Prayer Leader OnLine interviews, George Allen, a prayer leader at the Community Church of Greenwood, Greenwood, Indiana. George shares insights into how to incorporate several ancient traditions of the praying church.

Q. George, the evangelical segment of the Church often relies on list-praying and revival-praying. Both are essential to corporate prayer but leave out many historical, even ancient traditions of the Church. How were you introduced to some of these methods?
First a little background. I graduated from Eastern University (formerly Eastern Baptist College) in St. Davids, PA., in 1967, where I matriculated with intent to become a pastor in the American Baptist Convention. Upon graduting, however, I opted for military service, as a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Marines, rather than full time Christian work. I was married and a father by then, and within a year was in the Republic of Vietnam as a combat engineer officer. Though a Christian at the time, it was during a traumatic combat experience that I survived the first stage of my personal testimony.
 
Thirty-five years, a successful career as author and consultant, same wife (PTL!), two kids, six grandchildren and one great grandchild later--along with 25 years involvement (as occasional discipler and flock leader) at the Community Church of Greenwood--I was asked, during early 2004, to head that body's dormant Prayer Planning Task Force. This was not an easy decision or action for me; I knew I could not take on such a heady (at least it was to me) responsibility unless fully confessed-repented-restored. Not that I was engaging in anything all that sinful; rather, in word and thought life, I knew there was room for improvement. Once effected, I rallied approximately 20 folk with me to plan and pray CCG toward becoming more a House of Prayer! A year later, while we've seen a fair amount of progress to that end, we believe there's remains a lot of house-building to do. But that's another story.
 

Then, a little less than a year ago, at a day-long prayer seminar in a United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, I learned of a scripture-reading, meditation-prayer contemplation technique called Lectio Divina. During my initial experience, which lasted close to 3/4 of an hour, I was able to deal--for the first time--with a hurtful personal experience dating back 35 years to my last firefight in Vietnam and how what happened then had related directly, but poorly, to a recent experience with my teenage granddaughter. I was the only male present at this mini-seminar, but by the time we finished tears were coursing down my cheeks.

OK, so what's Lectio Divina (or "Praying the Scriptures") all about? It involves selecting a scripture (e.g. the first two I learned from were Rom. 8:14-17 and Ps. 63:1-4. You prepare by quieting yourself, then slowly reading the selected passage, listening for a word or phrase that resonates personally. Next, you re-read the passage. During a moment of silence, you repeat a word/phrase reflectively. Then, re-read verses for third time. Then you consider "How has the word/phrase touched you?" During a moment of silence, you reflect on how your life has been touched. For example: "I hear . . . ," "I sense . . . ," "I see . . ." Then you re-read the verses for a fourth time. Is there an invitation to do or be? During two minutes of silence, you reflect on whether there you sense an invitation to do or be something during next few days. You try to sense inner harmony at this point. Verbalize: "How do I sense this passage invites me to . . ." Finally, breathe slowly and deeply and empty your mind. Rest in God's presence. Take the word or phrase with you to work, school, church, home, wherever. Today I practice a degree of lectio divina everyday during my daily quiet time.

Q. What has hindered many of us from utilizing these approaches to prayer?
In retrospect, thinking about why evangelical Christians generally don't avail themselves of these and other traditions or techniques (so it seems), during personal prayer time, boils down to two related reasons.
Lack of knowledge. I had never even heard of Taize' or Lectio Divina during most of my Christian walk. Related to lack of knowledge is the unwillingness to stretch or believe there's something worthwhile, like these techniques, outside one's historic tradition or comfort zone.

Q. Can you point prayer leaders to several resources which can explain more about these methods?
Taize': The Source of Taize' by Brother Roger of Taize', available, along with CDs, VCRs, etc., from GIA Publishing in Chicago (1-800 442-1358). This is also source of songbooks generally used during Taize' services. My favorite CDs are: In the Spirit of Taize' and Taize' Instrumental.
 
Lectio Divina: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina by Michael Casey. For me, by far, the best book tying together scripture-meditation-prayer-contemplation is Kenneth Boa's The Trinity, A Journal. Unfortunately, this latter title is currently out of print.

Q. George, write a prayer we can pray along with you, asking the Holy Spirit to expand our horizon of how we might more creatively devote ourselves to prayer.
While not a big fan of most prepared prayers, here's one that I recite every day during my DQT. It is called the "Prayer of the Chalice." It's often printed on card stock and laid out in a fashion to represent a chalice.

Father, to Thee I raise my whole being--a vessel emptied of self. Accept, Lord this my emptiness, and so fill me with Thyself--They Light, Thy Love, Thy Life--that these Thy precious Gifts may radiate through me and overflow the chalice of my heart into the hearts of all with whom I come in contact this day, revealing unto them the beauty of Thy Joy and Wholeness and the serenity of Thy Peace which nothing can destroy." unknown

One last thought. Any CPLN member who cares to do so, may call me at (317) 888-7156 to request a "Prayer of the Chalice" card, along with two wallet-sized cards: one detailing the Lectio Divina process, the other, identifying various stages of intercessory prayer, along with the P.R.A.Y.E.R. acronym = Prayer Really Affects Your Everyday (& Eternal) Relationship with God & Others!