A Chat with Simone

I love that the New Testament has many examples of the early church modelling fellowship with their brothers
and sisters in Christ and encourages us to emulate their example. Acts 2:42 tells us the early church “devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This week I
enjoyed catching up over a cuppa with Jenni Tang, getting to know one another and reflecting on our shared
passion for prayer. I am certain we both walked away from our time together mutually encouraged but I
particularly felt greater enthusiasm about my prayer life and devotion time, both on my own and with my
family.
As important as we know prayer is in our relationship with our Lord and Saviour, it is not something we can
ever expect to get perfectly right. Jenni and I reflected that knowing how to pray doesn’t come naturally to
most of us. However, we already have everything we need to enrich our prayer life through God’s Word, as
well as other books and resources developed for the very purpose of encouraging us in prayer.
Jenni shared that she loves to use scripture to help her stay focused; reading a few verses or passages of
Scripture then praying His Words back to Him. As she does this, He is shaping her heart more in alignment
with His will and helping her look at what God is saying to her. Jenni particularly loves the gift of the Psalms,
as they reorient our hearts to His faithfulness, power, presence, goodness and wisdom, rather than just
bringing a long list of selfish requests before him.
Everyday Cedric and Jenni spend time with Theodore and Allegra, talking about what they are thankful for
and giving thanks to God for those things. Practicing what James 1:17 encourages us to do in acknowledging
that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly
lights.” Practicing thankfulness reminds them of their total dependence on Him.
One of Jenni’s favourite prayer tools is a book with a collection of prayers, The Valley of Vision: A Collection
of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur Bennett. Jenni shared it is so beautiful; the prayers help give words
to what she is thinking and feeling, convicting her and helping her to remember who she is and how she can
glorify Him each day.
One of the things I enjoy most about engaging in fellowship and rich conversations about prayer and faith is
the shared love and passion we have for God and the opportunity to share books and resources that have
helped us to grow in our faith. I hope you are encouraged and inspired too, by this brief snippet of our
conversations on prayer.