Practicing Prayer - Hope Lake Country Church

Practicing Prayer Episode 1

October 29, 2023 • Jason Ewart

Talking to God can feel awkward, but it's how we build a relationship with our Creator. When Jesus' followers asked how to pray, he gave them a simple model to follow. We now call it the Lord's Prayer or Our Father. This prayer outlines how to start a daily prayer habit. The goal isn't to sound holy but to spend intentional time with God. Through persistent prayer, we can discover meaning, guidance, and comfort. Even when prayer seems fruitless, pushing through doubt leads to renewed faith. If God feels distant, prayer opens the door to connection. As we share our hearts honestly and listen to God's voice, prayer becomes a conversation that changes us. Making space for daily prayer strengthens us from the inside out.

Practicing Prayer Episode 2

November 5, 2023 • Jason Ewart

Pre-written prayers teach us how to talk to God, but it's important to grow into praying our own words, laying our hearts open before God to increase self-awareness and align with His heart. God invites us to bring all that's in our lives to Him

Practicing Prayer Episode 3

November 12, 2023 • Zach Thwaits

In a growing relationship with God, a person must speak and listen. This is a central theme running all the way through the Bible. If you never hear from God, you could be too distracted to listen. This message will show the ancient way to listen to God’s voice in prayer through Lectio Divina. We will learn to Read, Meditate, and Pray.

Practicing Prayer Episode 4

November 19, 2023 • Jason Ewart

Why do you sometimes struggle to do what you believe is true? Why is there incongruence between your convictions and your consistency in following your convictions? This question matters because you will never experience a sense of peace or wholeness if there is incongruence within yourself. Contemplative prayer and meditation can help. This kind of prayer can help to close the gap between your inner and outer lives. While “mindfulness” and “meditation” are popular ideas right now, Christian meditation offers a deep and rich resource. It offers an experience of the presence of God to ground in the ultimate reality of his love and purpose for you. It presses the truth of God into your heart and soul.