Prayer: God Moves Us

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, February 26, 2019

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Prayer: God Moves Us

Prayer can be so intimate, so up-close-and-personal.

So many accounts of times when people felt utterly awestruck, as with M. while he read John 10, where Jesus talks about Himself as the Good Shepherd. “It was a beautiful time of prayer, an intimate time. There was so much in the words; it’s so beautifully written. I wasn’t reading words; it was alive, almost directly touching my heart.” [1]

I read about these times of prayer, and I feel uplifted, just reading these words. And then—at the same time, I feel so sad. Sad, and almost resentful. Why can’t I have these types of experiences on a regular basis? I do have similar experiences, but rarely. Why has my prayer life been dry and parched, like wandering in the wilderness, for decades? (Yes, for literal decades.)

The idea of letting the words of Scripture swim in one’s heart is certainly an imaginative one. Being immersed in the words of the Bible—so much so that I feel all filled to the brim with these life-giving words—what an image for my sometimes overactive imagination.

I would think this feature of our brains really causes Ignatian prayer and meditation to bear a great deal of fruit. How wonderful to be an imaginative pray-er. I do not think that access to prayer (speaking to God) and meditation (listening to God) are both required for our communication with our Heavenly Parent, but I suspect it helps.

But…what if the usual ways of praying don’t really work for some people? What would it be like to never have a close relationship with God from prayer? I am assuming some people have real difficulty in this. I truly do not know what I would suggest, other than the different more kinetic ways of prayer. I know it is possible to do Ignatian prayer and walk the labyrinth at the same time. (I’ve done both—at the same time.) But, other than kinesthetic praying, I do not know what to suggest to these friends. I guess I need to learn more about prayer styles, and refresh my memory with suggestions of diverse ways of communication with God.

We ought to breathe a prayer of thanksgiving for this opportunity to find hope. Hope in our dear Lord Jesus. Dear Lord, thanks for giving us a number of ways to communicate with You. Help each one praying find a way of prayer-communication that each one feels touched now. Dear Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my companion blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture, Timothy M. Gallagher, OVM (United States of America: Crossroad Publishing, 2008), 24.

Prayer—and Walking the Labyrinth

matterofprayer blog post for Sunday, September 28, 2014

labyrinth, St. John’s Convent in Toronto

Prayer—and Walking the Labyrinth

I want to walk the labyrinth. I am feeling that, inside of me, more and more.

Some readers may know what the labyrinth is. (That’s great! I am so glad you do. I love to walk, from time to time, too!) I know I’ve talked about the labyrinth here before, but not for a number of months. I know many people are acquainted with many different methods of prayer, and approaches to God, and the labyrinth is another one of these. An innovative one, and at the same time, one that does not appeal to exactly everyone in the Christian community. But that’s okay.

The weather has been simply gorgeous here in the Chicago area for the past week. The forecast is for continued beautiful weather for the next number of days. Absolutely glorious for the last few days of September. But—I see gray days ahead as October approaches. With the coming of autumn, and cooler weather, the days will become shorter. Harvest time is now here, and will continue during the next weeks. And the year will continue to wind down to its close.

Reminds me of the labyrinth. The journey through life, through a place of waiting. A place of almost there, and of not quite yet. A journey of change—like the changing seasons. Yet, entering and exiting the labyrinth is like entering and exiting that journey of prayer and meditation, a journey of waxing and waning in life.

Yes, the weather may be absolutely gorgeous right now, in the last days of September. As October passes and November arrives, the weather will become more changeable. More blustery, wet, even unpleasant. Yet, the outdoor labyrinth I walk from time to time remains. It waits, quiet and expectant. Ready for those who wish to enter. Walk. Experience. Pray. Meditate. No matter what the weather is like. No matter what my experience with that time or place of waiting. Journey of change, of waxing and waning. Journey within myself. God willing, I’ll go to walk again, soon.

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, gracious God, thank You for giving us the labyrinth to walk. Thank You for the joy of prayer and meditation with You—and if the labyrinth helps me concentrate on You, on occasion, that’s great! I praise You for drawing me—and so many others—close to You. Thank You for this journey I’ve embarked on. Help me, and help so many others, to walk close to You. Lord, in Your mercy and grace, hear our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

(also published at www.matterofprayer.net