Our state officially went on lockdown, a.k.a “Stay at Home, Stay Safe,” Monday. Though I continue to write about discernment, I thought it’d be nice to pause and practice discerning prayer in an unsettling time. I’ve put together an outline for a prayer practice, you may use it as you like. With a mandate to social distance and live a more isolated lifestyle, we are all feeling disoriented as to how to use our time. So let’s use it to be intentionally still before God; treat this season as a gift. I hope the practice will guard you against growing antsy, worried, or even fearful. By offering a prayer practice my hope is that it will still our minds and focus our hearts on what truly matters. So I encourage you to put down the tv remote, print this prayer guide or use it online and find a peaceful spot to sit with God in a moment of silence, solitude, and discerning prayer.
Firstly, find a quiet spot where you can be still for a moment. Light a candle if you like, grab a pen or pencil, journal or paper, and an audio device if needed. You may want to read through this in its entirety before starting so as to familiarize yourself with the flow. As you start, I encourage you to prepare with this centering prayer by David Adam. Centering prayer is meant to calm your spirit, help you to focus your heart on the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit and prepare you for this time of stillness. As you pray this prayer, perhaps an image or word may come to mind in which you can focus. You may also breathe in and out to help your body physically calm and relax in preparation. You can repeat this prayer as often as you need.
Centering Prayer
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
I weave a silence onto my lips
I weave a silence onto my mind
I weave a silence within my heart
I close my ears to distractions
I close my eyes to attractions
I close my heart to temptations
Calm me, O Lord, as you stilled the storm
Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm
Let all tumult within me cease
Enfold me, Lord, in your peace.
Meditating on Scripture
For this part, you may use an audio device to read the verses aloud to you, or you may read to yourself. Read through the scripture one time. Find a word or phrase that stands out to you and write it down. Meditate or think over that word or phrase for a moment–what images does it conjure, what scenarios, memories, reminders? After some time with your word, image, or phrase, read the scripture again and see if God speaks more into that word, image, or phrase. Afterward, you may read the scripture one last time letting the scripture wash over you. Then I encourage you to write out what spoke to you through journaling your feelings or a prayer. You can also draw a picture, diagram a thought bubble, doodle as you pray, or sing –simply spend time letting God’s word speak to you, let it move into your heart.
A reading from Isaiah–
Now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth–everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43: 1-7
Scripture Reflection
For additional reflection, here are some points you could consider from this reading:
- What does this reflect about God’s love and care?
- What truth spoken here can encourage you today?
- Consider the word fear. What are you fearful of today, how can this reading bring peace to you in that felt fear?
- Consider yourself the subject of this reading, how are you defined?
- In light of what is happening across the globe, how can you pray this over those scattered among the nations?
Listening
This is a link to a song with the words from Isaiah 43. Listen to the song of scripture and let it speak to your heart. If you are a visual person, imagine yourself in the imagery of this scripture by visualizing the song.
Intercessory Prayer
Often when we begin prayer aligning our heart with God’s, he leads us to have compassion and vision for others. If you find God leading you to intercede, then take this time to pray over those God is putting on your heart. Let us not forget to pray for those around the globe in poverty as the implications of social distancing are far greater for them. Here is a brief article to fuel your prayer, click here. Let’s also pray for those who do not have a relationship with the God of Hope as there are many people groups around the globe who do not know the name, Jesus. Furthermore, I encourage you to remember we are not a people of fear, for God is with us.
You may close your time with God with the following prayer if you like.
Closing Prayer
Show us your mercy, O Lord; and grant us your salvation. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care; and guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon the earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Book of Common Prayer, Suffrages
May God’s peace be with you in this unexpected season. We can choose to let the circumstances in the world get the best of us and breed dissonance, fear, anxiety or we can choose to draw near to God and his promises to carry us through all circumstances. How we live our faith in this time reflects the state of our heart. Will we be found living with trust or frantic without hope? I pray this time encouraged you to find peace with God so you can rest in his eternal promises to love and care for all our needs.
If you found this prayer time helpful, please let me know.
