“Prayer is at the heart of Christian faith as we seek to abide in the Living One, as the Living One abides in us (John 15.4),” writes Rev Dr Sally Douglas.
By Rev Dr Sally Douglas
At church we often say “let us pray”, we say prayers together, and over morning tea we might offer to pray for someone who is going through a difficult time.
However, in churches often we do not talk about what prayer is for, what prayer achieves or does not achieve, and what to do when we cannot pray.
This leaves people struggling with these questions alone and, at times, marinating in their shame when prayer feels empty.
Prayer – learning to authentically be with the divine – is at the heart of Christian faith as we seek to abide in the Living One, as the Living One abides in us (John 15.4).
However, in order to support people into honestly being with the divine we need opportunities to wrestle with our questions about prayer, we need to be assured that times of desolation and consolation are normal, and we need exposure to the vast array of Christian prayer practices.
I had the joy of teaching Spiritual Formation in the Christian Tradition in Semester One for ordinand candidates.
In the first class I told students that we would be exploring diverse prayer practices and that they would not like them all.
I explained that this was okay because it was not just about them.
While a prayer style may not connect, it may be exactly what someone needs in their ministry setting.
This was also okay because they will change.
A prayer style that is nourishing now may become dried up.
This is not a sign of a lack of faith, but that we are growing and need different prayer practices when we enter a new season.
Beginning with the earliest church, we travelled through time meeting different spiritual teachers.
From prayers in the Old and New Testament, to the wisdom of desert mothers and fathers, from monastic leaders to mystics, to reformers and contemporary social justice advocates, each week new understandings and practices were introduced.
Utilising an Action Reflection model, the weekly homework was to engage with a fresh practice and to evaluate this.
One Pilgrim Theological College student suggests prayer is like the brakes in a car, forcing us to stop and pause our busy life.
Students prayed with the Psalms, in silence, and with prayer words. They went prayer walking, and prayed with art and music.
Students used structured and unstructured prayers, they explored lament, intercession, gratitude practices, prayer journalling, and how we might respond when we, or others, cannot pray.
Student Jenny Soakai reflects on the connection between this teaching approach and learning in Tonga: “In Tonga we learn better when theories are combined with the practical … parents let us ‘give it a go’ and if we make mistakes then they correct us which helps me never forget.”
Fellow student Yoojin Song offers this reflection:
In a car, the most important part is not the accelerator but the brake. At a traffic light or at the destination, if the brake does not work, it will be a big problem. In the Spiritual Formation class, it became clear that prayer is like this brake. In our busy life, we keep running without stopping. Through prayer, God makes us stop and invites us into rest. In God’s rest, we can check our life, see our situation from a new perspective, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, receive new strength and wisdom. The class also introduced many kinds of prayer from different Christian cultures and traditions, showing that God’s invitation to pray can come in many ways, and that we can come into God’s presence anytime and anywhere.
Beyond saying words or wishing, prayer is the call to the real.
It was a gift to journey with students in heeding this call.
Rev Dr Sally Douglas is Senior Lecturer: New Testament at Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity
