True Prayer
“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that — it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” ~ Charles Spurgeon
I’ve known many people in my life who have struggled to learn how to pray. They wanted to have a better spiritual life and thus they decided prayer would be one of the best ways to get there. However, for some, their prayer life was mechanical, cold, and sterile. They did everything that they could externally — set aside a time to pray daily, purchased spiritual books to read, had rosaries and other objects — but they were not able to open up to the Lord internally.
Having the materials necessary to pray won’t lead to true prayer. Setting aside a designated time to pray each day won’t lead to true prayer. Sitting in silence each day won’t lead to true prayer. None of those things, by themselves, will be able to lead us to true prayer. What is necessary is to couple those things with a true desire to pray and an ardent love of God. When that desire and love is there, everything else will fall into place.
True prayer is communication with God. We may use certain “tools” such as prayer books, rosaries, singing and the like, but they are just there to help focus our communication with Him. True prayer is what takes place between the soul and God. When we are into true prayer, it is as if our physical self steps aside to allow our soul the chance to communicate with the divine. That communication fills us with peace and gives us the strength to face the day.
FAITH ACTION: Don’t let your prayer be shallow or mechanical today. Instead, make a real effort to open yourself up completely to the Lord.