I have a friend who often speaks on the topic of prayer. Whenever he shares about prayer meetings he is known for saying, "the average attendance is three old ladies and a goat... and the goat was inconsistent," (or something to that effect.) It never fails to make me smile :) Well, right now his words are a challenge. I am investing time and energy into the way the community of Revelation Church prays together and what I'm discovering is we have some things to learn/re-learn. We love to pray creatively, many have deep personal lives of devotion and we're used to praying in small groups and with friends, but we have a way to go to confidently and powerfully pray together.
As a quick aside - if you're reading this as someone who wouldn't consider themselves a follower of Jesus or attend a church this probably sounds weird. If you will indulge me for one moment and dare to believe that this universe was created by a person, a person who is inconceivably powerful, imaginative, generous and present. A person we call God. And if you can hold that possibility in mind and understand that we can know Him, more than that, He invites us to converse with Him, to walk with Him, to live with Him... and most pertinently, to bend His ear about this world, to ask His intervention in the bad and His blessing in the good... well what an invitation. As a church - we're getting a little better at taking Him up on his offer together...
Back to the topic - so with monthly prayer breakfasts to plan I am feeling the need to learn and stretch once more. The aforementioned friend recommended reading my latest book, "A Church on it's knees" by Jeremy Jennings. I was not disappointed. It was what I believe a good book about the Christian faith should be... practical and to the point. Jennings' no nonsense approach to why we must pray, and many ideas on how, sparked much thought and brainstorming in my journal. I already have several things I'll be trying over the next few months. I recommend it to anyone in a similar position. I read it in one commute from the London office - if only all book were so swift in getting their point across!