Rosalind Rinker

The different use of a pronoun may be the means through which a new consciousness of His presence will come to you.

Prayer is the expression of the human heart in conversation with God. The more natural the prayer, the more real He becomes.

Instead of each of us making a prayer-speech to Him, let’s talk things over with Him, back and forth, including Him in it, as we do when we have a conversation.

The Lord is so near and so real when a group is talking conversationally with Him.

If you are beginning to feel that there is a dullness when you pray, or a curtain through which you do not seem able to penetrate, why not deliberately and thoughtfully use everyday English in addressing God?

We were definitely on holy ground and we knew it. In a few moments of silence then, we both turned our attention to the Lord Jesus, who being alive and with us and in us had just told us again, 'Where two... are gathered in my name there am I in the midst of them.

She prayed slowly, thoughtfully, with many pauses, and used His Name meaningfully. She was speaking to Someone, He was there!

Honesty demands straightforward simplicity without apology. Honesty goes right to the point.

We don’t learn how to pray in six easy lessons, we learn to pray by praying.

There is one God. Not three. He is three Persons but one in essence and substance.

Speaking directly to Him had made Him a real Person to her.

Why pray together? Because Jesus promised that when two of His disciples meet to pray, He will be there with them.

When we meet to pray with someone else, the Lord is present as a third party.

The Good Shepherd knows what His sheep need. They need the pastures of being together with one another, but they also need the quiet waters of intimate security.

If we ask for what we want in His Name, and we are living in Him, and we keep on asking, the answer will come.

Prayer as a Personal Dialogue with God

Rosalind Rinker emphasizes that prayer should be a personal and intimate conversation with God, rather than a formal or ritualistic practice. She recounts her own experiences, such as her first time praying aloud at a cottage prayer meeting, where she realized that prayer is about speaking directly to Jesus, not performing for others. This personal approach to prayer transforms it from a duty into a meaningful dialogue. Rinker writes, 'I would pray aloud, and I would speak straight to Him. I would not be afraid and I would not care if there were tears, and I would not care if my words got tangled up and I would not care if my prayer was like the others or if it wasn’t.'

The Power of Group Prayer

Rinker highlights the transformative power of praying with others. She explains that group prayer brings individuals into a shared spiritual experience where they can support and strengthen each other. 'When we meet to pray with someone else, the Lord is present as a third party,' she writes. This communal aspect of prayer helps to alleviate personal burdens, provide guidance, and foster a sense of belonging within a spiritual family. The shared experience of prayer can turn individual weaknesses into collective strengths, as members of the group draw encouragement and support from one another.

I had met Him. I had had my first flash of insight about prayer. Perhaps I understood as only the very young understand easily, that He meant it when He said, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

We were in His presence. We were talking to and with Him.

When we converse, we become aware. Aware of the other person, his rights, his privileges, his feeling, and if we converse long enough, his total personality.

Good conversation implies that we must take turn about and do it gracefully. When one person does all the talking we call it (if we are polite) a monologue.

To carry on a conversation of any significance or interest, each person must use his memory to recall, his patience to wait, his alertness to jump in, his willingness to get out, and above all his capacity to hold back the disruptive.

I am forever convinced that anyone who comes to the place of realizing that God and Jesus Christ are one and the same, has reached the potential of a new plateau in prayer.

Speaking directly to Him had made Him a real Person to her. Knowing, finally, that Jesus Christ had loved her from the beginning, there was only one thing left to do, and that was respond by speaking to Him.

When you are ready, you will find that He has been waiting for you, conscious of you all the time.

Living faith is always in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Your greatest need can be your greatest asset, for need is the golden door through which He comes close to His loved ones.

What we ask, then, should be in keeping with what He is like, and a request unlike Him cannot be granted to us.

Forgiveness is the ultimate proof of love, both of God’s love and of our love to one another.

The wonderfully exciting thing about faith-sized requests when two or more are praying is that so many times as you pray by subjects, exactly the same request will come to two or more of you at the same time.

Prayer’s function is to set God at the center of your attention, and forget yourself and the impression you are making on others.

Prayer for our loved ones. Prayer for our own personal needs or projects. Prayer for each other.

Praying by subjects. Let as many as feel led by the Holy Spirit pray for this person until he or she is able to give thanks, or until there is freedom for someone else to introduce a new subject of prayer.

