The final step in the dance of prayer is surrender. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. The Lord’s Prayer invites us to ask God for everything from “daily bread” to the “kingdom come,” for ourselves (petition) and for others (intercession).įorgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. It’s a soldier begging for courage, a mother alone in a hospital chapel.

Prayer means many things to many people, but at its simplest and most immediate, it means asking God for help. Linger here, rejoicing in God’s blessings before asking for more. Hallowing the Father’s name is the most important and enjoyable dimension of prayer. The Lord’s Prayer begins with an invitation to adoration: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name.” Having paused to be still at the start of a prayer time, the most natural and appropriate response to God’s presence is reverence. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. In fact, these are themselves important forms of prayer. Stillness and silence prepare your mind and prime your heart to pray from a place of greater peace, faith, and adoration. “Be still and know that I am God.” Become fully present in place and time so that your scattered senses can recenter themselves on God’s eternal presence. This is the first step: Put down your wish list and wait. Approach them like dance steps rather than hard-and-fast rules to infuse freshness into your prayers. These four aspects of prayer based on the Lord’s Prayer can provide a structure and flow for your prayer life.

Soap prayer method