How To Form A Closer Walk With God Prayer/Meditation Group

It is good to come apart awhile and give ourselves to God. Each true seeker must do this, but it is also fruitful to pray with others. Closer Walk With God Prayer Groups are called Gatherings and are based on Jesus' statement, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there are I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). A Gathering consists of at least two people who have made knowing God the central issue in their lives.

Do not let this "group" be an attempt to have your human needs fulfilled. The closer walk with God is about God, not earthly needs. Jesus issued a challenge to humankind two thousand years ago, "Seek first his kingdom ... and all these things shall be yours as well" (Matthew 6:33). When we pray the prayer of the spiritual being, we put aside our human needs and acknowledge God is what we want. When this desire is met, all things are added unto us. Jesus' statement is not only a challenge; it is a promise, and those who pray the prayer of the spiritual being know it is true!

Consider carefully who you want your prayer partner(s) to be. Gatherings take weekly commitment which stretches into years. Because of your collective dedication, your spiritual lives will deepen as you explore the kingdom of God When you know who your prayer partner(s) are, write down their name(s).

No one can dictate a Gathering's journey and what will happen as you commit yourselves to the prayer of the spiritual being, but it is helpful to have a road map when you travel. Gatherings usually follow nine steps which help the spiritual friends become increasingly aware of their spiritual nature.

Getting Started

First there must be spiritual friends who are willing to gather weekly for prayer, meditation, and waiting. A time and a place are agreed upon. Each week a leader is chosen to lead the Gathering through the nine steps and to introduce the weekly meditation theme.

At first it is good for Gatherings to utilize various meditative techniques, but please remember the heart of prayer is waiting. Usually, Gatherings become focused and are lifted up through the spoken word. We use Paul's method of thinking about that which is lovely, pure, and just. The leader guides the spiritual friends through steps 1-6. In step seven the meditative theme for the Gathering is introduced. Usually the leader will guide the spiritual friends into a relaxed state perhaps by asking the seekers to breathe deeply or become aware of their breathing. Or maybe, the leader will use first person and speak words of peace and serenity to the varioius parts of the body. Next there is a brief time of waiting (2-3 minutes). Then the meditation begins.

The Steps

Each person affirms out loud the first five steps of the Gathering. For instance, Mary may say out loud, "I release my human need to find a new job." (If there is no specific human need in Mary's life currently, she might say, "I release my human needs.") Then the next person would enter the first step and so forth until all have shared step one. Then the group moves to step two.

1. I release my human need... (express the specific human need, if there is one).

   This is an ideal beginning for a Closer Walk With God Gathering, because the purpose of prayer is to know God and what it means to be made in God's image and likeness rather than to have our human needs fulfilled. However, our needs will be met as we put God first. Gatherings are essentially spiritual friends accepting Jesus' challenge to seek first the kingdom. "But seek first his kingdom ... and all these things shall be yours as well" (Matthew 6:33)

2. I accept my human condition so I can accept my spiritual nature. Each individual speaks this statement.

   Gatherings do not ignore human needs. They assign them their proper place in our lives. Much of humanity's actions are an attempt to change the outer world. This is not our way. The first step in a transformed life or world of acceptance. Unless we accept our humanity, we will not be able to express our divinity. Therefore, we do not ignore our problems, we accept them, not as a permanent part of our lives, but as a part of the journey. The important thing is we do not try to change the outer condition. Our purpose is knowing God. We cannot serve God and change our earthly experience at the same time. God first, then the world.

3. I willingly release any part of my human self which is a barrier to God.

   There are parts of us which stand as a barrier to Spirit's work. We may or may not be conscious of them, but they are there. You see, Spirit does not force revelation and spiritual awakening upon us. There must be willingness on our part. However, the forces of the universe are always prepared to express themselves in and through us.

4. I willingly forgive others.
   Each individual speaks this statement.
   
   
5. I willingly forgive myself. I am precious to God.
   Each individual speaks this statement.
   

   The primary blockage to spiritual awareness is unforgiveness of others and ourselves.
   Following Jesus' example we call this "leaving our gift at the altar." "So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24). During a Gathering, steps four and five are an acknowledgment of this important part of spiritiual growth. There are suggestions in the forty day guide on how to "be reconciled to your brother" that can help you experience forgiveness. And, or course, there will be meditative experiences in the Gathering which will allow you to discover how precious you and your "brother" are to God.

6. I acknowledge that a consciousness of God is the answer ... that LIFE is a consciousness of God.

   Step six is taken as a group affirmation and serves to lead the Gathering into its time of meditation, prayer, and Silence. This statement is the heart of the closer walk with God. We are destined to become aware of our Creator. This is life. It is not enough to believe God is the answser. This speaks of God's potential to lift us up and help us through the valleys. Only when we awaken is the power and presence of God allowed to begin its reign of peace, love, and joy.

7. Introduction of meditative theme for the day.

   It is best if each Gathering has a leader who is responsible for introducing the weekly theme for meditation and prayer. It is not necessary for everyone to lead the sharing time, particularly for those whose humanity is shy and retiring, but it is encouraged that eventually each participant lead the Gathering on a regular, rotating basis.

   Careful attention should be given to gently lead your spiritual friends into and out of meditation, prayer, and the Silence. Music can be used as a background if this is preferred, but, also, experiment with times where there is earthly silence. The Gathering leader has the responsibility of guiding the spiritual friends to the High Meadow. Usually this is accomplished by the spoken word - using affirmation and denial in first person. These statements of truth should be those a spiritual being would speak. Examples are given in the forty day guide.

   It is recommended the meditative/prayer portion of the Gathering be about forty minutes. During this time, there should be numerous two to three minute periods of silence and near the end of the forty minutes, there should be a longer period of silence ... perhaps fifteen minutes. The brief periods of silence allow the mind to begin to wander. The words spoken after the two to three minutes serve to refocus the mind upon God. This process is repeated again and again.

   Finally, the silence becomes extended to allow Grace to come and take us from the High Meadow into the Quiet, the blessed State, or the Silence.

8. I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. Knowing God is enough.

   The leader is to gently bring the spiritual friends back to an awareness of the physical world by drawing attention to sounds, and breath, and the body. The meditation and prayer time concludes with the group declaring, "I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. Knowing God is enough."

9. As everyone becomes conscious once again of his or her surroundings, the leader stresses three things.

   (1) There is to be no discussion of what happened in our interior world during the prayer/meditation time.
   (2) We are not to grade ourselves as to how well we are doing in our prayer life. "All is well" is a phrase we like to use.
   (3) We have gathered in God's name. This is what is important. We will gather again.