Back to Basics – Prayer

Prayer – what more can I say? Prayer is an essential practice for all of us longing to follow Christ in our earthly journeys.

Back to basics has been a series these last few weeks here on Healthy Spirituality as we ponder what best nourishes our soul and our relationship with God. What are primary ways that we often neglect, forget, or just plain get too busy or distracted to do? Time to get back to basics.

Prayer

A friend said to me the other day she was embarrassed to admit that after a near fatal car accident, it was days before she prayed. And this is a lady of great faith. I am never surprised in spiritual direction when I ask (or am asked by my spiritual director) how have you prayed about this? Then the other lowers their head and whispers, “Sad to say, I haven’t really done about that yet.” I have been there too.

Yes, I pray. I pray a lot. But I am also amazed how much I forget to, too. I did write a few years ago – 11 Tips to Percolate in Prayer. It was a good reread for me and I hope it helps you too.

Like oxygen, prayer is life-giving.

Here are a few inspirational quotes to help freshen your practice:

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference” Max Lucado

Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts. Mother Teresa

Prayer is sitting in the silence until it silences us, choosing gratitude until we are grateful, praising God until we ourselves are a constant act of praise. Richard Rohr

Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. Native American prayer

To pray is to listen, to move through my own chattering to God, to that place where I can be silent and listen to what God may have to say. Madeleine L’Engle

May your prayers refresh your soul and guide your way.