Prayer
Prayer is at the heart of all that we do.
We love to pray on our own, in small groups and at Sunday Gathering.
Intercessory Prayer
Weekly before Sunday Gathering
Each week before Sunday Gathering we love to gather and pray.
Join us as we pray for the nations, the city of Leeds, the church, Headingley and anything else the Holy Spirit leads us to.
If you are thinking about coming along please email the office.
Prayer Room
Monthly prayer evening
Friday | 8pm
A time set aside for us to intercede prophetically for our church and city. This is an opportunity for us to develop our spiritual gifts; together learning more about how to partner with the Holy Spirit as we pray ‘may Your Kingdom come and Your will be done’.
If you’re new to Leeds Vineyard we encourage you to come along to Sunday Gathering first where you’ll receive a warm welcome, and get a feel for how we pray, before joining in with Prayer Room.
If you are thinking about coming along please email the office for more details.
ARISE
Monthly worship evening
2nd Sunday of the month | 7.45pm | Vineyard House
Arise is an evening of extended worship where we pursue spending time in the transforming presence of God. It is a precious opportunity to focus our hearts and minds fully on Him and to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.
If you’re new to Leeds Vineyard we encourage you to come along to Sunday Gathering first where you’ll receive a warm welcome, and get a feel for how we worship, before joining in with Arise.
Reach Out Global Prayer
2nd Sunday of the month
9.15 - 10am | Vineyard House
A chance to eat breakfast together and to pray for the people and projects that we as Leeds Vineyard are committed to supporting in Mexico, Asia & Ghana.
If you plan to come along please sign up by emailing Anne Button so that we can provide enough breakfast for everyone.
Prayer Practices
As we seek to live in the fullness God intends for us, we ponder the biblical truth that it is often when we lose what our culture values, that we are free to gain what is of Kingdom value (John 12:25).
The prayer practices below can help us create the space we need to connect with God and re-orient our lives around Him.
Contemplation
Contemplation is a form of prayer that aims at "looking at", "gazing at", "being aware of" God. There are many different forms of contemplative prayer, including ones we have already looked at such as the Examen or Lectio Divina. This month we will be exploring a more imaginative way of using contemplative prayer. In John’s Gospel we have an opportunity to enter specific moments in Jesus’ life in contemplative prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us. This is an exercise of the imagination, not the intellect, allowing the spirit of God to help you imaginatively enter an event in the life of Christ as presented in the Gospels.
Contemplation practice
Take a moment to quiet yourself in God’s presence. Maybe close your eyes, ask God to take the words of scripture and, by the power of His spirit, make them God’s Word to you.
Slowly read the passage a few times.
Daydream on the situation presented in the story. Then, as if you were a spectator, observe the events as they unfold. Watch, listen and stay attentive to Christ. Don’t try to analyse the story or learn lessons from it. Just be present to Jesus and open to your own reactions.
What do you notice?
What is the scene like – noisy, quiet, peaceful, full of tension and questions?
How do you think the different characters in the passage are feeling or thinking?
What do you notice about Jesus?
How do you think you would respond in that situation?
You might want to journal your thoughts or spend time in prayer thanking God for all He has shown you (he is always working – whether or not we are aware!)
A variety of contemplative exercises and teaching can be found here:
Fasting
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Fasting is about choosing to go without something that would otherwise satisfy an appetite or bring comfort. It can be different things for different people and take place in different times and for different lengths of time. Sometimes just for a day – or maybe a week or longer. Here are some of the ways people have told me that they fast. Some do various combinations. Ask the Lord to speak to you about what would be good for you to fast:
1. Go without food for a day or more;
2. Miss a meal each day;
3. Go without a particular type of food: chocolate, desserts, meat, second helpings;
4. Go without particular drinks: fizzy drinks or coffee & tea or alcohol;
5. Turn off the TV, or computer, or tablet … or smart phone;
6. No computer games for a week or a month;
7. Sleep on the floor for a week – not in your comfy bed;
8. Stop smoking;
9. Go without sex for a week or a month;
10. Leave the car at home for a week or a month;
11. Stop your fitness regime or dance classes for a fortnight;
12. Log out of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a ….. month?
13. Don't wear make up for a while
14. Leave your smartphone/laptop/tablet in a different room at bedtime
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The bible encourages us to fast but is not prescriptive about how we should do it nor indeed what it is. People fast in different ways and for different reasons. Here is one of the reasons I fast.
Zechariah 10:2 says,
The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain.Whereas Isaiah 40:1 says,
Comfort, comfort my people says your God.Despite my comfortable life I seek more comfort. All of us do.
Comfort in that chocolate muffin perched on the edge of the café shelf, comfort in a rich red glass of Shiraz nestling in our hand, comfort in the TV slump position, comfort in peeking through Facebook, comfort in being the best, comfort in credit card consumption, comfort in the wisdom of celebrities, comfort in the anonymity of computer games.
None of these things are evil in their own right. But when I go to them for comfort they become idols and diviners – offering me the pretence of comfort and counsel, but speaking deceit and lies.
