How I understand prayer

This week I attended a lecture by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware in which he gave one of the best definitions of prayer I have ever heard. He told it in the form of a story that he had heard as a child of only ten years old. In this story a man goes to a church for a long time every day and spends time in the sanctuary. After this practice continues for some time his friends confront him and ask. What are you doing there in the church every day, what are you up to. The man simply replied, “I am praying.” The friends wondered at that and one of them said to the man, “you must have quite a lot to ask for to go into the church so often.” The man replied, “no, I don’t ask for anything.” The friends were now curious, and asked the man, “so what do say?” The man answered them, “I simply sit and look at God, and God sits and looks at me.” I feel this is as good a definition as any that I can give to prayer.

Although it is difficult to define prayer, it is probably even more difficult to explain how it is to be done. Each person has a unique relationship to God, and therefore will relate to God in a unique way. However there are some keys to communication that I think are relatively universal. In all prayer there should be a regular space that is created, and in that space there should be an active act of listening.

I would love to hear what ways God speaks most readily in your own life.

 For me that generally revolves around the praying of the Church hours, the recitation of prayers close to my heart throughout the day with prayer beads (The Lord’s Prayer, the Jesus Prayer, Beatitudes, Psalms, Canticles, and Creeds), and praying in tongues (yes I am a charismatic). Although I do try to incorporate other forms of prayer as well, these three prayers are the foundation of my daily prayer life.

I grew up as a Lutheran in a mostly Catholic ecumenical community and because of this I have always felt very comfortable with the forms of liturgy. I also grew up amidst charismatics which meant that there was plenty of free form prayer flying about as well. I can honestly say that there are few forms of prayer that I find difficult, but the form I think I love the most is the Psalms. Psalms incorporate ancient liturgy, human struggle, and holy scripture in one place. They connect me with the prayer book of the church, and of Jesus Christ himself.

Recently I have begun trying to incorporate my hymnals as part of my prayer life. Many of the songs of the church are unfamiliar to me. I tend to stick to the ones I know. However this week I have been trying to read the Hymns as new Psalms. I don’t need to know the melody to use them. For some I have tried to sight read the music, but for most I have simply let the poetry of their lyrical content pass through my heart.

What has God been doing in your prayer life recently?