Week 302
Positive post Sunday, December 11, 2022- Week 302.
I’ve thought a lot about praying lately, or should I say, I’ve prayed a lot about praying lately. I pray several times a day. My prayers range from very brief prayers, like thanking God for allowing me to wake up another day to serve Him or asking for His forgiveness, guidance, or help for those in need, to deeper and more formal prayers like the Rosary or reciting prayers at Mass each week. I’m praying right now, seeking God’s guidance as I do each week when I write my PPS. Like Carrie Underwood’s song “Jesus Take the Wheel”, each week I pray, “Jesus take the keyboard”!
As I prepared (or prayed) to write this PPS, I decided to seek input from a higher source, the Internet😊. Starting at the grass roots level, I halfheartedly googled Prayer for Dummies, and low and behold, Christian Prayer for Dummies popped up. My first reaction was that the title should be changed because those that seek guidance on Christian Prayer are certainly not dummies!! If you are new to prayer, or just want to improve the quality of your praying, there is thoughtful guidance in this book. An example includes the ACTS Method of Praying (see attachment).
Although I still consider myself a novice, as my faith has grown over the years, so has the frequency, diversity and depth of my prayer. Through my many life experiences, and with an open heart and increased awareness, I have found many opportunities to pray both in silence and with others. I’ve learned that praying is not just asking God for something when in need, but an opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation for our many blessings, ask for His forgiveness when we have fallen, ask for His comfort for those in need and seek His guidance as we live out His plan for us. Inspired by the Lord, and letting “Jesus take the keyboard”, I just wrote Our Daily Family Prayer, a gift from the Lord to our family. A gift I hope my family shares each day (prayer attached).
I believe prayer is a two-way conversation with our Lord, we should not only talk to Him, but more importantly, open our hearts and listen to Him. My brother in Christ, Jay McCall often reminds me that God has a plan for us, one with hope and a future. God listens to our prayers and responds. God is always present and with us, we find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. I encourage you to read Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Where does prayer fit in your daily life? Is prayer foundational and integrated into all you do?
How is your prayer with the Lord conversational, where you not only speak but listen with an open heart?