The biggest danger with the prayers I place before you in this column is that they become just words that do not express your true thoughts and feelings and do not speak to the real "stuff" in your lives. Despite that real danger, the following prayers and songs are very beautiful and may express much of what you think and feel. Also, the great value of formulated prayers is that they can help you to pray when you feel you have nothing to say to God. Presently, I am writing a booklet that may be titled: Daily Prayers for the People of God. It will include morning, midday, evening prayers and a bunch of miscellaneous prayers. If you have a particular prayer that speaks to you, please pass it along to me as soon as possible (Remember, I leave this Friday for vacation.) I will consider including your prayer, but don't be offended if I don't.

Begin by taking a moment to consciously become aware of God's presence in you and surrounding you. "In Him, we live, move, and have our being", (Acts) Remember this thought about prayer: "Prayer is less a matter of what we do, or try to do, than of what God does in us if we create a space for him."

Then you might want to say the following prayer.

Before we ask God for anything, it is important to raise our voices in praise of Him who is the source of all good and who keeps us in being moment by moment. The following are some songs of praise that are sung throughout the world especially by men and women who live in monasteries and begin each day singing the praises of God. You may not be able to sing the following songs of praise, but you can recite them remembering that you are a member of a worldwide choir offering morning praise to God. You may be able to actually sing the first hymn. If so, do sing it-remembering that "he who sings once prays twice.

Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven

Another beautiful hymn of praise that you can sing or recite in the morning is:

I Sing the Mighty Power of God

Now you can continue with one or more of the following morning prayers.

Prayer to Our Guardian Angel

Whether we realize it or not, as followers of Jesus we are daily engaged in spiritual warfare. The devil is always seeking to take us down physically, emotionally, morally and spiritually, hence our need to seek the protection of "our heavenly body (and spirit) guard".

After reciting some of the above prayers or prayers that speak to you, consider spending a few minutes reflecting on some verses of scripture or a good spiritual book. If you are not sure where to begin consider reading James, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, the letters of Peter and John. For those of you who are retired, consider getting one of Richard Morgan's devotional books e.g. No Wrinkles on the Soul-A Book of Readings for Older Adults. Upper Room Books 1-800-972-0433. www.upperroom.org/bookstore. Another web site for older adult ministries reading is www.nccumc.org/OlderAdultMinistries/readinglist.htm.

Prayers of Petition and Intercession

Prayers of Petition are prayers for ones own needs e.g. physical or emotional health, spiritual transformation etc. Talk to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit about whatever is going on in your life. One big reason our prayer life may seem dull and dry is that it does not flow from the real stuff going on in our lives. Now for some samples which need to be adjusted to fit your life situation.

The above are samples. Add your own as you feel led. Remember to let your prayer of petition flow from whatever is going on in your life. Also, be honest with God. If disappointed or angry with him or others, say so. If you are feeling down, say so. If you are not particularly repentant about some sin, say so, and seek the grace of sincere repentance.

Prayers of Intercession

First of all, the, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

It is only at the end of this world that we shall realize how the destinies of persons and nations have been shaped, not so much by the external actions of powerful people and by events that seemed inevitable, but by the quiet, silent, irresistible prayer of persons the world will never know.

Prayers of Intercession are for others. Just as Mary placed before Jesus the needs of the young couple at Cana, we place before Jesus the needs of others, trusting like Mary, that he will take appropriate action and always remembering that "God's ways are not our ways" (Is 55). Our Prayers of Intercession should have a global dimension to them. The list that follows is long and is both global and local in nature. The following is a necessarily long list to remind us of the many issues our prayer should at least sometimes include. On any one day you may choose to pray all of the following prayers or just a few of them. You may simply say: "I offer this decade of the Rosary for all the intentions on this list." Always allow yourself flexibility in prayer. What is important is not how you pray, but that you do pray and that your prayer is honest and flows from the real stuff going on in your life.

Add your own special intentions.

Spend a Few Moments in Quiet

Take a few minutes to sit quietly in the presence of the Lord. If God made us with two ears and one mouth, perhaps he intended us to listen twice as much as we speak. Then you can end with this prayer or one of your own choosing.