Ex. 17:8-13; Ps. 121:1-8; 2 Tim. 3:14-4:2; Lk.18:1-8
Jesus calls us to “pray always” and remain faithful to the teachings of scripture that we may be “competent and equipped for every good work”. Gather a group of Christians together and ask “who would like to lead the prayer?” Silence generally follows as if prayer is not a common practice. Without prayer how can we be competent in our practice of the Christian faith or attentive to the voice of the Lord? How are we going to know if we are being called to do a “good work” for the Lord or simply doing the work we desire for ourselves? Is it our desire to live to do the will of God or simply living to do our own will? Prayer is the source of revelation for the heart that desires to get closer to the Lord.
“Our help is from the Lord” but he teaches us to persevere in our prayer. This is the example given us by Moses who even as he grew tired during the battle with the support of others he persevered until the battle was won. Often our prayer is short and our patience is limited not only with others but even with God. Our commitment to prayer is reflective of our commitment to God so as we pray or fail to pray, we reveal our true faith and love of God. Knowing that our hope and our help is from the Lord who is the source of life what does our prayer life say about relationship with our God?
Infant prayer is recital prayer. Early in life we are taught a list of prayers which we grow up reciting at meals or before going to bed. We may even learn the rosary and carry a rosary with us but then praying the rosary is an occasional thing and not part of a prayer life. It does not go beyond the prayer into a dialogue with Jesus. Infant prayer however is still filled with “wisdom for salvation”.
Adolescent prayer is a one-way prayer to tell God our needs, wants and desires. Focus is on “me” and not on God. It often fails to ask what God desires of us. Even as we recite the words “let thy will be done” it is not in our heart to do his will. Adolescent prayer wonders if God even hears us and why he does not answer us according to our wishes. Adolescent prayer is a one-way conversation that stops short of seeking God’s purpose in our life. Adolescent prayer however is filled with the lessons of scripture as we hear the Word of God “useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction and for training in righteousness”.
Adult prayer begins with the desire to know and do God’s will in our life. It is a search for meaning in life’s circumstances and how to respond to those circumstances for a greater good that God will provide for us and for others. It is not afraid to question God in order to understand but it also is willing to accept and trust in God that his answer will be revealed as we go forth by taking the next right step. It is in trusting and going forth in the Lord that he reveals to us his will. As the scripture says “be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient” do the right thing. Adult prayer is a calling to live the Word as a servant of God.
Spiritual prayer is having a dialogue with Jesus. In adult prayer we pray and go forth trusting in the Lord while in spiritual prayer we pray and wait upon the Lord. It calls us to be still, mediate upon his word and how it applies to our life, to contemplate the manifestation of God’s love. Let God speak into our mind, heart, and will. The voice of God is one that bring clarity, revelation, confirmation, peace and joy. There is a sense where we say “I know that I know” what God is asking of me and I am saying yes to him. Spiritual prayer is a unity of hearts, a confirmation of our thoughts, and a surrender to God’s will. It is here where the great saints voice the proclamation “It is not I but the Lord who lives in me”.
“The word of God is living and effective” transforming our lives to be great saints. The word of God is not to be taken as good “self-help” book, or a book on philosophy of life. The word of God is to be prayed, to be lived, and to be transformative of our very being. Pray always!
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