Right prayer demands a quieting of the whole being. We need to learn to be quiet, and to be consciously aware of Jesus Christ.

When we pray together the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and suggests ways and means.

If no one in the group is willing to be honest, there will soon be no prayer meeting.

We are not there primarily to 'get things' but to realize God’s presence. This is the greatest answer to prayer, that we are consciously aware of the Great Shepherd and His unchanging love for us.

Because of His care over us, all that may seem disappointing will in the end be beneficial.

I would pray aloud, and I would speak straight to Him. I would not be afraid and I would not care if there were tears, and I would not care if my words got tangled up and I would not care if my prayer was like the others or if it wasn’t.

Many of our prayers are not answered, and for this we should be grateful.

Out of your very weakness your brother is made strong. Out of your own weakness you are made strong by Christ.

When we pray, to whom are we really speaking?

Give thanks first of all for the Lord Himself, for what He is like, for Himself alone.

We agree that God’s will be done. We agree by saying so when we pray.

When the Holy Spirit is in full charge, there will be real freedom to pray honestly, and sins will be forgiven and tensions will be released.

The more natural the prayer, the more real He becomes. It has all been simplified for me to this extent: prayer is a dialogue between two persons who love each other.

We were definitely on holy ground and we knew it. In a few moments of silence then, we both turned our attention to the Lord Jesus, who being alive and with us and in us had just told us again, 'Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Praying conversationally (that is, praying back and forth on a single subject until a new one is introduced by the Spirit) makes prayer such a natural means of 'spiritual togetherness' that the healing love of God touches us all as we are in His presence.

Does it make any difference to whom you pray? Whose presence are you aware of when you pray?

Let the 'asking' or requests wait until everyone has joined one or more times in the thanksgiving.

We agree that God's will be done. We agree by saying so when we pray.

Honesty demands straightforward simplicity without apology.

The natural and expected result of prayer, in the Presence of God, is that healing love shall touch us all as we sit in our places.

Pride is the basis of all self-consciousness, which in turn is one of the products of being a so-called adult.

Lack of forgiveness is the equivalent of an impure heart.

Resentment is changed to love. Sadness is changed to joy. Unbelief is changed to faith. Rebellion is changed to acceptance.

Give thanks first of all for the Lord Himself, for what He is like, for Himself alone. Then for His gifts: for eternal life, for some personal answer to prayer.

Conversational Prayer Enhances Group Prayer

Rinker introduces the concept of conversational prayer, which involves praying back and forth on a single subject until a new one is introduced by the Spirit. This method makes group prayer more dynamic and engaging, as it allows for spontaneous and heartfelt communication with God. She describes a transformative experience in Peiping, China, where she and her friend Mildred Rice discovered the power of this approach. 'Instead of each of us making a prayer-speech to Him, let’s talk things over with Him, back and forth, including Him in it, as we do when we have a conversation,' Rinker suggests, highlighting the simplicity and effectiveness of this method.

The Importance of Simplicity and Authenticity in Prayer

Rinker argues that using everyday language in prayer can make it more genuine and heartfelt. She explains that the traditional use of formal language, such as 'thee' and 'thou,' can create a barrier between the individual and God. By speaking to God in a natural and straightforward manner, believers can experience a deeper connection. Rinker states, 'The more natural the prayer, the more real He becomes. It has all been simplified for me to this extent: prayer is a dialogue between two persons who love each other.'

The Christ who died for you and rose again is the only One who can condemn you. And He does not.

The Necessity of Secret Prayer

While group prayer is powerful, Rinker also stresses the importance of secret, personal prayer. She believes that private prayer allows individuals to develop a more intimate relationship with God, free from the distractions and pressures of public settings. 'The Good Shepherd knows what His sheep need. They need the pastures of being together with one another, but they also need the quiet waters of intimate security,' she explains. This balance between communal and private prayer helps individuals to grow spiritually, providing both the support of a community and the personal connection with God.

Unanswered vs. Obstructed Prayer

Rinker distinguishes between unanswered and obstructed prayers. Unanswered prayers are those that God, in His wisdom, chooses not to grant because they may not be in our best interest. Rinker states, 'I am sure the Lord, in His great loving wisdom, sifts all our requests, and the ones which might harm us are not answered according to our asking.' On the other hand, obstructed prayers are those that could be answered but are delayed due to obstacles such as unforgiveness or sin. She uses the analogy of traffic being held up by snow in Chicago to illustrate how obstacles can delay the flow of answers to our prayers.

