ECPA BESTSELLER • Learn how to cultivate a deeper union with God through intentional, multifaceted prayer in this practical, accessible guide from New York Times bestselling author John Mark Comer and the team at Practicing the Way. In the hurry, distraction, and noise of the modern world, few things are more difficult or more rewarding than developing a life of prayer. As an apprentice of Jesus, it is vital to set aside time to be more deeply connected with the Father. Designed to be used with four engaging video sessions freely available online, the Prayer Practice from Practicing the Way offers spiritual exercises, reflection questions, guided readings, and additional resources to help you and your community. This guide will equip you to: • Develop a daily rhythm of prayer using both liturgical and personal approaches • Engage in various forms of prayer, including gratitude, lament, and intercession • Listen to God's voice through practices like Lectio Divina • Move beyond words to experience contemplative union with God Discover how dedicating intentional time to communicate and commune with God can lead to a transformed life, deeper spiritual growth, and a renewed sense of partnership with God in the world. Part of a series of nine core practices that together build a Rule of Life for following Jesus in the modern world, each guide can be read individually or together in any order: The Sabbath Practice The Prayer Practice The Fasting Practice The Solitude Practice The Generosity Practice The Scripture Practice The Community Practice The Service Practice The Witness Practice John Mark Comer is the founding pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, a teacher and writer with Practicing the Way, and the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books, including Practicing the Way, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, and Live No Lies . Practicing the Way is a nonprofit that creates spiritual formation resources for churches and small groups learning how to become apprentices of the Way of Jesus. We believe one of the greatest needs of our time is for people to discover how to become lifelong disciples of Jesus. To that end, we help people learn how to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did through the practices and rhythms he and his earliest followers lived by. Getting Started Welcome Welcome to the Prayer Practice. You may have come on this Practice because you’re new to following Jesus and learning to pray for the very first time. Or you may be at a stage in your apprenticeship to Jesus where you desire to not just learn about God, but to experience God. Or you may just find prayer boring or tedious, but you have a growing sense there’s something you’ve yet to discover. Whatever your motivation, we’re so happy you’ve chosen to go on this four-session journey into a deeper life with God. In the hurry, distraction, and noise of the modern world, few things are more difficult, or more rewarding, than developing a life of prayer. Prayer is simply the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God in order to become like him and partner with him in the world. When you are first learning to pray, there is a bit of a progression from one stage to the next. But the spiritual journey is not a linear progression, and you never mature beyond any dimension of prayer. This means we can revisit and grow within every layer many times. As you give yourself to Jesus through this Practice, please remember: The ultimate aim is not to “pray more” or “pray better.” It’s what ancient Christians called union with God. As Julian of Norwich said long ago, “The whole reason why we pray is to be united into the vision and contemplation of him to whom we pray.” It’s to live each day more and more aware of and deeply connected to our Father; to be transformed into the likeness of his Son, Jesus; and to be filled with the fullness of his Spirit, to do what he made you to do in the world. The Nine Practices Prayer is just one of nine core Practices in the body of resources available from Practicing the Way. The Practices are spiritual disciplines centered around the life rhythms of Jesus. They are designed not to add even more to your already overbusy life, but to slow you down and create space for the Spirit of God to form you to be with Jesus, become like him, and do what he did. Ultimately, they are a way to experience the love of God. To run another Practice or learn more, turn to page 108. How to Use This Guide A few things you need to know This Practice is designed to be done in community, whether with a few friends around a table, within your small group, in a larger class format, or with your entire church. The Practice is four sessions long. We recommend meeting together every week or every other week. For those of you who want to spend more