Reminders to Pray:

"Watch and Pray:" place a small colored sticker on the face of your watch to remind you to pray (at a certain time or whenever you glance at your watch).

Computer Reminders: put "Remember to Pray Today" on your computer screen saver at home or at work.

Another Techy Reminder: use some derivation of the word "pray" (praytoday) as the password for your computer at work as you log on.

A Memory Prayer Jogger: 3 x 5 prayer reminder cards. Put your most urgent prayer requests on a recipe card and put it where you will see it (bathroom mirror, refrigerator, car visor). If you make new cards at least weekly, you will continue to use this card to prompt you to pray.

Other Prayer Reminders: there are many variations of prayer reminders that you can place in your pocket. There is the ‘cross in my pocket', or a simple stone to remind us that Jesus is our rock and fortress, or a nail which reminds us of the cross, as we bring other peoples' concerns to the cross in prayer.

Praying with Children:

Alphabet Prayers: This would be fun on occasion with a group or with your children to give thanks to God by encouraging everyone to add an alphabetical thanks when it is their turn (God, we give you thanks today for aunts and uncles; my brother, clothing, dreams).

This style of praying can also be done by praying for people by name (Andy, the Benson's, Connie, the Darby's). A prayer group or church council could use it to pray for cities and the churches in the area or community. (IE. Northeastern Ohio Synod (Akron, Bethany Church; Beach City-First Church Canton-Martin Luther Church).

Acronym Prayers: (where the letters of the word each represent another word) 1) ACTS: Adoration; Confession; Thanksgiving; Supplication 2) PRAY: Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield 2) TRIP: Thanksgiving; Regrets; Intercession; and Purpose (what God desires from us?)

Hand Prayers: (trace the child's hand on a piece of paper) On the thumb write "praise and worship," (Psalm 147:1). On the pointer finger, examine your life, writing "confess our sins,"(1 John 1:8-9). Knowing the promises of God that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven, this makes us thankful. On the tallest finger write "thanking God," (Philippians 4:6; Psalm 136:1).

The weakest of our fingers reminds us of our need to pray for those who are in need. Write "needs of others" on the ring finger, (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Finally, the pinky is the least of our fingers yet the most essential for having a strong grip. Write "our needs" on the pinky finger, (1 John 3:22). Another option would be to put a nail mark in the center of the hands palm. Write "in Jesus' name." This will help children remember that we can all upon God in prayer because of Jesus death for our sins. So we pray "in Jesus' name."

Rainbow Prayers: Keeping in mind the five areas of the hand prayer taught above, another way to reinforce those five aspects of prayer is to help your child make a prayer chain. If your child is old enough to print or write, help them to write a word or phrase on a strip of colored paper (2-3 inches wide by 6 inches long).

• Write down the Bible reference used for praise and worship on a white strip of paper. 
• Because Jesus shed his blood on the cross to forgive our sins, have your child write down a list of recent sins he or she wants to confess to God on a red strip of paper. 
• Because of God's son, Jesus, there is assurance that God hears and answers prayer. To remember God's son/sun help your child write what they are thankful for on yellow strips of paper. 
• On green paper, write names of people that need their prayers, as green is a symbol of life.
• Finally, in praying for themselves, encourage them to write down their needs on blue paper, as a reminder of their baptism and that they belong to Christ who loves them.

These strips of paper can be pasted into loops forming a "prayer chain" to be kept near their bed as a reminder to pray their chain each night. New links can be easily added. As needs chain and prayers are answered, those links can be removed!

(Keep answered prayers for a year as an encouragement that God does answer prayer).

If your child cannot write yet, they can draw pictures of what they want to pray about and for whom they want to pray.

Praying with Our Bodies: (activities that help reinforce that there is more to prayer than saying "right words." Prayer can direct our energies and be enjoyable)

1) Sign of the Cross Prayer. Make the sign of the cross either of your forehead or from your forehead to your tummy to your two shoulders (Eastern Christians touch the right shoulder first, then the left. Western Christians start with the left and move to the right shoulder.

There is no right or wrong way to cross yourself). The Cross Prayer + "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," reminds us that we are claimed by God through our baptism. Another variation is to repeat Galatians 2:19-20, "I am crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live. Jesus Christ now lives in me."

2) Pray standing up. 1 Kings 8:22ff; Mark 11:25.

3) Pray on your knees. 2 Chronicles 6:13ff., Acts 9:40ff; Philippians 2:9-11.

4) Pray with your head bowed. Genesis 24:26.

5) Pray with your face and body laid out before God (prostrate). Joshua 5:14; Mt. 26:39.

Praying Out Loud:

Responsive Readings as a Model of Prayer. Read prayerfully Psalm 86:1-13. Ask a volunteer to slowly read the odd numbered verses. The family or group will read the even numbered verses as a prayer.

Echo Prayer: Pray a short prayer phrase out loud. Pause for the family or group to repeat out loud your word of thanks, or confession, or praise, or petition. This continues to reinforce that people can pray out loud.

