Our ordinary views of prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer as a means for getting something for ourselves; the Bible idea of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.
In order to tap into what Oswald Chambers calls the 'Bible idea of prayer', we're setting out five prayer stations in the purple room of The Light House this Saturday. Without giving too much away... each of the stations is designed to focus your prayers and meditations on different aspects of our life journey in faith. I first came across this form of interactive meditation at the Church of Scotland's National Gathering in 2008. At that event, there was a prayer walk inside a huge marquee. There was a road marked out inside the tent and you followed the path round and stoped at various points to meditate on simple items like bread and wine, a wooden cross, an open bible. Now, up to that point I would have been a bit sceptical about using simple items to focus on but on reflection I find it increasingly useful and often find myself lighting a candle in the dark when I pray just as a reminder of Christ being the light of the world. There will be no candles on Saturday though (probably just as well after all the hastles with the fire alarm!) but I'd encourage you to come and give it a go. Remember, we've also got a room set aside for more familiar expressions of prayer where anyone can come and join in or simply come and hear the prayers being offered and quietly meditate.
P.S. Oswald Chambers 'My Utmost for His Highest' is a fantastic devotional read. There will be a copy in the quiet prayer room on Saturday open at the meditation for the 22nd January. The title for that day is 'Am I looking to God?'
SMacQ
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