I recall reminding my 15 year old to pray before bed, and her response to me, “Mom, I don’t pray. I talk to God!” Out of the mouth of a teenager!
Prayer is one of the most important aspect in our relationship with God, it is our direct channel to him as we bring to him all our adoration, love, not to mention all our stresses, worries, queries, hopes, and angst. Prayer is also offering our intentions and healing for others.
Prayer comes in many forms, and talking to God is indeed how we develop a deeper relationship with Him. This poem by Mary Oliver wonderfully expresses it:
Praying
It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest but a doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.
– Mary Oliver, Thirst: Poems by Mary Oliver
From formal to free flow prayers with God, the one prayer I always say either on it’s own, or with my daily structured prayer time is “The Lord’s Prayer”. This prayer is also incorporated in the Daily Rosary and most chaplets. It is also a prayer said in every mass worldwide. I love this prayer! I remember learning this prayer in Sunday School, and recall also saying this prayer in elementary school at a time when it was permissible by our school board and government.
Concerning Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15
5 ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[a]
7 ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 ‘Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.[b]
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,[c]
but rescue us from the evil one.[d]
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
The Lord’s Prayer is what Jesus taught his disciples, and it is a complete prayer:
Adoration
Intercession
Thanksgiving
Repentance
Petition.
Image is a screenshot from:
Let’s lift up all our voices to God. Like a symphony of heart felt prayers flowing up in the stratosphere to God’s ears.
God Bless 💖
Be Inspired! 