And my Father is waiting with tenderness to speak true words of powerful, life-changing comfort, only I can’t hear him above the siren calls to satisfy my appetites.
So when I fast, I am looking squarely at one (or more) of these false comforters and saying, you shall not bring me comfort. And to prove it I go without for a period. It may be a meal or several meals; it may be alcohol or Twitter.And then each time my needy mind says, “
Let’s have some of that
” I remember and reply, “
Oh no you don’t”.
Each time acts as a trigger for a couple of things:
One, I remember, “God you are my comforter, I receive your comfort first”. And two, I pray for the church, “Lord bless the Vineyard”.
There are other ways too. Some which require much more discipline and commitment and indeed a struggle. Ask the Lord to show you how to fast, how to go without in such a way that turns you toward him and reminds you to pray.
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It was a disconcerting pleasure being drawn into the body-thon that was the 2012 Olympics. In fact, cynicism in the run-up was transformed into celebration during. Millions of us watched these other-worldly beings persuade their minds and bodies into extra-ordinary feats of skill, strength and endurance. And that is before we have seen what the disabled athletes can do! We, the British, have just about allowed ourselves to revel in competitive success for a few weeks – with a little more gloating than our culture usually permits.
But it is not real life; it’s the icing on the cake. And these athletes have been baking the cake for a long time. They have lived with extreme deprivation for months and years. In striving for gold they have controlled what they eat, how they spend their time, how much they sleep. They have put themselves through excruciatingly painful physical training. They have battled mind games to suppress the desire to give way and give up on the ultimate goal.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul uses this analogy to show us how to live for Jesus, “
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
(English Standard Version)
When I fast I am foregoing a pleasure in order to discipline my mind and body so that when the pain comes I can run the race, see it through. The gold of the Kingdom is tarnished when we don’t hear or see or run well – so fasting prepares us to do the Kingdom stuff and go for gold. -
I have been reading recently about the way Jesus was challenged about fasting. He started his ministry with a 40-day fast. And then the way He lived his life implied that He pursued devotional disciplines that would undoubtedly have included fasting.
But then we read in Luke 5 that He, or at least His disciples, were criticised for not fasting,
They said to him, “John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking”.
Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”
He told them this parable: “No-one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no-one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no-one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'”Old software on old computers, new software on new computers.
The Pharisees and John’s disciples were living in the past, waiting for and praying for the kingdom to come. Jesus’ disciples were living in the present and knew the king was with them.
Jesus seems to be saying that fasting has a context. It is not a tick-box exercise to do to keep you holy but a response to the current situation. It is a good thing to fast when the circumstances indicate that something is not right. It is also fine to celebrate when there is reason for it.
So, one of the reasons I fast is in order to re-connect with an awareness that some things are just not right, the kingdom of God is not yet here, not everyone knows the presence of Jesus in their lives, there is still justice to be done and kindness to be known.
That is why we fastandpray. Things just aren’t as they should be. We fast in order to remember that our lives are broken and our world is broken. And we pray in order to invite God’s presence more and more into our lives and into our world. -
Jesus said, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”. John 14:13,14.
Anything? Wow! That’s a bit heavy. But the clue is in the little phrase, “in my name”. “In my name” means learning about Him and His ways so that when I pray I am closely aligned to Him.
When they asked Jesus how to pray, he said, “Pray like this; Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:9-13).
He didn’t say, “the way to pray is to get God’s attention through self-deprivation!”
Does fasting conjure up images of hair-shirts, self-punishment, misery and deprivation? It is easy to fall into the guilt trap with fasting. Thinking of it as an antidote to impoverished spirituality. Thinking of it as a way of convincing God we are serious about prayer (if we prayer with just enough pain, He is sure to answer). Thinking of it as an antidote to guilt.
Fasting is one of the spiritual disciplines (alongside prayer, solitude, bible meditation, giving etc). James Bryan Smith says in
, “the spiritual disciplines are wisdom not righteousness. They are wise practices that train and transform our hearts … not ways to earn anything from God, but wise practices that allow God to teach, train and heal us.”
We go without something and we focus a bit more of our attention on scripture and listening to God so that He can speak to us and change us and so that our prayers become more and more, "in His name".
So when I fast I am not seeking to earn God’s favour and get answers to my prayers but I am seeking to learn His ways and thus discover how to pray. Praying not pleading. Learning not earning. -
The first temptation Jesus faced was to his appetite – understandably, he had fasted for 40 days and was, says Luke (4:2), “hungry”! I’ll bet he was.
So along comes the devil, the tricky tempter, and says, “You must be starving! Do a little miracle and make yourself a sandwich.”
That’s what the enemy does: the last thing he wants is for me to experience the sustenance that comes from knowing God loves me, so he tempts me, entices me, solicits me away from God by reminding me of my appetites.
Now appetites often look normal and natural and harmless. But sometimes I say “Yes” to an appetite which is at best unnecessary and at worst damaging. And when I succumb to that temptation I am one step closer to the appetite becoming an addiction, one step closer to drowning out the gentle invitation to know my creator God.
