Prayer Prompts
Roger Hornbeck February 13, 2024

Welcome to the Prayer Garden

The Prayer Garden is a place to still our bodies, minds, and hearts. It has four areas. You can stay in a single station or move between different stations. You can stand, sit, or walk around the garden. Feel free to linger as long as you want, sitting in silence or reflecting on the provided prayer prompts. The prayer prompts are refreshed monthly, often reflecting the sermons for the month. Other prayer prompts help develop various contemplative prayer models.

In this place, we are invited to break from the frantic pace of life and rest in the presence of our loving God, recentering our minds and hearts in God’s presence. God is eager to be with you, asking you to bring all you are now and “sit” with Him. The stations in this Prayer Garden invite us to rest, reflect, and restore by reflecting on short Bible verses.
We hope this place will help you connect with your heart and experience God’s loving presence as He lovingly listens to you.

Romans 8:26-27
The Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we do not know how to pray as we should. The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

This month, The Prayer Garden invites you to ponder the role the Bible plays in the lives of Jesus’s followers. We desire that your mediation on the nature of Scripture ignites in you a desire to spend time with God as you rest in the words of Scripture.


MURAL

Jesus Loves You

This mural invites us to consider the profound phrase “Jesus loves you.” We acknowledge that those who stop to ponder this art piece will have diverse views about Jesus. That is okay. We are delighted you are here. You are invited to ponder the mural for a few minutes. If you are interested in the Bible’s perspective, we have provided several verses claiming Jesus loves you. Pretty audacious! But what if it is true that Jesus knows and loves you regardless of your story? As you read and consider the Bible passages, imagine Jesus is with you. Tell Him what you think about the verses and notice what comes to mind.

Romans 5:8
But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.

Fear and anxiety surround us, arising from the demands of life, a chaotic world, and an unsure future. Is the promise that Jesus loves us merely a “warm blanket” or an “emotional hug,” or does the love of Jesus help us face life’s fears and anxieties? Before you enter the prayer garden, ponder the following passages:

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares about you.

1 John 4:16,18
And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us…There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment.

Don’t Rush. The key to contemplation is to slow down and pay attention, giving yourself time to notice and be aware of yourself, your surroundings, and God’s presence.

 

 

Station One: Scripture Transforms

Passage

“Oh, how I love Your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide . . . How sweet Your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commands give me understanding . . . Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path . . . Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight. I am determined to keep Your decrees to the very end.” 

Psalm 119:97-112 NLT

Reflection
 

  1. How would you describe your relationship with Scripture? When did you first begin to read it?
  2. The Psalmist says that the word of God makes their heart glad. Have you experienced that? Are there specific verses that bring you comfort or joy? Spend a few minutes meditating on those verses. Tell God how they make you feel.
  3. “I think about them all day long.”  Do you spend time thinking about the word of God? Do you have a special routine? Do you remember certain verses as you go throughout your day? Have you considered starting and ending your day with Scripture?
  4. Is there something about this selection of Scripture that you align with? Do you feel an invitation to learn more about His word, or spend more time in it?
  5. Turn all your thoughts into a prayer to the God who not only speaks but listens.

Don’t Rush. The key to contemplation is to slow down and pay attention, giving yourself time to notice and be aware of yourself, your surroundings, and God’s presence.

 

 

Station Two: Scripture Informs

Passage

“You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT

Reflection

  1. Has Scripture taught you? Has it shaped your life and your decisions?
  2. Have you felt convicted by Scripture? What did you do about it?
  3. This verse says that Scripture can be used to equip us to do the good works of God. What are the good works you are being invited to do based on your reading of Scripture? How have you seen God help you do good works?
  4. Turn all your thoughts into a prayer to the God who not only speaks but listens.

Don’t Rush. The key to contemplation is to slow down and pay attention, giving yourself time to notice and be aware of yourself, your surroundings, and God’s presence.

 

 

Station Three: Scripture Empowers

Passage

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” 

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

Reflection

  • How do you picture God? Is God close to you? Is He smiling, distant, happy, or sad?
  • What does it mean to you that God claims to love you?

Don’t Rush. The key to contemplation is to slow down and pay attention, giving yourself time to notice and be aware of yourself, your surroundings, and God’s presence.

 

 

Station Four: Scripture Reveals God

Passage

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

John 1:1-5 NLT

Reflection

  1. In passage of Scripture, Jesus is described as the Word. What does that mean to you?
  2. Before the beginning, the Word, Jesus, already existed. How would you like to respond to the Word in this moment?
  3. Jesus, the Word, gave life to everything! And He gave life and light to you. Do you remember a time when you were in darkness and the light of Jesus shone on you? What was that like? How did you turn to Jesus, the eternal Word? This is a beautiful portion of Scripture that inspires worship. How do you want to respond?
  4. Turn all your thoughts into a prayer to the God who not only speaks but listens.

Don’t Rush. The key to contemplation is to slow down and pay attention, giving yourself time to notice and be aware of yourself, your surroundings, and God’s presence.