By Wendy Morical
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV
When I was a little girl, we knelt by our beds every night and were guided in prayer by our parents. We said the scary “if I die before I wake” prayer and then did our “God bless…” list. Before every dinner, our family said grace, which was again a routine exercise, where each of the three siblings had a different grace to lead. Early on, I learned that a prayer was a distinct set of words said at a specific time of day.
Of course, we all grow our relationship with God in different ways and our personal expressions of faith grow and change at every stage of our lives (wherever we are on life’s journey, right?). Because my early experiences were so structured, I have fought an ingrained sense that there should be a certain time set aside daily for an official prayer moment. Although that works well for many Christians, I find it challenging. When I do not find that time, I feel I’m failing at prayer. What seems simple to some is complicated for me: Does just speaking the names in our weekly prayer list count as a prayer? Should I be with others to magnify my prayers? What is the ‘power of prayer’, and how does one feel it? (I think of the crowns of trees and how they don’t touch, yet trees share resources to support one another – but that’s a topic for another day.) If I jot a gratitude daily and say a quick, “Thanks, God, for another good day,” is that enough? Is meditative breathing a form of prayer?... Am I the worst pray-er ever?
But mostly, I wonder how we connect our innermost beings with the vastness of the Divine.
I’m pretty convinced at this point in my life that the answer to that question is as individual as we are. On Sunday, May 26, we heard the beautiful song “A Living Prayer” sung by Sharon Iltis. If you missed service, it’s worth a listen! The piece contains the lyric, “Take my life and let it be a living prayer, my God, to thee.” Now, there’s a concept. Because I’ve been focused on this topic lately, I’m eager to spend time thinking about what that could really mean to me. Maybe prayer is not so much talking to God but listening for God, inviting God into every moment of your life?
Lots of questions! No easy answers. Catch me after church and let me know your thoughts, too.
God, hear our prayers.