SLJ Vol 9 No 3 -- Ways We Pray


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Ways We Pray

One of the pioneers of the InterVarsity® movement was the late C. Stacey Woods. Several years ago, he wrote, "Both in Canada and in the United States, InterVarsity has moved forward on its knees. From the beginning great emphasis was given to the morning watch, the quiet time, personal devotions. This was and still is a part of InterVarsity's routine training and practice-namely that we would begin the day with God. . . . The Christian life is vital fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This daily personal meeting with God became an essential part of all students' training with a view to spiritual leadership on the campus" (from The Growth of a Work of God, IVP^®).

How do you and your fellowship group like to pray? There are tremendous varieties of prayer and "prayer events" possible for both individuals and groups.

Below is a short list of some of the ways we pray, followed by some brief stories. These are just a few of the many prayer styles happening among InterVarsity groups on campus. While we don't have room to go into depth, maybe you'll gain some fresh ideas! (There are links to more stories about ways we pray at the bottom of this web page.)

Daily prayer meetings (all kinds and at all times of day).
"Concerts of prayer," sometimes in partnership with other groups and churches.
Prayer for revival.
Spending a day or part of a day (usually alone) in a prayerful retreat of silence.
"Jericho walks"-students walking around the campus praying for specific dorms, buildings, professors, etc.
Praying through a specific Scripture passage such as a Psalm.
Focusing on specific modes of prayer, such as praise, confession, and thanksgiving.
Inner-healing prayer.
24-hour prayer watches (with students signing up for specific time slots).
Prayer for missions by focusing on a country at a daily prayer meeting, praying through Operation World, or focusing on missions during large-group meetings.
Praying for group members heading out on urban or global projects.
Prayer for the cleansing of meeting facilities and intercession for those attending events.
Small-group prayer in the mornings before class.
Prayers of blessing.
Writing out prayers.
Using the Book of Common Prayer and other written prayers.
Prayer for deliverance.
Ongoing prayer as a way of life ("spiritual breathing" versus event-based prayer).
Setting a watch or alarm to be reminded to pray several times per day.
Regular fasting and prayer.
Everyone praying out loud at the same time (choral prayer).
Splitting into two groups and reading Psalms antiphonally to one another (especially effective when done across a lake).
Praying with fellow students one-to-one (prayer partnerships).
Using a variety of postures and languages in prayer.
Conversational prayer, in which needs are prayed for by several people, much as conversation flows around a topic.

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Compiled as part of a project by the National Prayer Task Force.

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© 1997 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of the USA. All rights reserved.

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