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6 Reasons to Pray with Your Eyes Open

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

Fold your hands, close your eyes and say your prayers. That’s how it’s done, right? After all, maybe you’ve been in the same kind of worship services I have, when the altar call begins and the preacher intones, “Now, with every head bowed and eye closed…” 

But there are a thousand ways to pray and praying with closed eyes is one of them. Ignatius of Loyola (in his Spiritual Exercises) and Teresa of Avila (in The Interior Castle) suggested that when praying with eyes closed, “the senses and exterior surroundings… lose their hold,” and the soul achieves a greater focus on the presence of God and the prayer being offered. 

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Interestingly, though, the Bible doesn’t mention praying with eyes closed. In private, yes. Standing, bowing and kneeling, yes. But no requirement that we close our eyes. In fact, there are times when it may be best to pray with eyes open—wide open, even. Here are a few:

1.  When pacing or prayer walking (obviously). At such times, keeping your eyes open can prevent bodily injury. 

2.  When offering praise, especially when it’s related to Creation. An inspiring vista or soaring eagle may elicit prayers that are richer with eyes open.

3.  When blessing someone. Among my favorite pastoral prayers have been offered while looking in the eyes of a baptismal candidate or a child being dedicated.

4.  When praying for strangers and passersby. In his classic book on prayer, Prayer: The Mightiest Force in the World, Frank Laubach described praying anonymously for strangers on a train and often seeing the person look around as if the prayer had been felt. And maybe it had. 

5.  When witnessing suffering or injustice. As tempting as it is to turn away from difficult sights, it is sometimes best to be a witness as we pray.

6.  Anytime. Just as there is no moment when prayer is inappropriate, there is no situation that requires praying with eyes closed—and many times when keeping our eyes wide open can make our prayers more pointed and powerful.

6 Psalms to Start Your Day with Good News

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

Every morning, as I eat my oatmeal, I read three psalms. Some are longer, some are shorter, but they all satisfy and speak to some part of my day. I make a point of not reading the news till later. Just a glance at the headlines at most. It can wait. Start off with the good news.

1)  Take delight in the Lord, and he shall give you your heart’s desire. (Psalm 37:4)
Still think of God as that gloomy bearded figure in the sky? Think again. As this psalm reminds me, we are to “take delight” in the Lord. Like savoring the blueberries in my oatmeal. They’re good for the heart. As is our delight in God.

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2)  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:11) 
Some days I feel weary and down. Filled up with worries for the future. A verse like this reminds me of where to put my hope and trust. How to renew my spirit.

3)  For God alone my soul in silence waits; truly, my hope is in him. (Psalm 62:6) 
As anyone who has read me knows, I believe in the power of silence. Before I even pray the psalms I sit on our lumpy sofa, close my eyes and get silent. As the title of my book Even Silence Is Praise rightly puts it, waiting in silence is a way to praise. Paying attention to the noisy mind is to be able to let go of the noisy mind and put hope in the right place.

4)  Remember, Lord, how short life is, how frail you have made all flesh. (Psalm 89:47) 
I don’t think of myself as all that old, and yet, heck, I’m old enough for Medicare and Social Security—God bless them—which means I’m heading towards the last decades of life. This Psalm reminds me not to ignore the internal or external aches that can come with age. Knowing how short life is reminds us to honor the preciousness of each day.

5)  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness endures from age to age. (Psalm 100:4)
This psalm I remember memorizing back in third grade Sunday school. Mercy. What a great word. How rare it appears in our everyday life. And faithfulness. Those virtues of God are the long-lasting ones. The things to hold onto in the busyness of our days.

6)  I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord… (Psalm 12:1-2) 
Look up. Look to nature. Look to the view outside your window. Go for a walk. See the glorious sky, the clouds coming and going. Observe the power of a tree rising up, reaching for the heavens. I can look out my window and see the Hudson River and the cliffs of New Jersey. Like lifting my eyes to the hills. We each have these views we can see. Take them and use them as opportunities to praise the Lord.