Jesus’ riposte to the temptation – at a time of desperate need – was the famous epigram, “Man does not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4). “Yes I am hungry and thirsty and I would love a … (fill in the blank) but that isn’t enough to keep me fully alive. I need much, much more. I need to be free of those craven appetites because they get between me and God.”
I might be able to get a fleeting high or sidestep a low or briefly quench a thirst or blunt life’s sharp corners - but that thin covering soon evaporates and needs me more exposed, wanting more.
So I fast – for an adequately demanding period I deny myself something for which I have an appetite but without which I can survive (alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, food, sex). And as I deal with an appetite over which I have some measure of control I find that the Holy Spirit partners with me in conquering appetites which would take a stronger grip on me.
If you find your life is controlled by appetite then I suggest you try fasting something which you can deal with and ask the Holy Spirit to help you conquer every appetite that stops you from freely enjoying the abundant life God has given you.
Gratitude
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5: 18
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4: 6 – 7
Why is this exhortation to be thankful so important?
Gratitude is a powerful weapon in dispelling negativity and raising our awareness of where our God – who is love - is at work in the world. Negativity can make us resentful, bitter, and it can lead us towards despair. It can become its own voice; telling who we are, and what we are worth, and what others are worth. Dallas Willard suggests that the practice of thankfulness disciplines us to see the light. It disciplines us to hear a different voice.
Gratitude is actually the antidote for many of our negative emotions and it helps us battle anger, depression and anxiety. It doesn’t mean we have to deny our suffering or pain, but it helps us see beyond these.
The Scriptures teach us that there is hope, joy and peace: practicing thankfulness helps us to see and experience this truth. It helps us to see what God is doing and where God is going; bringing us back in rhythm with God’s Spirit.
Gratitude Practices
Take time each day to express your gratitude to God for the blessings in your life. You may want to keep a gratitude journal.
Choose a bible verse that focusses on an aspect of what God has done for you that you are grateful for. Use it as the basis of a gratitude prayer and keep returning to it through the day.
Bring to mind 2 or 3 people whom you have seen today. What do you know about them that you are grateful for? When you next see them, tell them something about them that you’re grateful for.
Focus on yourself. What are you grateful for about you? Where have you seen God at work in your life for which you can say ‘Thank you God’?
Spend time in nature. What do you observe that can lead you to a prayer of wonder?
When you find yourself negative, critical or anxious, turn to prayer. Hand your burdens to the Father who loves you and ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you to thankfulness. Express your gratitude and watch expectantly to see God at work in the situation.
You may also find these gratitude meditations and articles helpful:
Silence & Solitude
Spending time in silence, or alone in solitude is a crucial part of following Jesus.
We see countless times Jesus himself sought time alone to be with His Father. As we follow Jesus and do what He does, becoming more like Him, silence and solitude are life giving tools that we can use. This may begin in your life by just spending 2 minutes sitting in silence, becoming aware of the long loving gaze of the Father, and just ‘being’ with him. Or this maybe a walk outside, inviting the Holy Spirit into that time, enjoying creation. Psalm 46:10 tells us that there is a kind of knowing that comes in silence and not in words. But first we must be still.
The Hebrew word translated "Be still" literally means "Let go of your grip.” However you choose to spend time in silence and solitude, it is a practice that can become foundational to your relationship with Jesus.
Dallas Willard commends solitude to us by explaining, ‘Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation and loneliness. You will see that the world is not on your shoulders after all. You will find yourself, and God will find you in new ways. Joy and peace will bubble up within you and arrive from things and events around you. Praise and prayer will come to you and from within you. With practice, the ‘soul anchor’ established in solitude will remain solid when you return to your ordinary life with others.’
Silence and solitude are natural companions, as Willard puts it: ‘Silence completes solitude, for without it you cannot be alone. You remain subject to the pulls and pushes of a world that exhausts you and keeps you in bondage, distracting you from God and from you own soul. Far from being a mere absence, silence allows the reality of God to stand in the midst of your life.
Practicing silence and solitude
Set apart a time and place to be with God. If necessary, let others know so that you won’t be disturbed. Try to minimise potential distractions and turn media and communication devices off.
You may want to start with just a few minutes and increase this each day as you feel able.
Allow yourself to rest in God’s presence. You don’t need to do anything or try to make anything happen. Simply be before God and be found by him.
You may find it helpful to use a grounding prayer practice to help you stay present, especially in the first few minutes, like the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”), breath prayer (as you inhale, pray a simple phrase: “Jesus, meet me here”; as you exhale, repeat another phrase: “Help me to know your love”), or meditate on a phrase from scripture (the Psalms are great for this!).
Be expectant of God speaking to you during this time. You may want to have a journal with you so you can record what he says.
Resources to explore
Books:
Invitation to Solitude and Silence – Ruth Haley Barton
The Way of the Heart – Henri Nouwen
The Great Omission in the Great Commission – Dallas Willard
This article has drawn from the websites below:
soulshepherding.org/solitude-and-silence/
curateministries.org/silence-and-solitude
Websites: