Guide to Conversational Prayer

The Guide

      God desires your fellowship, and you can participate in a new 
    dimension of communication with Him through conversational 
    prayer.  This type of prayer is designed to be used in a group.  
    It is informal prayer where the objective is to speak 
    conversationally with God from our hearts.  Don't worry about 
    impressing those who hear you.  Be less concerned with the 
    form of your prayer or with the specific words than with simply 
    communicating with God.

    Here are several guide lines:

1.  Start praying rather than sharing requests.  Much of your 
    valuable prayer time can be taken up in sharing requests rather 
    than praying.  Usually the one with the burden for someone or 
    something will be the one to initiate prayer about that person 
    or thing.

2.  Pray about one topic at a time.  It is important to pray 
    topically as much as possible.  One person may pray about a sick 
    friend, and the second person can stay on that topic by asking 
    for strength for the family while the sick one recuperates.  
    Then another may pray that the family's financial needs will 
    be met during this lengthy illness.  When there is a pause, 
    someone may change the topic.  For example, after a pause, a 
    person may pray for help in having a consistent quiet time.  
    Another may request that his quiet time be more meaningful.  
    Another may pray that he will have the time to meditate on 
    the Scripture he reads during his quiet time.

    You want to keep from skipping around from topic to topic.  You
    don't want a disjointed time, but a time when you can join in 
    meaningful prayer in which you agree together concerning the 
    requests at hand.  From your heart you want to be praying along
    with the person who is praying aloud.  He will then in turn be 
    inaudibly praying along with you as you pray.

3.  Pray briefly.  Most individuals pray about two or three 
    sentences at a time.  By each person praying briefly, you each 
    get to pray again sooner than if each person were to pray longer. 
    This keeps each one alert, awake, and involved in what is being 
    prayed.  Pray for one subject at a time.

4.  Pray spontaneously, not in sequence.  Don't pray around the 
    circle, but let each person pray for that which interests him.  
    For example, if six subjects are prayed over in the 
    conversational prayer time, you may have a vital interest in 
    only three of them.

    Praying spontaneously does not mean praying thoughtlessly.  
    While another is praying on the subject at hand, you have 
    time for the Holy Spirit to confirm in you own heart what 
    you would like to pray.

Conversational Prayer Guidelines:
                      *  Don't share - pray.
                      *  One topic at a time.
                      *  Be brief.
                      *  Be spontaneous.

    As a group begins conversational prayer there may need to be a
    few moments of silence while people quiet their hearts and 
    collect their thoughts.	

    The group leader of any group will usually need to provide some 
    direction on which the prayer time will be focused.  Normally 
    the focus of prayer should start with God and move toward 
    request.  This is usually best done by beginning with a period 
    of praise and thanksgiving.  The leader may suggest other areas 
    in which the prayer should continue, such as needs within the 
    group, and then later needs outside the group.

    These areas of focus can vary significantly, the point is simply
    that people usually need direction regarding the parameters of
    the subjects for which the group is praying,  It is more 
    important to do a thorough job of praying for a few items than 
    to scatter the prayers over too wide a range.

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