6 Biblical Qualities of God to Use in Your Prayers

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

Stuck a bit in your prayer routine? Need to expand your view of God? Yearning to grow in your faith? Try this: think about the different merciful qualities of God and then use them in your prayer. Take just one, say it a few times to yourself. Then try another. And another.

Obviously, the qualities of God are many. Sometimes I find myself drawn to a certain one because it mirrors something I need in my life at that moment. Reassurance, forgiveness, understanding, support. How comforting it is to know that God is so much bigger than me.

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Here are just a few of the adjectives—with a Bible verse that helps support that quality. If the word itself is not enough. Try focusing on the verse. It’s fun as well as enlightening. 

1)  Infinite. “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” (Romans 11:33). Scratching your head about something in your faith life? Try taking just a step back and look at God with wonder.

2)  All-powerful. “Ah, Lord God! It is You who made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17). Nothing. Got that? Pray it. Live it. Nothing is too hard for God!

3)  Good. “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces” (Psalm 119:72). I often have to remind myself that the Psalms, in their original incarnation, were all sung. When you sing something, it can speak to your spirit with surprising depth. Even if you just hum, “Good.”

4)  Loving. “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1John 4:7-8). Remember that old song, “Love Makes the World Go Round?” We know it. We feel it in our lives. And that greater love that is guiding it.

5)  Unchanging. “Long ago You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You endure…” (Psalm 102:25-26). Imagine that. God is long-lasting beyond our belief. Beyond even the existence of the heavens and the earth. 

Long-time Guideposts contributor Elizabeth Sherrill often says, “The only prayer God can’t answer is, ‘Don’t let anything change.’” Our lives here on earth are constantly changing. There is one thing that doesn’t change.

6)  Wise. “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew” (Proverbs 3:19-20). I tend to assign wisdom to all sorts of brainiac scientists, researchers and scholars. I am unspeakably grateful for the ways in which they have improved our lives. Just think of the medical breakthroughs that have extended our longevity. But there is a heavenly wisdom that is beyond any of our understanding. I need that in prayer.

5 Ways to Pray While Waiting to Board Your Flight

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

With the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic behind us for now (Lord, hear our prayer), people are flying again. Many airports are returning to full schedules, long lines and crowded terminals. Passengers are waiting. Then hurrying. Then waiting. And waiting some more. 

That’s how the process works, right? It can be a frustrating and stressful experience. But it doesn’t have to be—especially if we learn to seize those moments as opportunities for prayer.

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Prayer? In an airport? While waiting in line? While hurrying to my gate?

Yes, absolutely. A relatively small shift in perspective can turn almost any airport experience into a holy moment. Here are five suggestions to try:  

1)  Surrender control.

I used to get so frustrated by complications and delays when I had to fly somewhere. I tend to be a control freak, which is tough for any air traveler because there’s almost nothing you can control at the airport—not the weather, crew shortages, mechanical problems, gate changes, lost luggage or canceled flights. Years ago, however, I made a conscious effort to surrender my agenda, schedule and comfort to God when I leave on a trip. I tell Him that I’ll look for His hand in any change or challenge that comes my way. That little prayer makes a huge difference, a reminder that I’m not in control.  

2)  Find the chapel.

Many airports have interfaith chapels—even services. Some airports have more than one chapel (Dallas-Fort Worth, for example, has five!). They can be islands of serenity in the hustle-and-bustle of flying, but they’re sometimes out of the way. It’s worth the trouble of asking directions and taking the extra time and effort to visit. I’ve often spent a few moments of quiet meditation in an airport chapel while waiting for a flight or during a layover. 

3)  Pray for your trip.

There’s so much to do when packing and preparing for a trip. I often forget to pray as I’m getting ready. So, when I find myself in line at the ticket counter or security checkpoint, I correct that oversight. I pray for safe travel, on-time departure and arrival, successful connections, smooth transfers at my destination and “God moments” along the way.

4)  Pray for strangers.

So many people. All kinds of people are pressed together in airports and airplanes. I try to consciously look up from my laptop or device occasionally to notice the people around me. I especially pray for those who are obviously stressed as well as overwhelmed parents, exhausted travelers and people who may be dealing with linguistic obstacles. When I dash into a store or restaurant, I like to pray for the cashiers and servers and always offer a generous tip and encouraging words. I’ve even offered to pray “a 10-second prayer” for someone on the spot—an offer that’s frequently accepted.

5)  Pray for your crew.

I like to get to my gate as early as possible so I don’t have to worry about missing the boarding call or the plane leaving without me. Once there, I pray for my fellow passengers, gate agents and especially for the crew, long before they arrive. I pray selfishly for pilots to be at their best and for flight attendants to be having a good day. But I also pray, more or less selflessly, for them to have a good flight, a safe arrival and a warm welcome wherever their day’s journey concludes.

Turning a flight itinerary into a prayer exercise changes attitudes and opens doors to blessings all along the route. Sure, it also helps the time to pass more quickly, but the best part is enjoying a sense of God’s presence and activity all along the way. And that makes for a good trip, wherever I’m going.

5 Ways to Pray on Social Media

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

You probably already use one or more forms of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and others. And, if your networks are anything like mine, you probably see numerous expressions of happiness or hurt, requests for prayer, and various news items of interest.

Most people browse their social media feeds several times a day, to pass the time. Others use it to keep track of their kids or other family and friends.

But social media also presents a prime opportunity–and a frequent one–to pray as well. See if any of these ideas will work for you:

1.  Don’t promise to pray. Pray!
I probably see a dozen or more requests for prayer–some quite urgent and desperate–every day. I used to respond to these like most people, with a promise to pray (a promise I would then often forget to fulfill).

But I’ve changed my ways. Now, instead of promising to pray, I take a moment or two to actually pray, by typing a response such as, “Lord, have mercy; send comfort and peace” or “Lord, hear our prayer: heal and restore.”

2.  Post a prayer.
Rather than posting or tweeting prayer requests, try posting a prayer and invite others to pray it with you. This practice goes both ways. Instead of tweeting or posting, “Please pray for my trip to Vancouver,” why not say, “God, please make this trip to Vancouver safe and successful”?

Others can then pray along, especially if you preface it or follow it up with a comment inviting others to pray with you. And keep in mind that your specificity can help others pray with greater interest and precision, too.

3.  Send a birthday prayer.
Instead of sending birthday wishes, why not send a birthday prayer? Some days I pray for a dozen people who are celebrating a birthday, simply by posting (and praying as I do), “Happy birthday! May the shadow of Christ fall on you. May the garment of Christ cover you. May the breath of Christ breathe in you.”

In cases where I know my friend or contact is of another religion or might be resistant to that prayer, I will offer something less specific, but with no less prayer behind it.

4.  Welcome a new follower with a prayer.
When you welcome a new follower or accept a new “friend,” say–or send–a short prayer for that person. It’s just as easy to acknowledge a new follower by saying, “May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness (Genesis 27:28)”as it is to say, “Thanks for adding me.”

5.  “Like,” retweet and share.
When you see a prayer online that echoes your heart’s desire (such as those on Guideposts’ “OurPrayer” app or my “31 Ways to Pray for Your Kids”, take the time to “like,” retweet, or share it–or take a screenshot and post it (or even send it as a text message). 

Social media is already helping people pray for themselves and others around the world. Who knows? It may even spark a spiritual revolution in you and among those you know and love.

Do you pray on social media? How often? Do you have any tips or tactics to share? Please do so in the comments thread below.

5 Ways to Pray Like Peter Marshall

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

To some people, the name “Peter Marshall” is associated with the long-running television show host of Hollywood Squares, but to me the name evokes preaching and prayer. That is because few people have been as influential in my prayer life as Peter Marshall, the pastor and Senate chaplain (1947-49) whose wife’s account of his life became a best-selling book (1951) and feature film (1955), A Man Called Peter. I’ve profited from collections of his sermons and prayers, and I aspire to pray like Peter Marshall, in five ways at least:

1)  Pray with Imagination
The following is a fine example of the imagination Peter Marshall expressed in his prayers, in which he used memorable word pictures to enliven his prayer:

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Lord Jesus,
we come to Thee now as little children.
Dress us again in clean pinafores;
make us tidy once more
with the tidiness of true remorse and confession.
O, wash our hearts, that they may be clean again.
Make us to know
the strengthening joys of the Spirit,
and the newness of life which only Thou can give.
Amen.

2)  Pray with Introspection
Marshall’s prayers often revealed deep and lingering introspection and humility, such as the following:

I do need thee, Lord. I need thee now. I know that I can do without many of the things that once I thought were necessities, but without thee I cannot live, and I dare not die.

I needed thee when sorrow came, when shadows were thrown across the threshold of my life, and thou didst not fail me then. I needed thee when sickness laid a clammy hand upon my family, and I cried to thee, and thou didst hear. I needed thee when perplexity brought me to a parting of the ways, and I knew not how to turn. Thou didst not fail me then, but in many ways, big and little, didst indicate the better way. And though the sun is shining around me today, I know that I need thee even in the sunshine, and shall still need thee tomorrow.

I give thee my gratitude for that constant sense of need that keeps me close to thy side. Help me to keep my hand in thine and my ears open to the wisdom of thy voice.

Speak to me, that I may hear thee giving me courage for hard times and strength for difficult places; giving me determination for challenging tasks. I ask of thee no easy way, but just thy grace that is sufficient for every need, so that no matter how hard the way, how challenging the hour, how dark the sky, I may be enabled to overcome.

In thy strength, who hast overcome the world, I make this prayer. Amen.

3)  Pray with Insight
Marshall seemed to have a heavenly kind of insight into the lives and needs of others around him, an awareness that I crave in my own prayers:

Lord Jesus, bless all who serve us,
who have dedicated their lives to the ministry of others–
all the teachers of our schools who labor so patiently with so little appreciation;
all who wait upon the public,
the clerks in the stores who have to accept criticism, complaints, bad manners,
selfishness at the hands of a thoughtless public.
Bless the mailmen,
the drivers of streetcars and buses who must listen to people who lose their tempers.

Bless every humble soul who,
in these days of stress and strain,
preaches sermons without words.
Amen.

4)  Pray with Integrity
Perhaps one quality that recommended Marshall to the position of Senate chaplain more than most others was his integrity in life, preaching and in prayer. He not only exhibited integrity, but with his prayers he called others to reflect that characteristic as well:

God, have pity upon us.
We want peace without pain
and security without sacrifice.
We want peace
but not the perils of peacemaking.
O God, may we learn what love is.
Amen.

5 Ways to Pray Like Charles Spurgeon

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was an English preacher of such long and wide influence that he came to be called “the Prince of Preachers.” He was the pastor of London’s New Park Street Chapel, which became the Metropolitan Tabernacle for 38 years, and preached to more people than anyone else of his generation. He preached nearly 3,600 sermons and published 49 books (commentaries, anecdotes, etc.) in his lifetime.

Most importantly, perhaps, he prayed. Oh, how he prayed. Many of his prayers were written and are still considered among the most beautiful and powerful prayers in the English language, perhaps revealing the secret to his success as a preacher and pastor.

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But it’s an open secret. Even the most casual exposure to Spurgeon’s prayers provides ways to pray that are worth emulating. Following are five ways to pray like Spurgeon, followed by examples from his prayer life, that any of us can emulate:   

1)  Pray the Bible

Spurgeon’s prayers are saturated with phrases from the Bible. The man not only read and studied the Bible; he lived and breathed it. Here is an example, a short passage of prayer that draws from Psalm 145, Luke, Exodus, and Ephesians: 

O Lord, Thy works praise Thee, but Thy saints bless Thee and this shall be our heaven. Yea, our heaven of heavens eternally to praise and magnify the great and ever blessed God. May many a maiden this day, may many a man break forth and say, with the virgin of old, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit doth rejoice in God my Savior.” May there be going up this day sweet incense, of praise laid by holy hands, privately upon the altar of God. May the place be filled with the smoke thereof, not perhaps to the consciousness of every one, but to the acceptance of God who shall smell a sweet savor of rest in Christ and then in the praises of His people in Him.

