Prayer
Divine Intimacy #146
One of the most frequently asked questions I get as a Spiritual Director is, “What is prayer and how should I pray?” I answer with a question. “What do you think it is, and how do you do it?” I get good answers, but I know they’re asking because they aren’t sure of themselves. God can be quiet, and when that happens, we tend to look inward, as if we’re doing something wrong or not quite right. Most of us know the what and how. We may just not recognize it or think it needs to be grander. It doesn’t. Keeping things simple is what God is all about.
Prayer is an intimate conversation with God. The soul seeks His presence and speaks in a friendly, affectionate way, like a child with their Father or a friend with a friend. It’s raising our minds and hearts to God. It’s an intimate conversation that’s honest and true.
When I was growing up, prayer was mostly rote and memorized. I had my share of muttering, O God, please … and rattling off petitions. He was supposed to be around to help me, so I’d call on Him anytime, anywhere. When I grew up, I realized I had to stop thinking of God as a magic genie and start seeing Him as the holiest one. I needed to want Him with my very essence, with every beat of my heart. He would hear me when I was serious, when I went inside myself with my thoughts, fears, joys, and sorrows, and brought them to Him in prayer.
When I returned to God and His church, I learned that prayer could still be simple, yet much more than rote memorization. Not that rote memorization is bad, for all prayer has its place. But prayer from my heart, and speaking to God as He looks upon me, touches my heart in a far greater way. It is union with Him that I seek in all types of prayer, and I work to give others the same insight.
I later learned that there are multiple forms of prayer: vocal, mental, discursive, affective, private, and liturgical. I thought prayer was prayer. This can sound more complicated, and God doesn’t want to constrain us; He wants our prayer to be the breath of our soul, a habitual attitude toward Him. He knows how prayer will benefit us and bring His help. Don’t worry about the type and form; just do it!
If you aspire to divine intimacy, place yourself in a position to nurture your interiority. This way, you will be closer to experiencing His love and entering into that contemplative light.
Prayer will lead the way.