taking a 24-hour prayer retreat, part six
6. retreat flow continued: listening and intercession
Worship, repentance, rest...next for me comes a time of listening, of waiting. Spiritually, waiting on God is more than resigning ourselves to the reality that we're not in control. It's a posture of attentiveness. We wait upon God because he's worthy of waiting for--whether or not he ever speaks.
In the silence, I often sense God drawing my attention toward needs and inviting me to partner with him in prayer. Please note that this is a different starting point than me laying my list before God; than me initiating the prayer direction. God knows my needs. But to be honest, there are many times when THE issue I thought was most pressing never makes it onto my intercession list or is way down the list in priority. There's something perspective-inducing in asking God to establish my prayer priorities.
Responding to his lead, I begin to pray over an area or issue. I may write things to remember in my journal or sense specific points of action to implement when I return home. Sometimes the prayer emphasis is simple and only takes a few minutes. Other times I've fasted a meal to focus in intercession.
Worship, repentance, rest...next for me comes a time of listening, of waiting. Spiritually, waiting on God is more than resigning ourselves to the reality that we're not in control. It's a posture of attentiveness. We wait upon God because he's worthy of waiting for--whether or not he ever speaks.
In the silence, I often sense God drawing my attention toward needs and inviting me to partner with him in prayer. Please note that this is a different starting point than me laying my list before God; than me initiating the prayer direction. God knows my needs. But to be honest, there are many times when THE issue I thought was most pressing never makes it onto my intercession list or is way down the list in priority. There's something perspective-inducing in asking God to establish my prayer priorities.
Responding to his lead, I begin to pray over an area or issue. I may write things to remember in my journal or sense specific points of action to implement when I return home. Sometimes the prayer emphasis is simple and only takes a few minutes. Other times I've fasted a meal to focus in intercession.
posted by alicia britt chole at
9:11 PM
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