2)  Pray Humbly

Spurgeon always seemed to approach God on his knees, so to speak, with a consciousness of and sorrow for sin, both his own and that of others, such as that displayed in the following: 

Glorious Benefactor, we can meet Thee on good terms, for we are full of poverty, we are just as empty as we can be. We could not be more abjectly dependent than we are. Since Thou wouldest display Thy mercy, here is our sin. Since Thou wouldest show Thy strength, here is our weakness. Since Thou wouldest manifest Thy lovingkindness, here are our needs. Since Thou wouldest glorify Thy grace, here are we, such persons as can never have a shadow of a hope except through Thy grace, for we are undeserving, ill-deserving, hell-deserving, and if Thou do not magnify Thy grace in us, we must perish forever.

3)  Pray Compassionately

Preaching and praying, as he did, in Victorian England, Spurgeon’s language is rather antiquated, but it is nonetheless always laced with deep compassion for souls, as the following shows: 

May we love God. May we love Thee, O Savior. May we love the people of God as being members of one body in connection with Thee. May we love the guilty world with that love which desires its salvation and conversion and may we love not in word only, but in deed and in truth. May we help the helpless, comfort the mourner, sympathize with the widow and fatherless, and may we be always ready to put up with wrong, to be long suffering, to be very patient, full of forgiveness, counting it a small thing that we should forgive our fellow-men since we have been forgiven of God. Lord, tune our hearts to love and then give us an inward peace, a restfulness about everything.

4)  Pray Fervently

Anyone who reads Spurgeon’s prayers is likely to be struck by the passion with which he prayed. He prayed like one who was calling down fire—and often he did! Here is a sample:   

O Savior, reveal Thyself anew, teach us a little more, help us to go a little deeper into the divine mystery. May we grip Thee and grasp Thee. May we suck out of Thee the nutriment of our spirit. May we be in Thee as a branch is in the stem and may we bear fruit from Thee. Without Thee we can do nothing.

5)  Pray Boldly

When construction began on the Metropolitan Tabernacle, which could accommodate crowds of 6,000, Spurgeon prayed boldly and publicly for the safety of the construction workers, that none would be injured, let alone killed. His prayer was answered, prompting London businessmen to plead for his prayers during their own construction projects.

You and I may not possess Spurgeon’s communication skills, but we can emulate his prayers by praying the Bible and by praying humbly, compassionately, fervently, and boldly. 

5 Ways to Pray in a Cemetery

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

Some people find cemeteries depressing. Others find them interesting, even inspiring. But did you know a cemetery can be a rewarding place to pray?

Near my Ohio home are several beautiful cemeteries, some of the loveliest in the country. One of them, Spring Grove Cemetery, encompasses more than 700 acres, most of which are so beautifully landscaped and maintained that the cemetery is frequently studied by horticulturalists and cemetery planners from around the world.

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Such a sylvan setting makes an ideal backdrop for a prayer walk or period of meditation, not only because of its beauty but also because the surroundings suggest and focus prayer in unique ways. For example:

1)  Pray for grieving friends and family.
When you see a fresh grave, take a moment to pray for the family and friends whose loved one has been so recently buried. The sight can even prompt memories of those among your friends and family whose recent departure from this life is still felt and grieved.

2)  Pray for loved ones whose lives may be ending.
Let the proximity of life’s end suggested by tombs and tombstones prompt prayer for the terminally ill and the aged who may be about to cross the bar, to use Tennyson’s image.

3)  Pray for yourself, to make the most of your remaining days.
Being among graves and tombs reminds us that our lives “are like a breath of air; [our] days are like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4, NLT). So there may be no better place to give thanks for your life and also pray for the time you have left, that it will be plentiful and productive.