The Role of Forgiveness in Prayer

Forgiveness is crucial for effective prayer. Rinker notes that unforgiveness can create guilt and hinder our prayers. She cites Mark 11:25-26, where Jesus emphasizes the need to forgive others when we pray. 'If I cannot love my brother whom I can see, how can I love God whom I cannot see?' she asks, highlighting the interconnectedness of our relationships with others and with God. Unforgiveness is seen as rebellion against God, and it can obstruct our prayers by creating a barrier between us and God.

Pray in Everyday Language

Use simple, everyday language when praying to make your communication with God more genuine and heartfelt. This can help you feel more connected and less self-conscious.

Engage in Conversational Prayer

When praying in a group, try the conversational prayer method. Focus on one subject at a time, and allow each person to contribute spontaneously. This can make group prayer more dynamic and engaging.

Find a Specific Place for Private Prayer

Designate a particular spot for your personal prayer time. This could be a chair, your bedside, an unused room, or even your car. Having a specific place helps to create a routine and a sense of sacred space.

Practice Forgiveness

Regularly examine your heart for any unforgiveness or resentment. Confess these to God and seek to forgive others, as this will remove obstacles that hinder your prayers.

Start with Thanksgiving

Begin your prayer sessions by expressing gratitude for God's presence and His blessings. This sets a positive tone and aligns the group's focus on worship before making any requests.

Prayer’s real purpose is to put God at the center of our attention, and forget ourselves and the impression we are making on others.

Praying conversationally makes prayer such a natural means of 'spiritual togetherness' that the healing love of God touches us all as we are in His presence.

We were speaking to the Lord with the simplicity of a child talking to its father in his own language.

Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.

If you do not forgive, neither will your heavenly Father forgive.

Pray for only what you believe God can do, for a certain person in a definite situation during a given time period.

She had used His Name as a punctuation mark, and not as though she were speaking to a real, living Person.

The compound H2O is found in three forms, gas, liquid and solid (air, water, ice) but they are all composed of the same basic elements.

So You’ve been here all along!

Ask and believe that God can and will give you at least one person with whom you may pray aloud.

The different use of a pronoun may be the means through which a new consciousness of His presence will come to you.

Prayer is the expression of the human heart in conversation with God. The more natural the prayer, the more real He becomes.

Instead of each of us making a prayer-speech to Him, let’s talk things over with Him, back and forth, including Him in it, as we do when we have a conversation.

The Lord is so near and so real when a group is talking conversationally with Him.

If you are beginning to feel that there is a dullness when you pray, or a curtain through which you do not seem able to penetrate, why not deliberately and thoughtfully use everyday English in addressing God?

We were definitely on holy ground and we knew it. In a few moments of silence then, we both turned our attention to the Lord Jesus, who being alive and with us and in us had just told us again, 'Where two... are gathered in my name there am I in the midst of them.

She prayed slowly, thoughtfully, with many pauses, and used His Name meaningfully. She was speaking to Someone, He was there!

Honesty demands straightforward simplicity without apology. Honesty goes right to the point.

We don’t learn how to pray in six easy lessons, we learn to pray by praying.

There is one God. Not three. He is three Persons but one in essence and substance.

Speaking directly to Him had made Him a real Person to her.

Why pray together? Because Jesus promised that when two of His disciples meet to pray, He will be there with them.

When we meet to pray with someone else, the Lord is present as a third party.

The Good Shepherd knows what His sheep need. They need the pastures of being together with one another, but they also need the quiet waters of intimate security.

If we ask for what we want in His Name, and we are living in Him, and we keep on asking, the answer will come.

I had met Him. I had had my first flash of insight about prayer. Perhaps I understood as only the very young understand easily, that He meant it when He said, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

We were in His presence. We were talking to and with Him.

When we converse, we become aware. Aware of the other person, his rights, his privileges, his feeling, and if we converse long enough, his total personality.

Good conversation implies that we must take turn about and do it gracefully. When one person does all the talking we call it (if we are polite) a monologue.

To carry on a conversation of any significance or interest, each person must use his memory to recall, his patience to wait, his alertness to jump in, his willingness to get out, and above all his capacity to hold back the disruptive.

