Need powerful inspiring idea for prayer group - pls?

[trials]

Parish prayer group starting up, I have a 15 minute slot to fill, the people coming may not all be regular at-home prayers, some will, but I know some are going as beginners in prayer, looking for guidance and inspiration. What kind of prayer can I fill that 15 minute slot with that will spiritually knock their socks off? As in that they will go away with a desire to pray more at home? It doesn’t necessarily need to be something they could do regularly themselves, as in the the Rosary, (groups tend to pray this too fast for my liking), I’m looking for something that will give them a wow experience with prayer, I want to lure them in, if you see what I mean.

I had an idea myself, I won’t go into detail, but now I’m thinking it mightn’t be good enough. Any / all ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks.

BTW, I’ve prayed for hours / weeks / months about this, just haven’t had that “bingo!” moment yet. Come Holy Spirit…

 

[Julian0404]

What about the truth? All prayer is answered.
What about simplicity? Just open your heart and talk to GOD. If you are not familiar with the prayers of the church start with the words in your heart and “talk to GOD”.
What about the personal relationship prayer brings? How do you make friends? By meeting with them, talking with them, so to is how they will form a personal relationship with GOD.

Don’t worry about their socks, or your image before them, it is not about you. You get small, so GOD can get large.

Open with a prayer to the HOLY SPIRIT asking that HE will descend and bless all who are present that they may hear and learn and be blessed by GOD in this, their search for HIM through prayer. Then stick with the truth, the simplicity and the personal relationship. And in closing tell them to read PART 4 of the CCC, which addresses prayer.

 

[LARSCOUT0311]

The funny…not ha ha funny, but more sad funny…thing is that prayer may be one of the more neglected acts by Christians. In truth, alot of people don’t know how to pray and don’t know the various types. Maybe you could do a period explaining the purpose and the how to’s. In explaining the how to’s you could cover the various types of prayer(Vocal Prayer, Meditative Prayer and Contemplative Prayer; not expiation, thanksgiving, etc. though those may be another topic).

 

[trials]

The funny…not ha ha funny, but more sad funny…thing is that prayer may be one of the more neglected acts by Christians. In truth, alot of people don’t know how to pray and don’t know the various types. Maybe you could do a period explaining the purpose and the how to’s. In explaining the how to’s you could cover the various types of prayer(Vocal Prayer, Meditative Prayer and Contemplative Prayer; not expiation, thanksgiving, etc. though those may be another topic).

Well thanks, funny you say that, I’ve already allowed time for that, it’s just I wanted to create a prayer time that within the meeting that would inspire them to pray at home. I know prayer isn’t about nice feelings or getting consolations, I know that from personal experience, but I would like however to create some positive experience of prayer for them, that they would go away thinking yes, I want to keep this up at home. Guess I’ll keep praying to the Holy Spirit.

 

[ServantJohn]

Well thanks, funny you say that, I’ve already allowed time for that, it’s just I wanted to create a prayer time that within the meeting that would inspire them to pray at home. I know prayer isn’t about nice feelings or getting consolations, I know that from personal experience, but I would like however to create some positive experience of prayer for them, that they would go away thinking yes, I want to keep this up at home. Guess I’ll keep praying to the Holy Spirit.

Stick to the basics. People don’t pray as much as they aught to because they believe their time is better spent doing something else or they feel they will get more enjoyment by doing something else and that their lack of dedication to time in prayer will be overlooked or forgiven by God. If you really want people to go home and pray, convince them that:

1. God hears our prayers and their is no other commitment that is more valuable to the Christian than spending personal time with God in prayer.
2. That neglecting personal prayer time for selfish desires is a sin. It is also a sin to neglect personal prayer time because we believe ourselves too unworthy to be heard by God. If we are repentent, then God hears us out of His own love for us and desire to be glorified by answering our prayers.
3. That all sins have serious consequences. Our personal relationship with God is the very heart of our Christian walk. If we do not have a prayer life, then it’s very difficult to argue that we have a relationship with God.

In all spiritual matters, it is God who “gives the increase.” It is your job to plant seeds and water so that God may give growth.

 

[Big_Dummy]

Lay a ten dollar bill on the table and say the first person who can completely quote the
22sd Psalm or maybe the 23rd without error and without looking it up gets the ten spot.

 

[trials]

Stick to the basics. People don’t pray as much as they aught to because they believe their time is better spent doing something else or they feel they will get more enjoyment by doing something else and that their lack of dedication to time in prayer will be overlooked or forgiven by God. If you really want people to go home and pray, convince them that:

1. God hears our prayers and their is no other commitment that is more valuable to the Christian than spending personal time with God in prayer.
2. That neglecting personal prayer time for selfish desires is a sin. It is also a sin to neglect personal prayer time because we believe ourselves too unworthy to be heard by God. If we are repentent, then God hears us out of His own love for us and desire to be glorified by answering our prayers.
3. That all sins have serious consequences. Our personal relationship with God is the very heart of our Christian walk. If we do not have a prayer life, then it’s very difficult to argue that we have a relationship with God.

In all spiritual matters, it is God who “gives the increase.” It is your job to plant seeds and water so that God may give growth.

Thank you, very good advice, especially about sowing the seeds for God to give growth. I’m just praying that the Holy Spirit will talk through me because I know I have no wisdom of my own.