Prayers of the Saints — Learning to Pray with the Cloud of Witnesses
Key Verse:
“Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
— Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
In the modern world, prayer often feels like a solitary act. But you are never alone when you pray. You are part of a long, unbroken line of believers—saints, mystics, theologians, and ordinary Christians—who have lifted their hearts to God for centuries.
To pray with the saints is to join a chorus that spans generations. Their prayers give us language when we are speechless, and their intimacy with God offers us a template for our own.
What You’ll Learn
1. Why the Prayers of the Saints Matter Today
People like Augustine, Teresa of Ávila, Thomas Merton, and Brother Lawrence didn’t just pray — they lived prayer. Their words remain because they were birthed in deep communion, often in solitude, suffering, or devotion.
Their prayers teach us how to:
Praise God with awe
Lament with honesty
Intercede with boldness
Listen with stillness
Reading their prayers is like stepping into a deeper current of spiritual life.
2. The Power of Practicing the Presence
Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God isn’t a book on how to pray — it’s a way of living in prayer. His idea? Every action, no matter how small, can be an offering if done with awareness of God's nearness.
June Newman Davis echoed this sentiment by urging believers to walk in moment-by-moment obedience and awareness of the Holy Spirit. When we live with a sense of God’s presence, prayer becomes as natural as breathing.
3. Prayer is Formative, Not Just Functional
When we echo the prayers of the saints, we aren’t just borrowing words — we’re entering into their faith. Their words form us, stretch us, and sometimes even confront our shallow expectations of God.
These prayers don’t replace our own — they refine and inspire them.
Practice: Write With the Saints
Let’s step into sacred dialogue with God using the prayers of the past.
Step 1: Read and Reflect
Choose one of these historical prayers:
Augustine:
“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
Teresa of Ávila:
“Let nothing disturb you… God alone suffices.”
Thomas Merton:
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going… But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.”
Read it slowly. Meditate on each line. What part resonates with your current season?
Step 2: Write Your Own Prayer
Using the style or tone of the prayer you read, write your own prayer. Consider:
What am I praising God for?
What do I need to release or confess?
Where do I long to see Him move?
Step 3: Share and Pray as a Group
If you're in a group setting:
Invite participants to share their written prayers.
Close by reading a historical prayer together as a communal act of worship.
Recommended Resources
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
The Valley of Vision (Collection of Puritan Prayers)
Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church
Scripture Keys for Kingdom Living — use it to find verses that echo themes in historic prayers
Final Thought
Praying with the saints isn’t about idolizing the past — it’s about rooting yourself in the deep well of Christian experience.
Obedience to God in prayer was the greatest expression of love. The saints didn’t just pray eloquently — they prayed obediently. And that’s our invitation too.
So today, don’t just pray your words — let your soul be shaped by the words of those who walked the road before you.