a simple way to pray in small groups
Conversational prayer recognizes that prayer is dialogue, conversing in prayer not only with God but also with others present.
This style of prayer emphasizes the art of listening—to the Holy Spirit and to one another. Its use of short, focused prayers prevents anyone from dominating with long, lofty monologues or covering all the prayer requests in one breath. It is also more inviting to those who are shy or new to prayer and encourages them to pray out loud.
it’s easy! just remember to:
- Keep each prayer short, and focused on just one thought.
- Listen to the person praying (instead of thinking about what you’ll say next).
- Stay within topic. Connect to and build upon the prayers of one another, as in a conversation.
- Silence is okay! Rest in it. Don’t rush to fill it. Anyone can continue praying within the same topic, or transition to a new one.
also:
- If a Scripture verse comes to mind, do pray it. That’s often how the Holy Spirit edifies our prayers.
- Use everyday language and pray spontaneously, not necessarily in a circle.
- Pray loud enough so others can hear you. Keep your head up.
- No need to say “Jesus’ name, amen” after each short prayer. The leader will close the entire prayer time at the end.
for example, a conversational prayer time might sound like this:
- 1st person: “Lord, you are sovereign.”
- 2nd person: “Yes, you are in control of all things and you have authority over all things.”
- 3rd person: “Father, you are in control of our lives. You know our past, present, and future. Please help us to rest and trust in you.”
- 4th person: “Yes, God, would you help us to rest and trust in you as we…”
