How do you pray? Often my prayers slip into comfortable routines, predictable patterns, yet prayer is all around us – like our breath. So many different ways to talk with God are waiting to explore. The following is a part of a three-week series on prayer and its many forms. Come explore with me ways to address God when words are inadequate and let’s get to know God better by spending time with Him.We make prayer too complicated and difficult at times. God wants us as we are – coming to Him in open honesty, with our defenses down and our ego set aside. I like what C. S. Lewis wrote, “The prayer preceding all prayers is ‘May it be the real I who speak. May it be the real Thou that I speak to.’”Simple prayer is coming to God just as we are, with all our faults, problems, and imperfections. We tell God how frustrated we are, angry or discouraged. Richard Foster says, “Sometimes this prayer is called the Prayer of Beginning Again.”We are not alone with praying this way. The Bible is … [Read more...]
Praying – Exploring Different Types of Prayers – Breath Prayers
How do you pray? Often my prayers slip into comfortable routines, predictable patterns, yet prayer is all around us – like our breath. So many different ways to talk with God are waiting to explore. The following is a part of a three-week series on prayer and its many forms. Come explore with me ways to address God when words are inadequate and let’s get to know God better by spending time with Him.The Bibles teaches us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) How do we do this?One type of prayer that has helped Christians across the ages to fulfill this command is the breath prayerA breath prayer is a very short prayer that can be said in one breath and repeated throughout the day. It is an ancient form of prayer, found in writings as early as the second century. The prayer communicates a sense of nearness with trust and dependency on God.Perhaps the best-known breath prayer is called the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." This … [Read more...]
Praying – Exploring Different Types of Prayers – Prayer Quotes
How do you pray? Often my prayers slip into comfortable routines, predictable patterns, yet prayer is all around us – like our breath. So many different ways to talk with God are waiting to explore. The following is a part of a three-week series on prayer and its many forms. Come explore with me ways to address God when words are inadequate and let’s get to know God better by spending time with Him.What is prayer?Prayer has been defined in many ways. Here are a few great quotes describing prayer to start our series:“True, whole prayer is nothing but love.” St. Augustine“A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening.” Soren Kierkegaard“Prayer fastens the soul to God.” Julian of Norwich“For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.” Saint Teresa"To pray is to work, to work is to pray." Motto of the Benedictine Order"Praying is simply a two-way … [Read more...]
God’s Strength Lectio Divina
"Go in the strength you have..." (Judges 6:14)So often, Lord I have no strength left. The world crushes my hopes and zaps my energy. I don’t think I can go on.Yet you tell me to “go in the strength” I have. Lord, when all seems hopeless, I still go on.Lord, when everything takes an effort, I still try.Lord with your help, your strength, I can take one more step, live one more day.I used to think this verse referred to my strength, but now realize I possess access to Your limitless strength.Your strength makes all the difference.I arise todayThrough the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise todayThrough God's strength to pilot me;God's might to uphold me,God's wisdom to guide me,God's eye to look before me,God's ear to hear me,God's word to speak for me,God's hand to guard me,God's way to lie before … [Read more...]
Prayer and Henri Nouwen
Henri Nouwen is one of my favorite authors. The first book I read by him, edited by Wendy Greer is titled The Only Necessary Thing – Living a Prayerful Life. I revisited that book this week and here are some of my favorite quotes from that book:· Prayer is the center of the Christian life. It is the only necessary thing. (Luke 10:42) It is living with God here and now. · The more we pray – in the sense of living a prayerful life – the more we desire to pray · I am deeply convince that the necessity of prayer, and to pray unceasingly, is not as much based on our desire for God as on God’s desire for us. It is God’s passionate pursuit of us that calls us to prayer. · A spiritual life without prayer is like the Gospel without Christ. · Praying is living. Praying pervades every aspect of our lives. It is the unceasing recognition that God is wherever we are, always inviting us to come closer and to celebrate the divine gift of being alive. · Prayer is … [Read more...]
The Nearness of God – Lectio Divina – February 21, 2010
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” Romans 10:8a (NIV)The word is near you.How incomprehensible this is, Lord, that you love us so much you dwell within our hearts. Near - a simple but powerful promise. You are near me.You plant yourself deep within my soul and never leave me. When all others abandon me, you stay near.When I shake with fear - you are near to hold meWhen I am sick with worry - you are near to give me peaceWhen I feel lost and alone - you are near as my companion.When my heart is heavy with disappointment - you are near to carry my loadWhen I boil over with anger - you are near to calm me downWhen I am hurt - you are near to heal.When I am confused - you are near to guide me.When I am weak - you are near to give me strengthWhen I doubt - you are near to fill me with hope.When I am broken, you are near with your complete loveMy heart overflows with gratitude, my hands cling to you in sacred intimacy, and my soul rejoices within my whole being … [Read more...]
Prayer to See God with an Unveiled Face – Lectio Divina – February 14, 2010
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3: 12-18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflectthe Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing gloryLord, unveil my face. Wipe away all the hidden junk that I smear on my face, pretending to be something I … [Read more...]
My Prayer for Wonder and Curiosity – To Have the Eyes of a Child
Aren't babies fun to watch?My granddaughter, Kyla, is eight months old. Every week I ask her mother, Katie, what exciting new trick did Kyla learn this week? Today Katie called to tell me Kyla pulled herself up to stand. (Wasn’t she just a newborn yesterday? I will turn around and tomorrow she will be driving a car or getting married!) Watching babies teach us in unexpected ways.Everyday is a new adventure for Kyla – new places to crawl and explore, learning how to pick up Cheerios and discovering their awesome texture and taste, squealing in different pitches and volumes – life is full of wonder and curiosity.Lord, when did I lose the wonder and curiosity of a child?How did this “I can do it all” attitude take over my brain?When did sarcasm, doubt, fear and anger invade my every cell squeezing out trust, faith and the ability to marvel at the ordinary?Lord I ask you for the eyes of a child:To giggle at silly noises and pay attention to the whispers beneath the clamor To peer deeply … [Read more...]