I am forever convinced that anyone who comes to the place of realizing that God and Jesus Christ are one and the same, has reached the potential of a new plateau in prayer.

Speaking directly to Him had made Him a real Person to her. Knowing, finally, that Jesus Christ had loved her from the beginning, there was only one thing left to do, and that was respond by speaking to Him.

When you are ready, you will find that He has been waiting for you, conscious of you all the time.

Living faith is always in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Your greatest need can be your greatest asset, for need is the golden door through which He comes close to His loved ones.

What we ask, then, should be in keeping with what He is like, and a request unlike Him cannot be granted to us.

Forgiveness is the ultimate proof of love, both of God’s love and of our love to one another.

The wonderfully exciting thing about faith-sized requests when two or more are praying is that so many times as you pray by subjects, exactly the same request will come to two or more of you at the same time.

Prayer’s function is to set God at the center of your attention, and forget yourself and the impression you are making on others.

Prayer for our loved ones. Prayer for our own personal needs or projects. Prayer for each other.

Praying by subjects. Let as many as feel led by the Holy Spirit pray for this person until he or she is able to give thanks, or until there is freedom for someone else to introduce a new subject of prayer.

Right prayer demands a quieting of the whole being. We need to learn to be quiet, and to be consciously aware of Jesus Christ.

When we pray together the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and suggests ways and means.

If no one in the group is willing to be honest, there will soon be no prayer meeting.

We are not there primarily to 'get things' but to realize God’s presence. This is the greatest answer to prayer, that we are consciously aware of the Great Shepherd and His unchanging love for us.

Because of His care over us, all that may seem disappointing will in the end be beneficial.

I would pray aloud, and I would speak straight to Him. I would not be afraid and I would not care if there were tears, and I would not care if my words got tangled up and I would not care if my prayer was like the others or if it wasn’t.

Many of our prayers are not answered, and for this we should be grateful.

Out of your very weakness your brother is made strong. Out of your own weakness you are made strong by Christ.

When we pray, to whom are we really speaking?

Give thanks first of all for the Lord Himself, for what He is like, for Himself alone.

We agree that God’s will be done. We agree by saying so when we pray.

When the Holy Spirit is in full charge, there will be real freedom to pray honestly, and sins will be forgiven and tensions will be released.

The more natural the prayer, the more real He becomes. It has all been simplified for me to this extent: prayer is a dialogue between two persons who love each other.

We were definitely on holy ground and we knew it. In a few moments of silence then, we both turned our attention to the Lord Jesus, who being alive and with us and in us had just told us again, 'Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Praying conversationally (that is, praying back and forth on a single subject until a new one is introduced by the Spirit) makes prayer such a natural means of 'spiritual togetherness' that the healing love of God touches us all as we are in His presence.

Does it make any difference to whom you pray? Whose presence are you aware of when you pray?

Let the 'asking' or requests wait until everyone has joined one or more times in the thanksgiving.

We agree that God's will be done. We agree by saying so when we pray.

Honesty demands straightforward simplicity without apology.

The natural and expected result of prayer, in the Presence of God, is that healing love shall touch us all as we sit in our places.

Pride is the basis of all self-consciousness, which in turn is one of the products of being a so-called adult.

Lack of forgiveness is the equivalent of an impure heart.

Resentment is changed to love. Sadness is changed to joy. Unbelief is changed to faith. Rebellion is changed to acceptance.

Give thanks first of all for the Lord Himself, for what He is like, for Himself alone. Then for His gifts: for eternal life, for some personal answer to prayer.

The Christ who died for you and rose again is the only One who can condemn you. And He does not.

Prayer’s real purpose is to put God at the center of our attention, and forget ourselves and the impression we are making on others.

Praying conversationally makes prayer such a natural means of 'spiritual togetherness' that the healing love of God touches us all as we are in His presence.

We were speaking to the Lord with the simplicity of a child talking to its father in his own language.

Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.

If you do not forgive, neither will your heavenly Father forgive.

Pray for only what you believe God can do, for a certain person in a definite situation during a given time period.

She had used His Name as a punctuation mark, and not as though she were speaking to a real, living Person.

The compound H2O is found in three forms, gas, liquid and solid (air, water, ice) but they are all composed of the same basic elements.

So You’ve been here all along!

Ask and believe that God can and will give you at least one person with whom you may pray aloud.