From October 4, 2026 Worship Service.

Reflect

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” — Psalm 141:2

“Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of Himself. Ask and seek, and your heart will grow big enough to receive him and keep him as your own.”—Mother Teresa

“Prayers are tools, but with this clarification: Prayers are not tools for doing or getting, but for being and becoming.”—Eugene Peterson, Answering God

“Prayer is not about throwing holy words at God to see what sticks; it is, rather, entrance to a new way of seeing reality, the opening of ourselves to God’s presence, and an act that trains us in love.” —Rich Villodas, via X

Engage

• What is the most memorable or meaningful prayer experience that you have ever had?
• On a scale of 1-10 (10 = highest) how would you rate your present prayer life? What could you change to move that rating up one digit?
• What is the ratio of talking to listening in the time you spend with God in prayer?
• When facing trials, how do you usually respond: prayer, planning, panic, or something else? What could you be or do or change to double down on prayer in those moments?
• What aspects of the Lord’s Prayer come naturally to you—praise and adoration, welcoming God’s kingdom, opening yourself to God’s will, asking for daily bread, asking for and extending forgiveness, praying for protection and deliverance? Which are harder to practice?
• What might keep you from praying with boldness or persistence?

Practice

• Find 1-2 friends you can pray with regularly, either in person or via chat/video call.
• Add prayer to exercise—walk your neighborhood, workplace, or school and pray over the people and places you see.
• Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to stop and pray at certain times of the day, or schedule time using your online work calendar.
• Explore the Bible Project Video on the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer: com/videos/lords-prayer/
• Explore PrayAsYouGo.org — “A daily prayer session designed to go with you wherever you go, to help you pray whenever you find time, but particularly while traveling to and from work, study, etc. It’s not a ‘Thought for the Day,’ a sermon, or a Bible study, but rather a framework for your own prayer.”

Pray

 Gracious God, thank you for the gift of prayer. Thank you that I can talk to you at any time and in any place. When my mind feels busy, quiet my thoughts so I can listen to your voice. When I do not know what to say, help me to remember that you already know my heart. Teach me how to pray with honesty, faith, and peace. Draw me closer to you each day as I spend time in your presence. In your holy name, I pray, Amen.