4)  Pray metaphorically.
Ezekiel 37 records the prophet’s vision in a cemetery of sorts—a valley of dry bones. There, God used that sight to deliver the message, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live” (Ezekiel 37:12-14, NLT). Similarly, a cemetery can stimulate prayer for revival and renewal, restoration and resurrection—of a church, business, family, marriage, nation, etc.

5)  Give thanks for the promise of resurrection.
Give thanks that even in the midst of death, followers of Jesus need not “grieve like people who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Give thanks for Jesus’ promise: “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25, NLT). Give thanks for “the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory,” even as we “long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering” (Romans 8:23, NLT).

Whether you pass a cemetery on your morning jog, linger there after a committal service or intentionally go there to enjoy the scenic setting, you can, by prayer, turn an otherwise gloomy reminder of death into beautiful moments of prayer and meditation.

5 Ways to Pray a New Song to God

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

The Bible repeatedly encourages the people of God to “sing a new song”:

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts (Psalm 33:3, ESV).

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Oh sing to the Lord a new song (Psalm 96:1, ESV).

Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! (Psalm 98:1, ESV).

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! (Psalm 149:1, ESV).

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth (Isaiah 42:10, ESV).

To some, this means being open to new music in worship services, but others practice—and recommend—singing spontaneous prayers to God, in both private and public settings.

Carrie, a friend of mine who lives in Missouri, describes learning to sing new prayer songs like this: “I would begin by singing a song I was learning then would find myself singing out of an overflow in my heart. Things I didn’t plan to say—and sometimes didn’t even know—would come pouring out of my mouth. I started to understand the Bible in ways I never did before. Connections between different stories and words in Scripture began to be apparent as I sang them. I found the Word intertwining with my heart and mind like never before. Later I would open to a psalm or to another Scripture that was on my heart, pick a few chords on my guitar, and just sing it as a launch pad. I would put up my sail and see where the wind would take me. Almost always I ended up somewhere I hadn’t planned on being. It was exhilarating.”

Judy, from Ohio, says a key for her is keeping it simple. “I open my mouth and just start singing. My songs are a thankful expression from my heart. Sometimes I sing Scriptures and songs from church…. Just as a child might say, ‘I love you, Daddy, more than the whole wide world,’ I sing the thoughts the Holy Spirit gives to me. And usually I can’t find the perfect words of adoration to express my thoughts, so I sing in the Spirit and rely on Him for the language and tune.”

Rachel, a worship leader from Florida, says she grew up in a church where singing spontaneous prayer songs was encouraged, so she began at a young age and has practiced it ever since. She offers a few simple pointers for anyone who wants to try singing a new song:

1. Ask God to put a song in your heart. Pray for the grace to “sing a new song” to Him.

2. Start with a psalm or Bible prayer and put a melody to it. If you play an instrument, play and sing. A simple three or four chord progression works well.

3. As you sing it, turn it into a prayer. Use your own words. Expand on the thought. Begin to dialog with the Lord about what He’s saying through that passage.

4. Don’t be afraid of simplicity and repetition. Sometimes repeating a single word or a short phrase helps you to let go and focus and give your heart over to the song. And something changes.

5. If it feels awkward at first, stay with it. Be patient. Don’t give up. The song itself isn’t the point; the presence of the Lord is.  

5 Ways to Make Your Prayers a Conversation with God

Posted on by Bob Hostetler

I love the story of Abraham bartering with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is a dialogue between God and the patriarch. God reveals to Abraham his plans to destroy the wicked cities.

Abraham says, “What if there are fifty righteous people in the city?” God says, “I will spare it in that case.” Abraham says, “What about forty-five?” God says, “I will spare it for forty-five.” And so on, until God says, “For the sake of ten righteous people, I will spare the city” (see Genesis 18 for the whole story).

