This article describes one of many techniques developed by Adventures in Spiritual Living to encourage and support spiritual experience. It can be used by individuals or enjoyed as a group activity.
“Prayers and Thankfuls” is a group activity, but it can easily be used as a pattern for individual time with God. It starts with a round of prayer requests. A round of thanksgiving is next. Silent worship is the culmination.
Prayers First
Each person takes a turn telling the others the things he would like prayers about. The group listens intently. Questions to promote clarity may be asked. Participants do not usually speak directly to God as they share their prayer requests, but the entire group is inwardly offering those requests to God in prayer.
As each member shares his prayer requests, there is often participation by other members. They may add to his prayers. There is frequently lengthy discussion about matters which are brought up for prayer. The purpose of the discussion is to explore ways to live more effectively according to our beliefs. We focus on how to apply spiritual principles and techniques, and how to receive spiritual aid in handling life’s challenges.
Such discussions often center around relationships at work. Fresh perspectives are almost always attained and new directions may become clear. Members often find solutions for their problems. We pray for people in our lives, for our country, and for the planet. In addition to praying for help in finding solutions to problems, we pray for uplifting things for us all, such as insights, joy, understanding, courage and fun.
Thankfuls Next
After the round of prayers is completed, we do a round of thankfuls. Each person in turn tells the group what he is thankful for while the group joins in appreciating the benefit being recalled. The participants look for the good things in their lives and share both what is good and their gratitude.
We are thankful for the small things that make us laugh or smile, such as the affection of our pets, the singing of birds, or the beauty of a sunrise on the way to work. We are also thankful for such things as growth, happiness, joy, insight, wisdom, guidance, feeling God’s presence, friendship, family, and prayers answered.
It is important to tell the group when a previous prayer has been answered – especially a prayer that the group has participated in. Recognition of answers to prayer is faith building for everyone in the group. It makes those faith steps that we each must take a little easier.
Quiet Appreciation
After the round of thankfuls is completed, we have a time of silent worship. The atmosphere usually is so elevated from our thanksgiving that worship follows naturally. One person volunteers to say when the time is up, usually about five minutes. This way everyone is comfortable in knowing when the worship period is over and conversation can begin.
Each person adopts their own way to worship—appreciating the good and noble nature of God, imagining snuggling up to God like with a loving parent, and soaking in the love and radiance of God are some examples.
Reflections on the Process
When each person is allowed all the time they need for their prayers and thankfuls, the activity is lengthy. A group of six people may need an hour and a half for the full process. This suggests that the group should probably remain under six people or have time limited for each person’s prayers and thankfuls.
A small group also allows for more intimacy and gives members the opportunity to become friends quickly. Friendship carries with it a commitment of loyalty, fairness, tolerance and love. Being a friend involves a commitment not to harm, hurt, belittle, mock, ignore, or talk over. Friendship creates the secure atmosphere which is essential to make “Prayers and Thankfuls” a safe place in which people can reveal themselves and take selfdisclosure risks they might not ordinarily take. The basic attitude needs to be one of love, trust and tolerance.
Pray for spiritually uplifting things as well as for the solution to material problems. Choose spiritual goals — insights, joy, understanding, courage –and pray for these for everyone. Being a positive person is not an innate and unchangeable characteristic. It is a choice. Choose to look at life in a positive way. Recognize that we make progress by the choices we make.
In spite of the casualness of the group, participants in “Prayers and Thankfuls” feel like a sacred atmosphere. Something very special occurs when people open up, share spiritually, and try to help each other by sharing what life has taught them. Each person’s values are reinforced, their motives uplifted, their determination strengthened. Participants feel very fortunate to be involved in the group. They are inspired, invigorated and enthused.
Conclusions
“Prayers and Thankfuls” offers a format in which you can share your spiritual life. It seems to be a comfortable form of group prayer and worship for most people who try it. It allows participants to share their religious experience so that all present can benefit from individual insights and experiences. It exposes each member to a much broader spiritual life than would otherwise be probable.
As a group shares “Prayers and Thankfuls” over several occasions, their bond grows very strong. The group becomes a close and loving family of friends, giving spiritual support and encouragement to each member. We human beings yearn for friends with whom we feel safe and loved, friends with whom we can be spiritually trusting. Participating in “Prayers and Thankfuls” provides us with the friends we want. Participating in “Prayers and Thankfuls” focuses our attention on the power of prayer, for we rejoice together as we recognize that prayers are answered.
