Ideas for "Prayer"

[janowen66]

Hey
I would love to see if you could give me some fresh ideas for music, etc that I might could use for a series on prayer. I feel like I've just done it all before and am particularly looking for fresh songs to support these ideas:

1)Praying When you feel disconnected from God
2)What makes us more attentive to hearing God's voice in prayer
3) Praying Together.

Thanks for the help!

[twc_admin]

Jan,

Great topic. I'm about to spend 2 hours in a prayer/worship session this afternoon with some folks from "IHOP".

Specific song titles that come to mind are all older songs, but classics. One is called "Make Us A House of Prayer" - it was never a "big song", but one of my favorites for prayer. There was an old Integrity album too with a song called "As We Pray" .. I believe it was by Bob Fitts, maybe. I loved that song because it just said "oh God, oh God ... oh God, as we pray". So many times when I start to pray, all I can really find myself saying is ... "oh God".

Another idea - if you have a skilled musician ... encourage some soft, sensitive instrumental interludes during prayer ... it can really be powerful!

[Alison]

Feeling disconnected - Barlow Girls song...I think it's called 'Never Alone'?

I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel you by my side
But I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here
And I'm never alone


If you don't think you have the band to pull it off, download the music video and use that. :)

There's also Avalon's 'Pray' (http://www.lyrics007.com/Avalon%20Lyrics/Pray%20Lyrics.html)...not a big fan of Avalon, but it works for a lot of churches...a littled dated for the church I'm in.

Only Hope (http://www.lyrics007.com/Mandy%20Moore%20Lyrics/(Pray)%20Only%20Hope%20-%20From%20A%20Walk%20To%20Remember%20Lyrics.html) - there's the Mandy Moore version and the Switchfoot version. If you're church is into dance, and has a young dancer that is good enough to 'stand alone', this could be very powerful. I'm not much into 'liturgical' dance, but we do have dance occasionally at our church utilizing trained highly skilled dancers and it can be very powerful, and I've seen it done at conferences (like Willow Creek conferences or the Coast Hills conference in LA sponsored by Willow way back) where they had actual professional dancers in their church that they used, and it was amazing.

What makes us more attentive?

Mercy Me - Word of God speak

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

This song would be great to use during a reflective time at the close of the pastor's message...lead right into it.

Praying together: off the top of my head, all I can think of are all the cheezy songs on this topic! lol