How then should we pray? I've heard more than a few arguments over whether our prayers are best as written out or simply off the top of our head. Liturgical versus spontaneous. And is prayer a 'bending of God's will' or a listening to God?
Well, far be it from me to know, but in chapter 5 of Thomas Merton's 'Contemplative Prayer' he caused me to think of prayer in a way I'd never really thought about (that I can recall).
He says...
"The prayer of the heart introduces us into deep interior silence so that we learn to experience its power. For that reason the prayer of the heart has to be always very simple, confined to the simplest of acts and often making use of no words and no thoughts at all."
Wowza! Prayer with no thoughts? I can already hear someone suggesting we are then ripe for the devil to take over our minds! We seem forever afraid...
Personally, I guess I always considered prayer more of a mental exercise. Pretty much based solely ON thoughts! Even considering our posture and body position as important, I still thought of it as connecting my mind to the mind of God. And maybe it is, but maybe it's not
I have also viewed prayer as sort of pleading with God. "Dear Lord, please be with little Joey and help him get over this hangnail that's causing so much pain."
And... I don't know that prayer can't be those things... But I like how Merton presents it more as something else entirely. A simple openness to God; being present with God, or to God. Why do we so often feel that is not enough? Could it be because we don't trust God, or - egad - because we don't think He IS enough?
I want to trust God. I want to believe He is enough, and He is in control. 'Nuff said.
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"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." -- Proverbs 16:9
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