Prayer in God’s mission

Lesley Hamilton-Messer explains why prayer is not just for worship.

WHEN we think of prayer, what kinds of things come to mind? Where does prayer sit within our congregation?

It is undoubtedly part of our worship and forms a vital part of our weekly services. We also pray for those in need, and praying for and with the sick and the vulnerable is a core part of pastoral care. But do we pray missionally – do we understand that prayer is a resource for the mission of the church and are we intentional about utilising it?

Praying for those in need is not just a pastoral concern. The third mark of mission is about our loving service to those in need. Our prayers of intercession are therefore mission. This is not just an activity that is confined to weekly worship. Do we pray for those we know and in our communities on a daily basis? Missional prayer understands that God’s Spirit is at work in the world. It is not us who brings God to people beyond the church. It is the church’s role to join in with what God is already doing. Do we invite people to pray and teach them how – to begin a conversation with God themselves, rather than just being the subject of our prayers?

There are many resources available to help. Some of them are:

Conversations in Prayer

Produced by the Church of Scotland, this resource helps people reflect on prayer from the starting point of their own experience. Contact PMellstrom@churchofscotland.org.uk.

ACORN

This is a discipline which supports Christians’ engagement with those outside the church through daily prayer, and learning to listen to God’s response. Contact paulharingman.mission@gmail. com or check it out ACORN Faith on Facebook.

Pray it Forward

These credit card sized cards have been widely use to bless people over the last decade. They contain a blessing on one side, and an encouragement to pass the card and the blessing onto someone else on the other. They are available from FaithAction@churchofscotland.org.uk.

Try Praying

This is an initiative which invites people who do not go to church but are open to trying a spiritual practice to give prayer a try. Find out more about the initiative and their resources for churches at www.trypraying.org.uk. You can also download their free app.

Pray for Schools

Around 98 per cent of the population go through our school systems – there is nothing in our society which more people are involved in. Praying for your local school – staff and pupils – could hardly be more important. Scripture Union’s Pray for Schools initiative aims to make sure every school is prayed for. Find out more and sign up at www.suscotland.org.uk/pray/prayfor-schools-scotland/

Prayer is both a simple way to engage in God’s mission, which anyone can do, and also a discipline which takes commitment. Let us learn to be a more prayerful church, and look forward to seeing God’s transforming Spirit at work.