I forgot to point out, the Magnificat is generally recited in a slightly different translation, but I was using NIV for consistency. Sometimes, for use in public worship, scriptures are arranged into a meter and structure that is better for speaking aloud or singing. No material changes to meaning, more like a new arrangement of a song. The Magnificat that I find in my own devotional readings (called the Daily Office) looks like this:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
For he has regarded
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from now on,
all generations will call me blessed;
For he that is mighty has magnified me,
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him,
throughout all generations.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the humble and meek.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He, remembering his mercy, has helped his servant Israel,
as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
Echoing what Tara said - so well written and babbling like pagans is just so funny. I think one of my favorite prayers ever is the Lord make me an instrument of thy peace one which of course I cannot remember if it’s St Francis’ or someone else 🤦♀️
I wrote a lil hymn last year and it is soooo cathartic to sing when i don't have the words to say much more. I hope to record it with a little guitar or uke behind it so i can share with others!
I'm so new to really trying to pray for people and things beyond just my own desires and requests. In the past I've had my little list of things I want and need help with, and that has felt like enough to juggle 😅 But the more prayer requests I've taken from people (from the Bible study, in my church community group, from my friends, and then for people who don't even know I'm praying for them...) I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ORGANIZE AND PRACTICALLY PRAY FOR SUCH A LONG LIST!
I have a list in my notebook that always ends up being longer than the page itself. Then I try to reqrite it after a few days, and it remains just as disorganized, and the list GROWS.
And then in practicality... how long am I spending on each person? This seems like such a stupid question and I am sure it is not one size fits all, but I'm genuinely curious how truly prayerful people approach this. I usually end up remembering at some point during the day: 'Oh shoot! I should pray for those people! I forgot!' And do it off the top of my head (not from the LONG list I've already made), and only the ones I remember about get a prayer, and usually it's a relatively short one, and usually I'm like "Oh God... please... be with them and... help them to lean on you" and then move on.
I know practically it should be setting aside time to go through the list, but even still, curious how people "organize" and approach a growing list of people to pray for, practically, or even in their brain.
(Is this just revealing my truly undiaganosed and untreated ADHD?)
These are really good questions! I don’t know how to answer them with any sort of brevity. I keep starting to answer and I think I need a whole post. Lol.
Can I make this an “Ask the Non-expert” Blog? I should change the name to The Fake Theologian.
But seriously I love questions like this, and I’m home sick today so I’m going to tackle it with all the detail my nerdy little heart desires.
Has anyone considered listening to God so prayer becomes a conversation? I’m not talking about reading the bible, but actually turning your spiritual ears towards him and hearing his voice.
I forgot to point out, the Magnificat is generally recited in a slightly different translation, but I was using NIV for consistency. Sometimes, for use in public worship, scriptures are arranged into a meter and structure that is better for speaking aloud or singing. No material changes to meaning, more like a new arrangement of a song. The Magnificat that I find in my own devotional readings (called the Daily Office) looks like this:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
For he has regarded
the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from now on,
all generations will call me blessed;
For he that is mighty has magnified me,
and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him,
throughout all generations.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the humble and meek.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He, remembering his mercy, has helped his servant Israel,
as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
LUKE 1:46-55
Echoing what Tara said - so well written and babbling like pagans is just so funny. I think one of my favorite prayers ever is the Lord make me an instrument of thy peace one which of course I cannot remember if it’s St Francis’ or someone else 🤦♀️
I know what you’re talking about but can’t place that one either! Thank you. 💕
This is so so helpful and beautifully written, thank you for sharing!
Thank you, it’s really my pleasure.
Love this so much, thank you for sharing!
I wrote a lil hymn last year and it is soooo cathartic to sing when i don't have the words to say much more. I hope to record it with a little guitar or uke behind it so i can share with others!
Ooh please do that!!
HOW DO I ORGANIZE PRAYERS AND PRAYER REQUESTS?!?!
I'm so new to really trying to pray for people and things beyond just my own desires and requests. In the past I've had my little list of things I want and need help with, and that has felt like enough to juggle 😅 But the more prayer requests I've taken from people (from the Bible study, in my church community group, from my friends, and then for people who don't even know I'm praying for them...) I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ORGANIZE AND PRACTICALLY PRAY FOR SUCH A LONG LIST!
I have a list in my notebook that always ends up being longer than the page itself. Then I try to reqrite it after a few days, and it remains just as disorganized, and the list GROWS.
And then in practicality... how long am I spending on each person? This seems like such a stupid question and I am sure it is not one size fits all, but I'm genuinely curious how truly prayerful people approach this. I usually end up remembering at some point during the day: 'Oh shoot! I should pray for those people! I forgot!' And do it off the top of my head (not from the LONG list I've already made), and only the ones I remember about get a prayer, and usually it's a relatively short one, and usually I'm like "Oh God... please... be with them and... help them to lean on you" and then move on.
I know practically it should be setting aside time to go through the list, but even still, curious how people "organize" and approach a growing list of people to pray for, practically, or even in their brain.
(Is this just revealing my truly undiaganosed and untreated ADHD?)
These are really good questions! I don’t know how to answer them with any sort of brevity. I keep starting to answer and I think I need a whole post. Lol.
Can I make this an “Ask the Non-expert” Blog? I should change the name to The Fake Theologian.
But seriously I love questions like this, and I’m home sick today so I’m going to tackle it with all the detail my nerdy little heart desires.
Can’t wait to see how others answer this too!
hahah! Yes!!!!
Alright, here we go. lol. https://open.substack.com/pub/thefakelibrarian/p/approaching-your-prayer-list?r=1ecdxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Has anyone considered listening to God so prayer becomes a conversation? I’m not talking about reading the bible, but actually turning your spiritual ears towards him and hearing his voice.
Definitely! That wasn’t the topic of this post but it is certainly an important and rewarding type of prayer too.