Prayer
Finding the Heart’s True Home
by Richard Foster

Part 3— Moving Outward
Chapter 15—Praying the Ordinary

“ Do not forget that the value and interest of life is not so much to do conspicuous things…as to do ordinary things  with the perception of their enormous value.”
Teilhard of Chardin

OPENING PRAYER

1.       Transformation and intimacy both cry out for ministry.
         The world writhes under the pain of arrogance and self-sufficiency.
         Spiritual bankruptcy.
         Reservoirs vs. canals.
2.       The Heresy of a 5% spirituality is overcome by praying the ordinary.
         Living and dying an ordinary life—Richard Foster’s mother
         The holiness of created things
         Jesus was born in lowly circumstances to sanctify the commonplace
         He wove all things together
         Have “an unspeakable reverence for the holiness of created things.” (Thomas                            Merton)
3.       Prayer in Action
         Quakers, Shakers, vows of chastity and poverty
         Mother Teresa did many small, ordinary things with such love that they became a great thing.
         Prayer is not an additional “duty” to do in our own strength, but our life becomes prayer as we do all thing unto Him.
         “Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and sanctify the work of our                          hands.”  Psalm 90:17
         Sculptors in the Middle Ages carved the backside of a piece of art, knowing that only God would see it.
         St. Therese of Lisieux practiced her “little way”, Brother Lawrence made his kitchen work a prayer.
4.       Prayer only makes sense as it is lived out daily.
         Who do you see around you whose life is prayer in action?
         Think about times and activities in your life that are prayer.  What are they?  Why do you see them as prayer?

5.       Work is part of our original design
         It preceded the Fall—Adam named the animals and tended the garden.
         God’s grace often allows the results of our small tasks to outweigh the effort they took.
         Work is a reflection of the nature of God who created the universe.
6.       Prayer of Action
         Every action performed in the sight of God, according to His will, and in the manner that He wills is better than any spoken prayer.  What are some examples you can think of?
         Waiting—becomes part of praying the ordinary.  To wait patiently is to trust God.
         Praying as you go through the day—the person you see in the hall, the accident                        beside the road, planting a garden, doing the dishes, as you put something in                      the oven, as you begin a project…..
7.       Holiness is Homemade
         Prayers in the context of family—the home is the “forming center” where children learn about God through structure and example.
         Creating a retreat space in the home—a sanctuary
         Blessing children and loved ones during the day, before bed
         Prayers of release—letting go, respecting boundaries.
8.       Common Ventures of Life
         Birth, marriage, work, death.
         In Jesus’ common birth, the the common and the sacred were united.
         All work and all places are sacred, because God is everywhere

“May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever He may send you,
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you,
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.”   
--Blessing from the Celtic Daily Prayer


        
Closing Prayer
Almighty, most holy, most high God, thank you for paying attention to small things.  Thank you for valuing the insignificant.  Thank you for being interested in the lilies of the field and the birds of the air.  Thank you for caring about me.  In Jesus’ name.    –Amen.

You can share our lessons with others who can’t be here in person by referring them to
http://christian-transformationblog.blogspot.com 









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