Complete the Sentence Prayer: Ask a member of your family or of the group to volunteer to think about one of the five aspects of prayer. Start the prayer and the volunteer for each type of prayer will finishes the sentence. For example: "Lord, you are...(praise and worship); "Lord, forgive me for...(confession of sin); "Lord, thank you for...(thanking God); "Lord, please help...(praying for others needs); "Lord, I need...(pray for your needs).

Babbling Brook Prayer: (assure those in your family, small group or congregation that God is able to hear prayers, even if we all pray at the same time). The larger the group, the more this style of praying is effective. It is powerful to be praying in the midst of a rushing stream of prayers. Invite people to all risk and pray for whatever or whomever they choose. The group will determine when the prayer time is over based on the naturally diminishing prayers.

Praying the Scriptures: One of the ancient styles of prayer within Christianity is "lectio Divina" or using the Word of God for prayer. Such meditation is both ancient and of great value to gain understanding from the scriptures. It can be done while walking, cooking, sitting in a waiting room, silently or in a group like the babbling brook prayer.

Select one of your favorite verses of the Bible, memorize it or put it on a 3 x 5 card and repeat it until it begins to take root in your heart. Praying the scriptures back to God is like praying the very heart of God. This builds confidence in our prayer life and oftentimes stretches us beyond our normal thoughts and prayers. ("For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts," Isaiah 55:8-9).

Adapt the pronouns and insert the names of those for whom you are praying.

An example of prayer is: Lord, in your word it says that "unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1). Lord, unless you build the house of my life, I will labor in vain. I'm tired of laboring in vain, Lord. Help me to get out of the way! I yield my life to you. Help me to build the house of my life, Lord. This I pray in Jesus' name.

Prayers for Families and Small Groups:

Prayer Labyrinth: Another historic example of prayer is triggered from the "stations of the Cross." A prayer labyrinth is a path or maze with created sacred spaces along the way for prayer. Myriads of possibilities exist in creating a temporary or permanent prayer journey. Each corner of a room in your apartment can be created by the thematic pieces of art you employ in that space. (For example, corner 1 could have an icon or picture of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane.

Below the picture set a small stand which holds a candle or incense. Corner 2 could have a crucifix and a small vial of scented olive oil to anoint oneself and reflect on Jesus who died and whose body was anointed for our sake. Corner 3 may have a small table on which is laid some white material to remember his resurrection; a candle, because he is the light of the world, and a small dish of water, to make the sign of the cross and recall one's own baptism. Corner 4 could include an icon of the ascension, and the words of the Great Commission.

A map of the 10 x 40 window (countries falling between the 10' S. and 40' N - the primary area of non-Christian peoples) could stimulate prayers for needed mission work in select nations of the world. Prayer Labyrinths can be located in or out of doors, contained in a fellowship hall or in various rooms in the church building, and may be set up for a special time of prayer or established as a permanent sacred space.

The idea is to stimulate a sense of prayerfulness by providing both space and creative themes for reflection and prayer. (For more information on a prayer labyrinth, check out the November 1999 edition of The Lutheran magazine. Your can read about it online at www.thelutheran.org

Robert's Rule Prayer: (not its official name) A Five Staged Prayer. 
• Name it. (List the prayer requests from the family or group. Select a recorder). 
• Propose it. (Read the list and seek volunteers to pray for it). 
• Second it. (A commitment is made to pray for that request for the next week). 
• Adopt it. (The one who volunteered to pray for this request now does so in group) 
• Check it. (Check out how the situation for each prior request. Answered? Completed? Or in need of additional prayer?).

Circle Prayer: There is definite power in being connected via holding hands in a circle. This prayer can begin and end with the same person. After opening in prayer, the leader lightly squeezes the hand of the person next to them indicating that he/she is finished praying. That person can choose to pray or else lightly squeeze the hand their neighbor. This continues until everyone has had an opportunity to pray, at which time the leader will end the prayer time.

Popcorn Prayer: This metaphor for prayer is that of the random popping of popcorn. Anyone is encouraged to jump in with a brief prayer of thanksgiving or request. Again, a leader can open this time of prayer and after a healthy silence, close the prayer time. A word or phrase is all that is encouraged to keep this prayer style moving. It is a good introduction to group prayer. A theme of what people are thankful for could be used throughout this prayer.

Prayer Partners: Team up in two's or threes and briefly share for what or whom you desire prayer. This can be a good exercise for a church council or committee meeting at its outset. Each person is encouraged to share one or two requests and then pray for each other. Some councils will keep their partnerships for the whole year. It is wise for males to pray with males and females with females. This prevents problems in getting together weekly (face to face, or on the phone, or via email). Once people have experienced this level of support, most value it.

Prayer Ideas for Teenagers:

Prayer Map: As our postmodern teens have been raised in the virtual world of the internet and video games, many of them are visual and tactile learners. It is wise to play off that reality and download maps and information about life for teenagers around this ever shrinking world. Jesus modeled for us that there is value and power in using your hands to make physical contact by touch while praying for them.

Read about the needs of people from a particular congregation or country. Encourage touching the map while you look at the country and pray. This prayer idea has many positives as it increases our global awareness, sensitivity to others, and reinforces the power of prayer. Global information can be found at www.elca.org/dgm/link.html