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I love this idea. And, though I've recently responded here out my loss of faith, this idea you've shared is very close to my heart.

Thank you,

zap

I've always had a hard time with the idea of prayer. If God is in control and His will is to be done, who am I to ask, beg or plead my case for the way I think. I'm confused. So, I'm taking baby steps with the ACTS of prayer, Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. Basically, I'm at "Hey God, it's me, you've given me another day...Wow! Cenotez.livejournal.com

hi cenotez,

try not to sweat the big philosophical questions behind prayer ("If God is in control and His will is to be done, who am I to ask, beg or plead my case for the way I think") -- after all, God WANTS us to pray. whether or not we understand the mechanics of the thing is secondary Ü

I guess I just need to know what it is first. What do I pray about, what do I pray for? I was raised in a Christian home, in church everytime the doors were open. My family prayed nightly together. So, if I understand correctly, based on "Can you parse the silly language of lovers or diagram the inside jokes of old friends?", prayer is a quiet little intimate thing between me and God about any and everything? Not just Lord heal Aunt Betty's lung cancer?

I've really struggled with this for a couple of years. My faith is stronger because I totally trust God's will for my life, but prayer confuses me because I thought it interjected my will and messed stuff up. Thanks! I want that journey! Cenotez

rlp, are you psyhic or something? Right at this moment I am looking at prayer in a totally different way as I have reached a point on my journey where I have a bit too much time to pray (bet you don't here that every day!) I realised yesterday that trying too hard to pray is as bad as not trying at all and that even just sitting in silence is a prayer. Prayer has become something very different to me over the past 3 months, I am exploring different types and rhythms of prayer and am getting a great deal of joy out of prayer (and long may it last) at the moment, as I am emmersing myself in prayer in a conventual setting. Your essay has given me a different expression of what prayer is, can and should be and 1 thank you very much for that.

Thanks. I've been thinking a bit about prayer lately. This will help me remember not to stress about it... to enjoy, relish and rest in the prayer--- and not just in mine but in those that surround me as well.

-n

my favorite entry?

"p.s. amen"

in Norton Hall at Southern Seminary in Louisville, where I STARTED my seminary education back in '88, There used to be a prayer room under the steps to the left of the front door (there are a couple in one of the new buildings ... not sure if the old one is still there ... haven't been back). It was a small room with a stained glass window, a bench, and a lectern with a Bible on it as well as a notebook. i don't remember if it was loose-leaf or spiral bound ... either way, i used to go in there and read the prayers that had been written by fellow students. At the time, Southern was moving into the height of the ugliness that became the hallmark of baptist life ... it has since ... perhaps ... died down ... since the two camps (3? 4?) have more or less gone their separate ways (as did seminary and i shortly thereafter) part of my struggle that resulted in my withdrawing was eased in a way by the prayers that were shared there. it was a book that held so much anguish and so much pain and anger, as well as joy, and relief, and thanksgiving ... it truly was a modern version of the psalms. i'm glad the folks at Covenant have something like that.

Love your words on prayer -- like the "whole thing," prayer can't be explained in any rationally-convincing way. But it conditions the soul and who can say what else?

I just picked up a children's book at a garage sale by Douglas Wood called Grandad's Prayer of the Earth - his writing reminded me of yours - I think you'll really like it - I blogged about it here:

Redemption Junkie: Grandad's Prayers of the Earth - Douglas Wood

Great Idea

I love this idea, letting the mind write what it wants to say. And this without having to follow lengthy rules and regulations. The truth that needs to be told will then easily come out. It will allow God to communicate directly.