 PM. We begin by informally sharing our lives, burdens, and spiritual insights. Then we take turns mentioning prayer needs and give updates on those we've been praying for. Updates are a way to make our prayers more visceral. Then I typically lead us in a silent 2-phase Quaker meditation.
(1) In the first phase, we extend our arms with hands palms up and for a couple of minutes we slowly move them upwards in semi-circular fashion until they are palms down on our knees. As we do this, we meditate on the thought that by faith we are turning the people in need of prayer over to God's loving care to bless them in the way He deems best. This is our way of honoring the petition "Thy will be done" in the Lord's Prayer. That way when we later make specific petitions, we make it clear that we really want God's will to be done rather than just get what we're asking for.
(2) In the 2nd phase, we place our hands palms up on our knees in a gesture of receptive expectation. We then meditate on the thought that we are now receiving all the grace, power, guidance, and wisdom we need to be the instruments of blessing for those we have just turned over to God's tender care. We do this from an awareness that we need to be fit vessels to channel God's blessing and healing power to others.
Then we generally take turns petitioning God to answer our petitions. I urge the others to avoid the temptation to mention all the needy people by name to avoid the laundry list mentality. Instead, I urge them to pray spontaneously as they feel led without a preconceived agenda. After all, Paul urges us to be "led by the Spirit."
Helen: "I did once stand up in a "prayer" meeting and say to them all: "Well I am totally bored, and I am sure the Lord is totally bored , and I believe the Holy Spirit left ages ago, so I also am going." And I did ."
That's why God says: "I cannot endure your solemn assemblies with iniquity...I am wearied [bored] by them...Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen (Isaiah 1:13-15)."
Helen: "Some seem to think that just opening our mouth and speaking, is prayer that will somehow get an answer.
God already known that my aunts cousin, twice removed, has a bunion on her toe … "."
That's why Jesus said: "They think they will be heard because of their many words. Don't be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8)." A good prayer motto is: the words are the least important aspect of effective prayer.
