Prayer
Prayer is something any of us can do, at any time, in any place.
At Beacon Church we believe prayer is vital to our walk with Jesus, and to how much impact we can make on the world around us for the better.
Here are some pointers to help us grow in prayer...
Keep It Simple
God is not swayed by lots of words, long words, or loud words - he simply wants to hear our hearts.
"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites"
(Matt 6:5)
- a childlike honesty and simplicity are what God is seeking.
Continuing a Conversation
Prayer is a conversation, but not one we've ever started (as we can often think). As Tim Keller points out, prayer is continuing a conversation that God has already begun: Jesus himself is the Word (Jn 1:1), and "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (Heb 1:1-2)
Let Scripture be the seed for your prayers, reflect on God's character, talk to him about his promises.
Seeking Justice
Prayer is less about what we do, and far more about who we are - God's people, becoming more like him - and so our prayers should increasingly reflect his character and his heart for the world.
God is a God of justice ("For I the Lord love justice" Isa 61:8), and we can depend on him for intervention in this broken world. "This is not right, will you make it so!" How can your prayers grow in this way?
Do It Together
Praying with others spurs us on, it is encouraging, inspiring, and Biblical - while there is a place for private prayer (Matt 6:5-6), the church gathered regularly to pray together, and it is a powerful thing ("You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many" - 2 Cor 1:11). Find some friends, and get praying!
Our Relational Mission family of churches gather throughout the year for our ENOUGH prayer events too - join in!
