Friday, Sept. 30

Welcome to the final daily prayer guide for this month of September! Today is Friday, Sept. 30.

Morning

As we conclude this month-long exercise, I hope you feel better-equipped to pray in a consistent way, using patterns that should deepen you spiritually for the rest of your life. Pray alone; pray in community; know that as you pray, you are making a real difference for yourself and the world around you.

Regarding that “pray in community” recommendation: If you find yourself isolated in such a way that community prayer seems difficult, please contact me. My email address is cwgriffiniii@gmail.com. I will do whatever I can to help you find such a community.

I’ve simply tried to offer you a beginning pattern and some time to practice it until it feels like your own. I always am curious to know what patterns of prayer people adopt for themselves over time. Let me know as interesting things happen in your prayer life.

Again, here’s our basic prayer pattern for the morning:

Praise and Thanksgiving. Again, some useful psalms to consider as part of your time of praise: 18, 19, 21, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 40, 41, 66, 106, 113, 116, 135, 136, 138, 145, 149, 150. Perhaps over several days you can simply work through the list. Once you’re done, you’ll have a good sense of how to spot and pray psalms of praise.

Confession. And remember the Good News: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

Petitions. Remember global concerns, then move to praying for your nation, and then from there for your community (including work or school), your church, your family and yourself.

Scripture. After selecting a reading, focus on a verse or verses that really seem to speak to you. Pray around those words.

Silence.

Noon

The Lord’s Prayer, and some silent time.

Night

Meditative prayer and reflection on the day. Sometimes people find this a good time to keep a few private notes in a diary or notebook.

May your days and nights be filled with the comforting joy of the Holy Spirit. Be blessed.