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Few people pray like that. Most people who pray recite monologues to God. Like the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable who prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get” (Luke 18:11-12, NIV). I like to imagine what God would have said in response if the Pharisee had stuck around long enough to listen.

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So how do you turn a prayer monologue into a dialogue? I suggest five ways:

1.  Listen
If your prayer time is just talk, talk, talk, you’re unlikely to hear God’s voice. But if you spend some time in silence, you might be surprised at what you hear God say.

2.  Journal
Writing your prayers transforms them. The act of writing slows you down and allows more room for reflection. You can also look back at what you have prayed in the past and see when and how God has answered.

3.  Read
One of the main ways God speaks in prayer is through reading—but not just any kind of reading. I have learned to read the Bible more slowly and thoughtfully when I pray than at other times. I have also learned that certain books—such as A. W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God and Teresa of Avila’s The Way of Perfection—foster interior conversations between God and me.

4.  Ask Questions
Few people ask God questions in prayer, maybe because they don’t intend (or know how) to wait for an answer. But asking questions—whether aloud or in writing—is one of the best ways to cultivate a conversation. You might ask things like, “Where are you leading me today?” or “What would you like to bring to my attention right now?”

5.  Wait
King David once wrote, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3, NIV). That’s a key to dialogue in prayer—waiting expectantly. Too often we lay our requests before God and then rush off to our next appointment or task. But dialogue includes waiting expectantly—giving God space to respond, listening for His voice, hoping for His answer.

Turning your prayer monologue into a dialogue isn’t as hard as you might think, but it does require a slower pace, especially in the beginning. But God not only wants to hear from you, He longs to talk to you, too.

5 Ways the Psalms Can Help Your Prayers

Posted on by Rick Hamlin

Flummoxed in your prayers? Can’t find the right words? Feeling lost in your thoughts? Looking for God’s answer? Try turning to the Psalms.

When I was a kid and we got our first Bibles, the Sunday school teacher pointed out how the Psalms were right in the middle of the book. The centerpiece, as it were, of our faith.

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All these years later I turn to them every day. For guidance, for understanding, for wisdom, for comfort. Written (and sung!) hundreds of years before Christ, the Psalms can give voice to our prayers. Here’s how:

1)  Hold a line or two in your head. Some psalms are incredibly long, some are blessedly short. My mind can wander as I read them. But inevitably a verse or two will speak to me.

The other morning it was “O Lord, I call to You…” from Psalm 28. Running short on sleep and patience, I read that opening line. Just what I wanted to say. I closed my eyes and held the verse in my heart. Letting the Psalmist’s words work through me.

2)  Anything goes in prayer. Sometimes I feel like I should only say nice things to God when I’m praying. Just praise and thanksgiving, leaving out anger and despair. Forget it! Who do I think I’m hiding from? God knows the secrets of our hearts (as the Psalmist says).

There are lines in the Psalms about anger and fear, even prayers of vengeance, wishing the worst on our enemies. “What enemies do I have?” I ask myself. And then discover that worry and depression and doubt do indeed feel like enemies. Take them, God. Take them.

3)  Put praise in your prayers. The Psalms are full of words of praise. Sometimes I think, “Geez, God, are You so insecure that You need to be praised all the time?” Then I get it: praise is not just something we do for God. We do it for us.

Praise is a chance to see the goodness at work in your life, to give credit where credit is due, to open up, to be with the Creator. As Psalm 150, says “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah!” Hallelujah!

4)  Sing a psalm. This feels so counterintuitive. We read words on a page. We think they should be said. But when the psalms were first created, they were sung. Think of how Jesus on the cross turned to the text of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Imagine those words sung!

Singing opens us up to feelings we might not otherwise be able to reach. If a line from the Psalms reminds you of a hymn or praise song, hum along. Even if you’re afraid you’re out of tune. No matter. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord,” the Psalmist says. Not a perfect sound.

5)  Get silent with a Psalm. “Be still and know that I am God…” the Psalmist says. All those words give us a chance to get very still. To discover a silence that is rich, endless and profound.