Different Ways to Pray:

Corporate and individual prayer is the heart of the Christian life. Students who grow in their prayer life are growing in their faith life. Prayer is a discipline which requires practice. Here are some ways to practice prayer with youth.

Pocket Prayers:
Invite everyone to pull out of their pockets or purses a number of items. Simply ask what the various objects might represent as prayer concerns. After some discussion, ask each person to choose one of the objects and place it in front of them. Share prayer petitions represented by the objects. Encourage people to say short prayers the next time they see that object again.

Building Block Prayer:
Use a pile of blocks to begin. Pleace one block on the table proclaiming Christ as the conerstone of our faith. Invite participants to each take a block and share a petition. As their petition is shared ask them to add their block creatively building on the cornerstone. The finished structure may look like a building, tower, or path, or whatever direction the prayers and builders take.

Band-Aid Prayer:
Ouch it hurts! And sometimes life does. Pray for people we know that are hurting, ask God to give them strength in the midst of pain and healing for the wounds. Wear a Band-Aid as a reminder to pray often during the day for this friend or someone else who is hurting.

Whisper Prayers:
Cup hands together in front of ones mouth. Prayers are whispered into the cupped hands. When the prayer is finished, raise the hands upward and open them, releasing the prayer.

Laying on of Hands Prayer:
If someone is leaving the group for a time, send them off by asking each person to lay a hand on their head or shoulder and share prayers for their journey, their witness of Christ and their safe return.

Popcorn Prayer:
Many group use popcorn popping to describe praying short petitions in random. No order is planned. One person begins with the first prayer and other 'pop' in. Someone can be designated to close the prayer.

Hand Squeeze Prayer:
This is the round the circle prayer, with eyes closed, hands held and heads bowed. Someone begins with the first prayer petition. When they are done, they squeeze the hand of one person next to them. That person prays and passes on the squeeze to the other hand they are holding. This works well if everyone is assigned a topic such as praying for things they are thankful for. You may allow people who are not comfortable praying outloud to pray silently and then pass the squeeze.

Newspaper Prayers:
Simply lay out the daily news paper and let each person choose a story. Each person should share what the story is about and then pray for the family and people involved.

The Echo Prayer:
Someone says a petition and the group repeats the petition. This is a great choice for praying with little ones.

Tea Candle Prayer:
Spread a number of tea candles out on the table. Invite individuals to say a prayer petition for a person, for themselves, for the world or whatever they are thinking. Each time a petition is shared, let that person light one of the candles.

Ambulance Prayers:
Every time you see or hear an ambulance, always pray for the family and people involved.

All at the Same Time Prayer:
Each person says their own prayer softly but aloud, all at the same time. The voices will flow together. It is described as beautiful, soothing, and powerful.

Art Prayers:
For many people works of art are much more than a drawing or sculpture. For some what they create is an expression for their soul. Dance is an art from that may express a prayer. Give the group a blank piece of paper. Play soft music and invite the group to draw a picture that expresses their love for God. Share with family.

Scripture Prayers:
The bible is full of prayers. Sometimes the most appropriate thing to do is to open to a Psalm or other favorite prayer in scripture and read it as your own.

Praying for each other's petitions:
Ask the group to share concerns to pray about. When all requests are made, pray for each specific request. Each person could also pray their petitions, finighing"Lord in your mercy" with the group responding, "Hear our Prayer"

Prayer Notes:
Each person can be given an index card or piece of paper to write personal prayers. The prayers can be collected 9in a hat, baskets, etc.), and redistributed so that each person ends up with someone else's prayer petition. If they wind up with their own, it's okay. Take turns reading the written prayers out loud one at a time.

Wink Prayer:
A great way to acknowledge the presence of God through prayer in restaurants and other places where praying out loud might be challenging. Someone counts to three and everyone looks up and winks. This prayer can be used other times when we need to be reminded we are not alone.

The Lord's Prayer:
Soft to Loud Style! Begin with a whisper and build volume until you are shouting "Amen".
Petition Style! Go around the circle letting each person speak this prayer by petition. The first person will start - "Our Father who art in heaven", the net person will add, . . . (Remember, not all the youth will know this prayer.)

Dear God Prayer:
Dear God its me. Writing a letter may be one of the most intimate froms of communication. Use a drawing for a different approach to pray in this way.)

The Boom Box Prayer:
Recorded songs hold great meditative thoughts for most people. Choose a song that is meaningful and if possible have the words printed out. Play the songs, asking people to silently meditate, listening for God's voice and silently sharing prayers. People may want to share some of their thoughts at the end or express their reflections in writing.

Hand Prayer:
Hold your hand out in front of you with fingers spread apart. Each digit wil lrepresent a different topic for prayer. Say a petition for that topic as you look, touch or hold up each part of a finger. For example, THUMB - family and friends (closest to the heart), 1st finger - for instruction growth and direction etc.